America Again

Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't

By: Stephen Colbert

Narrated by: Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Jordin Ruderman

Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Humor, 2013

Book store nation, in the history of mankind there has never been a greater country than America. You could say we're the number one nation at being the best at greatness.

But as perfect as America is in every single way, America is broken! And we can't exchange it because we're 236 years past the 30-day return window. Look around - we don't make anything anymore, we've mortgaged our future to China, and the Apologist-in-Chief goes on world tours just to bow before foreign leaders. Worse, the L.A. Four Seasons Hotel doesn't even have a dedicated phone button for the Spa. You have to dial an extension! Where did we lose our way?!

It's high time we restored America to the greatness it never lost!

Luckily, America Again will singlebookedly pull this country back from the brink. Covering subject's ranging from healthcare ("I shudder to think where we'd be without the wide variety of prescription drugs to treat our maladies, such as think-shuddering") to the economy ("Life is giving us lemons, and we're shipping them to the Chinese to make our lemon-flavored leadonade") to food ("Feel free to deep fry this book-it's a rich source of fiber"), Stephen gives America the dose of truth it needs to get back on track.

©2012 Stephen Colbert (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Not His Best, but Still Funny

As with his other book "I Am America (And So Can You!)," the guide to know whether or not you'll enjoy this is whether or not you enjoy the Colbert Report. And if you're going through withdrawals because that's not on the air anymore, this is a quick hit to normalize you.

It's not nearly as funny as the other book, but I still laughed. How can you not laugh? The whole reason to get the audio is the performance. Sure, you could read it in book form (and maybe you should!), but you'd be missing that vital Colbert-ness that makes it more entertaining than it really has a right to claim.

Too Much Hyperbolic Hyperbole

In a phrase that Colbert himself might use, this book contains too much hyperbolic hyperbole. I enjoyed his previous book, which was very entertaining and more subtle. That book kept leaving me with a question of "wait, does he really think that? Oh no, of course not." In this book, he hits you over the head with a humor hammer; he is working too hard for the laughs by making all his exaggerations huge. It is still entertaining, just not his best work. Too dramatic, which he really doesn't need to create a successful work.

I love Colbert Report, but...

What could Stephen Colbert have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Add more substance. It seemed that most of this book was a rehash of stuff from his show, without presenting any new ideas. It's a very short book as it is, so fresh concepts would be appreciated. Also some of the sidebar "skits" were not at all interesting or clever and seemed especially juvenile, which made me want to fast forward through an already short book. .

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not, but an equivalent would be to watch several episodes of the Colbert Report.

Any additional comments?

Stephen Colbert is an entertaining performer, and could make almost any book enjoyable. However, the way he performed it was the best thing about the book -- the content does not really stand alone as a book.

Mostly Funny, Borderline Annoying

I’ve always liked Stephen Colbert and I’ve always enjoyed his TV show but his first book and his Christmas song, were really bad. I thought I’d give this audio book another try and glad I did. I know Colbert can be borderline annoying but this book was very funny and he does a great job as a narrator too. I thoroughly enjoyed most of this listen.

Funny as usual

Much like the show. His tongue in cheek opinions that represent a FOX news pundit on steroids are so laughable that even conservatives will find it amusing. In this installment he covers everything from jobs and the economy to Obamacare. The strongest bits were at the beginning but then wavered towards the end of the book. His set on food towards the end was so forgettable that I can't even remember it and I finished this book just the other day. I would have given this book higher ratings if it was longer and if the material was more timeless. This was a short book and is already a little dated.

Not Worth the Time

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

While I enjoy Colbert and certainly agree with most of his insight into our politics, this book is not interesting or very funny.

Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen Colbert again?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

Yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

This book is simply Boring

Really kinda sorta disappointing

I love Stephen Colbert, but this was such a disappointment. Every once in a while, on the Colbert Report, you realized that Stephen just stretching for time...not enough material and 4 1/2 minutes to fill. Over and over again I caught myself thinking--that's what he's doing here. Just stretching for time--in a REALLY short book to begin with. Yes there were many moments of cutting satire, but surrounding them was way too much over-cute, meaningless routines. Perhaps these were the monologues that didn't make it onto the Colbert Report.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like if the genius mind of Stephen Colbert was ever loose to go deep into American hypocracy, taking the time to connect the dots of all that we pretend to be and the liars who spin the American dream.......well, this is not that.

But if you like the Colbert Report and wish you could pay $20.00 to get 3 hours of it, then this is thePERFECT audio book for you.

Not worth it.

Disappointing, was hoping for more from Colbert. Seems like he was trying too hard with this one.

Best audiobook I’ve bought this year

That was hilarious and thought provoking. So enjoyed SC reading his book, made it even better!

Okay

Not as funny as 'I am America' but worth a credit. Colbert's satirical humor is always fun to listen.