Customer Reviews

I Am America and So Can You

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When the television series All in the Family came out, it was quite a sensation when Archie Bunker expressed all of the prejudices that we had come to believe were held by white working class members of society in the 1960s through the early 1980s. Just to be sure that no missed the point that the show was a satire, Archie would argue with his liberal college student son-in-law, Michael Stivic (played by Rob Reiner), to bring out the contrasts to Archie's Neanderthal beliefs. Archie (played brilliantly by Carroll O'Connor) was always happy to be right in his own mind, even when proven wrong.

Part of what made the show so funny was to hear someone espousing prejudiced views in a seemingly sincere fashion, with no apologies to anyone.

Stephen Colbert's book, I Am America, captures that same essential humor as he espouses the prejudiced views of the white conservative person . . . but with no one to argue with him except you the reader in your own mind.

If you have ever watched Mr. Colbert perform on television, I'm sure you'll be like me and hear his voice recounting the one-liners. That made it extra fun for me!

The book has an unusual design that adds to the humor, including room for margin and foot notes to spear the points even harder, fictitious essays by average citizens, humorous photographs and illustrations, puzzles, games, stickers, and even a bound-in book ribbon.

Unlike a lot of humor books, he doesn't shy away from the delicate subjects like religion, sex, homosexuals, evolution, and illegal immigrants. Having seen how much fun he had in those areas, it made me wonder why more comedians don't take these areas in "clean" ways like Mr. Colbert does.

The humor often digs into a deeper level, exposing the hypocrisy of self-serving self-promotions that many book authors shamelessly employ, those who failed to act in honorable ways (such as those who produced names of "fellow travelers" for the HUAC in the 1950s), and even the toadying that goes in with regards to Islam in the media.

The only way he could have made this book any funnier would have been to create a state-by-state version of wrong headedness. Perhaps that will be the focus for a future book.

I Am America bears close reading; many of the layers of humor are well submerged below the surface of the main gag. I found myself rereading many sections several times in appreciation for the subtle jokes.

Alas, it's all too true. If you are like me, you'll probably find yourself realizing that you, too, have room to improve.

Bravo, Mr. Colbert!

Even if you had accidentally landed on this Amazon page with no intention of buying Stephen Colbert's book, besides becoming 25% more patriotic, you will thank him a thousand times over if you finish reading this one. That's exactly how I started watching Colbert's Report, and I can swear, hands down, that nothing takes priority for me at 8.30 PM EST everyday than watching this man on television. The surprise pack of this book is the Homosexual Agenda (They're prowling. Like a gay pride of lions, according to Colbert) and ''Religion,'' in which ''Stephen'' forces all of us to jump on the ''Jesus Train.' He has also shared with us the complete transcript of his infamous speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner. As you may recall, his remarks fried not only Bush, but the entire D.C. elite. Given that he cut so close to the bone of his audience that the next year they invited Rich Little to be the 'keynote' entertainer so that there would be no 'danger' of anyone saying anything relevant or critical of the elite in D.C. Colbert concludes the reason he wrote the book was because he fears America has lost its balls. He hopes to re-ballify us. He claims he has written a constitution for the Colbert Nation, and agrees we may not agree with everything he had to say. But at the very least, we will understand that our differing opinion is wrong. That's Stephen Colbert!!! I won't be surprised if does an interview of himself by running to that corner left table as he always does. So if you always wanted to become America, go read this book! It's outrageously funny and controversially conservative. You will love it. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

For anyone with two brain cells to rub together, this book is hilarious. The send-ups of everything from politics to family life is razor-sharp. I particularly liked the photos at the beginning of each chapter- they alone were enough to send me into hysterics. (Warning: do not read this in bed if someone next to you is already asleep!)
If, on the other hand, you think, as some reviewers seem to, that Colbert is actually expounding the hyper-conservative views expressed in this book (and you actually want to Be America, as per the title), then please do us all a favour, and read something besides tabloids for a change. Hey, you're already on this site...halfway there already!

It's so rare that someone comes along who hit the political and social nail on the head. I AM AMERICA AND SO CAN YOU does that and more. Colbert has a knack for the truth and his way of presenting it so that you're caught off guard is at once compelling and remarkable. Many times it's only after he's moved on that you get the joke. And the thing that will catch those of you who DON'T know about Colbert is this: He LOOKS so Republican but is quite the opposite. Pulling no punches, he covers everything from religion to homosexuality and makes us laugh. But his humor often goes beyond that, exposing hypocrisy and the religious right for who they are. Even Islam is not safe as it is on so many media formats. I do have to say that, even with all this, I did not find the book offensive. Colbert's tongue-in-cheek reminded me of the wit of David Sedaris (his book ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY comes to mind), and the sheer amount of upkeep on current affairs boggles the mind. There's also no profanity in this book, which amazed me, especially now that so many use it in their stand up acts. If you want to laugh, read this stellar book by Colbert. I would also recommend the EXTREMELY funny novel KATZENJAMMER by one Jackson T. McCrae for another hoot. With so much going "wrong" in the world, wouldn't you rather laugh? Cheers!

Finally, in an age where Leftism has taken over the media, a book that pumps long and hard through the hogwash and presents us the True America. I dont just dish out praise to anyone, but this is the greatest book ever written by a sentient being. I mean, it should literally be next to the Bible in every hotel and motel nightstand in America (especially the ones that cater to the sodomites). Here is a book, for once, truly worthy of the Steven Colbert Award For The Literary Excellence. I am actually a Canadian but my current Prime Minister is a Republican anyway, so that's close enough.

Oh, and I lost 30 pounds! I'd show you a picture of me holding up my old fat pants, but I dont know how to upload it.

You MUST buy this book! You WILL buy this book! If you even go this far, you understand (or maybe, as even I don't completely get it all), you will realize that Colbert's humor is the most severely slanted of parodies. But even with every observation or comment, Colbert manages to inflect a bit of `truism' without making you crazy with common sense politics. I have to admit that one highlight is the "speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner" transcript. I would never have the b*lls to stand up there in front of the world and let it fly! I have not had so much fun reading a book about a (so-called) dry subject as politics in...I don't remember! Please vote, even if you are from Canada!

I like Colbert. Really I do. But in print he is twice the man and twice as funny as on television. If you liked RICK MERCER REPORT and THE DAILY SHOW (book), then this will be just the ticket to keep you laughing.

On the surface this is just a well written and funny book. On closer look, it's down right scary. But then, comedy comes from truth, pain, or fear. Colbert is right on the money with this one.

The Daily Show is not known for pulling any punches, and Colbert doesn't either. He takes on everthing from religion to homosexuality and manages to keep you in stiches without gross humor or four-letter words. There are a multitude of comedians now that take on these areas, but they're usually crass (though still funny) and don't quite have the cache that Colbert does.

I would highly recommend this book along with The Daily Show. Hint: If you're a fan of The Far Side cartoons, this will be the book for you---not like it, but the same deep-down quirky humour.

This book was so much fun. I am a sometime fan of both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, and for me this book is the apotheosis of Colbert's conservative persona. I do find that this persona is wearing a little thin as a going concern, but for this book, the caricature is perfect. Chapter by chapter, this book is relentlessly funny, and actually did make me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. For those who are fans of the shows, you will love this book. For those who are wondering why people find Colbert funny, this book will not give you any answers.

For anyone who likes the comedic style of Colbert, this book is a must-read. Through his typical humour and storytelling, he makes some very poignant statements about politics, religion, even just general life in the 2000's. You know he's joking about some stuff, but other stuff.... maybe not as joking as it may seem. I read this book inside a few days, I couldn't put it down.

Laugh out loud fun! See also George and Condi: The Last Decayed Beaver Tales and a Canada Goosing (see ArtisanPacificPublishing Website)