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Nov 28, 2009

William rated it:

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 More...

5 comments like (13 people liked it)

Apr 15, 2011

Ebony 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...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 12, 2011

Angela 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...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

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...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

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...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 10, 2011

Knitpurlgurl rated it:

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. :)

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

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...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 24, 2012

Nick 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:

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 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 More...

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Jul 22, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

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:

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 rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 31, 2011

Maria rated it:

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...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

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, More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

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 More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 11, 2010

Daniel rated it:

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...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 08, 2010

Matt rated it:

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...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 17, 2010

Zack 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...

1 comment like

Jan 23, 2010

Scott 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...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

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...

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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...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 19, 2009

Marisa rated it:

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:

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 More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2009

Rick 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...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

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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