I Drink for a Reason

By: David Cross

Narrated by: David Cross

Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 P.C. 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revealing the true story behind his almost existential distaste of Jim Belushi ("The Belush"), disclosing the up-to-now unpublished minutes to a meeting of Fox television network executives, and offering up a brutally grotesque run-in with Bill O'Reilly.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-ten list of top-ten 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)
"David has composed a fascinating list of the most obscure names in Atlanta baseball history, and filled the spaces between with some stuff. I don't always agree with him, but he always makes me think and smile and, unlike our conversations, in this book I actually can get a word in edgewise." (Keith Olbermann)
"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)

Huge Fan of Cross But Extremely Disappointing

Any additional comments?

I expected a LOT better from my second favorite comedian. As much as I love David Cross, this audio book just sort of drags on with laughs few and far between. Nowhere near the quality of his stand-up material.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Hilarious but a little preachy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the audiobook had many additions to the book that were hilarious, but it gets really preachy, so I'd have to recommend it to someone very open minded.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There wasn't any story. It was a collection of essays.

What does David Cross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

LOTS of things. He ad-libbed a whole lot, and there were TONS of changes (an entire chapter was put to music, special guest stars etc) that made it SO much better than the book.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

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.

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

Self Indulgent

What did you like best about I Drink for a Reason? What did you like least?

The first few chapters are classic Cross. Reminiscent of the type of brilliant riting that made Mr. Show so hilariously innovative. Introspective and imaginative rants about life and how ridiculous people can be. I especially enjoyed the Network Executive Meeting chapter.

What was most disappointing about David Cross’s story?

There is no story. This is mostly a stream of consciousness attempt to fill enough pages to qualify as a book. As a long-time David Cross fan, I was disappointed. Using the book to respond to a blogger's comments is just self indulgent. The blogger's "voice" was an INCOHERENT synthesized effect that became increasingly frustrating as it went on, as you can only make out about HALF of what it says.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I enjoyed his intonations when he was reading the chapters, and the various characters that he portrayed. I liked the "extras" where he chides the listener for purchasing the audio book instead of the hard copy. While it was an innovative idea, having a band perform the chapter about "A Free List of Quirks for Aspiring Independent Filmmakers" was just AWFUL. The song was tedious and lacked any real form or melody, and it goes on for SO LONG that it becomes arduous to listen to. I would qualify it in the genre of "depressing goth music to slash your wrists to." Next time get someone snappier like BareNaked Ladies or They Might Be Giants.

Do you think I Drink for a Reason needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. For the love of god, no. Half of this book was witty and heartfelt, but the rest was just filling space. It gives the impression that he just did this for the money. Of course, that's why MOST people publish a book these days, so I shouldn't be so shocked. If this book weren't one of my FREE trial membership downloads, I would feel VERY cheated indeed.

Any additional comments?

If David Cross is obsessive enough to ever seek out and read the reviews for this audio book, then I'd like to apologize for being so harsh. I WANTED to like this. I've enjoyed almost all of your previous works. I did laugh a few times at this. But you lost me at "A Free List of Quirks." If that's the kind of music YOU enjoy, then it was presumptuous of you to subject your listeners to that.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

bummer, I was such a fan

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

If the book was entertaining or funny.

What was most disappointing about David Cross’s story?

I have been a fan of Cross for years, seen him do stand-up, loved his stand-up CD "Shut up you F***in baby!" and listened to it many times.
But this book was absolutely boring! Didn't laugh once. And Im sad to say he came off as sort of obnoxious :(

Would you be willing to try another one of David Cross’s performances?

Definitely- I will keep checking out his stand-up.

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

hmmm... no?

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Oh, David

I've purchased David's albums and sought out his performances on tv, film and at live venues. I've sympathized with him when he complained that Fox failed to promote Arrested Development and when he complained that Patton Oswalt had unfairly picked on him for taking soulless gigs like Alvin, even as he peddled his relentlessly pedantic anti-corporate point of view. I love and believe everything David does, says...is. No, wait - sorry, not everything. I don't dig it when he sh*ts on his audience, repeatedly, for choosing to listen to, rather than read, his book. Specifically, I despair a bit when a guy who has made his living doing stand up and voice over work in kid flicks like "Kung Fu Panda" and "Alvin and the CGI Money Things" berates his audience for wanting to hear, rather than read, his book. It is an amusing book - some great stuff. What David fails to appreciate, however, (perhaps willfully) is that his delivery brings something unique to his work. Wait, did I say work? Sorry, I meant shtick...or bits. David's bits are so inexorably tied to his delivery, I can't imagine reading his work. Like Sedaris, it loses around, I don't know...half? Let's say half the entertainment value. When Sedaris does his Billy Holiday impression in his story about confronting homosexual bigotry while taking guitar lessons as a teen, the content is elevated by the performance. So too when Cross did his gay black assistant to OJ Simpson bit back on Joe Frank's show (long time ago). Neither would have translated well to the printed page. Hey, did I mention I paid for this audiobook? Yeah, I did. Did I mention that I read more books than the two to which I listen on a monthly basis? I do. Did I mention that many folks listen to books on their commute, trapped in their cars or crammed into subway trains? Have you ever tried to read a hardback on an NYC subway during rush hour? No? Well, try it, I'll wait...Way to lose a fan, jerk.

32 of 56 people found this review helpful

OMG!

David Cross always has made me chuckle. But Chapter 14 on the scrapbooking convention had me crying with laughter. Cross is the bizarre-thinking-man's comedian. Worth a listen!

8 of 14 people found this review helpful

Very disappointing

I am a David Cross fan but this was fingernails on a chalkboard. There was no organization to this. It just seemed to be stream of consciousness. I listened to the whole thing, but I was constantly checking to see when the pain would end.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

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.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Not for everyone

I am a big David Cross fan and have read the book before listening to the audio book, and he adds a lot of things in his performance of the book that were not in the book. Very funny and also at times very vulgar but I loved it.