Paul Grenyer

 ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1773137735  I found Lionel Giles’ introduction very boring. In this edition, there are more of his notes than Sun Tzu’s actual text. I gave up on them early, as they didn’t add any value for me. The Art of War itself is 13 short chapters of advice that mostly come across as common sense approaches to winning wars, or at least avoiding losing them. It didn’t really connect with me, since I’m not a general and my own leadership style is collaborative rather than combative. I mainly read it because I thought something I used in my own book might have originated here, and because Sabaton used it as inspiration for one of their albums.

I went to see Rob Newman at the Playhouse in Norwich this evening, and he was every bit as brilliant as I’d hoped. At times he came across as a little nervous, but that vulnerability only made the performance feel more genuine and engaging. The Mary Whitehouse Experience was a huge part of my teenage years, and I’ve followed all four of its comedians ever since. Each of them has carved out their own path, but what makes Rob stand out is the way he approaches comedy. He doesn’t just fall back on everyday observational humour or awkward anecdotes. Instead, he draws on his passion for culture, the classics, science, and mathematics to create routines that are clever, thoughtful, and original, all while being self-deprecating and warm. That mix of intelligence and humility is rare in comedy, and it made for a truly memorable evening. Nervous or not, Rob Newman delivered one of the smartest and most enjoyable performances I’ve seen in a very long time. I might even read his spy novel when...