American Savage

Publisher's Summary

On the heels of his Emmy-winning It Gets Better campaign, columnist and provocateur Dan Savage weighs in on such diverse issues as healthcare, gun control, and marriage equality with characteristic straight talk and humor.

Dan Savage has always had a loyal audience, thanks to his syndicated sex-advice column Savage Love but since the incredible global success of his It Gets Better project - his book of the same name was a New York Times best seller - his profile has skyrocketed. In addition, he's written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Onion, GQ, The Guardian, Salon.com, and countless other widely read publications. Savage is recognized as someone whose opinions about our culture, politics, and society should not only be listened to but taken seriously.

Now, in American Savage, he writes on topics ranging from marriage, parenting, and the gay agenda to the Catholic Church, sex education, and the obesity epidemic.

©2013 Dan Savage (P)2013 Penguin Audio

You will laugh, you may cry and will probably fume

Dan Savage is a polarizing kind of guy, he’s one of the bogeymen for the religious and political right, a leading LGBT rights activist and tireless campaigner for marriage equality. He’s also a funny, clever enormously readable and (a characteristic quite rare nowadays) wise writer. This well written and frequently quite moving book will likely particular appeal to certain constituents.

If you are GGG with the whole LGBT marriage equality message this book is a handy guide to your positions and arguments. If you are a Fox News aficionado who thinks that women should not have control over their own reproductive health and two people of the same gender being married threatens your marriage then you may still find this book entertaining and it will give you something to shout at in the car.

Dan calls out the misogynist, homophobic, anti-science and bigoted vocal crowd led by Bachmann, Palin and Cruz one topic at a time. He gives the arguments for issues, many of which aren't even regarded as topics worthy of debate in the rest of the civilized world.
It’s a little depressing to hear the level of stupidity that Dan calls out and answers so succinctly. If you follow Savage Love (his excellent weekly podcast) you will be familiar with his brand of pithy and frequently very funny common sense, this is a must read for you. If you have seen Dan speaking on LGBT issues as the “Token Gay” on shows like Bill Mahr or even Fox News you might have noticed how approachable and funny he is. This book gives him room to explore and explain in much more depth but always with that wry good humor we have come to expect from him. This is a well thought through, well structured, well informed and enormously entertaining exploration of the social and political questions which most divide our country…if you care about these issues (from either side) you should read this book.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Savage is an Amazing Writer and Narrator

Would you listen to American Savage again? Why?

YES YES YES! I plan to listen to this again. In fact, I plan to buy his other audio books, narrated by him. First, Savage is an eloquent and witty writer who makes his points clearly and thoroughly. I don't always agree with him, but I always find him worth listening to. I generally do agree with him and I find listening to his writing gives me food for thought and new ideas in developing my own world view.

Second, his narration is amazing. I could listen to a grocery list if he read it and feel soothed. He has an amazing voice and listening to him read his own work only makes what is great material even better.

What other book might you compare American Savage to and why?

I would say that hearing David Sedaris reading his own work or Tina Fey read her own work come closest to this book for me - not because they are similar but because all three of these authors as narrators make me so happy. They are so wonderful to listen to. Their own narration adds so much to the written word, enhancing it and making the words so much richer.

What about Dan Savage’s performance did you like?

Everything. Truly. I love his timing, his voice, his pronouncation, his laugh, everything.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many many parts of the book are moving. However, the most moving part was a story of his mother's last moments. I had heard this before on This American Life, slightly different. Even having heard that, even having cried for this moment before, even knowing what was coming, I had to work hard hold myself together. If I would have been driving, I would have had to pull over because I wouldn't have been safe to drive. I was walking in to work and it took everything I had to not break down sobbing in the building lobby.

Any additional comments?

Dan, if you ever read this - thank you so much for taking your time to write this book and then narrate it. Your work makes my vanilla little life richer. Thank you.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Didn't expect it to be THAT good!

Informative, touching and witty.
I loved this book and even thinking now about subscribing to his podcast.
Dan's story and reasoning are exceptional and simple.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Some great essays, but a bit repetitive

Any additional comments?

Damn, I had no idea Dan Savage was such a good writer. I'm a weekly listener to his Savage Love podcast and reader of his column, but this was the first time I've read/heard one of his personal essays, and they were very powerful. I sobbed my way through his essay about his mother's death, for example.

Other chapters, however, were rote and predictable to those familiar with his work. Some of the lines he uses I could recite word for word. You should roll your kinks out like they're a fun thing you get to do, not like they're *what*, kids? Let's say it all together now. Leukemia! His thoughts on cheating, open relationships, why women shouldn't be offended that he refers to pussy as "canned ham dropped from a great height" (still offensive no matter how much you like canned ham) are nothing new for regular readers or listeners.

Yet the new chapters were strong enough that I still think this book deserves four stars. In addition to the essay about his mom's death, the essay about going back to the Catholic church — at least physically — is poignant and insightful. The chapter about the It Gets Better project is interesting as well as brutally sad. I learned some new stuff in the health care chapter (for instance, I will never eat at Jimmy John's again). And last but certainly not least, Bigot Christmas is almost worth the price of the book alone.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I had expectations that were too high.

i struggled to read this book. I thought at first that I just had to press through the start and it would get better. It did not. In the end, I quit reading before I finished it. In a word, "Disappointed"!

American Savage: Short Review

There are many who have never had a mentor/life coach for the various types of relationships and situations one may encounter as a member of the LGBT community.

To this day one is still hard to find, until you have herd/read the work of Dan Savage.

Like a chat with friends over dinner

I have been reading for listening to Dan Savage for a number of years. I picked up this book because he mentioned it on one of his podcast, and it did not disappoint. the book was delivered in a very conversational style that has plenty of humor to balance out some very serious discussions, in a way that I've come to really appreciate about Dan Savage. It was honest, it was serious, and it was funny. I didn't learn many things that I hadn't heard him say in bots and pieces before, but the way he said it in this book was cleaner, with and with additional depth. I really enjoyed it. and did I mention already that I love the fact that Dan Savage was narrating his own work? Because that was, for me, what really made it.

Speaking knowledge into Power

A great listen for those who like history and understanding your religious peers. True especially if you are not religious yourself as Dan describes direct passages from the bible.

Classic Dan

For those who like Dan Savage's inimitable mix of anecdotes, parables and potty-mouthed humour, don't think twice about downloading this book. It's smart, funny and moving - not necessarily in equal measure, but in equal force. A great listen!

Dan Savage is always brilliant!

I love reading his books, columns & listen to his podcast, religiously. I look forward to the next one.