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BBC's Pointless #1
100 Most Pointless Things in the World a Pointless
From the presenters of the hit BBC One TV show, Pointless, comes a collection of musings on some of the most pointless things, places and facts in everyday modern life.
This book is the perfect blend of the obscure, the fascinating and the downright silly.
This book is the perfect blend of the obscure, the fascinating and the downright silly.
Hardcover
First published October 11, 2012
32 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Armstrong
37 books20 followersAn English actor, television and radio presenter, and singer, best known as one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller and as host of the BBC TV game show Pointless.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
January 31, 2013
I read some online reviews of this book that really irritated me. Readers were complaining that the book ‘plugs’ their quizshow too much. Err, hello? The last time I checked, the word ‘Pointless’ was in the book’s title. ‘Pointless’ is the thing that connects the two authors, Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman together. Of course it’s going to have a few mentions.
People were also whinging about the mini quizzes which appeared every few pages or so. I liked these. This is not a great work of literature; it is a book to be read on the toilet – something to which the authors, themselves admit.
There isn’t really much else to say about this book. It was enjoyable. It is essentially a list of things the authors deem pointless – some of which I agreed with, some I didn’t. Either way, I was never bored. Their voices really came across in their writing and their humour was just as awkwardly brilliant as we have become used to. Hooray for Richard and Alexander!
People were also whinging about the mini quizzes which appeared every few pages or so. I liked these. This is not a great work of literature; it is a book to be read on the toilet – something to which the authors, themselves admit.
There isn’t really much else to say about this book. It was enjoyable. It is essentially a list of things the authors deem pointless – some of which I agreed with, some I didn’t. Either way, I was never bored. Their voices really came across in their writing and their humour was just as awkwardly brilliant as we have become used to. Hooray for Richard and Alexander!
March 2, 2017
This book was a gift, given to me about 18 months ago because I am a big fan of the TV quiz Pointless and watch it nearly every day. I never intended to read this cover to cover, but I'm glad I did as it really cheered me up during a very difficult weekend.
April 13, 2013
Pointless is my favorite quiz show, and I have a dream that someday I will appear as a contestant just so I can get hugs from Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman. I met Richard once, resisted the urge to tell him that he was tall, but did say something banal about how I was a "big fan." I'm sure he's never heard that before...
In any event, I knew I would enjoy the book - I "get" their senses of humour and enjoy the asides they engage in during the shows, and hoped to get more of that here. I was not disappointed. I didn't agree with some of their assessments (I happen to like online reviews and find them helfpul), but some were spot on, as anyone who has been in line behind a tourist in a railway station ticket queue will know.
It's funny, it's clever, it's a fast read and it's just what it claims to be - a list of things the authors find pointless. The aim is to shed light on pointless things, the result itself is far from pointless. And remember, if all else fails, the best answer you can give is Central African Republic.
In any event, I knew I would enjoy the book - I "get" their senses of humour and enjoy the asides they engage in during the shows, and hoped to get more of that here. I was not disappointed. I didn't agree with some of their assessments (I happen to like online reviews and find them helfpul), but some were spot on, as anyone who has been in line behind a tourist in a railway station ticket queue will know.
It's funny, it's clever, it's a fast read and it's just what it claims to be - a list of things the authors find pointless. The aim is to shed light on pointless things, the result itself is far from pointless. And remember, if all else fails, the best answer you can give is Central African Republic.
January 6, 2013
Ok, so online reviews may well be as pointless as the book says, but just in case you care: this book, for those who are fans of the show, is far from pointless. It makes you laugh, it makes you think, it makes you go "yes, I know someone who does just that" (well, it made me do that, anyway). If, however, you're not a fan of the show then I doubt you'll be quite so enthusiastic.
November 12, 2015
Bit of fluffy nonsense to pass the time, I am an unashamed Pointless fan!
September 18, 2014
First of all, if you want to read this book because you like Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman, then don't. If someone gave me this book and asked me to guess the authors (without the pictures and mentions) I would never have guessed. Read it if you like the concept.
At one point in the book Richard says he would only think a 14 year old would read this book if it was an e-book (I'm not sure if it is or not). Well, F.Y.I, I'm 13 and I read it, and enjoyed it! I saw this book in a book shop and thought it looked good, so I bought it for my 15-year-old sister for Christmas, because she likes the show, but then ended up reading it myself.
I really think Richard's name should be first on the cover because he did about 70% of the book. I kind of got the impression that he might have had a bit of deep seated anger about some of the pointless things, which he took out in this book, having said that though, he was much more funny than Alexander. Especially considering he (Alexander) used to be in a comedy duo, he didn't make me laugh very much (if ever).
I found the first ten or so (100-90) funny, and the last fifteen (give or take 15-1). I got the occasional laugh from the ones in the middle, but I found myself skipping through a quite a few pages because they were just a bit boring.
I enjoyed the quizzes and Pointless facts, but it would have been much more convenient if the answers were up-side down at the bottom of the page, instead of at the end of the book. I know that wouldn't have been good for some people, but it would have improved the book for me.
So to sum up, funny, but could be dull at times, and I don't think I'll ever read it again.
At one point in the book Richard says he would only think a 14 year old would read this book if it was an e-book (I'm not sure if it is or not). Well, F.Y.I, I'm 13 and I read it, and enjoyed it! I saw this book in a book shop and thought it looked good, so I bought it for my 15-year-old sister for Christmas, because she likes the show, but then ended up reading it myself.
I really think Richard's name should be first on the cover because he did about 70% of the book. I kind of got the impression that he might have had a bit of deep seated anger about some of the pointless things, which he took out in this book, having said that though, he was much more funny than Alexander. Especially considering he (Alexander) used to be in a comedy duo, he didn't make me laugh very much (if ever).
I found the first ten or so (100-90) funny, and the last fifteen (give or take 15-1). I got the occasional laugh from the ones in the middle, but I found myself skipping through a quite a few pages because they were just a bit boring.
I enjoyed the quizzes and Pointless facts, but it would have been much more convenient if the answers were up-side down at the bottom of the page, instead of at the end of the book. I know that wouldn't have been good for some people, but it would have improved the book for me.
So to sum up, funny, but could be dull at times, and I don't think I'll ever read it again.
March 9, 2014
Here's a little-known fact - I appeared on Pointless as a contestant, alongside my beautiful girlfriend Laura. In fact, you can watch the episode on YouTube over here, and this book was given to me by Laura as a Christmas present! Now you know.
Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at the book - as its title suggests, it's a collection of 100 different things which are completely and utterly pointless. And we're not talking 'pointless' in the 'obscure' sense of the word, like you might be used to from the show - we're talking about stuff that's actually pointless, like the introductions to books and miniature vegetables.
Sure, some of the choices are controversial to say the least, and you might not always agree with the authors' points of view, but if you take it too seriously then you're a fool in the first place. Even the two authors don't take it too seriously - they make jokes about the fact that you probably received the book as a Christmas present and only read it on the toilet, which is presumably true in the majority of cases.
And if you're only a fan of Pointless for the trivia and the questions, that's fine too - in fact, the book includes a number of trivia questions to test you on the topics that are covered, like the traditional gifts for different wedding anniversaries. Simply decide upon your answers, then flick to the back of the book to see if you were right and, if so, whether it's a Pointless answer.
If you're a fan of the show, you'll love this book - if not, you'll be converted!
Now that that's out of the way, let's take a look at the book - as its title suggests, it's a collection of 100 different things which are completely and utterly pointless. And we're not talking 'pointless' in the 'obscure' sense of the word, like you might be used to from the show - we're talking about stuff that's actually pointless, like the introductions to books and miniature vegetables.
Sure, some of the choices are controversial to say the least, and you might not always agree with the authors' points of view, but if you take it too seriously then you're a fool in the first place. Even the two authors don't take it too seriously - they make jokes about the fact that you probably received the book as a Christmas present and only read it on the toilet, which is presumably true in the majority of cases.
And if you're only a fan of Pointless for the trivia and the questions, that's fine too - in fact, the book includes a number of trivia questions to test you on the topics that are covered, like the traditional gifts for different wedding anniversaries. Simply decide upon your answers, then flick to the back of the book to see if you were right and, if so, whether it's a Pointless answer.
If you're a fan of the show, you'll love this book - if not, you'll be converted!
July 7, 2014
Brilliantly clever and funny!
October 19, 2021
Not sure how to rate this book. About 1/3rd of it was enjoyable and me nodding along - the absolute best was "Unnecessary Bloody Mary ingredients" - the one memorable one. For the rest of the book it was split between "meh, I know what that is, but don't care that much", (e.g., instruction manuals), and things I had no clue about whatsoever. Pointless, indeed.
It's a quirky and witty book, and makes me want to read more of Richard Osman's work for sure, but I definitely feel like I would have enjoyed this more if I'd watched the Pointless TV show or lived in the UK to appreciate what these other 33 pointless things were.
It's a quirky and witty book, and makes me want to read more of Richard Osman's work for sure, but I definitely feel like I would have enjoyed this more if I'd watched the Pointless TV show or lived in the UK to appreciate what these other 33 pointless things were.
June 19, 2017
definitely a good read if you're the kind of person who takes transit or short breaks and wants to fit in a bit of reading without needing to sit and focus for a long time. sort of an 'Uncle John's' reader but more comedic and slightly less informative.
not that it wasn't informative at all. definitely learned a few things, though they were a bit pointless (ha!) and definitely had a few chortles. if you're a fan of the British panel show or crotchety British humour in general, you're apt to find a bit of joy in this easy read.
not that it wasn't informative at all. definitely learned a few things, though they were a bit pointless (ha!) and definitely had a few chortles. if you're a fan of the British panel show or crotchety British humour in general, you're apt to find a bit of joy in this easy read.
January 1, 2013
If you like the programme Pointless and have a fondness for Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman then you will like this book. It has lots of quizzes and you get a little insight in to some of the quirks of both personalities, most of the contributions are from Richard Osman so to say it is by Alexander Armstrong as this site does is a bit erroneous.
May 19, 2014
All I can say is… Central African Republic. And Ghostbusters. Plus I had an opportunity to write my number on the first page and lend this to some bespectacled tall hot dude because he was trying to buy the book on a fair where I got it but I didn't take the chance (it would be pointless anyway, he was eight years older than me).
April 26, 2015
Ok, despite the fact that number 19 in this list is online reviews, I shall write a brief one anyway.
I love Pointless so I grabbed this eagerly. It didn't disappoint with a chatty, easy to read style.
For me it could have done with being a little longer, but maybe I was just disappointed to get to the end.
I'm still working on the states quiz though - 35 so far, Mr Osman!
I love Pointless so I grabbed this eagerly. It didn't disappoint with a chatty, easy to read style.
For me it could have done with being a little longer, but maybe I was just disappointed to get to the end.
I'm still working on the states quiz though - 35 so far, Mr Osman!
April 29, 2015
Love the two hosts on "Pointless" and enjoyed this collection. Much of the show's appeal rests on the spontaneous exchanges and friendship of Richard and Xander; that spirit was hard to capture in book form. Many engaging topics and pointless details, however, make it an entertaining read. Enjoyed the quizzes.
August 14, 2016
A good bit of fun, exactly what you'd expect from Armstrong and Osmond. Entertaining and informing all the way with a good dash of humour thrown in, and some tricky little quizzes and puzzles to play with.
Books like this after never going to be compelling "must-reads" but it's certainly enjoyable. A perfect piece of literary light entertainment.
Books like this after never going to be compelling "must-reads" but it's certainly enjoyable. A perfect piece of literary light entertainment.
June 2, 2016
I had hope for the book to be witty, funny and not 'pointless'. I hoped the book will bring in fresh arguments on the irrelevance of things in the world of consumerism. Well, it's funny at first but it lacks depth. The argument is subjective and not persuasive, which then inevitably makes it a pointless read. You can read it to kill time!
January 16, 2013
Completely pointless, naturally, but an enjoyable and witty read nonetheless.
I'd never heard of the TV programme but next time I'm at home in the afternoon looking for something pointless to do, I may seek it out.
I'd never heard of the TV programme but next time I'm at home in the afternoon looking for something pointless to do, I may seek it out.
Read
May 21, 2013I feel like a traitor for saying this, but I wasn't particularly impressed by this book. Some of it is amusing, but by and large not as good as the show and I am glad I borrowed my sister's copy rather than purchase my own at £14.99!
September 19, 2013
I quite enjoyed this book. The chapters by Richard Osman (who I love!) were far more entertaining than the chapters by Alexander Armstrong, so it was Alexander that made me give this book 3 stars. He just isn't so funny!
February 19, 2014
Definitely not pointless, actually laugh out loud funny and will have you nodding your head in agreement more than once, though I am a little disconcerted by how well Richard from Pointless knows my reading habits!
August 12, 2015
Very funny book from the presenters of the tea-time quiz show itself, with short chapters and many containing quizzes. A very easy book to read in a short period of time. You'll certainly find something in here that you nod in agreement with.
December 9, 2015
"That ain't bread...that's toast" (sadly not mentioned in the book). Properly amusing and fun. As expected much the same humour as the show. Most importantly: when in doubt go with "Central African Republic".
February 9, 2016
Great book for any Pointless fans, full of the dry wit of both hosts. High recommended
August 1, 2014
Apologies for writing a review! It is, apparently, pointless, but I just had to tell you not to waste your money on this. It is amusing in parts, yes, but mainly, the book is 'pointless'
February 24, 2013
Definitely one for Pointless fans
December 26, 2012
Great light-hearted reading which made me laugh and the quizzes entertained me- made me very competitive but also was fun. Grand cash-in.
January 9, 2013
Brilliant fun. Pointless reading it if you've never seen Pointless, a mistake which some of the Goodreads reviewers seem to have made. Still want to marry Richard Osman.
February 24, 2013
Fun and lighthearted (mostly!). Yes, a good read - one which you can pick up when you've got just a few minutes to spare as you can read one entry only. Jolly good fun!
June 1, 2013
So funny and agreed with most of the points raised as being pointless! Love the programme and loved the book too!
May 20, 2013
Very Funny, good lighthearted read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews