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Bullet Points by Mark Watson (3-Feb-2005) Paperback
Psychologist Peter Kristal has a thriving practice in Chicago, but when you make a living solving other people’s problems, it’s good to be aware of your own.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Mark Watson
35 books343 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Mark Watson is an English comedian, novelist, and producer whose career spans stand-up, radio, television, and literature. Born in Bristol to a Welsh mother and English father, he grew up with younger twin sisters and a brother. Educated at Bristol Grammar School, he went on to study English at Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with first-class honours. At university, he became a member of the prestigious Footlights, performing alongside Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key, and Dan Stevens, and contributing to a revue nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Watson first gained wider recognition through stand-up comedy, performing regularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he won the inaugural Panel Prize at the if.comeddies in 2006 and received a Perrier Comedy Award nomination in 2005. Known for inventive and often marathon performances, his shows have included 24-hour performances, collaborative audience-driven novels, and themed events like the “Earth Summit” and “Edit,” compiling his festival highlights. His comedy frequently incorporates unusual settings, from ferries and streams to vaccination queues, demonstrating his flair for unconventional experiences.
On television, Watson co-hosted the BBC Four panel show We Need Answers, appeared on series including Taskmaster, Richard Osman's House of Games, and Celebrity Mastermind, and starred in his own programs such as Mark Watson Kicks Off and the Channel 4 panel show The Mad Bad Ad Show. His appearances also extend to stand-up specials on Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, and international comedy festivals in Australia and New Zealand.
In radio, he has hosted multiple series including Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better and Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life, often collaborating with Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Flo & Joan. He has also contributed to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk and produced series exploring both comedy and broader cultural themes.
Watson is also a prolific author, publishing novels, non-fiction works, and graphic novels. His books include Bullet Points, Crap at the Environment, Eleven, The Knot, Dan and Sam, Hotel Alpha, The Place That Didn't Exist, Contacts, Mortification, and One Minute Away.
Beyond performing and writing, he co-runs Impatient Productions, producing radio shows, podcasts, and digital content, and hosts the World Snooker Tour podcast Snooker Club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he innovated with livestreamed 24-hour charity events called “Watsonathon!” and co-created the YouTube series No More Jockeys.
Mark Watson is a lifelong supporter of Bristol City Football Club and continues to live in East London, balancing a career that blends comedy, literature, and experimental performance with a commitment to inventive, audience-focused storytelling and engaging entertainment.
Mark Watson is an English comedian, novelist, and producer whose career spans stand-up, radio, television, and literature. Born in Bristol to a Welsh mother and English father, he grew up with younger twin sisters and a brother. Educated at Bristol Grammar School, he went on to study English at Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with first-class honours. At university, he became a member of the prestigious Footlights, performing alongside Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key, and Dan Stevens, and contributing to a revue nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Watson first gained wider recognition through stand-up comedy, performing regularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he won the inaugural Panel Prize at the if.comeddies in 2006 and received a Perrier Comedy Award nomination in 2005. Known for inventive and often marathon performances, his shows have included 24-hour performances, collaborative audience-driven novels, and themed events like the “Earth Summit” and “Edit,” compiling his festival highlights. His comedy frequently incorporates unusual settings, from ferries and streams to vaccination queues, demonstrating his flair for unconventional experiences.
On television, Watson co-hosted the BBC Four panel show We Need Answers, appeared on series including Taskmaster, Richard Osman's House of Games, and Celebrity Mastermind, and starred in his own programs such as Mark Watson Kicks Off and the Channel 4 panel show The Mad Bad Ad Show. His appearances also extend to stand-up specials on Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, and international comedy festivals in Australia and New Zealand.
In radio, he has hosted multiple series including Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better and Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life, often collaborating with Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Flo & Joan. He has also contributed to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk and produced series exploring both comedy and broader cultural themes.
Watson is also a prolific author, publishing novels, non-fiction works, and graphic novels. His books include Bullet Points, Crap at the Environment, Eleven, The Knot, Dan and Sam, Hotel Alpha, The Place That Didn't Exist, Contacts, Mortification, and One Minute Away.
Beyond performing and writing, he co-runs Impatient Productions, producing radio shows, podcasts, and digital content, and hosts the World Snooker Tour podcast Snooker Club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he innovated with livestreamed 24-hour charity events called “Watsonathon!” and co-created the YouTube series No More Jockeys.
Mark Watson is a lifelong supporter of Bristol City Football Club and continues to live in East London, balancing a career that blends comedy, literature, and experimental performance with a commitment to inventive, audience-focused storytelling and engaging entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 22, 2018
‘Bullet Points’ by Mark Watson (2005) – This is the story of the life and professional career of psychologist Dr Peter Kristal.
Dr Kristal has developed a way of ‘sorting out peoples lives’ via a seemingly revolutionary approach – cataloguing the lives of clients by an index, a list of key bullet points, summarising all that needs to be known. But whilst Kristal is busy advancing his career and ‘sorting out’ the lives of others – is he actually successful at ‘sorting out’ his own?
Stand-up comedian and writer Watson delves into the complex, murky and ambiguous world of celebrity psychoanalysis and psychotherapy and considers some uncomfortable truths. Whilst there is much here concerning mental health, stability and well-being – the central theme that is key to ‘Bullet Points’ though, is a combination and heady mix of secrets and lies, of professional jealously and personal rivalry.
As a debut novel, it is well written and as you’d expect witty – ‘Bullet Points is a strong effort, although pedestrian at times – it is most certainly the ending, the denouement that elevates ‘Bullet Points’ from a 3 to a 4 star novel and makes it well worth the wait.
Dr Kristal has developed a way of ‘sorting out peoples lives’ via a seemingly revolutionary approach – cataloguing the lives of clients by an index, a list of key bullet points, summarising all that needs to be known. But whilst Kristal is busy advancing his career and ‘sorting out’ the lives of others – is he actually successful at ‘sorting out’ his own?
Stand-up comedian and writer Watson delves into the complex, murky and ambiguous world of celebrity psychoanalysis and psychotherapy and considers some uncomfortable truths. Whilst there is much here concerning mental health, stability and well-being – the central theme that is key to ‘Bullet Points’ though, is a combination and heady mix of secrets and lies, of professional jealously and personal rivalry.
As a debut novel, it is well written and as you’d expect witty – ‘Bullet Points is a strong effort, although pedestrian at times – it is most certainly the ending, the denouement that elevates ‘Bullet Points’ from a 3 to a 4 star novel and makes it well worth the wait.
October 21, 2018
I'm a bit unsure about the grade.
Truth is, I felt it was a really average book since the beginning. Then, halfway through it, there is an interesting change in the way to regard the story and I thought "This might actually be good!" And then, the ending. I felt like it was completely uncalled for and as though it were trying to make a social criticism that, honestly, doesn't land, and it felt quite offensive, actually. I can try and frame it in the year this book is based on but, still, it just wasn't a satisfying ending and left me with a bitter taste.
Truth is, I felt it was a really average book since the beginning. Then, halfway through it, there is an interesting change in the way to regard the story and I thought "This might actually be good!" And then, the ending. I felt like it was completely uncalled for and as though it were trying to make a social criticism that, honestly, doesn't land, and it felt quite offensive, actually. I can try and frame it in the year this book is based on but, still, it just wasn't a satisfying ending and left me with a bitter taste.
November 23, 2015
Mostly harmless. I was underwhelmed by this book ..... to me it didnt really get going, and the big reveal at the end was not up to much.
1.5 rounded up to a 2 because I have enjoyed other books by Mark Watson
1.5 rounded up to a 2 because I have enjoyed other books by Mark Watson
January 10, 2015
Not a comfortable read, given its subject matter, but an engrossing tale. Strong characters, unlikable but engaging.
January 28, 2011
it is cleverly written from the viewpoint of a psychologist who secretly despises his best friend because of his wealth and talents. his patients include minor celebrities who bring him a small dose of fame as he tries to claw himself up to the status of his best friend; a world famous, published psychologist reguarly appearing on television to be interviewed.
i found it really imaginative and very witty. it was maybe slightly lacking a bit of drive after the first two chapters (it is his first published novel)but then gets going and doesn't stop until the very last page and even when you put the book down; i found it really thought provoking even after i had finished reading it. i am a big fan of his stand up work and got the book to compare 'funny-ness'. it is by no means a comedy book, but it didn't ruin any expectations.
if you haven't see Mark Watson doing stand up comedy, why not? he is a very funny man who often appears on Mock the Week etc.
i found it really imaginative and very witty. it was maybe slightly lacking a bit of drive after the first two chapters (it is his first published novel)but then gets going and doesn't stop until the very last page and even when you put the book down; i found it really thought provoking even after i had finished reading it. i am a big fan of his stand up work and got the book to compare 'funny-ness'. it is by no means a comedy book, but it didn't ruin any expectations.
if you haven't see Mark Watson doing stand up comedy, why not? he is a very funny man who often appears on Mock the Week etc.
June 20, 2012
Bullet Points is an interesting book with an interesting voice and I have to admit there was something about the conclusion that was deeply moving and depressing. However, I thought large parts of the book didn't add to the story much and the meandering foreshadowing went on a bit too long with nothing actually happening.
September 24, 2015
'Bullet Points' was a slow burner for me. Very cleverly written, with strong characters and ending. However the storyline was a little bit slow in places but overall a good debut.
January 27, 2019
Bullet Points tells the story of one Peter Kristal, a boy made good from a small town in rural Cambridgeshire. He finds success as a shrink to the rich and famous of the USA - but his life and career seem permanently blighted by comparison with his old school friend (and fellow shrink) Richard, whose star always seems to be shining that little bit brighter. The bullet points of the title refer to his patented method of reducing his patients' lives to bullet points - all the better enabling him to see patterns and themes. From the outset there is a sense of impending doom, and the sense that his obsession with Richard's trajectory will bring nothing but trouble ...
I really wanted to like this book. There is a quote on the cover from Stephen Fry (tick) comparing Mark Watson to Woody Allen (tick) and William Boyd (TICK) - but I just couldn't. Big spoiler - there is a huge 'unreliable narrator' thing going on, which is fairly apparent from the outset. Unfortunately, I didn't like Peter Kristal enough to care whether or what he was lying about. The titular 'Bullet Points' don't seem to add anythi") and didn't actually seem to move anything forward. It was almost as though Watson felt his famous psychologist needed a gimmick, and didn't much care what it was.
I stuck with it because (a) its not that long and (b) the sense of building to an inevitable denouement kept me hopeful that there would be a payoff at the end. When Peter commits suicide, the narration is taken over by the indefatigable Richard who reveals that Peter's real issue is ... his sexuality. Wait, what? Yes, if you go back you can pick up the little nuggets which are scattered throughout the book - but why would you? Again they didn't feel central to the narrative - just breadcrumbs, dropped in anticipation of a big reveal later on.
My main issue with this book seems to be that I didn't care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened to them, or to mourn once it had happened. It felt cleverly plotted and orchestrated - but too self aware and knowing to be a truly pleasurable read. Bullet Points tells the story of one Peter Kristal, a boy made good from a small town in rural Cambridgeshire. He finds success as a shrink to the rich and famous of the USA - but his life and career seem permanently blighted by comparison with his old school friend (and fellow shrink) Richard, whose star always seems to be shining that little bit brighter. The bullet points of the title refer to his patented method of reducing his patients' lives to bullet points - all the better enabling him to see patterns and themes. From the outset there is a sense of impending doom, and the sense that his obsession with Richard's trajectory will bring nothing but trouble ...
I really wanted to like this book. There is a quote on the cover from Stephen Fry (tick) comparing Mark Watson to Woody Allen (tick) and William Boyd (TICK) - but I just couldn't. Big spoiler - there is a huge 'unreliable narrator' thing going on, which is fairly apparent from the outset. Unfortunately, I didn't like Peter Kristal enough to care whether or what he was lying about. The titular 'Bullet Points' don't seem to add anythi") and didn't actually seem to move anything forward. It was almost as though Watson felt his famous psychologist needed a gimmick, and didn't much care what it was.
I stuck with it because (a) its not that long and (b) the sense of building to an inevitable denouement kept me hopeful that there would be a payoff at the end. When Peter commits suicide, the narration is taken over by the indefatigable Richard who reveals that Peter's real issue is ... his sexuality. Wait, what? Yes, if you go back you can pick up the little nuggets which are scattered throughout the book - but why would you? Again they didn't feel central to the narrative - just breadcrumbs, dropped in anticipation of a big reveal later on.
My main issue with this book seems to be that I didn't care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened to them, or to mourn once it had happened. It felt cleverly plotted and orchestrated - but too self aware and knowing to be a truly pleasurable read.
I really wanted to like this book. There is a quote on the cover from Stephen Fry (tick) comparing Mark Watson to Woody Allen (tick) and William Boyd (TICK) - but I just couldn't. Big spoiler - there is a huge 'unreliable narrator' thing going on, which is fairly apparent from the outset. Unfortunately, I didn't like Peter Kristal enough to care whether or what he was lying about. The titular 'Bullet Points' don't seem to add anythi") and didn't actually seem to move anything forward. It was almost as though Watson felt his famous psychologist needed a gimmick, and didn't much care what it was.
I stuck with it because (a) its not that long and (b) the sense of building to an inevitable denouement kept me hopeful that there would be a payoff at the end. When Peter commits suicide, the narration is taken over by the indefatigable Richard who reveals that Peter's real issue is ... his sexuality. Wait, what? Yes, if you go back you can pick up the little nuggets which are scattered throughout the book - but why would you? Again they didn't feel central to the narrative - just breadcrumbs, dropped in anticipation of a big reveal later on.
My main issue with this book seems to be that I didn't care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened to them, or to mourn once it had happened. It felt cleverly plotted and orchestrated - but too self aware and knowing to be a truly pleasurable read. Bullet Points tells the story of one Peter Kristal, a boy made good from a small town in rural Cambridgeshire. He finds success as a shrink to the rich and famous of the USA - but his life and career seem permanently blighted by comparison with his old school friend (and fellow shrink) Richard, whose star always seems to be shining that little bit brighter. The bullet points of the title refer to his patented method of reducing his patients' lives to bullet points - all the better enabling him to see patterns and themes. From the outset there is a sense of impending doom, and the sense that his obsession with Richard's trajectory will bring nothing but trouble ...
I really wanted to like this book. There is a quote on the cover from Stephen Fry (tick) comparing Mark Watson to Woody Allen (tick) and William Boyd (TICK) - but I just couldn't. Big spoiler - there is a huge 'unreliable narrator' thing going on, which is fairly apparent from the outset. Unfortunately, I didn't like Peter Kristal enough to care whether or what he was lying about. The titular 'Bullet Points' don't seem to add anythi") and didn't actually seem to move anything forward. It was almost as though Watson felt his famous psychologist needed a gimmick, and didn't much care what it was.
I stuck with it because (a) its not that long and (b) the sense of building to an inevitable denouement kept me hopeful that there would be a payoff at the end. When Peter commits suicide, the narration is taken over by the indefatigable Richard who reveals that Peter's real issue is ... his sexuality. Wait, what? Yes, if you go back you can pick up the little nuggets which are scattered throughout the book - but why would you? Again they didn't feel central to the narrative - just breadcrumbs, dropped in anticipation of a big reveal later on.
My main issue with this book seems to be that I didn't care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened to them, or to mourn once it had happened. It felt cleverly plotted and orchestrated - but too self aware and knowing to be a truly pleasurable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2022
I quite like Watson's comedy, but this was awful. I'd read a later novel of his which was undemanding but decent enough, this had loftier aspirations but was too detached from the events, which for the first 80 pages at least were incredibly dull anyway and I called it a day.
Written as a retrospective by a middle-aged psychotherapist, the novel dealt with the narrator's cases and his inferiority complex to a gifted friend who is incredibly successful. Stylistically it was reminiscent of Julian Barnes, with an educated but fairly dull man recounting his smart-alec youth behaviour, and its bullet points and formula similar to A Sense of an Ending, which was written after this. There was another way I was primed to Barnes, as there were annoying footnotes that referenced works including one of his, and were one of the few ways the narrator expressed any personality whatsoever. The narration was very dry, with little direct speech to put you present in the scenes and I found myself uninterested in the characters.
I stopped after a chapter in which the meaning of made up lyrics was interpreted by two other characters - books about music leave me cold anyway, but I couldn't suspend my disbelief at a 23-year-old author writing about professional psychological assessments related to facile lyrics, which hit an abrupt dead end as the next chapter started on a completely different note - those that read on will know if the closure was misdirection but I was analysing the writing too much rather than following the story, a sure sign I should stop. The punchline of the narrator interrupting people having sex because he thought someone was screaming in agony was also too ridiculous for me.
In a nice piece of foreshadowing, I did what the narrator did, skipped the story and read the bullet point summary of his life at the end - nothing contained within suggested to me that I missed out. To top it all off, there was an incredibly subjective blurb that included "wonderfully witty, pacey, clever novel" and that Watson writes from another perspective "with remarkable skill". This wasn't attributed to anyone, maybe that was how 2004 book jackets were normally written but the reader will be the judge of that.
Written as a retrospective by a middle-aged psychotherapist, the novel dealt with the narrator's cases and his inferiority complex to a gifted friend who is incredibly successful. Stylistically it was reminiscent of Julian Barnes, with an educated but fairly dull man recounting his smart-alec youth behaviour, and its bullet points and formula similar to A Sense of an Ending, which was written after this. There was another way I was primed to Barnes, as there were annoying footnotes that referenced works including one of his, and were one of the few ways the narrator expressed any personality whatsoever. The narration was very dry, with little direct speech to put you present in the scenes and I found myself uninterested in the characters.
I stopped after a chapter in which the meaning of made up lyrics was interpreted by two other characters - books about music leave me cold anyway, but I couldn't suspend my disbelief at a 23-year-old author writing about professional psychological assessments related to facile lyrics, which hit an abrupt dead end as the next chapter started on a completely different note - those that read on will know if the closure was misdirection but I was analysing the writing too much rather than following the story, a sure sign I should stop. The punchline of the narrator interrupting people having sex because he thought someone was screaming in agony was also too ridiculous for me.
In a nice piece of foreshadowing, I did what the narrator did, skipped the story and read the bullet point summary of his life at the end - nothing contained within suggested to me that I missed out. To top it all off, there was an incredibly subjective blurb that included "wonderfully witty, pacey, clever novel" and that Watson writes from another perspective "with remarkable skill". This wasn't attributed to anyone, maybe that was how 2004 book jackets were normally written but the reader will be the judge of that.
February 11, 2018
This is such a well-written and engrossing story, that only halfway through I checked to learn it’s fiction. Peter Kristal, a psychiatrist, grows up in a shadow of his wealthy and talented friend Richard Aloisi. He doesn’t leave the shadow until his death, struggling with a mystery surrounding his parents, his small superstitious town and continuous successes of Richard. His eventual fall into insanity is quickened by a selfish unprofessional decision on one of his patients. I found this book a very enjoyable read even though its main character is very flawed with his own life-long but somewhat charming insecurities.
May 31, 2018
The quotation on the front from Stephen Fry is apt - this is very reminiscent of his prose style - and I took this in the same vein as I took Hippopotamus, although this is plotted slightly better, I'd say. It's really hilarious in places, largely due to its walk-on characters like the unhinged English teacher, and it has a brilliant ending - it's predictable, but it really works.
He's written quite a few books now, so this isn't news - but Mark Watson can really write!
He's written quite a few books now, so this isn't news - but Mark Watson can really write!
October 9, 2017
Such an unusual book. To think written by 20 odd year old comedian amazed me.
It is set as a biography, with fictional quotes from academic journals and books. All done very convincingly with couple of great twists
It is set as a biography, with fictional quotes from academic journals and books. All done very convincingly with couple of great twists
February 17, 2018
Found this book very wordy and a bit heavy going most of the way through. The last 20% saved the book for me and bumped it up from 2 to 3 stars.
January 9, 2022
Not the best book by Mark Watson a bit wishy washy and nothing to really bite into...perhaps I missed the point of it?
January 2, 2024
Was a bit of a slower read. Not really a 'feel good' book.
February 3, 2015
After recently discovering Mark Watson's books I'm slowly hoovering up his back catalogue. I really like his writing style, although every book is completely different. This one maybe isn't quite up there with some of his more recent novels, but that's only because they've been so very good, and it's still a 5 star for me.
It's extremely readable with a very interesting premise and a cast of fascinating characters.
Note to self - must get round to buying Hotel Alpha soon
It's extremely readable with a very interesting premise and a cast of fascinating characters.
Note to self - must get round to buying Hotel Alpha soon
October 22, 2008
A bit disappointing, especially after A Light-Hearted Look at Murder. The voice in the two books is very similar, though in this book it is more depressed/down. It's a very easy read - there is something about Mark Watson that is just so readable - but left me feeling unfulfilled.
February 5, 2009
Creates huge sympathy for the narrator, and makes it funny too. Very promising.
December 24, 2014
Remarkably funny and well-written, deceptively engaging despite the mundane starting premise.
August 3, 2014
It took a while until this book got to me but then it captured me completely. I'm still a little devastated by its turning.
May 10, 2016
Set in Chicago, a psychologist to the stars develops a technique showing the cause and effects of events in peoples’ lives.
May 1, 2017
Eigentlich eine banale Idee: der Psychiater hat selbst Leichen im Keller und krankt an irrationalen Gefühlswallungen. Doch der Schreibstil ist absolut toll, so dass es Spaß macht zu lesen. Da verzeiht man auch das komplett vorhersehbare Ende.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews