Four Stars

A Life. Reviewed.

Joel Golby author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:11th Apr '24

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Four Stars cover

In Four Stars, Joel Golby humorously reviews the absurdities of modern life, challenging readers to rethink what truly matters beyond mere ratings.

In Four Stars, acclaimed writer and journalist Joel Golby takes readers on a unique journey through the act of reviewing. He challenges the conventional notion of what can be critiqued, moving beyond typical subjects like books and movies to explore the intangible aspects of life. From a houseplant to the feeling of embarrassment, Golby invites us to consider the everyday moments that often go unnoticed yet hold significant meaning in our lives.

The author delves into the absurdity of modern living, questioning why we place so much importance on opinions and ratings. Is it truly about achieving a perfect five-star life, or is there value in simply living authentically? Through his humorous and insightful prose, Golby reflects on the intricacies of human experience, leaving no stone unturned in his quest for understanding.

Four Stars is not just a collection of reviews; it is a thoughtful examination of the things we often take for granted. With wit and charm, Golby encourages readers to reconsider their perspectives on life and the importance of the seemingly mundane. This book is a celebration of the quirks and oddities that make life worth living, delivered with the signature humor that has made Golby one of Britain's best-loved journalists.

‘Funny, painful, relatable and honest. Full of the hidden depths and details that only Joel Golby can scavenge. I love this book’ DOLLY ALDERTON

‘Joel Golby at his best: darkly reflective, so, so funny, and life-affirming in quite an unhinged way. I loved it’ MONICA HEISEY

‘Joel can turn the most mundane aspects of life into something totally magnificent. I was laughing so much whilst reading this book I was shhh’d at on the Eurostar by a very stern woman – zero-star review for her’ AMELIA DIMOLDENBERG

‘As funny as you’d expect from Joel Golby, but also both moving and sincere. A joy to read’ BELLA MACKIE

‘Joel Golby’s writing induces full-on jealousy in me. He’s a horribly funny, silly, opinionated old cow, and yet his words are actually rather lovely to read’ JACK ROOKE

Nobody captures the torturous contradictions of being a sentient primate in the modern world quite like Joel Golby. FOUR STARS will make you laugh throughout, then it will rip your heart out, place it in front of you and say: “See. This is what I was writing about all along.” Fantastic. Hard recommend’ KONRAD KAY

High Fidelity for the generation who could never afford a shop’ ELLA RISBRIDGER

‘Whether it’s the ambitious construction and moving climax, emerging themes of millennials dealing with rudderless mortality or simply pound-for-pound laughs, I can’t really think of anything else like this book. And that’s a really good thing. Five stars’ OOBAH BUTLER

‘Funnier and more profound than a book has any business being’ NATHAN FOAD

'Extremely funny and extremely charming, striking at the trivialities of our modern existence with razor-sharp clarity. Golby’s voice, though acerbic, is cut through with a discreet optimism' RAVEN SMITH

ISBN: 9780008284091

Dimensions: 222mm x 141mm x 33mm

Weight: 720g

320 pages