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Average at Best

A memoir from the creator of Pub Choir®
By Astrid Jorgensen
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Brief Description
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... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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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.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
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.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761634208

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 September 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: Simon & Schuster Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

Collections

Arts & Culture Astrid Jorgensen Biography & Memoir Music & Musicians Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction

About the Author

Astrid Jorgensen OAM is a choral conductor, composer, producer, and entertainer who believes that everybody can sing. Not well, but literally. Founder and director of Pub Choir ® and its online adaptation Couch Choir, Astrid has become the most recognisable face in the world of community music making. Armed with a razor-sharp wit and an unquenchable enthusiasm for singing, Astrid has delivered her improvised comedy music lessons to over 400,000 people worldwide since Pub Choir’s inception in March 2017. Her ability to enchant audiences and guide untrained singers to musical greatness has been featured extensively in world media including The New York Times, BBC World News and Vogue Magazine as well as on TV shows including Australian Story, Australia’s Biggest Singalong, Spicks and Specks, and The Project.  In 2020 she was a nominee for Queensland Young Australian of the Year and in 2024 received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the community as a musical director. Prior to the establishment of Pub Choir in 2017, Astrid worked as a qualified high-school music teacher.

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