Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

  • A Comedian's Guide to Autism
  • By: Pierre Novellie
  • Narrated by: Pierre Novellie
  • Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (136 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

By: Pierre Novellie
Narrated by: Pierre Novellie
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £31.99

Buy Now for £31.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

'Outstanding, I want to press it into the hands of every newly diagnosed person' Fern Brady

'Like a Martian's guide to living on Earth. Funny, enlightening and gobsmacking' Frank Skinner

'A hilarious, crystal-clear guide to autism' Phil Wang


Why were the other kids at school obsessed with Britney Spears instead of The Goon Show?
Why don't people ever say what they mean?
And... Why is everyone chewing so loudly?

Comedian Pierre Novellie was on stage when a heckler suggested he was autistic. Usually, this disruption would be water off a duck's back but two things made this heckler different: first, he was himself autistic. Second, he turned out to be absolutely right.

This random encounter led to a diagnosis of autism at the age of 31 that unravelled his world, explained his struggles and answered questions that had bothered him for his entire life.

At once a hilarious and insightful journey through autism and neurodivergence, an entertaining explainer for the uninitiated and observational comedy for the neurodiverse, this is the perfect read for anyone who has ever asked themselves: why can't I just enjoy things?

The audiobook includes an exclusive Q&A with comedian and BudPod co-host, Phil Wang.
©2024 Pierre Novellie (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

How Not to Fit In cover art
Adult Autism Essentials cover art
But You Don't Look Autistic at All cover art
Sidesplitter cover art
The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy cover art
Girl Unmasked cover art
Self-Care for Autistic People cover art
Looking After Your Autistic Self cover art
Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum (Second Edition) cover art
The Unfinished Harauld Hughes cover art
Spectrum Women cover art
Be Funny or Die cover art
Can I Have My Ball Back? cover art
Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Adults cover art
Autism in Heels cover art
So, I'm Autistic cover art

What listeners say about Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    129
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    128
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    123
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book.

I'm on my third listen right now.

On my first listen I could have sworn Pierre had been observing me my entire life taking notes and was now reporting on everything I'd ever done wrong socially and patiently and thoroughly explaining to me how to avoid those issues in the future. Honestly i could have cried with relief, I finally have a manual.

Thanks Pierre.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific!

Entertaining and interesting and informative. Loved Pierre reading it too. A great way to spend a few hours. It has made me more determined to be assessed. Despite how difficult that may be.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Vital reading/listening

Exceptional book. Anyone who thinks they have autism/has autism/knows anyone with autism should read or listen to this book. The research that had gone into it, combined with the personal stories, make it very compelling and engaging. As a medical professional with family members who have ASD I’m surprised by just how much I learned from the book. Pierre also has a wonderful voice and it’s a genuine pleasure to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

A compelling must listen

I love Pierre Novellie anyway, but this book is so well written, concise and eye opening I wouldn't have expected anything less.
I have already recommended it to other people and will be ordering a physical copy.
If you are, suspect you may be, or love an autistic person then this book is for you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great and relatable book

I found Pierre's ability to pass over key information and do it in a concise , engaging and funny manner great!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Funny, well informed, helpful and enjoyable book

This has been the most helpful book I’ve ever read. It’s funny yet so well researched and so much I could relate to. Anyone that is autistic, thinks they are or lives with someone that is, could do worse that reading this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best book to understand high functioning autism

Reading about these topics can be a rather hard affair due to the... well it's ultimately hard for autists out in the world so it triggers sadness, anger and fear when reading about how they are. It can be hard to get through even a single article. This book made it bearable, even fun at times, while it did not compromise on the depth of understanding and information it conveys. I will recommend this as the single read-this-first thing for anyone who wants to understand autism and definitely to my autistic son when he becomes 18 years old.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Most Enjoyable Book I’ve Ever Listened to!

As a fan of BudPod, I have always found Pierre’s turn of phrase far funnier out of the two of them. Not sure if it’s the similarity in age, the well-spoken accent or the ironic view of many normal parts of our life that I find most relatable, but this book encapsulates all of that!

Moreover, Pierre actually reads the book like he’s talking us through a story, rather than it sounding like somebody reading a book.

10/10, more books please!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So I don’t have to do the hard reading

Saw his stand up at an Edinburgh preview and this was mentioned. Stand up was really good and easy and the book follows in this style. Having a child diagnosed with ASD recently it was good to hear the history/experiences told in a lucid way. And maybe brings me closer to what my child may be experiencing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bloody brilliant!

This book is so funny and informative, not only about Autism but also various aspects of history which I must now go away and research!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!