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Rick Mercer

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Talking to Canadians: A Memoir Kindle Edition

by Rick Mercer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 1,040 ratings

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Canada's beloved comic genius tells his own story for the first time.

What is Rick Mercer going to do now? That was the question on everyone's lips when the beloved comedian retired his hugely successful TV show after 15 seasons—and at the peak of its popularity. The answer came not long after, when he roared back in a new role as stand-up-comedian, playing to sold-out houses wherever he appeared.

And then Covid-19 struck. And his legions of fans began asking again: What is Rick Mercer going to do now? Well, for one thing, he's been writing a comic masterpiece. For the first time, this most private of public figures has turned the spotlight on himself, in a memoir that's as revealing as it is hilarious. In riveting anecdotal style, Rick charts his rise from highly unpromising schoolboy ("Rick still owes 15 dollars to the chocolate bar fundraiser" was one of the less brutal items on a typical report) to heights of TV fame, by way of an amazing break as a teenager when his one-man show, "Show Me the Button, I'll Push It. Or, Charles Lynch Must Die," became an overnight sensation—thanks in part to a bizarre ambush by its target, Charles Lynch himself. That's one story you won't soon forget, and this book is full of them.

There's the tale of how little Rick stole a tree from the neighbours that's set to become a new Christmas classic. There's Rick the aspiring actor—hitting the road as a new young punk in a vanload of hippies and appearing on stage in Shakespeare—and a wealth of behind-scenes revelations about This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, Talking to Americans and the coming of the mega-hit Rick Mercer Report.

It's a life so packed with incident and laughter we can only hope that a future answer to "What is Rick Mercer going to do now?" is: "Write volume two."

Editorial Reviews

Review

INSTANT #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE 2022 STEPHEN LEACOCK MEMORIAL MEDAL FOR HUMOUR

"Talking to Canadians: [a] funny, pitfall-strewn, no-holds-barred memoir from the ranting TV uproarist, edge-walker, envelope-pusher and pot-stirrer who once talked me into impersonating a goalie!" —Margaret Atwood, via Twitter

"I laughed so much reading this, I kept waking up my dog in bed. Rick is a determined writer—he never stops pulling you into his stories and he never stops looking for the punchlines in everyday life. He made me realize how funny ordinary things are, how funny and how incredibly interesting. It's heartfelt and honest and generous and edgy—just like Mercer himself. Read it! It's fabulous!" —Jann Arden

"A delightful and warm-hearted memoir." —Chatelaine

"Chockablock with detail, spiced with industry gossip, thoughtfully contextualized, steeped in verve, insight, and of course comedy." —Saltwire

"[Talking To Canadians] details the evolution of Rick Mercer as a national treasure, who through a well-informed mind, a sense of boundless energy, a fearless attitude of diving into everything head first, and a sharp, rapier wit, has continued the proud tradition of Canadian comedy. If there is one thing that you can take away about Rick Mercer after reading his book, it's that he is definitely not afraid to speak his mind and shoot down the absurdities of everything in Canada and the world, while proudly draped in the Canadian and Newfoundland-Labrador flags." —Montreal Times

"When Mercer was in the midst of writing his new memoir . . . he told a friend that his biggest concern was that 'my childhood was wonderful and my family members are terrific, so how the hell can I make this book exciting?' The answer, as the thoroughly engaging final product makes clear, is that Mercer is incapable of being boring. [His] passion—for Newfoundland, all of Canada and the people who live within—sparks the fire that feeds Mercer's trademark rants. It is also evident throughout this alternately funny, moving and always heartfelt book." —Policy Magazine

"[Rick Mercer is] an interesting person who has done singularly interesting things, many recorded and broadcast, which makes the inside back story most engaging and enjoyable. Add Mercer’s brisk, informative contextualization . . . and Talking is an immersive read." —Calgary Herald

About the Author

RICK MERCER co-created and performed on CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, created and starred in Made in Canada, and created and starred in Talking to Americans, the most-watched comedy special in Canadian television history. He went on to host the hugely successful Rick Mercer Report for 15 seasons. Rick was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2014 for his work with charitable causes and "his ability to inspire and challenge Canadians through humour." In 2019, he received a Governor General's Performing Arts Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. His 2021 memoir, Talking to Canadians, won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. He is from Middle Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B092CYH3V5
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday Canada (November 2, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 2, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 34321 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 310 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,008,020 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #352 in Celebrity & Popular Culture Humor (Kindle Store)
- #668 in Biographies of Comedians
- #958 in Celebrity & Popular Culture Humor (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 1,040 ratings

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4.7 out of 5

1,040 global ratings

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Gloria

Excellent Book in Great Condition with Lightning-Fast Delivery!

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2023

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The book arrived in impeccable condition, looking as good as new, thanks to the seller's attention to detail in packaging and handling. The delivery was lightning-fast, surpassing my expectations by arriving at my doorstep in just a few days.

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James S. Eisenberg

A Misnomer, There Is Much Here That Is Universal!

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2022

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Mercer is one of the funniest, most appealing Canadian television personalities. Despite the title, the book, in its evocation of his youth and schooling, and later, his gung-ho pursuit of a stage and television career, I think will resonate with anyone who has 'the bug'. He may talk about Canadian figures in politics, and the arts, who are unfamiliar to most Americans, but there is enough information to figure out who they are, and their significance. Us Yanks must not be offended by the chapter on his notorious special 'Talking to Americans', street interviews revealing our ignorance of our neighbors to the north. After all, we are doing it to ourselves on the internet these days!
A very entertaining read!

One person found this helpful

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BookClub

One of my favourite political satirists

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2021

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Not finished the book yet - I'm about 3 quarters the way through - and there have been so many laugh out loud moments. If you're a fan of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, his rants, Talking to Americans, The Mercer Report and such - this is a must read. Thanks for all the entertainment Rick!

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49759

Hysterically funny book

Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023

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Laugh-out-loud all the way through. Highly recommended!

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2021

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I really enjoyed getting to know Rick Mercer through his memoire Talking to Canadians. I always thought he was funny, but it was nice to know the background.

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022

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Carol Paquette

Adore Rick Mercer.. ♥️

Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2024

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.. this book was a great read! You don’t even have to be a huge fan, he’s just an interesting, funny, humble human. And he should have been Prime Minister of Canada. TABARNACK! 🇨🇦

One person found this helpful