American on Purpose

The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

By: Craig Ferguson

Narrated by: Craig Ferguson

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

“With American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson somehow manages to avoid the pitfalls of self-indulgence and self-importance that plague most (okay, all) Hollywood autobiographies. He has, instead, written a book that is hilarious and irrepressibly daft, yet also kind, poignant, and undeniably wise. It was a joy to read.” (Dennis Lehane, New York Times best-selling author of The Given Day)

Ferguson delivers a moving and achingly funny memoir of living the American dream as he journeys from the mean streets of Glasgow, Scotland, to the comedic promised land of Hollywood. Along the way, he stumbles through several attempts to make his mark - as a punk rock musician, a construction worker, a bouncer, and, tragically, a modern dancer. To numb the pain of failure, Ferguson found comfort in drugs and alcohol, addictions that eventually led to an aborted suicide attempt. (He forgot to do it when someone offered him a glass of sherry.) But his story has a happy ending: success on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and later as the host of CBS's Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a US citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008.

In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared.

©2009 Craig Ferguson (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Interesting, funny and sincere

What made the experience of listening to American on Purpose the most enjoyable?

Craig does a great job sharing both funny and serious stories from his life. And, he has led an interesting life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Craig

Which character – as performed by Craig Ferguson – was your favorite?

Craig

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh a fair amount. It was emotional at times but never so much that I would cry.

Any additional comments?

It is an entertaining book that is fun to listen to.

I like Craig Fergusoon

This was a terrific book. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it at first. But now that I finished reading it it makes me wish I would've watch Craig show more often.

The Scotsman Does It Again

What made the experience of listening to American on Purpose the most enjoyable?

Craig paints an honest and unsanitized picture of his life, his struggles and his successes. With more lives than a cat and more luck than the Irish, this Scotsman's journey is retold with humor, wit, cheek and a little more humor on top!

What was one of the most memorable moments of American on Purpose?

Too many memorable moments were related to pick just one.

Any additional comments?

A fantastic listen. A memorable, humorous and insightful account of a memorable, humorous and utlimately successful life. Story telling at its best. You'll only do yourself a favour if you listen to this fabulous book!

I Heart Craig Ferguson

What did you love best about American on Purpose?

I really enjoy Craig on TV. Getting to know more about him was appealing, and he made everything funny.

Would you be willing to try another book from Craig Ferguson? Why or why not?

Absolutely. He is genuinely hilarious.

What about Craig Ferguson’s performance did you like?

His thick Scottish brogue. I would listen to this man read the phone book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and it wasn't overly long, so I did end up finishing it in about a week.

Engrossing, honest and delightful

I've been a fan of Ferguson for many years.
He is, in my humble opinion, aside from Johnny Carson, the greatest talk show host ever on American Television.
The book is surprisingly open and genuine - and his delivery of it is peerless.
I too am an American on purpose if not by birth, so I found many similarities in our feelings about the US, and in our feelings about success - and the struggle.

I came away from this book with a greater understanding of and a deeper admiration for who Craig Ferguson is as a person.

Absolutely fantastic!

Stunningly humorous while being real and sad at the same time! A better story I have not heard in a long time! Thanks Craig for sharing!

Entertaining, poignant tale of a life journey

Where does American on Purpose rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the comedy-memoir genre, it ranks up there with Bossypants for me.

Would you be willing to try another book from Craig Ferguson? Why or why not?

Yes, I'd listen to Craig again. His story is authentic and there's wry humour and honesty, without a hint of pathos or arrogance. The love of his family - and the women in his life - shines through. This is a man who has learned from his life choices and I was glad to hear that, in the end, he triumphed.

What about Craig Ferguson’s performance did you like?

He has a great voice and good pacing, when he tried other accents, they were believable. HIs choice of words was authentic. There was a clear arc in the telling - starting off young and exuberant and ending up older and wiser, despite being battered along the way. He has a deft hand - didn't overplay the drunkenness, drugs or his sorrow at what had gone wrong. He's consistently likable, grateful and positive.

Any additional comments?

Very enjoyable. I'm going to PVR or YouTube-search his shows, so that I can see him in action.

Hysterical

Any additional comments?

If you like Craig Fuguson, you'll love this book. It gives a good insight about his evolution, and what it takes to be a comedian and writer.

This is a good book!

What did you love best about American on Purpose?

I believed every word. How we Americans take our country for granted is a shame.

What was one of the most memorable moments of American on Purpose?

Non stop good.

Loved it.

I found this book funny, compelling, brutally honest and beautifully written. I loved listening to Ferguson tell stories about his life. It was so much better than I expected. Loved it.