The Highly Sensitive Person offers a deep dive into the life of comedian David Baddiel, marked by his unflinching honesty and candid reflections on his family's history and personal experiences. The memoir balances wit and tenderness, providing a well-rounded journey through Baddiel's life, from his mother's escape from Nazi Germany to his own experiences with grief and fame.
David Baddiel's memoir, The Highly Sensitive Person, is a testament to his radical honesty and self-awareness. The book delves into his family's history, including his mother's escape from Nazi Germany and his own upbringing in North London. Baddiel's writing is pragmatic and sometimes uncomfortably self-aware, allowing readers to reflect on societal norms and personal relationships. His experiences with his mother's affair, his father's dementia, and the grief that followed are handled with wit and tenderness, making the memoir both humorous and deeply moving. Baddiel's ability to recount fame from the perspective of a 'regular person' adds a unique layer to the narrative, providing a well-rounded tour through the seasons of life.
Quick quotes
Within six months of graduation I was earning an income from writing and have now performed alongside established writers at some great venues and events.
The book follows on from Baddiel’s Olivier-nominated stand-up show _My Family: Not The Sitcom_ but goes far more in depth.
From his mother’s escape from Nazi Germany as a child to his own childhood spent in North London, Baddiel chronicles the details of his family with pragmatism and a sometimes-uncomfortable level of self-awareness.