Ivo Graham to publish book about his failures
- Ivo Graham has written a book entitled Yardsticks For Failure
- It will be a "deep dive into the various facepalms of Ivo's recent past, and a live diary of his unravelling present"
- It will be published on 26th September 2024 and is now available to order
Ivo Graham is to publish Yardsticks For Failure, a book in which he recounts his "catalogue of professional meltdowns".
Publishers Headline say: "Yardsticks For Failure is a deep dive into the various facepalms of Ivo's recent past, and a live diary of his unravelling present, where his solution to the general bedlam of his life has been to pile his plate higher than ever before. Longer-term resolutions of rest and relaxation can wait; in the meantime, he's trying to host the greatest club night of all time, run a Sub-3 marathon while pushing a wheelchair, and put his heart on the line in a show unlike anything he's ever done before.
"This is a gleeful glimpse behind the grubby curtain of stand-up comedy, via friendship and films, fatherhood and Funkytown. A feast for anyone who's ever been enthralled or appalled by Ivo's cursed politeness, squandered promise, or serial prank-victimhood; for anyone battling to get their own life inbox to zero; for anyone who's ever set fire to a diary, lost their mind over a quiz, or pegged it through a station for the last train home. Yardsticks For Failure is a unique self-examination from one of the most eloquent writers and worriers of his generation. Ivo almost certainly won't achieve everything he sets out to, but it's going to be a hell of a ride."
Ivo Graham says: "As much as I enjoy being sent memes of myself in distress, usually clutching my head in a shed, it's a huge privilege to be able to flesh out my catalogue of professional meltdowns in my own words. I haven't made the best of all the privileges in my life, but I fully intend to make the best of this one."
He posted a promotional video on Twitter:
See Tweet
Publisher Yvonne Jacob comments: "We're thrilled to welcome Ivo to the Headline list. In Yardsticks For Failure he brilliantly draws on those aspirations we all have, both big and small, that are slipping away in the face our daily grind. It's the book we all need to help us lean into our dreams, as well as our to do list, and find out a little bit more about ourselves along the way."
Yardsticks For Failure will be published in hardback, eBook, and audiobook on 26th September 2024. It is available to pre-order now.
Graham, who is currently touring his Organised Fun live show, will take part in the London Marathon on Sunday (21st April) whilst pushing Rosie Jones in a wheelchair. Interview
Ivo Graham - Yardsticks For Failure
After coming last by quite such a distance on Taskmaster Series 15, and seeing his emotional frailties laid bare in a series of memes of him with his head in his hands, Ivo Graham is adapting to an increasingly irreversible reputation as a man better known for his chaos than his comedy.
Yardsticks For Failure is an exquisite map of the brain behind the breakdowns; a deep dive into the various facepalms of Ivo's recent past, and a live diary of his unravelling present, where his solution to the general bedlam of his life has been to pile his plate higher than ever before. Longer-term resolutions of rest and relaxation can wait; in the meantime he's trying to host the greatest club night of all time, run a Sub-3 marathon while pushing a wheelchair, and put his heart on the line in a show unlike anything he's ever done before. Can these dreams become a reality, or will they just become more yardsticks for failure?
A gleeful glimpse behind the grubby curtain of stand-up comedy, via friendship and films, fatherhood and Funkytown, this book is a feast for anyone who's ever been enthralled or appalled by Ivo's cursed politeness, squandered promise, or serial prank-victimhood; for anyone battling to get their own life inbox to zero; for anyone who's ever set fire to a diary, lost their mind over a quiz, or pegged it through a station for the last train home. Yardsticks For Failure is a unique self-examination from one of the most eloquent writers and worriers of his generation. Ivo almost certainly won't achieve everything he sets out to, but it's going to be a hell of a ride.
First published: Thursday 22nd May 2025
- Publisher: Headline
- Pages: 288
- Catalogue: 9781035411306
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- Publisher: Headline
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- Publisher: Headline
- Minutes: 600
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