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By David Cross: I Drink for a Reason [Audiobook] Audio CD

by David Cross (Author)

4.1 147 ratings

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When his Atlanta high school graduating class named him "most humorous," David Cross seized it as a license and ran. Ever since, this Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, comedian, actor, and troublemaker has been raising the roof in venues public and private. I Drink for a Reason is much, much more of Cross at his best; a seasoned comic dishing out gobs and gobs of caustic wit against Left, Right, and Middle America. Part memoir and totally outrageous, this book displays the unbridled anarchistic enthusiasm that makes its author such a stand-up favorite.

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ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004T4MN6C
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 0.01 ounces

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4.1 147 ratings

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4.1 out of 5

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S. L. Starr

Filled with hilarity

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2010

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This book is wonderful. Imagine that you're searching the internet for odd tidbits written by your favorite comedian, and then he publishes a book with 100 times the comedy gold you were looking for. That's what you got here. This is not a funny novel. That's not what David Cross does. He writes comedy. The style is very diverse. Some chapters are his comments on political issues. Some are just riffs on things like music reviews. It's also great to read this and compare and contrast to his recent concert album and dvd. It's like variations on a theme. You hear one joke on the cd, see it expanded on the dvd (or vice versa since there's non-overlapping material on both) then see a completely revised version of it in the book. Of course the book has much more than could fit in a stand up routine. By the way, if you don't have a sense of humor then you probably should not read this book. Rather, you should watch "According to Jim," watch a Larry the Cable Guy special, or listen to a Dane Cook cd. (Actually, I like a few of Dane Cook's jokes, although it's not worth it to listen to his other stuff.) In other words, if you're easily offended, or looking for someone to just reaffirm your own shallow world view, then it's probably not a good idea to look to David Cross for your comfort. He's a comedian intent on pushing the line. He's going to say some things that offends everyone, and that is the great equity in his bits. He probably even offends himself sometimes. But none of what he is saying is unfair. And most importantly, it's all freakin hilarious.

2 people found this helpful

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Nick Payne

One of, if not my favorite, humor books.

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2009

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I am admittedly an avid David Cross fan. I have seen him live, heard all of his comedy albums, and now read his first Book. I have read through the book twice, and listened to the Audiobook version (read by Cross), once.

The book is not meant to be taken literally, almost everything in it is a joke. Including the "about the author" section which had me laughing all the way through. Other comedians have written books which are more or less just an adaptation or translation of their stand up material, to a book format. Cross' book is not one of those books. Cross has comprised essays, fictional and non fictional, satirical and serious, into a wonderul woven string of comedy reading. I don't want to get into detail about the contents, as it is best read if its not spoiled. But it is a very funny, very well written, smart work. David Cross has proven time and time again to be one of the intelligent, most articulate comedians, and now "authors", in our time.

I am suprised that the book is not rated higher. I usually don't bother reviewing things, but Cross' book kind of caught me off guard with how good it was, in relation to how much other people seem to not be digging it at all. All in all, I love it. It was well worth it.

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2010

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As a huge fan of David Cross' stand-up performances, I was intrigued to see that he'd written a book. I wasn't sure what to expect, as voice inflection and facial expression are such a huge part of anyones sense of humor, but I found a lot to laugh about in this collection of essays, which seem more like a set of op-ed pieces than what might expect from Cross' iconoclastic sketch-comedy output. When I finished reading the book, I downloaded the Audio version (which he reads/performs) and found that it was just as enjoyable and perhaps a bit closer to what I had in mind. I don't mean to box him in: he's an excellent writer and his observations about our wonderful country are well worth reading rather than hearing because they hit a bit harder in print. I will look forward to his next project. He's one of the great satirists of our time.

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Plopper

trying to attain "least helpful review" status

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2009

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It's no surprise that fetusishly insecure comedian David "the weird guy in Men in Black I & II" Cross would plunge down the well-worn Hollywood rich-guy-who-needs-attention path of publicly luring some mentally stunted but physically attractive trophy dolt half his age down into his stinking, middle-aged lair, and then try to convince his audience that he is coolly self aware of his own lameness by making a joke about it on his book jacket (i.e. "He is currently ****ing Amber Tamblyn"). What IS somewhat unusual is that even a braindead piece of plastic like Ms. Tamblyn would be okey-dokey with being used in this manner. You may be shouting at this review as we speak, "but he's being ironic!" Well, is he or is he not currently blanking What'sherface? Probably? So where's the irony? I still hear shouting: "You're just jealous!" Well, fortunately for me, I am actually IN my twenties, and do not need to brag publicly about the quantity and quality of my own escapades in the area of womanizing. In fact, I kind of feel sorry for poor old David for having to settle for a 7 like Ms. Tamblyn. Heck, I'm kind of bummed when I have to go home with an 8! Well, to each his own.

Onto the book: Cross blithers and whines his way through unoriginal quips and anecdotes like a neutered Glenn Beck (just give him the key, Mount Vernon, or he'll cry on you). David "as far as I know time machines don't exist" Cross insinuates that the U.S. is a "theocracy with just one ruling class, being bombarded by a 24-hour propaganda machine" in the half-aptly titled "I Hate America! or, I Hate America?" He does so while the poorest villagers of Siberia's rain forest receive only one hour of propaganda per day, two tops. Is that what he wants for America? A substandard propaganda system from the stone ages? Good luck with that, David. He picks fights with other dull famous people from behind his gold plated telegraph: Larry the Cable Guy (who helps all those poor adults who haven't made it past 5th grade), Jim Belusi (God rest his dope-riddled soul), and Mary J. Blige (who he mistakenly calls "lovely and unarguably talented"), to name a few. He insinuates throughout the book, probably without realizing it, that people who aren't rich and well-educated must be dangerously ignorant by default...seriously, that one's the truth.

Four stars though, because of all the unfunny lists.

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Top reviews from other countries

Hayden

i read the book

Reviewed in Canada on June 20, 2022

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i liked this book, i liked the part of the book i read (it’s entirety) and it was my favourite part

Glenn Martin

Excellent read and a challenge to the sensitive among us.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2014

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Everyone should read this although David's humour would not be to the taste of the masses! I think he is a brave genius, his standup takes on all the bigotry in the world, especially our 'civilised' Christian Western world. Get it!

Alfie

Hilarious

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2019

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Buy it!

Rumley

Great for many reasons

Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2013

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this review is for Audiobook version:
I'm a fan of David Cross - I think what's unmissable from Cross is his incredibly nimble, hilarious mind. I just bought I Drink For a Reason and I like it in many ways - his humor, solid political commentary as well as crazy random thoughts.

I highly recommend the audiobook version, even if you're not a fan or don't know him.
I also recommend Arrested Development if you haven't seen it - amazing show.

Scene519

Fast, prefect condition, good price

Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2018

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Good price fast delievery

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