Craig Ferguson is mainly known in America for hostingThe Late Late Show and his various stand-up comedy specials, but he is also the author of two books worth checking out. Both are very funny and feature large portions of dark humor, keen observation, foul language, wild times and thought-provoking ideas.
The Memoir
American on Purpose covers his childhood in Scotland, his years spent as a part-time comedian/actor/musician and full-time alcoholic, his eventual sobriety and finally his decision to become an American citizen. I especially appreciated his frankness and ability to laugh at his mistakes and learn from them. The book is enjoyable even if you aren’t usually a fan of celebrity memoirs, partly because, as Ferguson admits, he isn’t really much of a celebrity anyway. Also, the Scottish attitude of staying humble and not “getting above yourself” means that the book is remarkably free of self-praise.
If possible, I strongly recommend listening to the audiobook version because it’s read by the author and that works well for such a personal story. In fact, it was even nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy!
American on Purpose is available in multiple formats.
The Novel
It’s hard to describe the sprawling plot of Between the Bridge and the River briefly, but I can say that it involves a disgraced Scottish televangelist, an American road trip, Hollywood ridiculousness, Paris in the springtime, the search for God, some truly degenerate behavior and remarkable insight into the human condition. One of my favorite lines, from page 112, is, “Evil does not question itself. Only Hope questions itself.”
Add a comment to: Adventures with Craig Ferguson