Customer Reviews
Witty and Well Observed - By: JFD, 10 Oct 2008 
It was one of those chance things. Staying in a converted barn on holiday in Pembrokeshire the owners of the barn had kindly provided some books & DVD's for use by the holidaymakers. I selected The Best A Man Can Get because I also had John O'Farrell's Things Can Only Get Better at home waiting to be read. The story of Michael Adams, a composer of music for adverts, as he tries to be both a caring father & enjoy some time to himself by leading a double life north & south of the Thames is a cracking read. It is a hilariously funny & well observed book that rings so many bells for parents of young children, as well as anyone for whom procrastination is a preferred way of life. As the subject, Michael Adams maintains his charm throughout the book, in spite of his deceit, & you will him & his wife Catherine to be successful in their relationship & their parenting, even when it goes wrong. I ended up rushing to read the book quickly in the hope that my wife would be able to read it as well before we finished our holiday!
Funny, but boring on every other level - By: Phil Latham, 07 Sep 2007 
The plot is a man living with three other men in London while pretending to his wife (on the other side of the Thames) that he is secretly always working late. 'Will she find out?' is the premise.
The book is funny with plenty of oneliners & if alll you want is a laugh this is a reasonable book to choose because it reads like a sitcom episode of Men Behaving Badly.
For me, who wants to read a 'proper' novel, there are problems:
1. There is more or less zero description of objects, people or emotions. So anyone after a book to transport you to another world via descriptive text or a book that will entangle you in great emotions will be disappointed. The only emotion is humour.
2. Also, not much happens. The premise of living a secret double-life behind his wife's back is about it. There are no scenes of intrigue or elements of a thriller, so anyone after an interesting plot will, again, be bored. I was - when I was reading it I kept thinking, 'Nothing's HAPPENING!' And nothing does! He talks about his wife & his kids & some parties he goes to but that's your lot. No life or death situation, no buildup of suspense etc.
3. The characters are basicallly the first-person narrator & his wife. The men he lives with you know very little about other than their occupation & the odd obvious traits (lazy, uptight etc). So if you are after a book rich with characterisation this is not it.
4. Everything is set in London. As someone who does not live in London & does not want to, reading a book set there is tedious - hello Nick Hornby! Everyone in the world does NOT live in London. Consider: (1) It's lazy writing to talk about JUST where you live; (2) it's boring for people who don't live in London to read about it.
John O'Farrell used to write for Spitting Image in the 1980s so he is good at the oneliners but it seems everything he writes is STILL like Spitting Image: he focuses on the gag at the expense of novel attributes of plot, character development, setting, description, emotion.
Buy it for a laugh but don't expect anything deeper.
7/10
the best a man can get!!!!!!!!!!! - By: pavla, 28 Jan 2006 great book. should be read by alll the "SINGLE" blokes who cant or wont commit!! So reminds me of so many blokes living in London, South London.....
The best I can get in the States - By: , 12 Oct 2005 
Kudos to John O'farrell. I write this perhaps, prematurely, (I'm only half way through the book) but judging by his other literary pieces, this one follows suit in the same genre. Living in the United States I do love to 'refresh' my British humour & yes, this book does have me 'laughing out loud'. I am now officiallly that crazy woman laughing on airplanes but at least I cause intrigue amongst those around me! Thank you Mr O'Farrell for bringing insightment & sanity to my world once again (Albeit temporarily)..you make my (Many) flights something I look forward to...please keep it up. A great read if you don't take it (And yourself) too seriously.
Funny book, well worth a read - By: Karl McCann, 02 Jun 2005 I reallly enjoyed this book, it drew me in at the start, & kept me laughing throughout. While the ending is arguably weak, & the funnier parts are at the start, the book is about a journey of self-awareness.
Michael Adams is essentiallly a good father & a loving husband, caught up perhaps in his own selfishness & always aware of the mess his own father made of being there for him. As he tells the story, O'Farrell adds observational, sardonic humour but still manages to produce a tale that should resonate with any father, or anyone who has ever questioned their commitment in any long term relationship.
Well worth a read.
