It's Not Me, It's You!: Impossible perfectionist seeks very very very tidy woman

Jon Richardson is a funny man. I love watching him on the quiz show 8 out of 10 cats. I just wish he was on TV more often instead of the likes of parasitic worms Ant and Dec or the glut of terrible "reality" shows and "celebrity" competitions. Anyway, I knew this book wasn't an autobiography and therefore knew roughly what I was going to be reading. Anyone expecting a life story may be bitterly disappointed. This is Jon speaking about his thought processes as he goes about his everyday life. What causes him to compulsively carry out actions that serve no purpose and don't really matter? Should he get in touch with the lovely girl who has been serving him at the pub, or will his quirks get in the way and turn something that could be fantastic into a something that pushes her away from him for good?There are moments when I was reading and I thought, "Hang on! I do that!" I ended up thinking about the little things that I do that don't really need doing but I do anyway. Things such as putting coins in order in my pocket, straightening up the tea / coffee / sugar tins in the office tea room, and getting slightly annoyed when I see cutlery that isn't hanging on the correct hook on the cutlery stand. And yet I let other things that do matter slide into a state of disorganisation. I think we all have a certain amount of OCD. It's just that some have it in tiny amounts whereas others have a serious problem with it getting in the way of leading a normal life.Jon's thoughts about various instances are described throughout this book. At first it starts out funny, interesting and almost sad as you begin to see how what most people would call a normal life is denied for Jon. Unfortunately, things get slightly repetitive through the mid section of the book and I began to wonder whether it was going to pick up a little bit. Thankfully, this repetitiveness disappears and the narrative moves on.There are plenty out funny moments throughout this book but that is just because Jon is a funny man. It is not really meant to be read as a funny book. The humour is just a small added bonus. If you like Jon Richardson you may like this. If you enjoyed his TV programme where he investigated OCD and the people who experience it then you should definitely read this. It doesn't go into great depth regarding the problem of OCD but it does give an insight into the thoughts whirling through someones head who is suffering from it. Hopefully this leads to people having a better understanding of the condition.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I’ve been a fan of his since first seeing him on 8 out of 10 cats does countdown

I think Jon Richardson shows signs of becoming one of the top comedians of the day - and of the future. I enjoy his self mocking routines and thought i would give his book a go.He writes very well, in a complex and revealing style. It is a very, very honest book. As I read it I thought good grief - he lives in perpetual misery and worry. Then as I continued i thought - oh I do that sometimes - put on a genial face after worrying away at something. He is determined not to let hos obsessiveness rule his life. Well good luck with that Jon!. Since writing this book he has moved from his solitary life in Swindon to a shared home in London, so maybe he is in a better frame of mind for having written this book. He admitted in an interview that 'Gemma' is genericSome parts of his life echo David Mitchell's - a bit OCD and 7 yeears without a girlfriend. DM found Victoria Coren so maybe Jon will find someone too.Would I recommend it - yes. It seems that a lot of comedians are sad people deep down - Tony Hncock comes to mind. But nowadays look how many top comedians are happily married and have that air of contentness about thamGive this book a go

I chose to read this book as I had watched Jon Richardson's television programme about OCD and wanted to know some more about his life and his thoughts on living with obsessive compulsive tendancies.I enjoyed this book and found it an easy & quick read. It is not an autobiography or laugh-a-minute take on his musings about life. It is a refreshingly honest account of living with obessive tendancies and intrusive thoughts - I was actually taken aback by his honesty and was impressed that he has had the courage to lay bare his innermost thoughts & feelings on such a sensitive and personal matter.Jon writes engagingly and well, and though it is not back-to-back laughs, there is plenty of self-deprecating humour to be had. However, ultimately it is a fairly sombre look at one man's struggles within himself - do not buy this if you are looking for standard comedian book fare - this is so much more, and Jon should be applauded for it.

I bought this book because I like Jon's sense of humour and had seen him on TV on "A Little Bit OCD". I am a Counsellor/Psychotherapist - so continuous learning more about these things interest me. I thought I might also laugh often as I read it - but (it seems) like other reviewers, I found that it did not so much amuse me as trigger my sympathy/empathy, some sadness and a desire to get alongside (in a safe big sisterly comforting way)to listen more and encourage. A lot of what he writes about, I can see in myself and in others - he's not as "impossible" to understand or live with as he might think he is. In fact, reading this book will probably result in many readers finding him even more endearing. I applaud his courage and honesty in writing this.