Rambling Man by Billy Connolly review – a funny, life-affirming rhapsody

Rambling Man is Billy Connolly’s latest volume of highly entertaining anecdotes.

The Big Yin is an actual comic genius. He’s led an extraordinary life. At no point, however, during this jolly globe-trotting tome will you detect a hint of self-aggrandisement or fake humility. He’s just so grateful and delighted. His romantic hippie outlook and generosity of spirit are infectious.

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

Each chapter elaborates upon Connolly’s entirely sincere yet knowing Rambling Man philosophy. In typically vivid raconteur detail, he whisks us through some of his favourite adventures. Our destinations include New Zealand, Mozambique, Route 66, the Arctic Circle and, of course, his beloved Scotland.

Connolly states in the intro that anyone looking for vituperative rants will be disappointed. You can enjoy angry, sweary Connolly elsewhere. Rambling Man is an often very funny, life-affirming rhapsody.

This is a book which includes, almost as an aside, a story in which Connolly, Robin Williams and Harry Nilsson get merrily drunk on the Maltese set of Robert Altman’s Popeye. What more could you want?

Paul Whitelaw is a book, TV and music critic

Rambling Man: My Life on the Road by Billy Connolly is out now (Two Roads, £12.50). You can buy it from The Big Issue shop on Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy!

If you cannot reach your local vendor, you can still click HERE to subscribe to The Big Issue today or give a gift subscription to a friend or family member.

You can also purchase one-off issues from The Big Issue Shop or The Big Issue app, available now from the App Store or Google Play