Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things? cover art

Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

A Comedian's Guide to Autism

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?

By: Pierre Novellie
Narrated by: Pierre Novellie
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.16

Buy Now for £15.16

About this listen

 *Nominated for Best Book at the 2025 Chortle Awards*

'Outstanding, I want to press it into the hands of every newly diagnosed person' Fern Brady

'Like a Martian's guide to living on Earth. Funny, enlightening and gobsmacking' Frank Skinner

'A hilarious, crystal-clear guide to autism' Phil Wang

'An illuminating and joyously entertaining book' Daily Express


Why were the other kids at school obsessed with Britney Spears instead of The Goon Show?
Why don't people ever say what they mean?
And... Why is everyone chewing so loudly?

Comedian Pierre Novellie was on stage when a heckler suggested he was autistic. Usually, this disruption would be water off a duck's back but two things made this heckler different: first, he was himself autistic. Second, he turned out to be absolutely right.

This random encounter led to a diagnosis of autism at the age of 31 that unravelled his world, explained his struggles and answered questions that had bothered him for his entire life.

At once a hilarious and insightful journey through autism and neurodivergence, an entertaining explainer for the uninitiated and observational comedy for the neurodiverse, this is the perfect read for anyone who has ever asked themselves: why can't I just enjoy things?

The audiobook includes an exclusive Q&A with comedian and BudPod co-host, Phil Wang.©2024 Pierre Novellie (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK Mental Health Neurodiversity Performing Arts Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Autism Funny Comedy Witty Thought-Provoking Celebrity Inspiring
All stars
Most relevant
Highly recommend to everyone! A great read/ listen. Enlightening, thought provoking and funny. I had no idea how little I knew! Neuro-typical people like me can learn a lot about all human nature through this open and frank insight into someone’s life experience. I relate with so much- noticing the difference of degree eg getting tired by socialising. Realised things I’ve been doing wrong / missing and how to make good change.
All therapists should read this book. Actually everyone could learn and enjoy so much. Thank you! Great fun learning so much. Xx

Humorous clarity- a fun and meaningful journey of discovery.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great insight into some of the many aspects of autism and other neuro diversity mixing anecdotal experience and research/helpful definitions, history of autism/Asperger's and social commentary/calls to activation. I found it at times funny, often surprisingly relatable and most of all informative about a subject I knew little about. I'd read Fern Brady's book before (which I absolutely loved) and had this recommended by my husband, recently diagnosed with autism.plus we've had the pleasure of watching Pierre 's stand-up and generally felt a good choice. can recommend.

Honest and insightful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautifully written and narrated by Pierre. I hope he's immensely proud of what he's achieved by sharing his research and diagnosis in this very accessible book. Highly informative, funny, insightful with his personal reflections. For the neurodiverse, neurotypical and those who don't know where they fit yet. I can't recommend this book enough. KOJI P&P

Outstanding!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book has made me feel 'normal'. I'm 31 years old and always been aware I'm am alien but I never understood why. I have lived the exact same life with the same stupid little things like teeth clunking on metal cutlery. At the end of the book I cried because I finally feel okay and able to attack the future.

I never say this about stories or books but this has made/saved my life. I was in the middle of a self destruction getting rid of everyone close to me because I couldn't deal with it anymore and this book made me realise that I only wanted one person out of my life, not all my loved ones. I have since got rid of him and all contact and I am me again, my pain has gone, my enjoyment of things has come back, and my energy levels aren't zapped, all because of one negative person in my life that in the grand scheme of things, didn't do much at all. But he did do a lot to me and that's what this book has taught me!

TL;DR If you can't enjoy things but you keep trying to, read this book and it may explain a lot. Autism or not, it has great self care guides. Thank you so much Pierre.

No boring bits

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Did I ever say this book was so good by the way. I tell everyone about it lol. Thanks for recommendation, I resonated so much with everything and my own neurodiverse journey through life. Can’t, but also CAN believe I’ve been barebacking it so long without knowing.

This book breaks it down simply and efficiently with humour and nuance.

I love that he considers the impact and differences that may be experienced by people from completely different backgrounds to him. He doesn’t detail it and claim to know about it, but he references it so that you can go off and do your own processing and looking into it for yourself.

Anyways didn’t mean to send a whole review but I did enjoy it. Thanks x

What I sent to my friend who recommended this book to me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews