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American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot |  | Author: Craig Ferguson
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $4.79
as of 7/31/2010 12:13 CDT details
You Save: $21.20 (82%)
New (33) Used (56) Collectible (6) from $2.59
Seller: bookcloseouts_us
Rating:  162 reviews
Sales Rank: 20278
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0061719544
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.45028092
EAN: 9780061719547
ASIN: 0061719544
Publication Date: October 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In American on Purpose, Craig 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: in 1993, the washed-up Ferguson washed up in the United States. Finally sober, Ferguson landed a breakthrough part on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, a success that eventually led to his role as the host of CBS's The Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a U.S. citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008, just before his command performance for the president at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 162
 Craig Fergie's book July 31, 2010
Mary M. Wyatt (Baltimore)
Excellent book. Recommend that you read it. I think it is very funny in parts, sad in others although not a tear jerker but most of all, it is uplifting because it's true. Craig Ferguson writes an excellent book. He may not have finished high school but his intelligence and humor shows through in his biography. See for yourself.
 highly recommend! July 30, 2010
walera (Berkeley, CA)
Great book by a smart and funny man. Well written and enjoyable to read. I really enjoyed learning about Craig's life and the journey he took to get where he is now. Very honest and open, especially the parts where he discusses his battle with alcoholism.
Who is Craig Ferguson? July 26, 2010
Judy K. Polhemus (LA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This hobo stopped in for a chicken dinner, but stayed to read "American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot" by Craig Ferguson, host of The Late Late Show.
Hobo? Chicken dinner? Just a couple of things Craig tosses about on his show. I watch his show fairly often. I am a late night person and want something to occupy my mind while I sew. Dave and Craig and Jerry are my entertainers. For a good while I've been convinced that Craig ad libs his monologue. His book puts that question to rest: He does. It puts to rest a number of other thoughts I've had about Craig.
He is much more accomplished than I thought. Who is this Craig Ferguson who became host on a late night show in America? How did he get the job? Not that I had any idea or interest in the others. I like this guy with the attractive accent dressed in an attractive, mischievous, flirtatious, sometimes repulsive and annoying demeanor. But he's nearly always entertaining.
I don't often read memoirs or biographies, but thoroughly enjoyed this one. I don't even remember why I ordered the book. I can say, however, that he writes the most eloquent chapter about what it is to be American and why he became American. He's most assuredly worth quoting: Interesting. I cannot find a single sentence I want to quote out of context. It's the context that makes his praise of becoming American so touching, while simultaneously recognizing and appreciating his Scottish roots.
One thing he thanks America for is a second chance at becoming more than a failure, as he deems himself for so many years, first in Scotland, then in America. Alcohol and drugs made him a rotten stink of a man on many occasions. However, this book becomes a rousing story of overcoming the odds of addiction and is worth promoting on that basis alone.
He rarely unfairly treats anyone. He speaks ill of only a handful of people, but has the decency not to name them. To the women he loved, he is uncompromisingly appreciative and kind, behavior refreshingly welcome and surprising in a memoir.
The book is so well-written (I don't mean a literary classic) that I wondered if it was ghosted or co-"written," but discovered he has also written a novel. A person who can write a novel can write his own memoir. Nothing should be surprising about this man's vast pool of talent or unrelenting need to work and create.
If you know nothing about Craig Ferguson, look at the picture on the cover of his book. That quirkiness pretty much sums up his personality and the rare treat you will get for reading "American on Purpose."
Good read. July 25, 2010
As a fan of his show it gave me a new appreciation of him as a person.
Soooo funny and very real speaks from the heart July 25, 2010
Leo Leo (Westchester, N.Y.)
I wished the book went on and on. I think he is one of the funniest people on TV. I even appreciate his talent more knowing the struggles he went through. I've read many books on celebs and many seem so cut throat as where he comes off as someone with flaws and makes the changes to correct them and moves on. I think you won't be disappointded. It's a quick read.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 162
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