I Am America (And So Can You!)

This book -- beautifully bound and, not a surprise, cleverly penned -- is not for everyone. Here's how I know. My 95-year old mother, a huge fan of THE COLBERT REPORT, mentioned wanting to buy this book. I told her to wait for a special occasion and that I'd buy it for her. The "special occasion" came soon after when she had successfully passed the written portion of the California driver's test (yes, you read that right, her driver's test at 95!), so, as promised, I ordered Colbert's book from the store. My mother was ecstatic to receive the book and began reading it the night it arrived. Next day when I was talking with her by phone, I asked her how she liked the book. "Oh, my lord, Ann. You wouldn't believe the language in the section on sports. I can't even begin to describe what I mean, but -- and I don't want you to feel bad -- I just don't think I can finish this thing! This guy must be crazy. I can't imagine what in the world he was thinking about when he wrote it." Okay, my curiosity piqued, I bought the book (another victory for you, Stephen!) and read the section mentioned (Please note that my mother is the type who can find THE ONE vulgar word in a 5,000 page treatise, and she is also one who does not start at the BEGINNING of the book; rather, she sort of scouts it out for "bad words."). Oops. Not a proper book for a nonagenarian, I'd submit or, rather, not one for a PROPER nonagenarian, in any case! Let this review be a word to the wise and maybe a smile as well to you children of parents in their 90's. As for me, I loved the book. How does he do it? Ann Woody, San Antonio, TX

Humor is all about timing and it is sometimes difficult to catch the timing in the written word, but I think Colbert did a good job overall.
He does tackle all topics and if you aren't careful...you might learn something that makes you think. I enjoyed this book on my Kindle..

I was disappointed overall. While I expected it to be sophomoric, I didn't think it was going to be just plain silly most of the time. The book did have its moments, though, so I guess it's worth borrowing or checking it out of the library. I wouldn't buy it, though.

I purchased this book for my sister, knowing that she is a fan of the show (as am I). My sister broke out laughing several times in the first minutes of reading it, and proclaims it to be exceptionally funny. If you love the show, then this book is awesome. My sister highly recommends it.

It's very "Colbert". Knowing his character and knowing not to take his "opinions" seriously, this is just plain hilarious.

"Baby carrots are making me gay." CLASSIC (and waaay funny in context).

The genius of Stephen Colbert shines ever so brightly in this book. If you love Stephen, you will love the book. If you hate Stephen, (who could) then buy the book to find out why he is loved by so many.

Awesome book. You can really feel Stephen speaking to you just as he would on T.V. I quote the book all the time in my daily life.

FYI: there is a code of conduct for how to read and use the book. This includes no lending the book out to others!!

unless you find laughter in the bathroom creepy -- and I do.

Still, Colbert makes the most reasonable and thoughful arguments of any conservative pundit on TV today. I think he's right about old people, sex, the gay agenda -- and Clive Owen in particular.

But while he's clearly shouting, he demonstrates neither the pathological shrillness of Anne Coulter, or Bill O'Reilly's shifty eyes and alchoholic gait.

I'm going to vote for him as the next president Of The United States -- and I'm in Canada!

If you enjoy the Colbert Report, you'll probably love this book. My only complaint is that there are some pages which are not part of the main text (drawings, hand written notes, etc) that cannot be read on the Kindle.

There are so many excellent reviews for this book. I'll just say that it was well worth the read. The audiobook w/ Colbert reading it to you is great too. An enjoyable, relatively quick read. Hope you enjoy it.

The big lesson here for me is that delivery counts. Colbert is a genius in his own right but this book is not funny. Matter-of-fact satire needs spoken word and The Colbert Report does it. This stuff is simply his show minus the cool sight gags and delivery expertise. It does include the entire speech that Colbert gave to that media event where he tears Bush and his cronies a new one, the moment where I never felt prouder to be an American. That adds a few stars of value.

A collection of essays, written by philosophers, that clarifies and provokes our sensibilities about the man, Stephen Colbert, his public persona, and our culture. Intriguing is the notion that the man's persona mirrors our culture, and the reflection reveals the day to day dogma expressed in our style of communication, our values, and our judgments. A quote from the book:

"....In his interview with Congressman Joe Sestak, Colbert captured the profound difference between Roosevelt and Bush when he attempted to conflate their perspectives by misstating Roosevelt's quip as follows: "hit them with a big stick and walk softly away". When Congressman Sestak respectfully corrected Colbert, his response was "semantics"..." While Roosevelt's famous quote "walk softly and carry a big stick" was wildly misstated, Colbert's expression of childish bravado and egocentrism trivializes the difference in a humorous and satirical fashion. The book provides example after example of Colbert's verbal missteps deployed as comedy, revealing a side to our culture that we prefer not to confront with serious debate.

What I found most intriguing about the book were comparisons between ancient philosophers and Colbert, suggesting that Colbert may be our modern day Plato: "Plato's irony was deep, dark and disdainful. He despises his audience for their self-satisfaction. But if the Colbert-Socrates comparison is apt, shouldn't we imagine Plato wringing his hands and laughing at Socrates' unsuccessful attempts to lead Athenians out of the cave? Doesn't he regret Athen's failure at the same time that he takes pleasure in observing and mocking it's absurd self-satisfaction?..... Perhaps we should ask whether the real Stephen Colbert behind the ironic mask on the Colbert Report, is America's Plato. He is condemning us at the same time that he makes us laugh, and he is trying to turn us away from the shadows on the wall of the cave despite knowing that he is predetermined to fail."

The book challenges your intellect. Each essay offers a different perspective, revealing hidden truths about not only the Stephen Colbert character, but about who we are as well. Great read.

Stephen Colbert is a truly funny performer, and his writers are top notch. I picked this up recently, and I was impressed, to say the least. The book itself is a a collection of musings with no real structure, but the content is incredibly entertaining and humorous. I read it over a period of 3 days, and I was left wanting more after I finished. For anyone planning to read this, I suggest reading it over a period of time, as it has no narrative. That being said, the indivudual chapters and topics left me in stitches more often than not. It covers a wide variety of topics, all from the standpoint of a faux right wing television pundit. Colbert has mastered his on air persona, and his writers never seem lacking for material. Over the years, Colbert has matched Jon Stewart in terms of hilarity and entertainment value. At the bargain price it's at now, I would highly recommend his diamond of a book.

Stephen Colbert would not be pleased that I purchased his book for a penny, but WOW what a deal! I just paid the 3.99 for shipping the book came to 4.00$ its funny a great book to just open and read. Colbert is great

This is pure Colbert in red letter edition (don't skip the margin notes, they're half the fun). A fun read good for on the go readers, can be done in snippets. Rants on every topic imaginable, pure FUN with a point or two!

I love watching Colbert on television and his book is just as good, if not better. I was literally laughing to tears within the first two pages of the book. If you enjoy good humor, some self-mockery and learning about some deeper feelings of the leader of the Colbert Nation, you will not be disappointed in this book!

Great job Stephen!!!

I'm a much better person after reading this book. I sleep better at night-even my teeth are whiter. My only complaint is the limited number of stickers. Really, Stephen, how do you expect me to read chapter fourteen on Science with only one "Nailed it" sticker? And who's idea was it to put the "I'm not sure about this one..." sticker in there? You know no one is going to use that one...This is a really funny book. Guaranteed good time!

Mr. Colbert seems to have an incredible sense of how to write the way he speaks. This book left me cracked up just as I would be after watching an episode of his show. The stickers inside were also another great touch. I plan on picking up his other books as well if they are anything like this one.

Given the choice between the cruelly corrupt GOP and the ineptly corrupt Democrats, there's not much to say these days other than to enjoy Colbert's book and hope that by the end of the century, our Chinese overlords don't hold what we're doing now against us...