I have read a lot of celebrity memoirs lately. Craig Ferguson’s American on Purpose differs in two big ways. First of all, it’s a straight up autobiography — starts with his childhood, hits all the highs (and lows) of his career, sums up with where he is now (well, 2008). Second difference? While I’ve read a lot of about the sad childhoods of now-famous people (bullied for being tall/smart/dumb/raised by hippies/a bedwetter, etc), this is the first one I felt genuinely bad for. Ferguson “bad childhood” consisted largely […]
A really entertaining audio book
Before I bought and listened to this audio book, which came to my attention thanks to fellow Cannonballer Narfna‘s enthusiastic review, this is what I knew about Craig Ferguson: 1. Until very recently, he hosted the Late, Late Show, where he always seemed to be genuinely interested in the guests in the few clips that I’ve seen. 2. He really likes Doctor Who 3. He used to be in a band with Peter Capaldi, who is currently playing Doctor Who. 4. He’s voiced a number […]
“Scottish by birth, American on purpose.”
This is the best celebrity memoir I’ve ever read. Now, I’m probably biased because I went into this already loving Craig Ferguson from watching him on The Late Late Show, but he did in his book everything that a book like this should do. He was funny, sincere, and his honesty is that of the ‘warts and all’ persuasion. In fact, showing those warts is the whole point of the book, which he opens by stating, concerning his son, “He will know from an early […]