Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life [Kindle Edition]

Michael Moore (Author)

Book Description

Michael Moore-Oscar-winning filmmaker, bestselling author, and the nation's official provocateur laureate-is back, this time taking on an entirely new role, that of his own meta-Forrest Gump.





Smashing the autobiographical mold, Moore presents twenty-four far-ranging, irreverent, and stranger-than-fiction vignettes from his own early life. One moment he's an eleven-year-old boy lost in the U.S. Senate and found by Bobby Kennedy; and in the next, he's inside the Bitburg cemetery with a dazed and confused Ronald Reagan. Fast-forwarding to 2003, he stuns the world from the Oscar stage by uttering the words "We live in fictitious times . . . with a fictitious president" in place of the usual "I'd like to thank the Academy." And none of that even comes close to the night the friendly priest at the seminary decides to show him how to perform his own exorcism.

Capturing the zeitgeist of the past fifty years, yet deeply personal and unflinchingly honest, HERE COMES TROUBLE takes readers on an unforgettable, take-no-prisoners ride through the life and times of Michael Moore. Alternately funny, eye-opening, and moving, it's the book he has been writing-and living-his entire life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mr. Moore's coming of age as a working-class malcontent is...something to behold. It's the story of a big lunk who learns to yoke his big mouth to a sense of purpose. It persuades you to take Mr. Moore seriously, and it belongs on a shelf with memoirs by, and books about, nonconformists like Mother Jones, Abbie Hoffman, Phil Ochs, Rachel Carson, Harvey Pekar and even Thomas Paine. " (The New York Times )

With the book's emotional highs and lows, and self-deprecating, empathetic style, Moore triumphs. Regardless of which side of the political fence readers are on, they're sure to find this collection enlightening, engaging, and occasionally enraging." (Publisher's Weekly (starred review) )

From the pleasures of night baseball to family arguments over long hair and Vietnam to early forays into politics, Moore turns in a readable, and often quite funny, American story. Indeed, Moore considers himself a patriot; as he writes, 'if you see his movies, you will instantly know that I deeply love this country.' This spirited, most welcome book is more evidence of that affection." (Kirkus )

"Written with restraint and grace...confirms [Moore's] reputation as a great storyteller and reveals himself to be an insightful memoirist...touching and revealing stories drawn from a fascinating life." (The Hollywood Reporter )

Review

Hilarious Guardian A comic genius Independent Caustic, breakneck, tell-it-like-it-is ... He's a genuine populist; a twenty-first century pamphleteer Observer Moore has mastered the rare trick of being passionate and funny at the same time New Statesman Moore is a worldwide force ... a cultural icon The Times Outstanding ... with the book's emotional highs and lows, and self-deprecating, empathetic style, Moore triumphs. ... enlightening, engaging, and occasionally enraging Publisher's Weekly Here Comes Trouble is by far Mr. Moore's best book...[his] coming of age as a working-class malcontent is...something to behold. It's the story of a big lunk who learns to yoke his big mouth to a sense of purpose. It persuades you to take Mr. Moore seriously, and it belongs on a shelf with memoirs by, and books about, nonconformists like Mother Jones, Abbie Hoffman, Phil Ochs, Rachel Carson, Harvey Pekar and even Thomas Paine. -- Dwight Garner New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1080 KB
• Print Length: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 13, 2011)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0053HDJQM
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,308 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #47 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Political

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

173 of 197 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful , insightful and Moving September 13, 2011

By Mitch

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you truly cannot find one good thing to say about this book that you like or could identify with there are only two explanations - one you have not read it and the second is you would have to be a totally heartless human being .
This book is written from the heart and that is where it reaches you when you read it. The stories contained within are insightful with wit and comedy throughout but also serious with parts that will move you to tears and likely give you pause .
Here we get a " Backstage pass " to glimpse the people , places and stories that molded the life and character of Michael Moore . Getting a glimpse of his family history and the things that influenced him to become the man he is today. A man of Character and Moral Fortitude with a deep compassion toward not just his fellow Citizen but Humanity in general .
Those of you who have seen his documentary work may have noticed these great quality's about him already as it is an outstanding quality that is easily recognized.
In these days of materialism and the fake and phony players among us who preach but do not practice , Micheal Moore stands out as one who is true to the belief of his convictions and endowed with the Courage to live act upon them even when its risky to do so.

Michael Moore reminds us of what is and should be important to us:

What it means to do the right thing for the right reasons .
The price paid for all Americans to have freedom and liberty and the cost of loosing them .
Where honesty and integrity are the true marks of a wealthy man
and kindness is not a sign of weakness but of strength.
When helping your neighbor is done not because it is required or you will make money from it but because it is the right and good thing to do.

Taken as whole his body of work reminds us that injustice against any people anywhere is not acceptable and each of us is called to act when we see it taking place.

Fairness and equality for all not just the few who can buy it is absolutely necesary to achieve a Nation that is strong and productive .

These basic values are vitally important to keep a Nation whole , healthy and should not be left to deteriorate /decline any further.

Michael Moore must truly love America and all that it stands for and has shown this in his inability to stand silently by and watch injustice or corruption run amok unchecked while it destroys the lives of his fellow citizens and weakens our whole nation.
We have watched him as he has taken on the big guys to stand up for the little guys And while we were entertained he and his family were assailed.

Remember back to the days in this country when a handshake and promise were as good as gold, people left their doors unlocked and trusted and helped their neighbor, wages paid enough to support a family with one man working one full time job ? Memories such as these may bring some readers nostalgia of that past time in our country and .. sorrow because of the loss of trust and divisions that have marked this century and left a wound in the soul of our Nation .

When a Documentary film maker in America is forced to hire his own personal army of body guard's for protection simply because he expressed dissent against the ruling political party and their policy's of the time you cant help but notice the implications.
Reading about what he went through should give every citizen pause because this testament reflects a deeper sickness in our county, one that threatens every citizens individual and collective freedom to have their own truth and beliefs and express them.

Other Country's that do not profess to have freedom of speech and liberty to dissent against those in Power is where one would expect to find such a testament ... Not in America.
Yet this is in fact a story of what happened to a American citizen from his own citizens in America .
What have we become ? A nation so divided , so eager to stir up hate toward our fellow citizens that a difference in your opinion warrants such extreme actions and thoughts of murder ?

Whether you are a fan of Micheal Moore already or not this is a great memoir written beautifully . Michael Moore has another great talent , he is an excellent story teller . I just Could not put it down and I am grateful to have the opportunity to read it be moved and be inspired by it.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Making the man October 21, 2011

By N. Brett VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Michael Moore is a passionate, forthright and loud campaigner, strongly labelled `a left winger' in the US. Infamous because he used an Oscar acceptance speech to make a statement about George Bush's invasion of Iraq and this stirred up a storm that suggested Moore was anti American and anti military which was far from true - his views were that valuable American lives were being put at risk on the basis of lies about WMD. So you can agree or disagree with his views but it is important to understand his views come from passion, not hatred. Obviously here in the UK we have less extreme views on Moore but generally we have found his views and films interesting and at the very least they provide an alternative perspective, this is non anti-American - this is what democracy is all about.

This is an easy and quite entertaining read, on occasion you have to live with an evangelical and self congratulatory style but equally Moore does let you see other aspects of his personality and his background. No standard autobiography this, it is a selection of stories about his youth but it starts with the Oscar incident, presumably so you can see how the boy turned into the left leaning film-maker. Actually I found this less about a current political view (although there is obviously a touch of this) but more about a boy growing up in 1950's America and suffering the inadequacy of youth in a changing world. His Mum was actually a Republican and his dad a Democrat but he was brought up in a house where reading, questioning and debate was encouraged. Not built like an athlete and awkward around girls, we see Moore's early inquisitive nature and the first steps on the path that has taken him to where he is today.

At times this is interesting, funny, sweet and poignant but by its nature of selected elements it lacks a little something that would have made this a great read instead of an interesting one.

70 of 82 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Silences the soul and warms the heart September 13, 2011

By Shawn Chittle

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I attended the book signing in New York City and Moore had the audience cracking up hysterically. But when he read a story about a young gay boy in his neighborhood, and another about his Mom dealing with 60's vile racism, there was nary a dry eye in the house.

"Here Comes Trouble" is a series of short stories. It's not a memoir per se but a set of stories based in the 60's-80's. The stories are carry a theme about social justice in the context of the time period. They could be enjoyed as fiction writing - but as non-fiction it makes them all the more entertaining and fascinating.

"Boys State" is a personal favorite story of a 17 year old Michael Moore ripping into The Elks organization in 1971 for its racist membership policies. The seeds of what Michael Moore was to become had been sewn.

As the largest private collector of Roger & Me memorabilia, I enjoyed the details of how the film was made. I also love how the book ends...

More About the Author

Michael Moore is an Academy Award-winning American filmmaker, bestselling author, and liberal political commentator. He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, and Sicko, three of the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time. In September 2008, he released his first free movie on the Internet, Slacker Uprising, documenting his personal crusade to encourage more Americans to vote in presidential elections. He has also written and starred in the TV shows TV Nation and The Awful Truth. His bestselling books include Dude, Where's My Country and Mike's Election Guide 2008.Moore is a self-described liberal who has explored globalization, large corporations, gun ownership, the Iraq War, U.S. President George W. Bush and the American health care system in his written and cinematic works. In 2005 Time magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people. In 2005, Moore started the annual Traverse City Film Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2008, he closed his Manhattan office and moved it to Traverse City, where he is working on his new film.