Professor at Large

Tony Hancock’s comic persona, like the man himself, was bent on self-education. Having left school at the age of fifteen, Hancock spent the rest of his too short life trying to cultivate his mind by grappling with the likes of Kant and Bertrand Russell.

John Cleese, by contrast, is an erudite and highly articulate Cambridge-educated writer-performer whose inquiring mind ranges widely and intelligently. These characteristics are showcased in ‘Professor at Large’ - a collection of writings reflecting Cleese’s association with Cornell University, which dates from his appointment there as an A.D White Professor-at-Large in 1999.

The varied nature of that association is explained in Stephen J. Ceci’s introduction to the current volume which then contains seven pieces by or featuring Cleese, ranging from a screenwriting seminar with Bill Goldman (which covers much the same ground as Cleese’s 1991 Radio Five Chain Reaction interaction with Goldman) to an illustrated talk on the Human Face (which covers material on facial recognition, expression and beauty which will contain few surprises for those familiar with Cleese’s 2001 TV series of that name or the spin-off book, co-written with Brian Bates).

On the subject of repetition it is worth mentioning that certain anecdotes, quotations and thoughts also recur within ‘Professor at Large’, although this is hardly surprising, at least in relation to Cleese’s thoughts on religion, given that the pieces include not only his musings on ‘Life of Brian’ but also a sermon preached at Sage Chapel. For the record, Cleese whilst highly critical of institutionalized religion, which he regards as largely a matter of “crowd control”, is surprisingly receptive to meditational and mystic forms of religion, which seek a more direct acquaintance with the divine.

While I’m in critical mode I’d also say that there are sometimes too many – and too lengthy – quotations, and there’s even the occasional error, such as referring to Thomas Aquinas as “Sir” rather than “Saint”, and attributing the phrase “kill your darlings” to William Faulkner when really it’s the saintly Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch who deserves the credit for coining the phrase “murder your darlings”.

How, then, can one justify giving this book a four-star rating? The answer is that whilst it might initially appear to be something of a curate’s egg it’s actually more of a magpie’s treasure trove of little gems.

As is evident from his work with Video Arts or his party political broadcasts, John Cleese is a great communicator and a natural teacher with the ability to reflect informatively and humorously on a broad range of subjects.

Those misguidedly looking for jokes will be disappointed by this book as outside material relating to Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and a Fish Called Wanda there are just two – one about lawyers and one about the French. Those, on the other hand, looking to be informed as well as entertained, particularly on the workings of the human mind, have something of a treat in store.

I found this book astonishing and absolutely fascinating. Professor at Large, The Cornell Years by John Cleese is a window into the mind of the well known English actor, writer and comedian of Monty Python fame. He was invited to be a Fellow guest Professor at Ivy League Cornell University in 1999. He was asked to spend two week periods during which he lectured, lead master classes and an amazing array of other activities. What many don’t realize is that John Cleese is a man of high intellect and has continued his exploration and discovery of many diverse areas that interest him. He has delved deeply into religion, psychology, management, creativity, etc. He is quite multi faceted and the book presents this so well in the selected lectures, conversations and even a sermon made during the 20 years he’s spent at Cornell. Students and Professors love listening to and conversing with this highly articulate Englishman on endless topics. His point of view on so many subjects is innovative and insightful. This book also includes a lot of background about his many movies such as Life of Brian, The Holy Grail, and a Fish Called Wanda, and the Monty Python and Fawlty Towers series as well as his appearance in James Bond movies and his many books. John Cleese is a remarkable man and this book gives us a great deal of insight into his mind. I was given copy of this book and am doing a voluntarily review. #JohnCleese #NetGalley

Professor at Large: The Cornell Years is a collection of vignettes showcasing a series of talks, lectures, and workshops delivered by John Cleese during his more than decade long association with Cornell University as a visiting professor. The subjects are wide ranging, always witty, often profound and a joy to read.

In the current culture of anti-intellectualism it's all too easy to become disillusioned and exhausted by all of the backlash against well spoken prose, language, literature, intelligence... This book (and Professor Cleese) are erudite and unapologetically intelligent. Additionally, the people who join him in his talks are also intelligent (often brilliant), well spoken, and profound. His back-and-forth with William Goldman alone is worth the price of the book. The other chapters include neurologists, psychologists, discussions on religion, culture and the meaning of life.

There's a lot of material here for fans of Monty Python and Cleese the Actor, but there's also a lot to love here for anyone who loves to read intelligent well spoken people talking about interesting topics.

I enjoyed it hugely and recommend it to everyone.

248 pages, available in ebook and hardcover formats.
Anticipated release date: October 15, 2018 from Cornell University Press.

Five stars

Well, I never expected to be so absorbed by an academic volume. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations by Cleese, a deep thinker with a humorous delivery. If you like exploring the world in unconventional ways, want to have your assumptions provoked in new directions - this might be a volume for you.

You'll want to take your time to work through the sessions. Maybe take it along on a retreat or nibble around the edges for a few months. You'll say what I did, "I never thought about that before," and "I've never thought about that just this way." It's like taking your mind to an amusement park and extreme challenge at the same time. Hang on for the ride.

I read an advanced reading copy from Cornell University Press via NetGalley. Thanks!

This book is comprised of a number of lectures given by John Cleese in his role as a visiting professor at Cornell. They cover a wide range of topics, including screenwriting/storytelling in conjunction with William Goldman, a treatise on religion told via examples from , psychology and a number of other topics. His point of view is interesting and well thought through, and his writing/lectures are informative and full of humor.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this book, and am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

OMG it's John Cleese! What's not to love?! He of Monty Python fame is hilarious at every turn, but what so many people don't always know is that he is *highly* intelligent as well. Funny and smart is a dead sexy combination. I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this for my own collection.

This is excellent. I went in to this expecting the well trodden path of curmudgeonly English upper class John Cleese bemoaning his fate being forever tied to the Monty Python behemoth. Not so, this book is essentially transcriptions of lectures/PAs given by Cleese during his visiting professorship at Cornell. The man's intellect shines through like a beacon, shedding light on motivations for fame, fortune, humor and religious searching. He uses Python and Fish Called Wanda moments without any of the bitterness for which he's become known and clearly enjoys his engagement with academia.

Highly recommended.

Professor at Large: The Cornell Years by John Cleese is a non-fiction book with speeches, essays, and interviews of the famed comedian. Mr. Cleese had the role of visiting professor at Cornell University and this book is a collection of some of his visits.

John Cleese has always been a favorite of mine. I still remember how much I enjoyed, and wondered why many didn’t, the movie Time Bandits. When I saw the book Professor at Large: The Cornell Years by John Cleese I did not know what to expect, but knew that it would most likely be up my alley and a joy to read.
I was right.

At first I had no idea that Mr. Cleese was Professor at Large at Cornell University. Frankly, I had no idea what “Professor at Large” is, luckily the introduction by Stephen J. Ceci made sure to make that clear right off the bat. Seems like Professor at Large, a visiting professor, is a six year term for an eminent person (Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and other esteemed intellectuals) who are asked to come to the university twice a year, for two weeks at a time and give lectures, conduct interviews, give talks and more.
Basically, a person of note to come down and disrupt the schedule, allowing for students (and faculty) to see things from a different perspective.

The appointment of Mr. Cleese was such a huge success, that he was asked to renew his tenure two more years (the maximum allowed). Afterwards, the university felt that he is making such a huge contribution, and can continue to so, that Mr. Cleese was granted the title of The Provost’s Professorship, an initial five year term.

The book consists of seven parts, from lectures, to conversations, to transcripts of seminars. Each one intellectually stimulating, intelligent, and thoughtful. I always assumed that many comedians are intelligent people, one can tell from Mr. Cleese’s projects how his intellect has affected the material. I had no idea how bright Mr. Cleese is, how far his interests take him and that he is able to carry an intelligent conversation with many luminaries as an equal.

The highlight of the book, for me, was Mr. Cleese’s conversation with Academy Award winner William Goldman, a novelist (The Princess Bride, Marathon Man), playwright (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride, All the President’s Men), and screenwriter (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). The transcript has a wonderful back and forth between the two men who spent years in the entertainment industry and are disillusioned, but still love the work.
This section alone was, for me, worth buying the book.

In this age, where anti-intellectualism is sadly seen as positive personality trademark by many, it’s nice to read a book which doesn’t shy from it, but embraces this aspect of humanity. An enjoyable, easy to read, entertaining and smart book.

A fascinating collection of essays and talks given by John Cleese during his time as a guest lecturer at Cornell University. While the wit and erudition of Professor Cleese comes as no surprise, the variety and scope of the topics he discusses is impressive. While my personal favorite was a discussion on script writing held with author and screenwriter William Goldman, perhaps best know for The Princess Bride , topics such as spirituality and religion , and even how decision making works in the human brain are also up for discussion. Clever, informative and thought provoking, as well funny, this is a treasure trove of stories and wisdom that deserves a wide audience. Fans of Monty Python will revel in the behind the scenes tales from the show and movies, but there is much more to this very enjoyable book .

Wow. I knew that John Cleese was a terrific actor, but had no idea that he was so interesting and erudite about so many topics (of which some, but not all, relate to acting). His observations are spot-on, and in many cases useful (such as how to get people to offer helpful criticism). He is, of course, frequently funny as well. The tone is similar to having a conversation with a friend. I highly recommend this book.

Having been a huge fan of John Cleese for a long time, though only in movies or TV so far, I was really curious about this book since I had no clue about his years at Cornell. Lucky for me I got a copy from NetGalley in exchange for review, which I am always happy to provide. The book was not at all what I expected, while not all of the chapters are spectacular, some are, and all well worth reading. Excellent book! Very Entertaining and clever.

I've always enjoyed watching John Cleese. It shouldn't surprise me that he's quite learned also. I always thought that most comedians are smart as heck because they have to be quick-witted and sharp. So it really shouldn't surprise me that he almost was a barrister instead of an actor. And what a treat it must have been for the students of Cornell University to have him as either a lecturer or professor. I'd take his classes. His views are very clear and intriguing and at times, thought-provoking.

I really enjoyed this book. And his stories and views and his humor. This is a great collection of his time in Cornell University.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy!

John Cleese. He’s brilliant, hilarious and a skilled actor. But there’s much more behind the funny guy, as you’ll discover in Professor at Large, Cleese takes on what may be his most important and deep role as he portrays a real-life Cornell professor-a role he actually held for more than 20 years.

In Professor at Large, readers get a front-row seat in Cleese’s classes-without the tuition or concerns about grade-point averages. He’s just as compelling a lecturer as an actor. From Larry Bird to MTV, world religions to eyewitness identification, it’s a side of Cleese you’ve never seen.