skybalon's review against another edition
4.0
Very honest and entertaining life story. Well worth reading.
spiffysarahruby's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a looooong time to get through this one, not because it wasn't engaging, but because I was listening to it on a PlayAway device while spending time on the treadmill, and you know how that goes... I'm glad I hopped back on the treadmill and stuck with this one to the end!
I have never really read memoirs before last year when I read "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" by Patton Oswalt, and a revelation occurred to me: autobiographies by comedians are bound to be incredible because great comedians tend to also be great writers. Ferguson's book has helped to prove my theory, to me at least.
The book doesn't aim at comedy but is an honest-to-goodness, childhood miseries etc. to adulthood failures and successes autobiography. There are funny bits because, well Craig Ferguson is a funny guy (I particularly liked like the part when he talks about his adolescent fantasies about squeezing boobies together, because that's what you do with boobies, right?), and some sad moments such as his failed marriages and descent into alcoholism. His career really did bounce around for a long time and he did come to America like he dreamed of when he was a boy, and went back to Scotland, and came back, etc. eventually hitting the big time by becoming the host of The Late, Late Show in 2005.
I really did find the bits where Ferguson talked about how he was inspired by America, what it meant to him as a kid, and what it means to him now that he's adult and a U.S. citizen. Having the luck to be born here, you don't really think too much about what being an American means. At least I don't. It's just my state of being. I AM an American--ta da! However, I work in an adult literacy office and just over half our population is made up of ESL students, many who have the goal of becoming a citizen themselves. It never really occurs to me that becoming a citizen is ever more than a necessity (a legal one at that), but that changing your citizenship really does come with a new identity, and Ferguson explains this phenomenon very eloquently. By no means does he trade his Scottish heritage for a new American one though. I like how Ferguson put it when he wrote, "I am the child of two parents, and two countries. My mother put the blue in my eyes and my father gave me grit. Scotland made me what I am, and America let me be it."
I'm sure reading the book in the traditional sense is just fine, but I'd highly recommend getting a hold of the audio version. Ferguson reads it himself and does an excellent job.
I have never really read memoirs before last year when I read "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" by Patton Oswalt, and a revelation occurred to me: autobiographies by comedians are bound to be incredible because great comedians tend to also be great writers. Ferguson's book has helped to prove my theory, to me at least.
The book doesn't aim at comedy but is an honest-to-goodness, childhood miseries etc. to adulthood failures and successes autobiography. There are funny bits because, well Craig Ferguson is a funny guy (I particularly liked like the part when he talks about his adolescent fantasies about squeezing boobies together, because that's what you do with boobies, right?), and some sad moments such as his failed marriages and descent into alcoholism. His career really did bounce around for a long time and he did come to America like he dreamed of when he was a boy, and went back to Scotland, and came back, etc. eventually hitting the big time by becoming the host of The Late, Late Show in 2005.
I really did find the bits where Ferguson talked about how he was inspired by America, what it meant to him as a kid, and what it means to him now that he's adult and a U.S. citizen. Having the luck to be born here, you don't really think too much about what being an American means. At least I don't. It's just my state of being. I AM an American--ta da! However, I work in an adult literacy office and just over half our population is made up of ESL students, many who have the goal of becoming a citizen themselves. It never really occurs to me that becoming a citizen is ever more than a necessity (a legal one at that), but that changing your citizenship really does come with a new identity, and Ferguson explains this phenomenon very eloquently. By no means does he trade his Scottish heritage for a new American one though. I like how Ferguson put it when he wrote, "I am the child of two parents, and two countries. My mother put the blue in my eyes and my father gave me grit. Scotland made me what I am, and America let me be it."
I'm sure reading the book in the traditional sense is just fine, but I'd highly recommend getting a hold of the audio version. Ferguson reads it himself and does an excellent job.
emilynevesreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
vash1122's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
nbhatta's review against another edition
4.0
I have a fondness for the autobiographies of comedians.
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
I love Craig Ferguson. I love his sense of humor, and his lack of taking himself seriously. Reading his life story and the things he's been through and knowing that he can manage to keep a smile on his face about all of it is just amazing to me. Great read, and a quick one too.
offbalance80's review against another edition
4.0
This was a delightful (and laugh-out-loud funny) look back on Ferguson's misadventures along his circuitous route to fame and his current late-night hosting gig. I was completely engrossed as I read all about his battle with addiction, his relationships, and his love for his family; it was like having coffee or dinner with a good friend. If you're a fan of his show, or a fan of the film Saving Grace (which he wrote and co-starred in!), this is definitely worth reading.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
if possible, do listen to the audio version of this book. ferguson reads it himself with perfection in his glorious scottish accent. as a result, the book's themes, which might normally strike me as cheesy, become rallying cries of absolute truth:
"between safety and adventure, i choose adventure."
"fear might be god's way of telling you, 'hey! pay attention- this could be good.'"
did you read those and groan? try reading them in your head using a scottish accent.
craig tells the story of his years as an alcholic/drug addict with humor and brutal honesty. instead of feeling sorry for himself & whining about his rough life (cough cough NIC SHEFF cough) he admits that he was a giant tool and let lots of people down (and he does it in a scottish accent!) this makes me love him. then rebekah sent me that clip of him lip-syncing britney spears with a bunch of puppets. this makes me love him more.
at the end, after ferguson has sobered up and met the right woman and gotten the gig on "the late late show" he becomes an american citizen. i enjoyed what he had to say about patriotism. disagreeing with the government (or select decisions of the government) doesn't mean you don't love your country. it means you're taking advantage of the freedom provided by that country. again, this is a little sappy so please switch your scottish accent back on. doesn't it sound noble now?
in conclusion, i love craig ferguson and his accent.
"between safety and adventure, i choose adventure."
"fear might be god's way of telling you, 'hey! pay attention- this could be good.'"
did you read those and groan? try reading them in your head using a scottish accent.
craig tells the story of his years as an alcholic/drug addict with humor and brutal honesty. instead of feeling sorry for himself & whining about his rough life (cough cough NIC SHEFF cough) he admits that he was a giant tool and let lots of people down (and he does it in a scottish accent!) this makes me love him. then rebekah sent me that clip of him lip-syncing britney spears with a bunch of puppets. this makes me love him more.
at the end, after ferguson has sobered up and met the right woman and gotten the gig on "the late late show" he becomes an american citizen. i enjoyed what he had to say about patriotism. disagreeing with the government (or select decisions of the government) doesn't mean you don't love your country. it means you're taking advantage of the freedom provided by that country. again, this is a little sappy so please switch your scottish accent back on. doesn't it sound noble now?
in conclusion, i love craig ferguson and his accent.
dixiet's review against another edition
5.0
What a well-written and fascinating life story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading his novel - and seeing him live next weekend.