American on Purpose
The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $24.46
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Craig Ferguson
-
Written by:
-
Craig Ferguson
About this listen
“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.” (Dennis Lehane, New York Times best-selling author of The Given Day)
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: success on the hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show, and later as the host of CBS's Late Late Show. By far Ferguson's greatest triumph was his decision to become a US citizen, a milestone he achieved in early 2008.
In American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson talks a red, white, and blue streak about everything our Founding Fathers feared.
©2009 Craig Ferguson (P)2009 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
-
Riding the Elephant
- A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations
- Written by: Craig Ferguson
- Narrated by: Craig Ferguson
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Craig Ferguson has defied the odds his entire life. He has failed when he should have succeeded and succeeded when he should have failed. The fact that he is neither dead nor in a locked facility (at the time of printing) is something of a miracle in itself. In Craig’s candid and revealing memoir, listeners will get a look into the mind and recollections of the unique and twisted Scottish American who became a national hero for pioneering the world’s first TV robot skeleton sidekick and reviving two dudes in a horse suit dancing as a form of entertainment.
-
-
very interesting!
- By Yvon Malenfant on 2019-08-22
Written by: Craig Ferguson
-
Between the Bridge and the River
- Written by: Craig Ferguson
- Narrated by: Craig Ferguson
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two childhood friends from Scotland and two illegitimate half-brothers from the deep South suffer and enjoy all manner of bizarre adventures that, it turns out, are somehow interconnected and, even more surprisingly, meaningful. The eclectic cast of characters features Socrates, Carl Jung, and Tony Randall, along with an ex-television evangelist with a penchant for booze, prostitutes, and uncomfortable knitwear who gets mugged in Miami by an almost pure-blooded Watusi warrior - and sets off on a road trip in a stolen motor home.
-
-
not good
- By Denise Paulsen on 2020-09-11
Written by: Craig Ferguson
-
If You Ask Me
- (And of Course You Won't)
- Written by: Betty White
- Narrated by: Betty White
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It-girl Betty White delivers a hilarious, slyly profound take on love, life, celebrity, and everything in between. Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything....
-
-
100% Authentic Betty White
- By Paula Allan on 2023-08-07
Written by: Betty White
-
What's So Funny?
- My Hilarious Life
- Written by: Tim Conway, Jane Scovell, Carol Burnett - foreword
- Narrated by: Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Dick Hill, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six-time Emmy Award-winning funnyman Tim Conway, best known for his characters on The Carol Burnett Show, offers a straight-shooting and hilarious memoir about his life on stage and off as an actor and comedian. In television history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts and made as many people laugh as Tim Conway. There's nothing in the world that Tim Conway would rather do than entertain - and in his first-ever memoir, What's So Funny?, that's exactly what he does.
-
-
“Tommy”Conway A most genuine human being turned funny man
- By Robert W. IRONSIDE on 2023-07-23
Written by: Tim Conway, and others
-
So, Anyway...
- Written by: John Cleese
- Narrated by: John Cleese
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes listeners on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe.
-
-
excellent, as expected.
- By Zenith VCR on 2019-11-13
Written by: John Cleese
-
This Time Together
- Laughter and Reflection
- Written by: Carol Burnett
- Narrated by: Carol Burnett
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This touching and hilarious memoir is 100 percent Carol Burnett—funny, irreverent, and irresistible.Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. The Carol Burnett Show was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run.
-
-
Like having a chat with the queen of comedy
- By Amazon Customer on 2024-10-19
Written by: Carol Burnett
-
Riding the Elephant
- A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations
- Written by: Craig Ferguson
- Narrated by: Craig Ferguson
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Craig Ferguson has defied the odds his entire life. He has failed when he should have succeeded and succeeded when he should have failed. The fact that he is neither dead nor in a locked facility (at the time of printing) is something of a miracle in itself. In Craig’s candid and revealing memoir, listeners will get a look into the mind and recollections of the unique and twisted Scottish American who became a national hero for pioneering the world’s first TV robot skeleton sidekick and reviving two dudes in a horse suit dancing as a form of entertainment.
-
-
very interesting!
- By Yvon Malenfant on 2019-08-22
Written by: Craig Ferguson
-
Between the Bridge and the River
- Written by: Craig Ferguson
- Narrated by: Craig Ferguson
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two childhood friends from Scotland and two illegitimate half-brothers from the deep South suffer and enjoy all manner of bizarre adventures that, it turns out, are somehow interconnected and, even more surprisingly, meaningful. The eclectic cast of characters features Socrates, Carl Jung, and Tony Randall, along with an ex-television evangelist with a penchant for booze, prostitutes, and uncomfortable knitwear who gets mugged in Miami by an almost pure-blooded Watusi warrior - and sets off on a road trip in a stolen motor home.
-
-
not good
- By Denise Paulsen on 2020-09-11
Written by: Craig Ferguson
-
If You Ask Me
- (And of Course You Won't)
- Written by: Betty White
- Narrated by: Betty White
- Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It-girl Betty White delivers a hilarious, slyly profound take on love, life, celebrity, and everything in between. Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything....
-
-
100% Authentic Betty White
- By Paula Allan on 2023-08-07
Written by: Betty White
-
What's So Funny?
- My Hilarious Life
- Written by: Tim Conway, Jane Scovell, Carol Burnett - foreword
- Narrated by: Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Dick Hill, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Six-time Emmy Award-winning funnyman Tim Conway, best known for his characters on The Carol Burnett Show, offers a straight-shooting and hilarious memoir about his life on stage and off as an actor and comedian. In television history, few entertainers have captured as many hearts and made as many people laugh as Tim Conway. There's nothing in the world that Tim Conway would rather do than entertain - and in his first-ever memoir, What's So Funny?, that's exactly what he does.
-
-
“Tommy”Conway A most genuine human being turned funny man
- By Robert W. IRONSIDE on 2023-07-23
Written by: Tim Conway, and others
-
So, Anyway...
- Written by: John Cleese
- Narrated by: John Cleese
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes listeners on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations; his sharp irreverent eye and the unique brand of physical comedy he perfected now seem written into comedy’s DNA. In this rollicking memoir, Cleese recalls his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town, his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Python partner Graham Chapman), and the founding of the landmark comedy troupe.
-
-
excellent, as expected.
- By Zenith VCR on 2019-11-13
Written by: John Cleese
-
This Time Together
- Laughter and Reflection
- Written by: Carol Burnett
- Narrated by: Carol Burnett
- Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This touching and hilarious memoir is 100 percent Carol Burnett—funny, irreverent, and irresistible.Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. The Carol Burnett Show was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run.
-
-
Like having a chat with the queen of comedy
- By Amazon Customer on 2024-10-19
Written by: Carol Burnett
What listeners say about American on Purpose
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2023-03-01
I couldn't have loved it more!!
I loved it so much that I started again to listen twice!! Thanks Craig
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Denise Paulsen
- 2020-08-08
Really enjoyable.
Very entertaining. I liked it for I was also born in Glasgow and now live in Canada. I remember seeing Craig perform at the Tron Theatre in the Trongate. My gran lived nearby on Bell Street. She used to live on High Street just down the road from George Square. Craig's stand up show had a bit about instead of Saving the Whale then what about the plankton? I also remember having a drink with my pal at the Cul-de-Sac bar in Glasgow's west end and Craig was with his pal Robbie Coltrane who could be spotted fleeing down Byers Road in his convertible MG. Oh the 80's!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-08-12
I want to listen to the book again*
I fell. Asleep while reading it the first time I did get some of it before I fell asleep and it was quite interesting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!