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  • Who Do I Think I Am?

  • By: Mark Steel
  • Narrated by: Mark Steel
  • Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (631 ratings)
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Who Do I Think I Am?

By: Mark Steel
Narrated by: Mark Steel
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Summary

Comedian Mark Steel's hilarious and heartbreaking exploration of his own adoption.

Growing up in humdrum Swanley in Kent with loving parents, Mark Steel had never been bothered about being an adopted child. But in later life, established as a successful comedian and writer, he decided to search for his biological parents.

What he uncovered was a story so strange, a cast of characters so eccentric and far-fetched that he was transported to social and cultural divides that spanned half the world. His mother had at first refused to have Mark adopted, while his father later went on to become a key player in Mayfair’s Clermont gambling club and reached the pinnacle of high society. What happened when Mark finally contacted both his parents is as moving as it was entirely unexpected. 

As well as his own story, told in his uniquely endearing and hilarious voice, Mark delves into the more serious aspects of adoption, single motherhood and the brutality of the social attitudes of the time. He surveys the testimony of mothers and those adopted and tries to find reasons for his own mother’s crucial and agonising decision. Who Do I Think I Am is one of the funniest, most heart-breaking stories you’ll ever encounter.

©2021 Mark Steel (P)2021 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Who Do I Think I Am?

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A Superb Take off Real Live

I saw Mark Steel perform his touring version of this back in 2015 and found it deeply moving and funny at the same time. I was really excited to see this much more in depth and expanded telling of his story, I was not disappointed.
Mark narrates this in his own unique style, which has entertained me now for many years. it's a fascinating tale of a real life and how the morals of the day shaped it and the lives of those involved. Mark, in telling his story, also explores the social and moral history in some depth, never failing to see the ridiculousness of the situations and attitudes that often blighted the lives they touched.
Highly recommended.

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A Born Story Teller

A great book! Mark Steel is a born story teller - engaging and interesting at every twist and turn. he speaks, and believe me, you really want to listen! Highly recommended.

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Excellent

I really like Mark's work have been a fan for nearly 30 years now, so no surprises, I enjoyed this very much. It shows how well rounded and emotionally aware he is and explores, with a lot of humor, how complicated life can be and all the good things that come from that.

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loved it

this was sonfunny, fascinating and moving. I loved it . so glad I listened to the audio of it, he has a brilliant voice.

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Sublime combination of story and narration

Mark Steel never seemed to have an interesting background to him but I picked this up as I always enjoy listening to an author reading their own work, and Mark Steel has always been good at speaking.

I had no expectations, but this book pulled me in immediately with Mark Steel making his story interesting and funny, and his narration keeping me engaged.

Overall this is one of the best audiobooks I have ever heard.

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A year Life Story From A funny Man

I"m really glad I picked this Audible book by Mark Steel. The humanity and hurt coming from a funny delivery is superlative. Without question he has told his story which has covered a long period of his life, putting things in the back-burner and bringing things back when prompted by a location of thought. It is a del yet lovely true story of chance and luck and I believe a lot of research. Mark Sheep's mourners around the UK taking the rise out of different votes and towns are some of the best comedy around todsy. Who knew he was carrying out this pretty mammoth research into his life, whilst making us all laugh. Good on you Mark, brilliant.

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Mark Steel - A gifted story teller

I am enjoying Mark Steel's autobiography. He is certainly very gifted with words and has a quick and delightful sense of humour. He is a joy to listen to.

However, he does get rather bogged down with his father's membership of an exclusive London club, which does become rather long-winded to listen to.

That said, well worth the use of a credit, and great to listen to on a car journey!

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You really couldn't make this up.

This story is best described by Mark when catching the BBC series on TV.

When seeing a celebrity discover he is related to someone with an interesting past.

" I f***ing trumped that mate"

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An utter joy

I could listen to Mark Steel talking all day long. This is laugh out loud funny, poignant, fascinating and unremittingly weird. Absolutely excellent from start to finish.

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Nor to be missed

Even better than I anticipated, an honest appraisal of Mark's life experience and a fascinating comparison between nature and nurture that his research into his biological origins reveals.

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5 people found this helpful