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Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth
 
 
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Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth [Abridged, Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

David Alan Grier (Author, Reader), Alan Eisenstock (Contributor)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


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Book Description

October 6, 2009
FROM GROWING UP IN DETROIT, where he marched as a ten-year-old with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama, where he narrowly avoided the Purple Tunnel of Doom but still saw nothing, David Alan Grier examines how he -- and America -- have changed for the better and the funnier.

Within these pages, Grier imagines being called to serve in President Obama's cabinet as the "secretary of mirth"; takes you to a wild and emotional election night party he hosted that didn't go as planned; explains the true meaning of the "magical Negro"; recalls the formative episodes from his life -- including being rejected by the Black Panthers at their headquarters door and turning down the initial offer to work on In Living Color -- and for the first time ever sneaks you backstage at Dancing with the Stars, where he exposes the inner workings of the show -- the camaraderie between dancers and stars, the excruciatingly painful rehearsals, the outrageous preparations, and each hysterical moment of his four-episode appearance and subsequent public meltdown.

Grier unabashedly muses on politics, culture, and race while recounting his own life story in this edgy, timeless, hilarious, and revelatory memoir and look at all things Barack.

Barack Like Me is David Alan Grier at his best -- the man, comic, and twenty-first-century thinker -- funny, brilliant, and original.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"David's humor, wit and intelligence are as big as his penis...Huge! He is single-handedly keeping the black comedy myth alive." -- Chelsea Handler

"Barack Like Me is the most important book since Alex Haley's third book, Boots. With Barack Like Me, David Alan Grier has created a world of wizards and goblins that will surely become a great TV movie someday." -- Chris Rock

"Hilarious! Pure DAG, Barack Like Me is a magical romp through one man's history that offers Americans a chance to examine its own. Full of surprises and profound insights, DAG takes readers on a modern journey through the looking glass of his life." -- Dr. Drew Pinsky

"This book is funny and thought provoking. DAG may be the greatest Black American since Dr. Julius Washington Irving Carver!" -- Adam Carolla

"The definitive guide to American blackness. A masterwork. Grier triumphs again." -- Jimmy Kimmel

"This book will surprise and delight you. It's a splendid read!" -- Lewis Black

"[David Alan Grier] is a pompous, potty-mouthed, windbag" -- The New York Times

"A comic of undeniable charm and supple skills." -- The Washington Post

"Sketch genius David Alan Grier plays the race card. Shamelessly, perceptively, and hilariously." -- The Hollywood Reporter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Grier’s television credits are abundant.   Grier is well known as being a principle cast member of the acclaimed television series “In Living Color,” where he helped to create some of that show’s most memorable characters, and also as a co-star on Bonnie Hunt’s hit ABC comedy “Life With Bonnie.”   He also starred on the hit NBC show “DAG” where he played the title character, as well Keeping his close comedic relationship with the Wayans’ brothers, he co-starred with Damon Wayans in “Damon.” He also starred in the television miniseries “The 60s,” and “King of Texas” for cable television.

In addition Grier has gained recognition for his numerous feature film roles, including “Baadasssss!” for director Mario Van Peebles, “The Woodsman” opposite Kevin Bacon and Mos Def, “15 Minutes,” “Boomerang,” “Bewitched,” “Jumanji” and Robert Altman’s “Streamers,” for which he won a Golden Lion Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. David also co-wrote, produced and appeared in the independent film “Poker House,” Lori Petty’s directorial debut.

David recently appreared on the hit tv show Dancing With the Stars in which he danced his heart out for four episodes and then had a very public meltdown when he was eliminated that went viral on the internet. Grier also appeared in the Wayans Family's hit 2009 movie, 'Dance Flick' in which The New York Times gushed "Mr. Grier ultimately steals the movie with a tour-de-force". He is currently working on a stand-up comedy tour that may culminate in a special on Comedy Central about the experiences written about in Barack Like Me!!!


Product Details

  • Audio CD
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (October 6, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743597729
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743597722
  • Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,250,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, October 8, 2009
In "Barack Like Me: The Chocolate-Covered Truth," comedian David Alan Grier takes a comic look at last year's historical election, interspersing it with personal stories from his own life. The book itself is thus half memoir and half political commentary switching between the chapters. Through his own unique and hilarious perspective, Grier recounts the evening he hosted the election party, shares his attitude toward the political mood sweeping the nation, and details his subsequent efforts to secure a ticket to Obama's inauguration. At the same time, Grier recounts growing up in Detroit, the adolescent period during which he was fascinated with drugs and rock concerts, dropping out of college to move to New York, as well as backstage anecdotes from his celebrity life on shows like "In Living Color" and "Dancing with the Stars." Through it all, Grier is not afraid to acknowledge his mistakes and share some behind-the-scenes gossip. Grier's humor tends to stay charmingly self-deprecating as he laughs at his own big ego, anger management issues, and child-like adulation for Barack. The frequent re-appearance of his sarcastic wife Christine also adds to the overall humor. The writing itself is witty and conversational, light and informal. There are constant flashbacks between Grier's past and present, with the stories themselves reminiscent of anecdotes told to friends at a dinner party or shared with viewers during an evening of stand-up comedy. Overall, this book was a quick and entertaining read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Funny as all get out! A great and prolific look at our first black president from a humorous standpoint..., November 25, 2011
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I enjoyed this book. It is indeed funny. I appreciate it because it gives us a glimpse of the life of the author (David Alan Grier, the person growing up, through the adolescent eyes of the author, and its quite interesting how he bounces back and forth between significant events in his young life, to the time of election followed by preparation of the announcement of the first black president.

Recommended!

MC White said: Check it out!!!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly Heartwarming and Hilarious, October 16, 2009
I've loved David Alan Grier since his In Living Color days and was sad to see the Chocolate News canceled. I really thought it would be his big break--a long overdue break. Very happy to see this book at the store. The read was fantastic. It's definitely an interesting mix of his life story and also his views on society and American politics and celebrity culture. I had no idea he was a Yale graduate. I loved reading about how DAG felt when the Chocolate News was canceled by Comedy Central, that he turned down the initial offer to be on In Living Color (wait till you read about what happened when Mike Tyson was upset that he'd been made fun of on the show), and gives us quite possibly the first-ever behind-the-scenes look at what it's really like to be on Dancing With the Stars (DAG was on steroids! Basically all of the contestants are!) I remember seeing the meltdown on youtube. DAG took his dancing very seriously. Ha! Reliving Obama's ascent to the presidency through DAG's eyes was also really great and kind of brought tears to my eyes which was a surprise. All in all, a great book. And I love the cover, looks great on my shelf. Everyone asks about it. Definitely worth the money.
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