UNDERSTANDING that it's a lot of fun to be alive in Australia - that's the gist of William McInnes' new book, Full Bore.

At a talk at the Cudgen Surf Club on Friday promoting his book, he spoke of the "random journey we all go on".

"The book's basically about understanding the fragility of life," he said.

"It's about realising we're humans, hopefully in an entertaining and fun way."

Mr McInnes' ramblings - like his memory that "shoots off in all directions" - ranged from free toys found in cereal packets, rugby players, fashions and how they jump generations, tattoos, and the sealed section of the magazine Cleo with its "nude coots", as his Dad used to call them.

Funny walks, and impersonations of Malcolm Turnbull and Donald Trump, also dotted his speech.

"I'm going to outlaw pre-shredded cheese in America, and I'll make America grate again," McInnes joked while imitating Trump.

His mother's irascible nature wasn't off-limits either in his tale-telling.

On her deathbed, when told that her son wanted to see her, she said: "Which one is it, the fat one or the stupid one?"

Mr McInnes also revealed an early memory of a romantic girlfriend.

"She came up with a great idea to spice up our relationship - we get a bottle of French champagne and a movie ... an erotic movie.

"She showed me what she had and I said, 'where did you get that?', and she said, 'from my dad's shed'.

"I showed her my erotic movie ... Where Eagles Dare (far from erotic British 1968 Second World War action film).

"We watched the thing she got out of her dad's shed.

"We had the rest of the champagne and watched Hey Hey It's Saturday (Australian variety show, also unerotic)."

Mr McInnes' trademark humour and anecdotes are also evident in his book.