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A Life in Questions
- Narrated by: Jeremy Paxman
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
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A Life in Questions
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Summary
The witty, incisive and frank memoirs from the legend of Newsnight and long-standing quiz master of University Challenge. Filled with views, opinions and stories from 4 decades in front of the camera.
‘Bursting with good things’ Daily Telegraph
During 25 years as BBC Newsnight’s supreme inquisitor, Jeremy Paxman proved himself as the master of the political intervview. From John Major to Theresa May and Tony Blair to Ed Miliband, he has them quaking in their boots. But it wasn’t just politicians. Paxman’s interviews with Dizzee Rascal, David Bowie, Russell Brand and Vivienne Westwood are legendary. He discussed belief with religious leaders and philosophers, economics with CEOs and bankers, books with writers, and art and theatre with artists. After 23 years on University Challenge, Paxman is also the longest-serving active quizmaster on British television.
In A Life in Questions, the tables are turned: the quizmaster answers our burning questions, telling terrifying stories and laughing at much of the silliness in the world. These are the long-awaited memoirs of the greatest political interviewer of our time.
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Critic reviews
‘[Paxman] records his childhood and the highs and lows of his subsequent career with a sharp eye, an acerbic wit and a lingering trace of melancholy.’ Daily Mail
‘Funny, sad and revealing’ David Aaronovitch, The Times
‘Entertaining’, Books of the Year, Observer
‘[A] trenchant memoir’ Daily Mail
‘Eye-opening … [an] entertaining and anecdote-rich book’ Daily Express
‘Revealing memoir’ Observer
‘Gripping’ Literary Review
What listeners say about A Life in Questions
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sean
- 17-11-16
Really good
Excellent book about a very interesting individual. Having Paxman himself read it added to it greatly.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bookish
- 24-04-17
Engaging and funny
I bought this on the recommendation of other reviewers, I'm not a die hard Paxo fan but Jeremy Paxman's narration was wonderful. He really brought the story to life and gave a great insight into his life, politics and the BBC with playful humour.
This was a fun listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joe
- 14-10-17
A superb listen
Jeremy Paxman being his true self, no nonsense style, yet very, very interesting and his usual dry sense of humour.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Roberto Gorrara
- 17-03-24
Not sure it is what I expected - but good nonetheless.
I enjoyed it all - interesting to hear about JPs early life and schooling. I feel I came to it somewhat late. Still good.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Zoe Dawes
- 15-10-16
Like the BBC: informative, educational and entertaining
Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Jeremy Paxman tell his own story. Fascinating insight into a journalist' and TV presenter's world. He even manages to make politics interesting. It's not exactly an auto-biography as he once he reaches post-university days he seldom refers to his personal life i.e. marriage etc. (He does explain that he won't be discussing family life at the start of the book.)
It's mainly about his time at the BBC as a journalist and presenter of Newsnight and University Challenge. Riveting stuff, with a fair sprinkling of Paxman brio and at times rather unconvincing dash of humility. The book goes to Post-Brexit and ends on an upbeat note about his life and times. Loved every minute.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Ash
- 19-01-17
Honest, engaging and worthwhile.
As a regular viewer of University Challenge and occasional Newsnight viewer I like Paxman, and chose to read this book on the expectation that he'd have led an interesting life.
There are indeed some great stories in the book but what I most enjoyed is the sense of an ordinary man going down his own peculiar path in life but without bending too much to the will of others.
Having read the book I'd firmly place Paxman on my list of people I'd happily go for a pint with, and I'd even go so far as to say the first round could be on me.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Mark
- 19-02-21
Open, Honest and Entertaining
Read by the author himself, this is a superb listen. It briefly covers his early life and then gets into the substance of his career which he tackles with brutal self-reflection, candour and humour. His personal life is mostly left unsaid but I found his relationship, or lack of, with his father to be fascinating if sad. All in all this is an excellent listen from one of our finest journalists and broadcasters.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Susan Whitehead
- 06-11-16
A life in question
A very interesting book read by the author which adds to its enjoyment. It holds many insights into the workings of the BBC . It would have been even more interesting if Jeremy had included something more of his private life as well.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kevin Mills
- 16-04-18
A fascinating view of Britain , politics and the BBC.
Jeremy Paxham gives us a ring side view of some of the people politics and institutions that have shaped modern Britain over the last 40 years . A very honest and enjoyable account of his and our journey .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Helen
- 12-12-16
A life in Question
In the early chapters about his life I was totally enthralled and listening whilst walking my two dogs I found myself laughing outloud. But as it went on ,bearing in mind most of us have views about the BBC which are not very nice; most are far reaching, crushing and final, it became a bit of a monologue, tried to be daring but did not succeed, sad, confirming what I already knew they are an overpaid egotistical bunch of ......why do ITV send six people abroad to cover news and the Beeb 200 ! I would sack half the Beeb overnight,, cancel licence fee and let them fight for survival like every other business. And make them read another rag other than the Bl.. Guardian.
No Jeremy you are inhibited by the BBC your writing is much more fun to me when you are writing about real people and life situations. I write,don't we all on my third book, it's not boring or lonely ,hard work I suppose, but fun.
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1 person found this helpful