American on Purpose
Encyclopedia
American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot is a memoir
written by entertainer Craig Ferguson
.
The book details various experiences over several decades in Ferguson's life from his days in Scotland
through his migration to the United States
; the rise of his performing career in the United Kingdom
, then Hollywood, and eventual acquisition of US citizenship
in early 2008. He tells about his assorted jobs as a musician
in a punk rock
band, a bouncer
, a construction worker
, comic
and actor
along the way, as well as his struggle with alcoholism
, past recreational drug use
, and contemplation of suicide
at a low point in his life.
In December 2010 the audiobook version, read by Ferguson, was nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy.
featured a recurring segment called "Celebrities Read Excerpts from Craig's Book", with various celebrity guests reading anecdotes from the book in a green-screened library set.
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
written by entertainer Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
.
The book details various experiences over several decades in Ferguson's life from his days in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
through his migration to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; the rise of his performing career in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, then Hollywood, and eventual acquisition of US citizenship
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
in early 2008. He tells about his assorted jobs as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
in a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, a bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
, a construction worker
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
, comic
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
along the way, as well as his struggle with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, past recreational drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, and contemplation of suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at a low point in his life.
In December 2010 the audiobook version, read by Ferguson, was nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy.
Promotion
A few weeks before and after the book went on sale, Ferguson's The Late Late ShowThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
featured a recurring segment called "Celebrities Read Excerpts from Craig's Book", with various celebrity guests reading anecdotes from the book in a green-screened library set.