Daniel Cann

Brand himself admits on the dust jacket 'My life is a series of embarrassing incidents strung together by telling people about those embarrassing incidents.' After reading his book I confirm that it does what it says on the cover. Brand is not exaggerating. Right from the beginning it is uncompromising 'baring your soul' stuff. He openly discusses his addictions, the book begins with him in an American clinic being treated for 'sex addiction.' We are used to celebrities confessing and opening up about their past indiscretions, thankfully this is no self-pitying or self-righteous monologue. Brand tells his story warts and all in a self-deprecating but humorous way. He is definitely not saying 'poor me.' But rather 'you are never gonna believe what I've been up to!'

The saving grace of the autobiography is that through all the traumas of childhood where Brand was more or less brought up by his mother and his only friends were pets, to trying to gain acceptance at school and later trying to conquer the acting and entertainment industry, he is totally honest. It also helps that all these episodes are told in typical Brand style, you can imagine him grinning to himself as he remembers his exploits. The reader could be sat next to him as he conspiratorially tells you his story.

He has had an unconventional life to say the least. His relationship with his father is unusual and he recalls a holiday with him to Thailand which basically involved having sex with lots of prostitutes. This is an episode where father and son bond and as Brand says 'When I came back from Thailand, I was much more comfortable around women...' We see him becoming who he is today through incidents like these. We learn that he got bitten by the fame and acting bug through performing in a school production of 'Bugsy Malone' as 'Fat Sam.' We follow him through Drama Centre in London as he learns his craft and develops from a shy introvert into the confident gregarious person gracing our airwaves and televisions today.

Each incident and character Brand meets along the way is described in a colourful and candid way. The chubby, shy lad from Dagenham is transformed into a talented but troubled rising star. As he gets his presenting gigs on radio (XFM) and television on MTV so too do his troubles with heroin. As he recounts his bizarre and hilarious experiences on his television show 'RE:Brand' there are sobering accounts of how heroin has gripped him. I found Brand's story compelling because of his honesty, this is not someone trying to impress or saying 'please love me, I'm so witty and talented yet vulnerable..' but rather someone who is coming to terms with what has shaped him and made him who he is. It is painful and sobering at times, he is obviously a precocious talent but in danger of never achieving his potential in these chapters.

Inevitably Brand has to face a decision, carry on like he is with heroin and die or clean up and live. He chooses the latter and stays in a rehab centre in the Cotswolds. Days are spent cycling, getting to know his contemporaries and cleaning up. Again, what could have been a sad or self-pitying typical celebrity bout of mawkishness becomes a witty, honest depiction of life in rehab. He is revealing and candid and does not gloss over anything.

Throughout 'My Booky Wook' he discusses relationships with girlfriends and some bizarre sexual liaisons, drugs, his love of his mother and the death of his beloved nan and his struggle to overcome his addictions and succeed in the entertainment industry. Despite my initial reservations about this book and its subject matter, fearing it would be another celebrity love-in with clichéd stories of sex drugs and rock and roll I found myself pleasantly surprised. I confess to thoroughly enjoying this and learning the background to Russell Brand's rise to fame as comedian, 'Big Brother' presenter, radio DJ and actor. The man seems to be everywhere these days and I understand how his flamboyant style does not endear him to everyone, but I enjoyed learning more about the real person behind the wild hair, the smirk and wildly camp exterior. Essential reading for fans and enjoyable even for those with a passing interest.