Astrid Jorgensen is on a mission to teach the world to sing. But she’s not promising to make anybody better at singing – she simply wants people to feel less ashamed of whatever voice they have.
By its very nature, ‘best’ is rare and elusive: you’re not going to get much of it in life. And I sure don’t want to miss out on deeply experiencing the fullness of my one precious existence, searching for the sliver of ‘best’.
Average At Best is a powerful, funny, and deeply honest memoir about embracing mediocrity if you want to get anything done. As the creator of Pub Choir® – a global phenomenon that unites complete strangers to connect, laugh, and make beautiful music – Astrid takes you behind the curtain as she unflinchingly stares down her dizzying highs, her crushing lows, and everything in between.
Astrid has performed on stages around the world, rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and celebrities, and has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to work together in literal harmony. Along the way, she low-key became the best at something, while sometimes feeling the worst. Is that … balance?
From almost becoming a nun (seriously) to committing unspeakable crimes against a chip packet, this joyful, inspired debut traverses the divide between confidence and doubt, performance and authenticity. Because most things happen between the extremes. This is an imperfect perfectionist’s account of how all of it counts in the end.
‘We all knew she had the music in her. Who knew she had the words? All these beautiful, hilarious, heart-stealing, soul-filling words! This is pure book gold from a rare and glistening national treasure. The raw and wild story behind a global phenomenon – and the best three hours I’ve ever spent inside a pub! The story of an anything-but-average woman who dared to open up her sound hole and let her dreams fly across the world.’
‘Millions of people who’ve attended and watched Pub Choir already know the unmatched electricity that Astrid Jorgensen generates when she conducts. Turns out, she’s just as electric on the page. Hilarious and infectiously giddy, this behind-the-scenes look at a global phenomenon is a companion for life, nothing short of a superhero origin story and contains the most triumphant story involving poo that I’ve ever read.’
‘On stage, Astrid Jorgensen transforms from introverted music nerd into a choral colossus. In these pages, she is revealed as a beautiful writer who blends heart, wit and insight with rare skill.’
‘On stage, Astrid Jorgensen transforms from introverted music nerd into a choral colossus. In these pages, she is revealed as a beautiful writer who blends heart, wit and insight with rare skill.’
