The book that spawned the TV sit com Beautiful People. I don’t watch hardly any TV shows as 99% are utter crap: Beautiful People was well in the 1%.
So how did the book compare to the TV show?
Superbly.
I would definitely suggest to anyone thinking about reading this book to watch the TV show first, as i can’t see it being as good watching it afterwards. The book has so much more of Simon’s life in it and there are so many more characters and escapades from his childhood that were left out of the TV show and if you read the book first you’ll probably end up getting grumpy that some of the characters and escapades in the book aren’t in the TV show.
That’s not to say the TV show is bad, it’s not, it’s superb, but in order to make a good sit-com out of this book there had to be a few characters left out and certain characters that were left in have been changed somewhat.
Anyways, enough of that, just go watch the TV show and have a good laugh knowing you’ve got a lot more to read about afterwards for desert.
My first Simon Doonan book, and it certainly won’t be my last. He’s a really good writer. Thanks for the giggles and laughs, Simon.
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Shortly after i wrote the above review i received James Clear’s The 3-2-1 Newsletter which had the following quote in it:
Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler Ross on how beautiful people are made:
The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
Source: Death: The Final Stage of Growth
PS. Do consider signing up for The 3-2-1 Newsletter — it’s really good — and don’t forget to read James’ book, Atomic Habits.
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