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Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy?s Journey to Becoming a Big Kid [Hardcover]

Simon Pegg
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

List Price: $27.50
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Book Description

June 9, 2011
The unique life story of one of the most talented and inventive comedians, star of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Star Trek.

Zombies in North London, death cults in the West Country, the engineering deck of the Enterprise: actor, comedian, writer and self-proclaimed supergeek Simon Pegg has been ploughing some bizarre furrows in recent times. Having landed on the U.S. movie scene in the surprise cult hit Shaun of the Dead, his enduring appeal and rise to movie star with a dedicated following has been mercurial, meteoric, megatronic, but mostly just plain great.

From his childhood (and subsequently adult) obsession with science fiction, his enduring friendship with Nick Frost, and his forays into stand-up comedy which began with his regular Monday morning slot in front of his twelve-year-old classmates, Simon has always had a severe and dangerous case of the funnies.

Whether recounting his experience working as a lifeguard at the city pool, going to Comic-Con for the first time and confessing to Carrie Fisher that he used to kiss her picture every night before he went to sleep, or meeting and working with heroes that include Peter Jackson, Kevin Smith, and Quentin Tarantino, Pegg offers a hilarious look at the journey to becoming an international superstar, dotted with a cast of memorable characters, and you're rooting for him all the way.


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Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy?s Journey to Becoming a Big Kid + The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) + Tough Sh*t: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good
Price for all three: $55.63

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"When the hilarious Simon Pegg asked for a quote for his book, I said no."
(Ricky Gervais )

“Simon Pegg is the nerdiest nerd ever to nerd out about nerdiness. Read this hilarious book, nerd!”
(Michael Ian Black, author of My Custom Van )

Nerd Do Well does the necessary job of telling Pegg’s story, but does so in an intimate manner.”
(The Times (London) )

"I read over 1 million books a year and this is the best book I have read in 15 years."
(Kristen Wiig )

“Hollywood’s go-to geek talks about the chronicle of his passage through the lower-lying lands of popular culture.”
(Word magazine )

“How did a geeky kid with a love of Star Wars end up a cult film hero working with Steven Spielberg? Simon Pegg reveals much more.”
(The Observer )

“An anthology of childhood milestones and film analysis, Pegg's book isn't your run-of-the-mill celebrity tell-all.”
(Time.com )

“Anyone over 13 who ever wrote middle-school-aged standup comedy, filmed stop-motion movies with their action figures, storyboarded Star Wars: Episode VII or mixed fake blood using corn syrup and food coloring will probably find a certain kinship with the writer of Nerd Do Well.
(Wired.com )

“As promised in the title, Pegg lets his nerd flag fly, offering extended reflections on the inner workings of comedy and his own fannish obsessions. Sweet, funny and moving, Nerd Do Well is about what you’d expect from Simon Pegg. Yeah, it’s that good.”
(Kirkus Reviews )

Nerd Do Well makes an ideal summer read.  Pegg’s discourse on the merits and shortcomings of the Star Wars movies are worth the price of the book themselves.  It’s everything that Patton Oswalt’s Zombie Spaceship Wasteland could have been but wasn’t.”
(Examiner.com )

“Overflowing with alarmingly bang-on analyses of geek/nerd iconography from the Enterprise to the Death Star to Comic-Con, the Pegg's Tale, so to speak, is the kind of personal history you wish all your four-color heroes would write but generally don't.”
(Austin Chronicle )

“A charming collection of stories”
(Slate.com ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Simon Pegg is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and author. Best known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Spaced, and Paul, he also played Scotty in Star Trek (2009). Simon lives in London with his wife and daughter.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Gotham (June 9, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1592406815
  • ISBN-13: 978-1592406814
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.3 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Leah
Format:Hardcover
If you're familiar with the cult film hits "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz," seen him act in the mainstream flicks "Star Trek" and "Paul," or even heard of the TV series "Spaced," then NERD DO WELL will appeal to your senses since it is penned by none other than the star of these titles, Simon Pegg.

What Mr. Pegg has done with this work is blow everything you thought you knew about him out of the water. His love of entertaining people is present throughout this memoir, complete with a totally true life story where he is an action hero. Told with that "dry British humo[u]r," things you always wanted to know (making up hilarious scenarios or when he met his comedic partner in crime, Nick Frost) and a few you didn't are revealed in this pages as we travel with Mr. Pegg on his quest to become a comedic actor. But you're most likely reading this to relish in your inner nerddom, because, as the title does suggest, Simon Pegg is one of the biggest nerds out there. Think you have the knowledge about the real deal behind Luke Skywalker? Or have the know how on action movies? Chances are, Mr. Pegg and his dear friends know more than you.

Prepare to check real life out the door when you pick this book up as we travel to the final frontier, to a galaxy far, far away, all the way to a mystical place called England, where an adult boy waits for his next adventure.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Simon Pegg is the Man January 8, 2011
Format:Hardcover
This book splits the difference nicely between giving a straightforward autobiographical overview of the man behind "Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz," and other great comedies, injected with a dose of Mr. Pegg's acute comedic sensibilities. I have always enjoyed watching Simon Pegg in interviews because he is the kind of celebrity that is so missing today: down-to-earth, intelligent, polite, and genuinely funny as hell. Well worth reading.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars For hardcore Simon Pegg fans only October 19, 2011
By J-Dubs
Format:Hardcover
I consider myself a pretty hardcore Simon Pegg fan. I, like many Americans, discovered him through Shaun of The Dead and ended up watching the majority of his other work and always enjoyed it (especially Spaced, which i believe is his best work).
As far as the book goes, it's pretty much for devout Simon Pegg fans (the kind that has listened to all his audio commentaries and still want more). The book is average. It has some funny stories and interesting info i never knew about the guy but like many mediocre biogrophies, the book focuses far too much on his childhood/teenage years (about 50-60% of the book actually). And i also found his chapter intros involving his robot servant to be more annoying than funny, although it had a few funny bits i guess.
I certainly dont regret reading the book, its a quick read as i easily finished it in 2 days. But I wish it focused more on his thoughts on the film industry and his career.

So all in all a decent read, but if you only know Simon from Shaun of the Dead or you're just a casual fan, you'll probably want to avoid reading this, however you should pick up the Spaced DVD.

Simon is a great actor/writer and i'm glad to see he's been getting more mainstream attention in America. Hes a intelligent/hilarious guy who's done some great work and i hope his success continues.

Cheers
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Half and Half
The book is written in two different formats: one which is biographical, one which is more of a nerdy, science fiction-y novel. Read more
Published 36 minutes ago by D. Warfield
5.0 out of 5 stars Now THIS is how you do a celebrity memoir!
Now THIS is how you do a celebrity memoir! Simon Pegg may have been reluctant to pen a memoir (more on that in a minute) but he certainly rose to the occasion. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mary Lavers
4.0 out of 5 stars Adolescent focused
I really enjoy the work of Simon Pegg and as such I enjoyed the book. However, if you at looking for a very detailed recounting of his experiences in Hollywood, movies, and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Charles
4.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining.
It was a surprise to have fiction with the evil Sir Conrad Black (in total agreement BTW) mixed in, but both that story line and the autobiography were fun to read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sarah J van Wolde
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I enjoy getting to know the real people behind the figures I admire. Simon is now a friend. A guy I'd have a beer with. Someone I feel like I've known all my life. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Christy Watson
5.0 out of 5 stars Simon Pegg is the man
If you fancy yourself a fan of Simon Pegg and enjoy a good read, pick this up. It was hysterical and very well written. Very good condition as well.
Published 5 months ago by Kenny
5.0 out of 5 stars Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy's Journey to Becoming a Big Kid
I've been a Simon Pegg fan ever since I watched his Spaced series. His 'inside' movie humor and comic relief are great. His bio is just as great. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Melissa Luis
2.0 out of 5 stars Not as great as I had hoped.
Like most biographies, he spent WAY too much time on his childhood. Very little time was spent on "Spaced" or any of his movies. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Thomas Lhamon
5.0 out of 5 stars Simon Pegg never disappoints!
Love this book! Filled with off kilter humo(u)r, and everything you would expect from an innovator like Simon Pegg. After you read the preface, you'll be hooked!
Published 8 months ago by Neekolas714
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Pegg's comedic writing skills are on full display in this memoir. Pegg does not shy away from from exposing himself and does so while not taking himself too seriously. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Moe
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