Rating: 
Summary: A Must for Python Fans
Review: As a hard die Monty Python fan, I enjoyed this book from start to finish. As the title implies, this is a collection of direct comments from the Pythons, without the intervention of a writer or the interviewer. They share their frustrations, their favorite bits, what they think about their peers, and the details regarding the process of writing such a peculiar show. However, Chapman is not alive to share his version of some of the accounts, so a balanced work was therefore impossible. Another shortcoming is the small participation of Eric Idle in the interviews. But overall, the fun surpass the weaknesses, and the book still gets five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Must for Python Fans
Review: As a hard die Monty Python fan, I enjoyed this book from start to finish. As the title implies, this is a collection of direct comments from the Pythons, without the intervention of a writer or the interviewer. They share their frustrations, their favorite bits, what they think about their peers, and the details regarding the process of writing such a peculiar show. However, Chapman is not alive to share his version of some of the accounts, so a balanced work was therefore impossible. Another shortcoming is the small participation of Eric Idle in the interviews. But overall, the fun surpass the weaknesses, and the book still gets five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd Like to Register a Complaint...
Review: As the author of "Monty Python Speaks," I wanted to first thank you for the many reviews that have been posted (both good and not-quite-as-good!) that have helped gain exposure for this work. I feel that I have to address the comments posted by a "Martin from Denmark" (March 20, 2000) -- not that I have a thin skin (not very!) but because they are so "off." The writer suggests that I only talked to a couple of the Pythons and instead relied on lots of old articles and other books by and about the Pythons in order to write my book. He clearly has not either checked my references and sources or read the book very carefully. I interviewed ALL of the Pythons extensively (the five living ones, at least) in addition to many of the Pythons' collaborators, and I relied on extremely little previously published material (only seven quotes, in a 300+ page book). A simple check of my book's appendix would have cleared that up. Though it may seem like sour grapes responding in this way, I feel his review went beyond simply saying he thought my book boring, repetitive or gossipy (or not gossipy enough!); since people have said even worse things about Python, I don't much care about such comments! I just do not like his suggestion to potential buyers that I was sloppy, lazy or larcenous in preparing this book. I definitely had access to all of the Pythons and took proper advantage of it, and certainly did not rely upon the prose or legwork of others. Cheers.
Rating:
Summary: A fine account - and there ARE new things to learn.
Review: Having read several other accounts of Python's history - "Life of Python," "The First 20 Years of Monty Python," and "Life Before and After Monty Python" - I must disagree with some of the other comments on this site. This tome DOES offer some fresh insights into the inner workings of Python. Specifically, the group dynamic - and especially the dynamic between the two writing teams of Chapman/Cleese and Jones/Palin - is discussed in greater length than in previous books. The contributions of the late Graham Chapman are especially scrutinized, as the others reveal information surpressed until after his death. Plus, several anecdotes regarding on-set occurences pop up. True, Idle's comments are a bit cheekier and less illuminating than those of his cohorts, but Idle - always considered the most cutting and acerbic Python - is probably (and quite understandably) sick to death of talking about Python when he's done so much quality solo work. Again, the main reason to read this book is to learn more about the WRITING PROCESS of Python... and it's fascinating stuff. And, the writing was always what Python was primarily about. As they've said themselves, they were essentially a writer's collective which performed their own material as a defense against other performers mucking it up. A great read!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the few worthwhile Python books
Review: Having waded through Kim "Howard" Johnson's increasingly mercenary attempts at milking his Python obsession for a fast buck (and book), it was a relief to read a Python tome that got to the heart of the matter, namely the Pythons themselves: how they worked, what they thought of each other, and what the whole thing means to them now that it's over. Think of this as the Monty Python Anthology: the surviving group members looking back with the comfort of hindsight at a time of tremendous creativity, at times cattily (Idle, Gilliam, sometimes Cleese), at times with real warmth and affection (Jones, Palin, sometimes Cleese). One could be churlish and complain that the book reveals few "facts" per se, but then again, what more does a Python fanatic hope to discover at this stage? What counts is that the Pythons remain funny, thoughtful folks, and this book gives them to you with no intermediary. It's not always pretty -- Idle often can barely be bothered to peck out a response, and Gilliam makes no secret of his loathing for those who insist on pressuring the Pythons to re-form -- but that's how it is. Anyway, it's a hell of a lot more interesting than yet another book recounting the old sketches again.
Rating:
Summary: One of the few worthwhile Python books
Review: Having waded through Kim "Howard" Johnson's increasingly mercenary attempts at milking his Python obsession for a fast buck (and book), it was a relief to read a Python tome that got to the heart of the matter, namely the Pythons themselves: how they worked, what they thought of each other, and what the whole thing means to them now that it's over. Think of this as the Monty Python Anthology: the surviving group members looking back with the comfort of hindsight at a time of tremendous creativity, at times cattily (Idle, Gilliam, sometimes Cleese), at times with real warmth and affection (Jones, Palin, sometimes Cleese). One could be churlish and complain that the book reveals few "facts" per se, but then again, what more does a Python fanatic hope to discover at this stage? What counts is that the Pythons remain funny, thoughtful folks, and this book gives them to you with no intermediary. It's not always pretty -- Idle often can barely be bothered to peck out a response, and Gilliam makes no secret of his loathing for those who insist on pressuring the Pythons to re-form -- but that's how it is. Anyway, it's a hell of a lot more interesting than yet another book recounting the old sketches again.
Rating:
Summary: They're Not Dead Yet! (except for Graham)
Review: HI to all the Python fans out there! I know you are there... so read this book!! Or Crelm toothpaste, except for after 6:00 pm...no that's not right. But read the book for a behind the scenes interview with great pictures!
Rating: 
Summary: The book is a good light read to end summer.
Review: I enjoyed reading it, especially the comments of Cleese and Gilliam. However, I can't say that I learned a whole lot. Life Of Brian, my favorite film, for example, gets 30 small pages, but insights on the specifics of the script and the performances are slight, instead with too much talk about the financing and advertising of the work. That process took precedence over the creative process, which is why the book got a bit tired in the middle. Idle's "clever" quips, substituting for analysis, got especially old. But it's a nice, light skim through their history. The opening parts on how they got together and got things off the ground are the strongest, as are the different observations on each other's person. Instead of being gossipy, they gave one a strong idea of each person's strengths and weaknesses and how they contributed to the form of their body of work. The main thing that I learned was that flawed individuals can come together to do great things with the right chemistry. The main thing that I didn't learn was any useful details on their post-TV careers, both as a group and individually.
Rating:
Summary: They're Not Dead Yet! (except for Graham)
Review: I HAVE READ QUITE A FEW MONTY PYTHON BOOKS, AND THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST COMPLETE THAT I HAVE READ. IT HAS A LOT OF REALLY FUNNY PARTS IN IT, AND ALMOST ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT THE FANTASTIC PYTHON TEAM WERE ANSWERED IN THIS BOOK. IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING, AND I REALLY DID HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING IT DOWN! (I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT, BUT IN MY CASE, IT'S TRUE.) THE PYTHONS' WONDERFULLY SILLY WIT SHINES THROUGH IN THIS BOOK WHICH IS MAINLY MADE UP OF RECENT INTERVIEWS WITH THEM, AS WELL AS WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES. IF YOU MISS MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (AS I DO), I BELIEVE YOU WILL REALLY LIKE READING MONTY PYTHON SPEAKS. THIS BOOK IS VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH, AND I THINK IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY.
Rating:
Summary: very good, very accurate, and some great laughs in it, too!
Review: I HAVE READ QUITE A FEW MONTY PYTHON BOOKS, AND THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST COMPLETE THAT I HAVE READ. IT HAS A LOT OF REALLY FUNNY PARTS IN IT, AND ALMOST ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT THE FANTASTIC PYTHON TEAM WERE ANSWERED IN THIS BOOK. IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING, AND I REALLY DID HAVE A HARD TIME PUTTING IT DOWN! (I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT, BUT IN MY CASE, IT'S TRUE.) THE PYTHONS' WONDERFULLY SILLY WIT SHINES THROUGH IN THIS BOOK WHICH IS MAINLY MADE UP OF RECENT INTERVIEWS WITH THEM, AS WELL AS WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES. IF YOU MISS MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (AS I DO), I BELIEVE YOU WILL REALLY LIKE READING MONTY PYTHON SPEAKS. THIS BOOK IS VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH, AND I THINK IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY.
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