The book that got me through the later stages of the election campaign was How Not to Grow Up by Richard Herring. I kept it in my bag and read it at odd moments because it is the sort of thing you can dip into  like that.  I like to arrive early for things, so I don’t need to be in a rush and get stressed about being late.  The downside is that I find myself where I need to be half an hour early.   I found that this was ideal for passing some time and clearing my mind before hustings.

You don’t need to be standing for election to enjoy it though!This was another book from Amazon’s Vine programme.  Unusually, this is one that I was going to buy, so when I saw it on Vine’s newsletter I jumped at it.  Having seen Richard Herring doing standup, listened to his Collings & Herrin podcasts, followed his blog, and even been to see one of the live podcasts in Brighton I fully expected to enjoy it, and so I did.

This is what I thought:

This is not an autobiography as such, but the story of the few months before Richard Herring’s 40th birthday and the year or so after it.

As you would expect of a book from a professional comedian it is funny, but it has a serious point to it as well and as the book progresses it becomes increasingly more serious, with fewer laughs. By then it doesn’t matter because you are hooked and wanting to know what happens next takes priority over where the next laugh is coming from.

As the book starts, Herring looks at where he is as he approaches 40 – no responsibilities, out drinking every night and a string of casual relationships. Although most blokes of the same age are probably paralysed with jealousy reading this, Herring himself is wondering whether there might be more to life and whether it really is time to settle down. It is surprisingly deep for a comedian’s memoirs, but never to the extent of being dull; in fact it is very funny indeed.

Fans of Richard Herring will be relieved to know that the contents have not already been covered in his long-running blog or podcasts – not that fans would be put off buying it even if that was the case – but they are going to get something new here, and something with a definite structure and story arc.

I really enjoyed reading this and I think most people would – once they understand the writer’s sense of humour. Anybody who has seen him perform or read his other writing will know how he likes to say bad things that he doesn’t mean for effect. On the page it can sometimes seem like he actually means it.

Recommended for anybody who is 40, used to be 40 or intends to be 40 some day.