I Drink for a Reason

By: David Cross

Narrated by: David Cross

Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The star and creative force behind Mr. Show and Arrested Development pens his "first and final book, chronicling his meteoric rise and abysmal fall in the literary world."

After a decade spent in isolation in the Ugandan jungles thinking about stuff, David Cross has written his first book. Known for roles on the small screen such as "never-nude" Tobias Funke on Arrested Development and the role of "David" in Mr. Show with Bob and David, as well as a hugely successful stand-up routine full of sharp-tongued rants and rages, Cross has carved out his place in American comedy. Whether deflating the pomposity of religious figures, calling out the pathetic symbiosis of pseudo-celebrity and its leaching fandom, or merely pushing the buttons of the way-too-easily offended PC left or the caustic, double standard of the callous (but funnier) right, Cross has something to say about everyone, including his own ridiculous self.

Now, for the first time, Cross is weaving his media mockery, celebrity denunciation, religious commentary, and sheer madness into book form, revealing the true story behind his almost existential distaste of Jim Belushi ("The Belush"), disclosing the up-to-now unpublished minutes to a meeting of Fox television network executives, and offering up a brutally grotesque run-in with Bill O'Reilly. And as if this wasn't enough for your laughing pleasure in these troubled times, some of the pieces splinter off with additional material being created online in exclusive video and animated web content created solely for the book - a historical first (presumably)!

With a mix of personal essays, satirical fiction posing as truth, advice for rich people, information from America's least favorite Rabbi and a top-10 list of top-10 lists, I Drink for a Reason is as unique as the comedian himself, and cannot be missed.

©2009 David Cross (P)2009 Hachette

Critic reviews

"One of the funniest books I've ever skimmed!" (Paul Rudd)

"It is inappropriate for me to write a 'blurb' for Mr. David Cross, as he is rightly a legend - utterly fearless, absolutely brilliant, and a longtime inspiration to me. My endorsement would be like the weed endorsing the sun, which is to say: I live in the dirt and require David Cross (plus water) to live. But I can grow right through sidewalks, so that's something." (John Hodgman, Daily Show resident expert)

"David's writing in this audiobook for the eyes is every bit as funny, honest, and observant as the man himself-and, oddly, twice as smart. It's surprising and funny dot dot dot, a triumph!" (Mitchell "Arrested Development" Hurwitz, co-creator, The Ellen Show)

Entertaining To a Point

This audiobook has it's funny parts, but I wouldn't listen to this multiple times. David Cross is a very funny comedian. In this audiobook, he goes out of his way to make your listening experience odd by repeatedly going off script, scolding the listener for buying the audiobook instead of the "real" book and summerizing chapters instead of reading it. To start, the preface is read twice, once by Johnathan Benjamin and then a second time by Cross himself. There is a chapter Cross made a list for movie directors of odd movie plots to ensure a award winning film, but he had a band sing this entire list, rather than reading it (the band sucks, btw). This book would be a better read while visiting your bathroom vs. anything else. The parts that are funny are very funny, but the rest is just annoying.

clever ramblings

What disappointed you about I Drink for a Reason?

It's just like listening in on a crazy person rambling on about various thoughts.

Would you ever listen to anything by David Cross again?

porbably not

Any additional comments?

I was looking for humor....there was some. Overall, I found myself thinking of what to put on my to do and to buy lists than being captured by the voice coming out of my device.

Not comedy... just really bitter hatred

I guess why we know David Cross drinks, because he is bitter. He hates Christians and really hates Mormons. He really really hates those in the middle states especially if they are Christian or Mormon. He had one bad day with Jim Belushi and so now he feels compelled to run on stage and harass Belushi when he is singing and to create fake magazine articles claiming that Belushi dresses in drag in order to be a prostitute. I was expecting some humor or insight, but most of the audio consisted of Cross saying things like: "Christians are idiots. Mormons are idiots. Jim Belushi is an idiot... blah blah blah.
Considering that David Cross narrates the book, there is no excuse for poor delivery. He constantly insults the listener for purchasing the audio instead of reading his book as though it is some nuanced masterpiece. There is a good reason that David Cross should drink. He is stuck inside the small little bitter body that would seem more suitable for a 95 year old on a respirator.

bad

not funny, he's more insulting than funny to bee honest... I wish I hadn't spent the money.

This book is a reason to drink.

What would have made I Drink for a Reason better?

I think revising the content to remove his smarmy, know-it-all attitude on topics like U.S. culture, religion, attitudes and geography. Also, adding more funny material would have made it better. Or better yet, get a copy of Michael Ian Black's "My Custom Van".

Would you ever listen to anything by David Cross again?

I probably would not listen to anything by David again. I purchased the book and the audiobook.
I thought that maybe his performance would have made the audiobook funnier (it didn't). And I thought that maybe reading the material for myself would have made the book seem less smug, condescending and bitter (it didn't).

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of David Cross?

H. Jon Benjamin was much funnier in his reading of David's material.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from I Drink for a Reason?

I think I would have cut everything after the H. Jon Benjamin intro up until the ending.

Any additional comments?

There are some parts that are funny. But, his bitterness and snide attitude overshadowed the funny parts.

he was as bored with his book as we were

Painful! The first hour and a half was great and funny, then he had a "robot" read some of it - which was not understandable. Not long after that, he had a band sing six pages of a list he had made of character ideas for indy movie directors. The idea was derivative - I've heard that on Adam Carolla - indy movie ideas... plus you couldn't understand what the band was saying. It was obvious that he was getting bored with his book, so he felt he had to put music and robot to it. We stopped 2 1/2 hours in. Also, at the beginning, the audio wasn't recorded well. You won't like it if you get it.

this book is only funny if you are a bigot

6 + hours of bashing on Christians / conservatives / little old ladies / the handicapped

Don't waste your time unless your a sadist

Should have paid better attention to other reviews

What would have made I Drink for a Reason better?

If it was not so vengeful against other people

Would you ever listen to anything by David Cross again?

I do think he is funny sometimes and I do enjoy his voice. But as for things he has written no way in hell, he is just to bitter for me.

What didn’t you like about David Cross’s performance?

His voice is fine.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Some of the names he makes up did make me laugh a little

Any additional comments?

Just not really sure why he wrote this book other then to tell the world how much he hates Jim Belushi and anything that the rest of the world likes.

Worst book I've bought so far

Horribly not funny. I listened for about an hour and could not go on. I can not imagine listening for another 5 hours... wish I could get a refund.

Save your money for a different book.

Do as he tells us and buy the book instead

I am a fan of David Cross, but this was not good. It was all over the place with no sense of direction. He would constantly remind us the listener that we should have bought the book instead. After a few times it got annoying.

It has a few good moments such as his comments on Larry the Cable Guy and Jim Belushi, but most of it was forgettable and occasionally grating.

The book just didn't seem to have a point, or a story to tell. It was just these random stories that had no connection to each other.