American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot is the first biography I have read in a long time. It’s a good one because Craig Ferguson’s life has actually been interesting. I think he’s a true born alcoholic and in certain ways I could really relate to his story.

One thing I noticed is that the book seems to be written either by Craig himself or a really good ghostwriter. The book feels like it was written by someone who isn’t an author, although it’s not at all bad, just refreshingly real. I would imagine that since Craig has done so much writing they didn’t have to have too much oversight on the book.

American on Purpose stays interesting most of the way through. For some reason stories about people’s alcoholism experiences are always interesting and kind of amazing. He really makes it clear how much of an alcoholic’s life is lost to them, both through actual memory loss and through focusing on alcohol.

The book starts to lose steam in the end. Of course, you’re happy for Craig that he stopped drinking and found success, but it’s not interesting in itself. Also he seems to be sucking up to David Letterman and almost begging to take over for him when he decides to retire. Craig has definitely entered the bubble of Hollywood, but really, by the time you’ve read through the book you realize it’s okay that he’s happy and successful now. Even though he may have lost some perspective, he’s earned his way to a point where he should be allowed to do so.

The thing about alcoholics’ stories is that they apply to non-alcoholics too. Drinking so much that you throw up or wet the bed or can’t remember things is not fun even once. When done in repetition it literally gets to the point where you need to stop drinking or stop living. You realize you’ve already stopped living pretty much anyway.

It’s a good book and I think it would keep any reader interested.

Buy at Amazon: American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

Naomi Klein was a guest on The Rachel Maddow Show talking about her book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism , and how it relates the our current economic situation and the bailout.

For a bit of background, her book is about how corporate interests take advantage of crisis situations to get people to do things the otherwise wouldn’t do. For instance, after a tsunami what was once a fishing village should now become a private beach for a resort to help get us through this crisis! Oh yeah, maybe the owners of the resort are helped a little more than others, but never you mind.

Naomi notes that the bailout is the largest transfer of pulic wealth to private companies ever. She says, it does appear to be working somewhat, but the problems on Wall Street are not being solved. Basically, to follow the theme of her book, the rich are being bailed out first and foremost.

Naomi is sending a bit of a mixed message because she’s amazed at the size of the bailout and saying that we citizens are going to feel ripped off. But she also says the bailout needs to be three time as large and the money needs to be spent on more stimulative items. I can kind of see a the overlap there, but still, I think she needs to hone her point.

She also suggests in some ways that this is bad because this type of situation has led to banks being nationalized in the past. But then she says the banks need to be aligned with the needs of the people more. Wait, it’s bad for banks to not be capitalistic, but they should be more concerned with the needs of the people than profit? Which is it?

She’s a great example of a person who throws out a lot of buzz words but really isn’t able to communicate any sort of a clear message.

Amazon: The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Amazon today released the new Kindle DX with a 9.7 inch screen. I have to say, I wasn’t that into the Kindle at first, but this looks really nice. I may have to try it out.

For the longest time I have been waiting for Star Trek style pad devices. They are really happening now. I was reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban last night in bed and it sure would have been easier to read on a Kindle than with the actual book.

Amazon: Kindle DX

Fareed Zakaria was on The Daily Show talking about The Post-American World which is now available in paperback.

Fareed recently wrote an article saying that Pakistan is about to fall to the Taliban, and since they have nuclear weapons, this could be trouble. We apparently gave them ten billion dollars and they used it to prepare for a war with India. Fareed says they totally conned us. This is a standard position for them. They tell us we have to give them money to defend themselves, and then they take it, but they don’t actually fight the wars.

Amazon: The Post-American World

In the middle of the round table on Chelsea Lately, Chelsea Handler recommended a book to give to your mom. It’s by Andrea Buchanan and it’s called, Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All.

Amazon: Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All

Jonathan Alter was on The Colbert Report talking about his book, The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope.

Jonathan told us FDR actually had a panic attack the first time he entered the oval office because he was so overwhelmed. FDR also started the tradition of the president not stopping at traffic lights because he asked his driver to drive on the grass to get through some traffic.

FDR created the first regulation of wall street, and the first national service program, the Civilian Conservation Corps. They planted three million trees.

Jonathan was an interesting guest, I wish he would have been the main guest. He was actually good on TV.

Amazon: The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

David Kessler was on the The Colbert Report talking about his new book The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

It was kind of funny because David was so mild mannered he totally waited for Steven to give him space to talk before he would. It kind of forced Steven into a pattern that allowed David to get his message across. I’m not sure if it was entirely on purpose, because David had a bit of a difficult time communicating his message.

His message was that diets full of salt, sugar, and fat get people in a sort of habitual cycle of eating it, thinking about it, and never really feeling full, as to continue the cycle. He didn’t use the word “addiction”, but at the end of the interview he did use the word “rehab” to describe how someone would break the cycle.

Once you’re in this cycle you need to reprogram your brain. It’s not just about not doing it anymore, it’s about being able to not do it anymore.

I personally know what he’s talking about. I weaned myself off fast food and now I can’t even imagine how I ate it. I was a person who could eat McDonald’s three times a day. I don’t think I ever did that, but I could have.

I took a long time to do a couple of things. First, I learned to appreciate healthier foods one at a time. Sometimes they were only mildly healthier or sometimes less healthy but at home. When you do this, you may have a quesadilla with block of cheese in it, but you realize how unimportant fries are to you. This is a good step.

Second I slowly learned to cook foods at home that I honestly liked. Cooking at home allowed me to avoid the fries and also to choose only the items I really liked as cheats instead of having to accept everything that comes with fast food meal.

Third, it’s just about making incremental improvements. Not only did I make healthier foods, but I would learn to fit cooking in. It takes a while, and I’m still working on it. But I’m getting better.

Amazon: The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

Tom Bergeron was on Chelsea Lately promoting his book, I’m Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood.

It was a very bizarre interview. First of all, there are times when I think Chelsea has been drinking before doing her show. This was one of those days. She certainly wasn’t drunk, but something was off. When Tom put himself in the lotus position, like on the cover of his book, and Chelsea went all crazy on him. But the thing is, it was more insulting than funny. In fact Chelsea didn’t really seem to be aware of it, another reason I think she might have been drinking.

I know it’s odd to suggest that Chelsea would drink before doing her show, but there are just days when she’s off. Also, what’s interesting is that her New Jersey accent started returning at the end of the interview. That would be another sign of drinking.

I feel bad for Tom Bergeron. He was just trying to do his think and Chelsea sort of put him in an awkward corner during the interview. He dealt with it incredibly well, though. I don’t think I could have.

I love Chelsea, but today was not one of her best days. She’s amazingly talented, but she should get with it because not a lot of people get this kind of opportunity. She needs to figure out how to be funny in her own wonderful way, but not get into these sort of super uncomfortable situations. Or at least learn how to get out of them.

And finally, I guess I’ll say it. Whoever does Chelsea’s hair, makeup, and wardrobe needs to be fired. If Sherrie Shepherd can go on The View every day looking fabulous, then Chelsea should come out looking like a supermodel.

Amazon: I’m Hosting as Fast as I Can!: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood

Daniel Gross was on The Colbert Report tonight talking about his new book Dumb Money: How Our Greatest Financial Minds Bankrupted the Nation.

Daniel’s main point is that people react to a bad economy by saving, but they should do just the opposite. This is the paradox of thrift. Wikipedia says:

The paradox of thrift (or Paradox of Saving) is a paradox of economics propounded by John Maynard Keynes. The paradox states that if everyone saves more money during times of recession, then aggregate demand will fall and will in turn lower total savings in the population because of the decrease in consumption and economic growth.

At this time, especially people who are well off should be spending money instead of saving it.

Amazon: Dumb Money: How Our Greatest Financial Minds Bankrupted the Nation

Richard Beeman was on The Daily Show discussing his new book Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution.

Basically Richard and Jon’s discussion centered around the fact that the men who built our Constitution came together even though they disagreed. They all were able to agree that they had to do this. It’s a stark contrast to today’s Congress, who can’t come together on anything, and for stupid partisan reasons.

Another interesting thing is that they met in secret, which wouldn’t be possible today.

Amazon: Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution