#x18;Never has anyone made me feel so close to the terrifying and occasionally exhilarating insanity that is stand-up comedy#x19;. Sam Mendes, Observer Books of the Year In 2001, after over a decade in the business, Stewart Lee quit stand-up, disillusioned and drained, and went off to direct a loss-making opera about Jerry Springer. Here is a blow-by-blow account of his snail-paced comeback, in the form of annotated transcripts of the three full-length shows that sealed his reputation as the most critically acclaimed stand-up in Britain . #x18;a brutally funny masterpiece of Brechtian autobiography. I kid you not.#x19; Andrew Male, caughtbytheriver.net#x18;The trials, insecurities and passions that have fuelled him over the past ten years are so honestly, amusingly, eloquently, and, often, viciously expressed that it only serves to further confirm his position as one of our leading #x1C;alternative#x1D; national treasures.#x19; **** Tim Arthur, Time Out #x18;Required reading for comedy fans & A fascinating insight into the process of creating comedy.

#x19; Natalie Haynes, Observer #x18;The wonderful achievement of this book is that it makes you as excited as Lee is by the capabilities of a man in a dark room with a microphone.#x19; Richard Godwin, Evening Standard#x18;so long, so bitter - and so thoroughly enjoyable#x19; Dazed and Confused.