Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington [Paperback]

Karl Pilkington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2006

In this pithy and hilarious book, Karl Pilkington is in conversation with (the often bewildered) Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the writers and stars of The Office and Extras, unwittingly outwitting even those comedy Goliaths as he struggles in vain to make sense of the world around him.

Unencumbered by erudition and impervious to logic, Karl ambles down a heuristic path to enlightenment under the edifying influence of Ricky and Steve. His pronouncements on such diverse and contentious topics as population control, simian affairs within human society, the sartorial deliberations of solitary spacemen and how long you can stay alive with your head chopped off, are matched in the vehemence with which they are proposed only by the degree to which they are ill-conceived.

Featuring Karl's original illustrations, imaginative scribblings and the best conversations of the world record-breaking Podcasts, The Ricky Gervais Show, this is a unique trip into the world of one of our most innovative thinkers, visionaries and prophets, or as Gervais knows him, "the funniest man I've ever met."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karl Pilkington has led an extraordinary and curiously individual life. As a child growing up in Manchester, he regularly missed school to accompany his parents on caravanning holidays and left without collecting his exam result. Now making up for lost time, Karl's thirst for knowledge is sated by that most reliable fountain of wisdom -- the internet, and regulated by Ricky and Steve's diligent, if ruthless, appraisals of his new-found theories and beliefs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (October 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401303420
• ISBN-13: 978-1401303426
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ricky Gervais has won numerous awards for his broadcast work, including six BAFTAs and two Golden Globes for writing, directing and starring in his TV comedy 'The Office'. His recent stand-up tours were sell-outs and received widespread critical acclaim.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Pilkington, October 13, 2006

By 

jon marcus "jon m." (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington (Paperback)

For those of you who are familiar with the Podcasts done by Ricky Gervais, Steven Merchant, and everyone's favorite round-headed idiot, Karl, this is a great book, albeit somewhat redundant but never tiresome. It is comprised primarily of the transcripts from the show, yet there are many pictues and musings straight from Karl that are very funny. I thought it was great and I never get tired of listening to Ricky and Steve gang up on Karl, and reading it was great too, especially when you only have to imagine Ricky's high-pitced cackle as opposed to letting it rip through your ear drums every 10-15 seconds.

I will say this: Karl is too funny to be a complete idiot. It probably is a gag and part of his persona to act dim-witted but it is pulled off so effortlessly that therein lies his genius. Playing a convincing idiot while still entertaining us is something that is funny and stays funny. Great stuff.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pod to Page with Pictures, January 6, 2007

By 

Mister Maunders "Maunders" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington (Paperback)

If you caught the first series of 12 Ricky Gervias Show podcasts, much of the material in the book will be familiar to you. Some of the stories, like the classic, "I could eat a knob at night" aren't quite as funny on the page as they were on the pod. But others, like "What d'you mean about eyes facing forward" are just as absurd, if not more so, on paper. Rounding out the book are some genuinely cute illustrations by the man himself, and original excerpts from his now legendary diary.

If you've heard the show, you already know the material. If you liked it enough to revisit it, the book is a remarkably analog way to do just that. If you haven't been introduced to Karl Pilkington yet, the book is an entertaining read and a glimpse into the inner workings of well-meaning madness.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Same content, different packaging...brilliant, December 26, 2006

By 

Oooh chimpanzee that - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ricky Gervais Presents: The World of Karl Pilkington (Paperback)

This book is very much so the transcripts from the podcasts of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington, with some illustrations and further musings by the man that is Karl Pilkington. This may turn some fans of the show off because the majority of it is word for word exactly what you hear on the podcast. However, it is just as good and should not be immediately dismissed with a "I've already heard it, why would I want to read it." You can instantly hear again Ricky and Stephen calling Karl an absolute idiot for stating that man and dinosaurs must have had some crossover point where they co-existed. For anyone who loves the podcasts and is able to listen to them over and over again, this is a perfect gift. I included this book in a Christmas gift to my brother along with the first two flanimals and the third season of Ricky and his crew's podcast. ENJOY!