American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot
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...
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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... The New York Times - Andy Borowitz There's no one else like [Ferguson] on television, and he's achieved something unusual in late night: a sense of intimacy with his audience. In American on Purpose he establishes a similar bond with the reader. Like Steve Martin in his similarly engaging memoir, Born Standing Up, Ferguson tells the life story of a comedian without letting jokes get in the way.
Preface ix1 A Seat at the Table 12 Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor 83 The Attic 144 Astronaut 195 James the First 256 Brick House 317 Satori in Long Island 358 Running the Gauntlet 439 Eldorado 5210 The Filth and the Fury 5911 The Real World 6612 Love and Sex 7213 Dreamboy 7714 Art School 8115 A Clever and Patient Monster 8916 Tripping 9417 Anne 10118 New York 10719 Adventures in the Big City 11420 Setting the Tone 12221 The Gong Show 12922 The Rise of (Bing) Hitler 13523 Edinburgh, 1986 14024 On the Train 14625 Jimmy's Wedding 15426 The Aspirations of a Phony Englishman 15827 The End of Daze 16728 Rehab 17329 Reboot 17930 Buying a Knife 18531 Providence 19032 Scottish Women 19533 Dudley and Jadis 20234 The Aspirations of a Phony Frenchman 20735 The Fat Man, the Gay Man, Vampires, and Marriage 21336 America the Beautiful 21937 Success and Failure 22438 Father 22939 Crash 23340 Between the Bridge and the River 23741 Latecomer 24242 Riding the Pass 25043 Feeding the Beast 25444 Settling Down 26045 American on Purpose 263
\ From Barnes & NobleThe subtitle "Improbable Adventures" actually understates the skittish life path of this book's author. Late, Late Show host Craig Ferguson was born in Glasgow, where he walked mean streets, performed in a punk band called Bastards from Hell, and appeared in alternative comedy clubs as Bing Hitler. From those unremunerative enterprises, he lurched into temporary occupations as a construction worker, a bouncer, and a bartender. In that last job, he seemed to have found his true tragic calling. He became his own best customer, rapidly lapsing into a downward spiral of alcohol and drugs that nearly killed him. Somehow he not only survived and recovered; he found a new career, a new country, and a new sense of purpose. Heartfelt, fun, and inspiring.\ \ \ \ \ People Magazine"Hilariously vivid."\ \ \ Keith Olbermann"Funny and poignant and inspirational and brilliant. Nowhere in his story of emigration and redemption does Craig Ferguson realize that as lucky as he thinks he is to be ‘American on Purpose,’ we are luckier still to have him."\ \ \ \ \ Dennis Lehane"With American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson somehow manages to avoid the pitfalls of self-indulgence and self-importance that plague most (okay, all) Hollywood autobiographies. He has, instead, written a book that is hilarious and irrepressibly daft, yet also kind, poignant, and undeniably wise. It was a joy to read."\ \ \ \ \ Carrie Fisher"A great read . . . almost as good as my memoir."\ \ \ \ \ The Daily Beast"Hilarious and revealing...witty and emotional."\ \ \ \ \ People“Hilariously vivid.”\ \ \ \ \ Chicago Sun-Times"Ferguson has given us a biographical treatment that is both brutally honest and inspirational…American on Purpose is a book that should be read."\ \ \ \ \ Associated Press“A fine writer, witty, reflective, and candid.... Ferguson is a kinetic cutup teeming with foolishness, brilliance, defiance, and heart. All this is captured in his book as an entertaining connect-the-dots journey.”\ \ \ \ \ Associated Press Staff"A fine writer, witty, reflective, and candid.... Ferguson is a kinetic cutup teeming with foolishness, brilliance, defiance, and heart. All this is captured in his book as an entertaining connect-the-dots journey."\ \ \ \ \ Chicago Sun-Times“Ferguson has given us a biographical treatment that is both brutally honest and inspirational…American on Purpose is a book that should be read.”\ \ \ \ \ The Daily Beast“Hilarious and revealing...witty and emotional.”\ \ \ \ \ Andy BorowitzThere's no one else like [Ferguson] on television, and he's achieved something unusual in late night: a sense of intimacy with his audience. In American on Purpose he establishes a similar bond with the reader. Like Steve Martin in his similarly engaging memoir, Born Standing Up, Ferguson tells the life story of a comedian without letting jokes get in the way.\ —The New York Times\ \
