We've Got it Made in America: A Common Man's Salute to an Uncommon Country [Hardcover]

John Ratzenberger (Author), Joel Engel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2006

The host of the Travel Channel's "John Ratzenberger's Made in America" presents a collection of thought-provoking essays on what makes America the great nation that it is today.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite his résumé as an actor (Cheers, Superman, TheEmpire Strikes Back), Ratzenberger sees himself as a blue-collar everyman and identifies more closely with the factory workers he interviews on his Travel Channel cable TV show, John Ratzenberger's Made in America than he does with the "Hollywood elite." Like his show, Ratzenberger's book celebrates manufacturing in America—and then digresses into a stimulating if contradictory mishmash of political ideas. Nostalgic and perhaps more than a little naïve, Ratzenberger wants to return America to its golden age: "We need to get back to being the industrial giant." At times, his politics resemble those of Michael Moore circa Roger & Me, as in his critique of corporations for abandoning loyal employees by moving operations overseas. But it's the "Hollywood powers that be" and "intellectual elites" who bear the brunt of Ratzenberger's anger. President Bush, meanwhile, gets his compliments for a lack of "contempt for the average American's intelligence" and for his actions in Iraq. Compelling for his unpredictability, this patriotic, independent-minded author will alternately frustrate and fascinate both progressives and conservatives. (Oct. 11)
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About the Author

John Ratzenberger lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931722846
• ISBN-13: 978-1931722841
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Conservative thoughts. Is that not allowed?, November 9, 2006

By 

Mesquite Pete (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: We've Got it Made in America: A Common Man's Salute to an Uncommon Country (Hardcover)

Other reviewers may causticly write that John Ratzenberger's new book is a rant, or that he sounds like Rush Limbaugh. It is as if conservative thoughts are to be kept to yourself, and to write about them is to commit some kind of crime! In fact, I find this collection of essays to be very thought provoking and well written. Ratzenberger has spent the last few years touring American cities while filming a TV series, and has come into personal contact with Americans from all walks of life. Ratzenberger's thoughts are generated from real life experiences as he interviews and interacts with hard working Americans like you and me. Far from being a pointy-headed intellectual, his writing strikes me as common sensical, the kind of logic we might all agree with if we were able to let down our currently popular notions of political correctness. His essays show a man struggling to understand American values of yesterday and today, in the context of current world events. I applaud his ability to articulate his thoughts on common sense, perspective, moderation, and character. I enjoyed the book very much.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Makes good points but ....., October 10, 2007

By 

C. Campbell "CCamp761" (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We've Got it Made in America: A Common Man's Salute to an Uncommon Country (Hardcover)

I wish I had read all the reviews before buying this book. At least I bought a used copy. As another reviewer wrote, this book starts off very well and I looked forward to more stories about workplaces and life in general across the US. He even wrote that not all workplaces are "happy" environments for the workers. And just as things were getting interesting, the book turned into a Fox News Rush Limbaugh rant. And after the first chapter of this, I understood his perspective but from then on, it kept getting worse with even more of the same. He obviously loves the idea of US as world's policeman even though we cannot afford this and at least points out the hypocrisy of our wars for "freedom" while ignoring places like Africa. He also criticizes Bush for illegal immigration (but that is a Fox News stance, too). And that affects our jobs and livelihoods.
There are some self-contradictions as well. He praises the "garage shops" of years past where father and son would work on "projects" and some businesses actually got their start. And then later he curses pack-rat syndrome where we accumulate so much especially in our garages. But then he does not acknowledge the change (in how it got this way or his point of view in the book).
In a few places he does make good points. But this was more like buying a CD and only getting one good song while the rest suck. Check this one out at the library, skim for the good parts, and watch the show (which is great).

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Americans!, January 20, 2007

By 

Mary B. Miller "MB cooks" (Gahanna, OH United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: We've Got it Made in America: A Common Man's Salute to an Uncommon Country (Hardcover)

I have been a huge fan of the Made In America TV series, so I was very excited to learn about this book. I was not disapointed. This should be required reading in every High School and for every American. It's a wonderful look at our country and what makes us great. I plan on getting the "on/off switch" set up for my cable tv this weekend. My kids are going outside! John has my vote for Emperor!