Synopses & Reviews
She is a single, twentysomething, gun-loving, Christian, Republican writer and blogger, the daughter of a Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee.and#160;He is a married, forty-year-old, gun-fearing, atheist, Democrat comedian, the son of a lesbian former Social Security employee.and#160;Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black barely know each other.and#160;But they are about to change the way politics is discussed in America.Or at least the way politics are discussed in their crappy RV.and#160;In America, You Sexy Bitch, Meghan and Michael embark on a balls-out, cross-country tour starting in California, the heart of liberal America, and ending in the state of Connecticut, the home of blue-blood Wall Street billionaires.and#160;Along the way, they visit such cultural touchstones as Graceland and Branson, party in Las Vegas and New Orleans, pretend to be Mormon in Salt Lake City (only for a second), and go to a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan.and#160;They tour the nationandrsquo;s capital; they fire semiautomatic weapons.and#160;But mostly Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black talk to each other: about their differences, their similarities, and how American politics has gotten so divided.
Review
"[Michael Ian Black is] so cool we believe the publisher when they call it 'Chelsea Handler meets Hunter S. Thompson.'" The Advocate
Review
Publishers Weekly, 1/16/12
“Sure to be one of the year’s most entertaining political books.”Publishers Weekly, 5/7/12
“The book does an admirable job balancing each party’s perspective…As stereotypical party associations and extremism boil down to a genuine concern for the future of America, the result is surprisingly heartfelt.” New York Daily News, 5/6/12 “Hotly anticipated.”
The Advocate, July 2012
“[Michael Ian Black is] so cool we believe the publisher when they call it Chelsea Handler meets Hunter S. Thompson.”
Politico.com, 5/29/12 “[McCain] uses the debates with Black to re-examine her relationship with the Republican Party. Along the way, a few political figures come under fire from the outspoken daughter of a former presidential candidate—including Clinton.”
Review
Harvard Bookstore Bestsellers list, 8/03/12 and 8/10/12
Publishers Weekly, 1/16/12
andldquo;Sure to be one of the yearandrsquo;s most entertaining political books.andrdquo;Publishers Weekly, 5/7/12
andldquo;The book does an admirable job balancing each partyandrsquo;s perspectiveandhellip;As stereotypical party associations and extremism boil down to a genuine concern for the future of America, the result is surprisingly heartfelt.andrdquo;and#160;New York Daily News, 5/6/12andldquo;Hotly anticipated.andrdquo;
The Advocate, July 2012
andldquo;[Michael Ian Black is] so cool we believe the publisher when they call it Chelsea Handler meets Hunter S. Thompson.andrdquo;and#160;Politico.com, 5/29/12
andldquo;[McCain] uses the debates with Black to re-examine her relationship with the Republican Party. Along the way, a few political figures come under fire from the outspoken daughter of a former presidential candidateandmdash;including Clinton.andrdquo;and#160;Yahoo! News, 6/13/12andldquo;A refreshing ride, one full of honesty and chocked-full of laughs.andrdquo;and#160;New York Journal of Books, 6/12/12andldquo;Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black just might bring the parties together. For at least a few hours, anywayandhellip;The book is written journal style, a sort of andlsquo;He said, She said,andrsquo; page turner. And it worksandhellip;The bookandrsquo;s back-and forth banter is both funny and cringe worthyandhellip;They are candid and honest about their political views, sometimes uncompromising, yet often open minded.andrdquo;and#160;TheSpitTake.com, 6/11/12andldquo;Black and McCain are both engaging, off-putting, thoughtful, dogmatic, loose and cattyandhellip;there is a palpable sense that Black and McCain are trying to get along, if only for themselves. And also for America. No, really. Each truly believes in the concept of andldquo;America,andrdquo; and though their definitions vary wildly, they both agree it has something to do with inclusivenessandhellip;The book proves that people can get along if they put politics aside and treat each other as human beings.andrdquo;and#160;Edge, 6/12/12
andldquo;A serious (albeit comical) look at Americaandrsquo;s people and politicsandhellip;A highly funny and empathetic endeavor that will leave the reader with a better understanding of American politicsandhellip;America, You Sexy Bitch proves that Republicans and Democrats can find common ground.andrdquo;and#160;Roll Call, 6/11/12andldquo;[A] he said, she said account of Michael Ian Blackandrsquo;s and Meghan McCainandrsquo;s meandering pilgrimage across the U-S-of-A.andrdquo;and#160;Portland Monthly, June 2012andldquo;An intriguing meditation on some of the very real elements that differentiate Americaandrsquo;s bipartisan ideologies.andrdquo;and#160;Time Out Chicago, 6/20/12andldquo;Black hasandhellip;established himself as a precise and honest comic writer. Though as a comedian he trades in snarkandhellip;his commitment to this project finds him earnestly engaging with the people he meets, and trying to find in them case studies for the larger political talking points.andrdquo;and#160;Washington Post, 6/19/12andldquo;She is funny and uncensored, and he is witty and sharply observational.andrdquo;and#160;20 Something Reads, 6/27/12andldquo;Michaelandrsquo;s writing bears his typical snarky cynicism, while Meghanandrsquo;s writing reflects her exuberance and zest for lifeandhellip;An excellent read and absolutely hilariousandhellip;Though itandrsquo;ll take much more than one book to fix America, Michael and Meghan show us that two very opposite people can find common ground, which gives us hope towards the future of Capitol Hill and American Politics.andrdquo;and#160;PR.comandldquo;The bookandrsquo;s quirky title belies its enlightening content.andrdquo;and#160;The Interrobang, 6/21/12andldquo;The book is incredibly funny, really honest, and full of heart and soulandhellip;Smart and funny, itandrsquo;s a great summer read that entertains as much as it forces you to think.andrdquo;and#160;PolicyMic.com, 6/20/12
andldquo;[Black] knows how to make you laugh; and yet, through his humor, he was able to convincingly communicate his liberal rationale with easeandhellip;Presents some interesting thoughts about politics and culture.andrdquo;
Tucson Citizen, 7/3/12andldquo;Readable and appealingandhellip;Insightfulandhellip;A surprisingly fun summer read.andrdquo;and#160;Examiner.com, 6/29/12
andldquo;An enjoyable, often funny little travelogueandhellip;An entertaining bipartisan road trip diary.andrdquo;
MediaBistroandrsquo;s GalleyCat Blog, 7/10/12andldquo;[A] bipartisan Thelma and Louising of the American landscape.andrdquo;
San Francisco Bay Guardian, 7/10/12andldquo;[The] point made by America, You Sexy Bitch is: politics donandrsquo;t make the person.andrdquo;
andldquo;New Day Northwestandrdquo; (Seattle, KING TV), 7/18/12andldquo;One of my favorite books of the summerandhellip;A hilarious look at trying to find common ground in uncommon territory.andrdquo;
Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/14/12andldquo;The most entertaining road trip youandrsquo;ll take this yearandhellip;Black and McCain make elegant spokespeople, and they share uproarious and enlightening tales about who we are and what we want.andrdquo;
SF Weekly, 7/16/12andldquo;[Black and McCain] may seem like an odd couple at firstandhellip;[but] they show that despite their differences, they are just Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black: Two Slices of American Pie.andrdquo;
Bay Area Reporter, 7/19/12andldquo;Humorous but often thought-provoking.andrdquo;
San Francisco Book Review, August 2012andrdquo;A book examining preconceived notions and the long, difficult road toward dispelling some of them. McCain and Black pull no punchesandhellip;Not just funny as hell, but thought-provoking and occasionally challengingandhellip;I loved it.andrdquo;
InnocentWords.com, 7/28/12andldquo;The concept behind America, You Sexy Bitch is a pretty interesting experiment and comes at just the right time with the country more polarized politically than at any time in recent decadesandhellip;Highly entertaining.andrdquo;
Midwest Book Review, September 2012andldquo;A social and political romp recommended for any general lending library.andrdquo;
SLUG, October 2012andldquo;Vivid and often hilariousandhellip;Extremely enjoyable. Not only does this social experiment provide an entertaining look at people from all walks of life, itandrsquo;s a reminder that the stereotypes that are perpetuatedandmdash;especially during an election yearandmdash;are seldom correct.andrdquo;
Hartford Advocate, 12/13/12andldquo;A collaborative tour diary, written as an entertaining back-and-forth.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Conservative author Meghan McCain and acerbic liberal comedian Michael Ian Black hit the road together to find the soul of a divided America.
Synopsis
In the summer of 2011, McCain and Black embarked on a balls-out, cross-country tour. Along the way, they spoke to politicians, gun lovers, abortion-rights advocates and opponents, gay parents, flag burners, Muslims, poker players, Tea Partiers, Minutemen, veterans, teen moms, bikers, fast-food workers, and a hooker or two. They toured the White House. They fired semiautomatic weapons. They stopped and ate at every Olive Garden along the way. But mostly they talked to each other about their differences, their similarities. Its Chelsea Handler meets Hunter S. Thompson in a political cannonball run across America.
About the Author
Meghan McCain is a weekly columnist for the Daily Beast and a contributor at MSNBC. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is the author of
Dirty Sexy Politics, has written for
Newsweek, and created the website mccainblogette.com. She lives in Los Angeles.
Michael Ian Black is a standup comedian and has starred in many television series and movies, including Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella, The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Viva Variety, VH1's I Love the... series, and NBC's Ed. He lives in Connecticut with his wife and their two kids.