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Humor Essays

The Audacity

Why Being Too Much Is Exactly Enough

by (author) Katherine Ryan

Publisher
Doubleday Canada
Initial publish date
Oct 2022
Category
Essays, Entertainment & Performing Arts, Motherhood
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780385696838
    Publish Date
    Sep 2021
    List Price
    $32.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780385696845
    Publish Date
    Oct 2022
    List Price
    $24.00

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND THE TIMES * AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The Audacity is a brilliantly funny, fiercely honest, and dangerously astute handbook of life instruction from the star of the hit Netflix series The Duchess.

"I’ve come to accept that being audacious is a gift I can’t escape."

People "know" my on-stage comedy persona or my scripted ballsy characters and wrongly assume that I must stomp around all day in designer dresses eviscerating those who dare to cross my path. But mostly, I’m just eating pickles and being nice to some dogs.

Whatever strangers think of me is fine with me. How audacious is that? I can always take a joke and I don’t waste time worrying about things I can’t control. I embrace the reality that you just can’t please everyone, so you might as well put yourself out there and have a laugh. As my mother always said, "Katherine, if we all liked the same thing, we’d all be married to your father."

I’m often asked how I developed my lurid level of courage and assurance and for tips on how others can match. The Audacity is my chance to share my blueprint for just that. You will learn:

• How To Be the Most Popular Girl in School
• How to Waste All Your Money on Designer Dogs
• How To Attract Toxic Men . . . AND Keep Them Interested!
And so much more . . .

Secrets are my favourite things to tell and I figured I’d better tell a few juicy ones myself. Why not? No matter what I do, there will always be something about me that reads as simply, outrageously audacious.

About the author

Contributor Notes

KATHERINE RYAN is an award-winning comedian, writer, presenter, and actress. Born and raised in Canada, she has lived in the UK since 2008. Katherine created, starred in, wrote, and produced the Netflix sitcom The Duchess. Her two Netflix stand-up specials, Glitter Room and In Trouble, are also critically acclaimed. She is the host of Telling Everybody Everything, her podcast which goes straight to the top of the charts every week.

Editorial Reviews

Named a best book of 2021 by the Financial Times and The Times

"Wildly readable. . . . Tremendous." —The Times (UK)

"Frank and funny. . . . A laugh-out-loud read packed full of warmth." —Red

"Insightful . . . with unwavering honesty and hilarious observations. A thoroughly enjoyable read that sparkles with wit, warmth and wisdom." —Woman's Own

"A fearless origin story that shows women how to be absolutely fucking awesome at all times. Having Katherine Ryan as the new voice in your head might well be the next stage in women's evolution. If she can't be your best friend, this book is the next best option." —Caitlin Moran

"Outrageously brilliant! Katherine's straight-talking, no-nonsense book is the honesty we all need. I'm buying this for all my friends." —Laura Whitmore

"Like Katherine, this book is witty as hell, sharp as a razor and yet still sensitive, insightful and kind." —Tom Allen

"Massively recommend. . . . I laughed, cried a little and ended up feeling proud to be a strange, small-town sister." —Scarlett Moffatt

"Katherine is one of the smartest, funniest voices in comedy . . . an icon of our time. This book is absolutely hilarious, deeply insightful and truly original. You will love and devour The Audacity." —Lou Sanders

"Like Katherine Ryan herself, The Audacity is hilarious, sharp and brilliantly honest." —Josh Widdicombe

"I am in love with Katherine's writing. The Audacity is exhilarating—fierce, funny and brilliantly written, but there is so much tenderness, honesty and generosity too. I loved every joke but was also deeply moved by its frankness, and the story of contemporary womanhood. It's a book I want to give to every woman I love." —Daisy Buchanan

"There is nothing more powerful and dick-shrivelling than an audaciously liberated woman living her truth. If there was a North Star for uncompromising confidence, it would be Katherine. This book feels like a hilarious and comforting hug from your best friend." —Grace Campbell