Books › American on purpose › Books like it
If you loved
Books like American on purpose
A hilarious, brutally honest ride through rock bottom and back up to the American Dream. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with American on purpose.
- hopeful
- chaotic but warm
- reflective
- 01
I Am America (And So Can You!)
Stephen Colbert
A bombastic, laugh-out-loud masterclass in political satire delivered by cable news's favorite faux-conservative blowhard.
- 02
Not My Father's Son
Alan Cumming
A raw, suspenseful, and wickedly funny memoir that balances the heavy trauma of an abusive past with sharp wit and profound insight.
- 03
Born standing up
Steve Martin · 2007
A quiet, analytical masterclass on the grueling, lonely mechanics of becoming a legend and the grace of walking away.
- 04
Vacationland
John Hodgman
A hilarious, painfully self-aware stroll through the haunted forest of middle age and the unforgiving beaches of New England.
- 05
Failure is an option
H. Jon Benjamin
A hilarious, anti-inspirational manifesto that gives you full permission to lower your expectations and embrace your inner slacker.
- 06
How to fail at almost everything and still win big
Scott Adams
A wry, contrarian playbook for turning a string of embarrassing failures into a personalized system for success.
- 07
Furiously Happy
Jenny Lawson
A wildly tangential, laugh-out-loud manifesto on fighting crippling depression with weaponized absurdity.
- 08
Seriously--I'm kidding
Ellen DeGeneres
A breezy, conversational comedy set that feels like chatting with an upbeat friend who constantly goes on hilarious tangents.
- 09
Always looking up
Michael J. Fox
A witty, warm-hearted reflection that transforms the heavy reality of chronic illness into an inspiring journey of reinvention.
- 10
Wishful Drinking
Carrie Fisher · 2008
A razor-sharp, laugh-out-loud survival guide to Hollywood royalty, addiction, and the absurdity of being a human action figure.
- 11
The last black unicorn
Tiffany Haddish
A fiercely funny, unfiltered ride through trauma and triumph that feels like a late-night conversation with your most resilient friend.
- 12
Professional idiot
Stephen "Steve-O" Glover
A chaotic, shockingly raw plunge into the darkest depths of addiction and the hard-fought climb back to sanity.
