American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

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American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

by Craig Ferguson

3.96 · rating details · 3,786 ratings · 716 reviews

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 m

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Hardcover, 268 pages

Published September 22nd 2009 by Harpercollins

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Nov 28, 2009

William Johnson rated it

Shelves: since-joining-goodreads, 2009

Reprinted from my website Secure Immaturity:

I’m trying to love Craig Ferguson while I can because let’s face it world. . .Craig Ferguson is coming! I’m not one of those intellectual yuppies who hates anything mainstream but there is, admittedly, something really fun about liking something cult or limited in appeal because, well, you are kind of the hip (or hipster) guy or gal who caught on to something early. Craig Ferguson, and his late night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig ...moreReprinted from my website Secure Immaturity:

I’m trying to love Craig Ferguson while I can because let’s face it world. . .Craig Ferguson is coming! I’m not one of those intellectual yuppies who hates anything mainstream but there is, admittedly, something really fun about liking something cult or limited in appeal because, well, you are kind of the hip (or hipster) guy or gal who caught on to something early. Craig Ferguson, and his late night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, is something cult. . .for now. Soon, the man will be in every one’s living room and that, while not any less entertaining, does damage the small world he once inhabited.

I’ve felt that Craig Ferguson has been the best talk show host for awhile now. I never deliberately watched him but whenever he was on or I caught an interview with him by accident or because I wasn’t watching a hundred other things, Ferguson always lit up my living/bedroom. He was/is spontaneous, witty, bizarre and odd but never, ever boring. Even David Letterman, who I always held as a late night champion over the Lenos and O’Briens of the world, can get dull from time to time. Ferguson, now a regular fixture at 12:15 on my bedroom television, never disappoints or loses his edge. And the United States is starting to pick up on it.

While his ratings appear to be steady and/or rising, Ferguson has been making the rounds and starting to get clout outside the nocturnal crowd. One aspect of this occurrence is his release of American on Purpose, his memoir. Unless your Joan Collins, memoirs aren’t released unless there is some actual interest in the subject at hand and since Ferguson’s star is rising, a book seems like the next logical step in making that star shine brighter and higher in the sky.

The book is immensely straightforward. It is bookended by the present day but, like most biographies, starts at childhood and goes right up into the current goings-on. I usually find this approach unbearable in biographies but Ferguson manages to focus more on the people in his life then the events which makes the sometimes standard everyday events seem emotional and interesting. Ferguson has to talk to people every night and engage them and he doesn’;t fail here. Instead of preaching about how a childhood event led him to where he is today he just describes what happened in a simple way and let’s you live in the moment.

This approach helps you get through the by the numbers outline of the book. That said, even if the chronology is by the numbers, Ferguson’s life was/is anything but. Having a career in Hollywood can be downright odd because you, as an actor/director/what have you, are judge by the material you are in/present/etc. By ‘celebrity’ standards, Ferguson’s life is fairly dull: a few movies, a few sitcoms, limited mainstream success or appeal and one guaranteed hit in the bag (his current show). By industry standards he is moderately successful and moderately interesting.

But Hollywood experience and life experience are two different things. Ferguson’s life, from the economically strapped slums of Scotland, to the busy, fast paced and drug fueled streets of New York to said Hollywood is full of larger then life characters, goings-on, cliques, celebrities of the eras, cultural importance and impact and even near death experiences. Oh and evil, attacking ducks too. Ferguson may have a run of the mill acting career but his life has stories that many would envy and others couldn’t dream of.

And most of it isn’t pleasant. Ferguson, while self deprecating throughout, is also brutally honest. Ferguson was an alcoholic, a cocaine addict and a marriage-ender by definition. While always having the ‘heart of gold’, Ferguson was irresponsible, rambunctious and destructive. In many areas of his history he faced death both by starring at the wrong end of a gun (thanks to an angry pimp) or by wishing to jump off a bridge. Graphic (but funny) hallucinations led to weeks of agony and frustration. Ferguson is always willing to make light of his troubles but never endorses them. He makes it clear his life was humorous but wrong. . .and is loving every minute of what he has now.

I think people will buy the book thinking it to be a slightly dark, completely hilarious book. Those people will be immensely disappointed. Ferguson manages to be very funny but the humor comes from his experiences and hardly from his meta-observations of theme during their telling. There is no observational humor here. . .just very direct confirmations of previous facts. This is also not a collection of humorous essays. This is a well told but simple biography that might rub people the wrong way. I was definitely expecting something else but wasn’t disappointed by what I did get in the end.

American on Purpose is a simple read and highly enjoyable if not, dare I say, life affirming. Sometimes when I think I have things bad I turn the page to the moment Ferguson was chased by psychotic hallucination-formed ducks or when he punches a cop in a drunken stupor. If that doesn’t ’sober’ you up then maybe something else in the book will. Either way: read it.
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Apr 15, 2011

Ebony McKenna rated it

I want to give this 4.5 stars for honesty.
Sometimes it's hilarious honesty, other times it's painful honesty.
Craig Ferguson doesn't hold back.

The beginning had me laughing so hard I cried.
I read late into the night and snorted with laughter. I woke my husband up during the chapters on Craig's schooling.

The drug hazed years were truly horrible - and he gets in first describing himself in very bad terms, before the reader can. Make no mistake, drugs might be f...more

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Aug 20, 2011

Angela Blount rated it

One of the more excellent memoirs I've ever read. And I mean that for both it's candid poignancy and cynical Scottish hilarity.

I'll admit up front, I'm a bit of a Craig Ferguson fan. He's always been, to me, one of the very few televised personalities whom I'd love to know personally. I felt the book was true to his particular blend of endearing guile and cheeky lowbrow humor.

He admits to his own biases and misconceptions and makes no point of taking political sides....more

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Jan 19, 2011

Glee rated it

I am adding to this review, since I just listened to it on CDs. (I read the book in late 2009.)

I generally don't listen to books on tape/CD, because I am usually driving and I don't multi-task very well. Listening to this book was a different experience for me than reading it -- maybe because of the lovely Scottish burr, maybe because the listening is less intense than actually reading. I dunno. I did enjoy listening as much as I did reading it, but I'm not sure what I would have...more

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Dec 08, 2010

Mary rated it

Aside from the magnitude of spelling and grammatical errors, which at points I was surprised the editor couldn't catch, American On Purpose was a great read. If anything it showed me a new and different side of our beloved Craigyferg.

The one thing I admired most of his story was how he was completely unwilling to settle for an acting job that undermined his skill. It didn't matter if he was working with Betty White or alongside Drew Carrey, he wanted his voice to be heard. He's a very driv...more

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Oct 10, 2011

Knitpurlgurl rated it

Shelves: audiobooks

If you're a fan of Craig Ferguson's intelligent and witty comedy, than chances are you'll enjoy this autobiography. Ferguson talks about growing up in a poor town in Scotland, moving to NYC, playing in punk rock bands, and participating in the early '80s drug scene. His autobiography is frank and funny. And if you enjoy audiobooks, you're in for a real treat as Ferguson narrates his own book.

Scottish by birth, American on Purpose. That says it all. :)

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Jan 03, 2010

Theresa rated it

Fans of Craig Ferguson’s work as host of CBS’s The Late Late Show may be familiar with elements of his autobiography. The actor/comedian is not shy about using his own life as fodder for his opening monologues, making frequent mention of his alcoholism and even dedicating a show to his late father on the day he died. With humor, humility, and wit, Ferguson describes his childhood in Scotland (he grew up in a city named “the second-worst town in the United Kingdom”) and his fractious adulthood ma...more

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Jan 24, 2012

Nick Dolan rated it

I read the entire book in one night, so let me say it is a very fast read. The book follows TV Host Craig Ferguson on his journey through a Scottish upbringing, to drug addiction, to alcoholism, to further drug addiction, to even greater alcoholism, back to drug addiction, there's some ducks, and we meet They Might Be Giants, and Oh Look, There's Bing Hitler, and drugs, and booze, and drugs and booze and drugs and booze and drugsboozedrugsboozeduckdrugsbooze...

The part about his roug...more

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Jan 13, 2012

Kyle rated it

· review of another edition

I enjoyed this book, although it's not exactly life-changing literature or anything. It's a quick and engaging trip through Craig Ferguson's life. He doesn't get particularly in-depth about much of anything (in some ways the book is less revealing than certain episodes of the Late Late Show), and it's a bit episodic - lots of little vignettes - but hey, I wasn't expecting or wanting a lot of "lessons" from this book anyhow. It was a good audiobook for commuting, especially because of t...more

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Sep 30, 2011

Talia rated it

I picked up this book on a lark. I knew of Craig Ferguson - more from occasionally seeing his show at night (I like to sleep, so I rarely catch it) and honestly, from "How to Train Your Dragon." I'd forgotten he was on the Drew Carey show, because I rarely saw it.

But after reading this book, I really like this guy and want to see more of his work. Ferguson is funny. He's a comedian. He should be. But funny comedians don't always write funny books that have heart. Ferguson d...more

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Aug 22, 2011

Dani Peloquin rated it

This was on my list of books to read while driving cross country as it was advertised as a comedy and I absolutely love Craig Ferguson. I figured that it would keep me occupied for hours sitting in a car. I was right! I really enjoyed this book because it was funny but also included his personal story which made it touching. Unlike some of the comedy books that are currently out, (though I do love them) this addresses some heavy topics in a humorous way without making light of them.

Fer...moreThis was on my list of books to read while driving cross country as it was advertised as a comedy and I absolutely love Craig Ferguson. I figured that it would keep me occupied for hours sitting in a car. I was right! I really enjoyed this book because it was funny but also included his personal story which made it touching. Unlike some of the comedy books that are currently out, (though I do love them) this addresses some heavy topics in a humorous way without making light of them.

Ferguson starts the book with his reflections on the 2008 White House Correspondents Dinner. It is clear from this introduction that he has made it big in America despite the fact that he wasn't a citizen until recently. He then takes the reader back to Scotland where he was born and raised and mostly disliked by his peers. Growing up, he suffered through the local school system but found solace in a trip to NYC. He promised himself that he would return to America someday. Before that happened, Ferguson had a horrific descent into alcohol and drug use. It was during this time that he married his first wife and got his first divorce. After dragging himself back from this dark period in his life, he excelled and even surpassed his expectations for himself. Of course he suffered through a couple more marriages and divorces as well as some dead end jobs before he landed his position on CBS and his wife Meg. It is a contemporary twist on the American Dream/Rags to Riches story.

Though he uses humor in his writing, he is quite serious about the mistakes that he has made. I continued to laugh at his descriptions of debauchery in which he was involved but he was sure to explain that this was one of the worst parts of his life. His insights into Hollywood, the entertainment industry, and just Americans in general is right on. Sometimes it takes an outsider to truly see someone's quirks. In this case, it is a whole nation's quirks. Ferguson does an excellent job of poking fun without making fun. I laughed throughout the book but was emotionally touched which is unique for comedies.(less)

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Jul 22, 2011

Rebecca rated it

Shelves: travel

This is Craig Ferguson's autobiography. He is Scottish and recently became an American citizen. It was an easy, simple read. Talks about why he loves America so much and why it was important to him to become a citizen. He still loves his country, but the book talks about all what America has given him. He worked hard but it sounds like a lot of his stuff is based on luck as well. He didn't start out wanting to be an actor, he just sort of fell into it. He had a booze problem, but "luckily"...more

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Jul 04, 2011

Jennifer rated it

Recommends it for: fans of The Late Late Show

Recommended to Jennifer by: Craig Ferguson

Shelves: read-2011

Guess what? Craig Ferguson is actually a good writer--wickedly funny, touching, and quite self-deprecating. Though this memoir begins in the present day (more or less) with Ferguson watching his son, Milo, play baseball and connecting that moment to a quintessentially American attitude toward failure, this book heads quickly to Ferguson's past. He grew up in a rough Scottish town, hated school (though loved literature), and had his first drink/blackout at age 13 or so. Ferguson's druggy and ...more

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Jun 08, 2011

Christine Bode rated it

· review of another edition

I have been a fan of CBS’ The Late Late Show host, Craig Ferguson, since I first saw him in the 1999 film, The Big Tease, followed by 2000’s Saving Grace: a gem of a comedy written, co-produced, and starring Ferguson that has since become one of my all-time favourites. I never really watched him play Drew Carey’s drunken boss, Nigel Wick, on The Drew Carey Show (1996-2003), although I might have caught the odd episode, but I have been watching him faithfully on The Late Late Show since July 2005...moreI have been a fan of CBS’ The Late Late Show host, Craig Ferguson, since I first saw him in the 1999 film, The Big Tease, followed by 2000’s Saving Grace: a gem of a comedy written, co-produced, and starring Ferguson that has since become one of my all-time favourites. I never really watched him play Drew Carey’s drunken boss, Nigel Wick, on The Drew Carey Show (1996-2003), although I might have caught the odd episode, but I have been watching him faithfully on The Late Late Show since July 2005.

Craig Ferguson is a wonderful actor and one of Britain’s (and America’s) leading comedians, who has written and performed three albums of stand-up comedy, as well as this year’s DVD – “A Wee Bit O’ Revolution” – filmed at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. His self-deprecating humour is infectious and almost no subject in his own life is taboo. He’ll discuss everything from his personal vacations, to his failed marriages, lust for Beyoncé, enormous penis, and past alcohol and drug addiction. He’s often “irreverently outrageous, but never mean-spirited,” and he can just as easily make you cry with his emotional intelligence and integrity.

Craig is an exceptionally fine writer and in 2006, his first novel, entitled Between The Bridge and The River was published, receiving impressive sales and positive critical reviews. His latest effort, American On Purpose, is an autobiography, and although I knew about a lot of what was shared in the book because I watch his show regularly, I was still mesmerized by his elegant prose and didn’t want to put it down.

American On Purpose is a poignant and positively witty memoir that begins with an auspicious invitation to perform at the 2008 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in front of the least popular President in the history of the United States, and then revisits 46 of his tumultuous years on the planet in a very fast-paced, enthralling manner. Craig, who is candid about his 15 years as a blackout drunk, was exceptionally careful about what he revealed about his life and sometimes changed names to protect those who might now be uncomfortable or offended if he hadn’t. I was a bit disappointed that he simply wrote that he’d dated some well-known actresses before he met and married his third bride, Megan Wallace-Cunningham, but never revealed who any of them were. He did speak very respectfully and lovingly of all of the serious relationships he had with the women who came before Megan, and I was especially moved by the last chapter in the book in which he talks about the death of his mother in 2008. If anything, I found when I’d finished reading American on Purpose that I was selfishly wanting more details about this remarkable man.

This hardworking, insecure Scottish immigrant who loves the philosophical and emotional concept of America never spares himself: whom he refers to as an uncool, “middle-aged white man with graying hair, a thickening waist, and a creepy laugh.” No matter how much therapy he’s had, or how successful he’s become in many areas of his life, he can’t quite believe that it’s as a result of his own talent and strength of character (which it undoubtedly is!).

“…I’m still doing lame comedy now and the show is doing great. Maybe that’s because it’s my lame comedy. I am my lame self and make the lame comedy my own.”

Craig Ferguson is only two years older than me, and he came of age in the same, debaucherous decade that I did. I can relate to the feelings and experiences that led him from the dreary back streets of Cumbernauld and his intoxicated, punk rock youth, to the relief he felt at being able to pay off over $250,000 of debt after 7 years of sobriety, and his incredulity at now owning a home with a swimming pool in Hollywood, and being a protective, loving father to his 8-year-old son, Milo. For a self-professed control freak, this man is honest, diligent, intelligent, handsome, funny, kind, and sensitive, and there is nothing that I read in American On Purpose that will convince me otherwise.

If you’re not already aware of the incandescent beauty that is TV’s Craig Ferguson, you are really missing out, because every day that Craig Ferguson is on the air is a great day for America! I will wait with anticipation for more of his brilliant writing in the future. (less)

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May 31, 2011

Maria rated it

Shelves: nonfiction, biography, 2011

If you watch "Late Night with Craig Ferguson", you'll probably have some set expectations of this book. I expected an irreverent sense of humor; I got it. I expected profanity; I got it. I expected a thoroughly enjoyable read; I got it! I did however, with some trepidation, expect some graphic details of his life as an alcoholic; I didn't get that. Not that he glosses over that period of his life (it obviously had a major effect on who he is today), he just doesn't go into elabora...more

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May 06, 2011

Ravi rated it

Being no stranger to Craig Ferguson's nightly ramblings on 'The Late Late Show on CBS, and no stranger to his profanity-laced, seething style of stand-up comedy, I was intrigued to read more about the events that created the man that we see before us today. Make no bones about it - I knew that Mr Ferguson was a very intelligent individual- but I wasn't sure about his writing style, seeing as I hadn't read his previous, fiction offering, in the form of "Between The Bridge and the River"...more

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Nov 12, 2010

Richard rated it

The Book Report: Scottish prole grows up in emotionally chilly, physically cold as hell Glasgow, turns to drugs and alcohol to fill gaping emotional void, screws over a variety of people as all alkies do, and one day wakes up to learn he doesn't like himself, his life, or his future. Rehab, restitution, success, and true love follow.

My Review: I herewith confess: If Craig Ferguson was even a teensy hint queer, I'd be on a plane to Cali and camped on his doorstep with flowers, candy, ...moreThe Book Report: Scottish prole grows up in emotionally chilly, physically cold as hell Glasgow, turns to drugs and alcohol to fill gaping emotional void, screws over a variety of people as all alkies do, and one day wakes up to learn he doesn't like himself, his life, or his future. Rehab, restitution, success, and true love follow.

My Review: I herewith confess: If Craig Ferguson was even a teensy hint queer, I'd be on a plane to Cali and camped on his doorstep with flowers, candy, and a leg iron. He amuses and impresses me even more after reading his pretty darned candid memoir.

I'm a complete pushover for a man in a kilt anyway, but when he can act and tell jokes the way this man can...! Ferguson, the host of "The Late Late Show," made me laugh so hard I cried when he said of his son's mother: "No, really, she's a lovely woman. For legal purposes." I heard nothing of his show for the next five minutes because I was shouting with laughter, and Mr. Man was a little put out that I kept referring to that line (okay, I shamelessly stole it, and I still use it, and unless I get a cease-and-desist letter I'm gonna keep right on) to the point of having a jealous fit. (Thanks, Craig!)

I am also a sucker for men who come to the USA with dreams of success and end up in love with our amazing, incredible, flawed, imperfect, conservatism-ridden paradise. Ferguson fell in love with the USA in its warty glory, and he rightly credits this astonishingly open society with a goodly measure of his own success. His talent plays an acknowledged role, but he makes sure to tell his readers that his life wouldn't be possible anywhere else. It's very heartening to me, and it's an instructive reminder that, problems and blemishes be damned, the rest of the world rightly and justly thinks we're on to something here.

Lastly, but far from least, I'm a complete sucker for a good story told by a good storyteller, and this book most certainly is that. Ferguson can't resist telling tales, no doubt polishing them up a wee bit, but not always in his own favor. He can't resist making light of things that sink many an alkie person's life, and sank his own, and thus takes the ponderousness out of the idea of recovery. I've read a fair bit of recovery literature but I'm always fatally put off by the earnest, well-meaning "Amazing Grace"-ness of it all. A person's personal spiritual awakening is, and should remain, just that: Personal. In other words, BELT UP ABOUT JESUS. Ferguson not only does, he makes it clear that he has a BIG problem with religion. *swoon* My lands, just when I thought he couldn't get more magnetically, hypnotically gorgeously attractive!

So should others read this? Yes. It's fun, funny, and touching; it's honest and it's gritty; and in the end, it's a pleasure to get to know Craig Ferguson as well as if he were the bloke on the barstool next over.(less)

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Aug 16, 2010

Jonny99 rated it

Tales of a charmed life. If you are unaware of who Craig Ferguson is, and likely you are, he is the late night U.S. television chat show host who is not among the first tier - David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien or the second tier – Jimmies Falon and Kimmel. Basically, he is that other guy. Ferguson is an adulterous, profane, self-centered, lecherous, uneducated, violent, lazy, neurotic, alcoholic drug addict with only marginal talent and an unstable personality. That is not an insul...moreTales of a charmed life. If you are unaware of who Craig Ferguson is, and likely you are, he is the late night U.S. television chat show host who is not among the first tier - David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien or the second tier – Jimmies Falon and Kimmel. Basically, he is that other guy. Ferguson is an adulterous, profane, self-centered, lecherous, uneducated, violent, lazy, neurotic, alcoholic drug addict with only marginal talent and an unstable personality. That is not an insult but rather a summary of his autobiography. Ferguson looks back at the mess that has been his life to this point and marvels, as does the reader, that somehow he has achieved rarified success despite making self-destructive decision after decision. Ferguson’s life stories are fascinating in the same way television shows about things blowing up or the old Warner Brothers’ Road Runner cartoon are captivating. His forays into love always end with him cheating. Except for his final foray into sobriety all the others always end with him passed out. And his forays into performance always (up until his current success) eventually end in anger and regret from those who hired him. In short, Ferguson’s choice to begin the book with a story of meeting the former, junior President George Bush at the White House Correspondence Dinner perfectly sums up the rest of the tale of his life – there may be no other two people more successful and yet less deserving of it than the two men.

Ferguson is somewhat perversely proud that the only academic credential he every attained (never having completed even high school) was a wine-tasting certificate. His writing style tends to betray this. The text is a little too plain-speaking, falls back on the crutches of profanity a little too often and chapters are sometime brief and end abruptly to the point of absurdity. However, the often fantastical personal anecdotes rarely fail to be self-conscious with Ferguson often openly saying: I couldn’t believe it either! The tales also seem to lack a personal agenda, at least none can be inferred from someone willingly admitting they wet the bed until they were 29 years old.

In short, the book gets a mild recommendation largely because it sets of the back story for when Ferguson eventually and inevitable fucks up his current marriage, stardom or sobriety. It appears he has not done anything truly self-destructive in about six year so it should be quite the blast when it happens.

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Jul 11, 2010

Daniel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: biography

Like millions of others, I'm a tremendous fan of Ferguson's Late, Late Night talk show. His off-the-cuff humor is brilliant and his interviews are unlike any other talk show hosts'. And so, I was really looking forward to his book, which didn't disappoint, but wasn't the "wow, zing, bang" book I was looking for.

While there are definitely traces of his humor throughout ... and if you know Ferguson, you'll definitely be able to read some of this work picturing and hearing h...more

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May 08, 2010

Matt rated it

Shelves: biography-memoirs

The general rule of thumb with celebrity autobiography is that you will probably like it if you are all ready a fan of the subject. You probably wouldn't pick up Craig Ferguson's "American On Purpose" unless you were a fan of his through his late night show or Drew Carey or otherwise, but I would recommend this book even to people who didn't even know who Craig Ferguson was.

The first requirement of a good biography is that the subject needs to have lived an interesting enough...more

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Apr 17, 2010

Zack Marcinkiewicz rated it

Craig Ferguson tells all in this memoir dating back from when he was just a young boy in Glasgow, Scotland to landing an American talk show host gig. While Ferguson is a comic, he manages to tell his story in a heartfelt, honest light. Ferguson grew up in a war-torn country and was plagued with poverty while having to witness the death of his father. He becomes an alcoholic in his early teens and at the time it was seemingly harmless but he stood with his habit for years and it almost lead to ...more

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Feb 01, 2010

Jess rated it

I suppose that, like a great deal of comedy and comedy writing, Craig Ferguson may not appeal to everyone. But his brand of humor, his wit, his eye for the ironic and his ear for a turn of phrase -- all resonate wonderfully with me. (His Late Late Show is certainly funnier than Dave/Conan/Jay, and it's almost entirely on the strength of his offbeat humor, which drives his opening monologue.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for once find it entirely apropos to use the cliche th...more

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Jan 23, 2010

Scott Huizenga rated it

American on Purpose seems to be a carthartic exercise for the late-night funnyman (though that is the last thing he thought he would be doing early in life). Ferguson is adept at delivering his autobiography at a brisk pace despite some pretty heavy topics - alcoholism, drug abuse, adultery, divorce, parenthood, and death - just to name a few, though not always in that order. The book probably is not always as "funny ha-ha" as one may expect from a guy who has strayed wackily, and hili...more

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Jan 12, 2010

Stacey rated it

[Review for my Book Blog:]
Hilarious and sad in places, like when he realizes what saved him from suicide on a Christmas morning. It's really riveting, too, and it made me want to watch his show more often, which I have done.

[Review for the Library book blog:]
Today’s Book: American on Purpose: the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot, by Craig Ferguson

The plot: The subtitle of this witty autobiography is “the improbable adventures of an unlikely p...more[Review for my Book Blog:]
Hilarious and sad in places, like when he realizes what saved him from suicide on a Christmas morning. It's really riveting, too, and it made me want to watch his show more often, which I have done.

[Review for the Library book blog:]
Today’s Book: American on Purpose: the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot, by Craig Ferguson

The plot: The subtitle of this witty autobiography is “the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot,” and that only just begins to describe this hilarious, honest story of Glaswegian Ferguson and his epic trip to becoming an American citizen. Starting as a Glasgow native with a punk-rock soul, the now-famous late-night host waxes poetic on his "ridiculously attractive" parents and tells the hard, forthright truth about being a drunk and a drug addict for chunks of his life, and how he, with the help of friends, managed to rise above it, raise a son, and become the rollicking and uproarious comedian he is today - all while chasing the dream of being an American (on purpose).

Why You’ll Love It: If you're already a fan of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, you don't need any more reason than his nightly shenanigans to pick up this book. If you don't stay up late, or never watched The Drew Carey Show, you'll love this book for the laughter it will inspire in you; it's full of read-aloud quips, like when he speaks of his late-night-show colleagues and predecessor Johnny Carson: "A little bit of cool goes a long way; it lands on you if you are a late-night talk-show host. Consider the other guys: if Dave (Letterman) wasn't the king of late night he'd be just a cranky old man who drives too fast. Jay (Leno) would be a weirdly needy mechanic, and Conan (O'Brien) would have kids following him down the street calling him names. Without his show, Jimmy Fallon is just a thirty-five-year-old giggly adolescent; and Jimmy Kimmel is a good guy, but he'd be the first to admit he's not cool - in another life, he'd be a genial maître d'."

Who Will/Should Read It: Fans of Ferguson's turns on The Drew Carey Show as British boss Nigel Wick, of the host of the Late Late Show, or his favorite movies (written and starring him) - Saving Grace, The Big Tease, and I'll Be There, or anyone who enjoys a good laugh while reading a story of growing up Glaswegian and striving for the states. Also, as Ferguson mentions a few times in the book, those who "choose adventure."

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Dec 31, 2009

Frank rated it

This is Craig Ferguson's memoir. It's a fast and enjoyable read, and pretty interesting to see how he went from an alcoholic with no future to being like the best late-night tv host ever (in my opinion at least). The most interesting part is his earlier life, perhaps because that's when the story is developing, before stuff really happens. I don't give this book more stars because towards the end, when his Hollywood career begins in earnest, it made me wonder how any of it happened. From thi...more

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Dec 19, 2009

Marisa rated it

Shelves: 50-book-challenge-2009, celeb-lit, nonfiction, wishlist

You wouldn't necessarily realize it when watching him on television, but Craig Ferguson is quite a writer. His novel, Between the Bridge and the River, is one of my favorite books, and American on Purpose is just as funny, well-written, and surprisingly poignant as the former.

Like Russell Brand's My Booky Wook, Ferguson's memoir tells (sometimes horrifying) tales of his drunken exploits as a punk rock drummer and a drug-addled stand-up comic (under the moniker "Bing Hitler"...more

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Dec 12, 2009

Natalia rated it

Shelves: 2009, library

From occasionally listening to his monologues on his late night talk show, I knew Ferguson had a pretty wild past, and I love a good tell-all.

I actually got a little teary-eyed at the end. Ferguson tells a very forthright story, not glossing over the mortifying bits most people would be tempted to sweep under the rug. Even while he was clearly disappointed with his own selfishness and idiocy, the book is permeated with the warmth and affection he has for all the people who come throu...more

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Dec 08, 2009

Jon rated it

A lively, funny, informative, and sometimes very moving autobiography by the Scottish late-night talk-show host. Not as good as his novel (on which he says he worked very hard) I suppose because his life isn't really as interesting as what his imagination can concoct. Some wonderful anecdotes--as when he and his wife, Megan, greeted Dick Cheney and his wife at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Megan and Mrs. C conversed about art, and then about Picasso, several of whose works ...moreA lively, funny, informative, and sometimes very moving autobiography by the Scottish late-night talk-show host. Not as good as his novel (on which he says he worked very hard) I suppose because his life isn't really as interesting as what his imagination can concoct. Some wonderful anecdotes--as when he and his wife, Megan, greeted Dick Cheney and his wife at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Megan and Mrs. C conversed about art, and then about Picasso, several of whose works the Cheneys owned.--"Where do you hang them?" asked Megan. "Oh, we don't. They're nudes, and we have grandchildren. We don't want them to see them when they come over." "But they're Picassos," protested Megan. "But they're nudes," smiled Mrs. Cheney dangerously.--And after going through the reception line, Ferguson mentioned to Megan that he thought Cheney had been ogling her breasts. "Nah," she said. "I thought that for a second, then I realized he was just appraising my diamonds." Very clear and frank descriptions of his hard life growing up in Glasgow, in spite of loving parents and perfectly normal brothers and sisters. He was "belted" on the first day he went to school (whipped by a teacher on his upturned palms with a belt). He is amazed to think that there were people making a living in Scotland manufacturing tools for the corporal punishment of children. He dropped out of school at the earliest possible age (16). He became an alcoholic before he was out of his teens, and a user of every kind of drug he could find. The story of how he had the great luck to run into the right people at the right time to help him get clean is quite moving. As is the story of his three marriages. He is very frank about his own limitations and immaturity--as when he describes his proposal (after he has quit drinking) to the woman who would eventually become his second wife. They had been dating for several months and were having an idyllic visit to San Francisco on a day of perfect weather. While riding a cable car, he impulsively told her he loved her and wanted to marry her. She looked at him for a minute and then said, "What you really mean is, you're very happy and you wish it could go on forever." "Yes, that's exactly it!" he answered. She just shrugged and let the matter drop. Not at all a Hollywood disher of dirt, nor a self-serving apology. Also not ghost-written, but with a very positive blurb on the jacket from Dennis Lehane, a man well qualified to judge good writing.(less)

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Nov 19, 2009

Rick Starr rated it

I don't know how I came to start watching The Late Late Show; I'd never seen him on the Drew Carey show; heck, I didn't even know he existed. But for some reason I picked up a Late Late show or two on the TiVo, and became a fan, and when the book came out resisted for a while but finally gave in and bought it.

While he has been brutally frank with the broad strokes during the course of his monologues and/or guest interviews (the drunken years, the blackouts, the drugs, etc.) the book ...more

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Nov 12, 2009

Holly rated it

I'm really not much of a late night person, I'm lucky to stay up past 10:30 most nights. But once in awhile, I find myself awake AFTER I have fallen asleep...HATE that. Except that is how I *met* Craig Ferguson, host of the Late, Late show, on CBS, following the tired, ordinary Late Show with Dave Letterman. If you haven't seen Craig Ferguson, you'll have no idea why I loved this book. You have to see him once or twice to fall in love with him. If you've seen him twice and aren't nuts about him,...more

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About Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson is a Scottish-American comedian, television host, actor, and writer. He is the current host of CBS's The Late Late Show, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006. He became an American citizen on February 1, 2008.

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“....maybe fear is God's way of saying, "Pay attention, this could be fun.” — 66 people liked it

“He will know from and early age that failure is not disgrace. It's just a pitch that you missed, and you'd better get ready for the next one. The next one might be the shot heard round the world. My son and I are Americans, we prepare for glory by failing until we don't.” — 42 people liked it

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