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Stephen Colbert opens his book "I Am America (And So Can You!)" with his trademark irony.
"I am no fan of books," he offers. The star and executive producer of The Colbert Report reaches out to America (and consequently, to himself) through a new medium with his first book. The book draws on many themes of American life. From the family, religion, sports, media, socioeconomic classes, and race, Colbert offers his opinion on it all. Colbert's voice jumps out as other pundits' voices do from the pages of their own polemical books.
As Colbert says, "My book isn't a monologue; it's a dialogue-a dialogue between me and my opinions, and you've been welcomed to eavesdrop on us." To mark where you agree with Colbert, the book even has stickers which say things like "Nailed It" and "It's Morning in Colbert-ica." In addition, there are medallions to nominate other books for The Stephen T. Colbert Award for The Literary Excellence.
Like other pundits, Colbert adeptly applies conservative theories and values inappropriately and to the extreme, leading to great satire. Colbert decries government regulation not just for seatbelts, but seatbelts for pets. He comes out in opposition not only to social security, but retirement as well. And what effect has the end of racism had on America? (Don't forget, Stephen is colorblind and therefore does not see race.) The answer: it has eliminated the job market for Civil Rights Leaders who must now find other work.
While it reads quite like a show's script, Colbert fans will not enjoy the book as much as they do the show. The humor is there, but it misses Colbert's spot-on delivery that simply cannot translate to the page. On the other hand, the Wørd segment easily translates to the book as commentary in the margins. Half the reason to laugh out loud comes from the Wørd. Also included are a word find for racial slurs (if you find any, you are a racist) and a "Gut Teaser" on how to get Tucker Carlson, James Carville, and a Boston Cream Pie from MSNBC headquarters in New Jersey to a press event in Manhattan.
When Kanye West's album sales beat 50 Cent's, it led Stephen Colbert to conclude that the free market had spoken: George Bush doesn't care about black people. In the same way, Colbert would have you believe he has written the best book, the number one best-seller on the New York Times list for non-fiction.
Colbert's book is a light read and a good break from the textbooks most students are reading. While it cannot live up to the Colbert Report, fans will enjoy it. Besides, with the television writers on strike, "I Am America (And So Can You!)" can hold fans over until new episodes arrive. MR
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