An irreverent, hilarious, and informative look at Mexican American culture is taken by a rising star in the alternative media, as well as a new kid on the block in such mainstream venues as NPR, the Los Angeles Times, Today, and The Colbert Report. Gustavo Arellano has compiled the best questions about Mexican Americans from readers of his Ask a Mexican! column in California's OC Weekly and uses them to explore the clichés of lowriders, busboys, and housekeepers; drunks and scoundrels; heroes and celebrities; and most important, millions upon millions of law-abiding, patriotic American citizens and their illegal-immigrant cousins who represent some $600 billion in economic power.
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"Truly informative about Mexican culture as experienced in the U.S. and funny and irreverent.Learned that Morrissey has a huge cult following in Mexico and radishes help eliminate flatulence. Truth be told I actually have a chapter or two left in this book. "
— RH (4 out of 5 stars)
“A welcome reprieve from common tiptoeing around the fraught subjects of race relations and immigration.”
— Publishers WeeklyA welcome reprieve from common tiptoeing around the fraught subjects of race relations and immigration.
— Publishers Weekly" the material is much better suited for newsprint. "
— hahna, 2/12/2014" Funny, brilliant, and I'm learning a lot. "
— Elizabeth, 1/28/2014" If you are Mexican and especially if you are not, read this book. Philosophy, comedy, civil rights, sex, it has it all. Very fun read! "
— Jose, 1/26/2014" Often funny insights into Mexican-Americans (and Mexicans) written by a popular Mexican-American journalist from Orange County, California. Example: true Mexican-Americans pronounce the capital of Orange County as "Santana," even though it's spelled "Santa Ana" (and "Santa" "Ana" is what I always called it until now...) The book is more entertaining than anything, but for gabachos, quite informative, too. "
— Scott, 1/18/2014" Humerous at times, insulting at others. A journalists Q & A about Mexicans in southern California. Very informative, and a definite 'should read' for Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly. "
— travelerblue, 1/17/2014" This book was hilarious! I thoroughly enjoyed it!! "
— Deborah, 1/16/2014" Amusing and informative, especially the language slurs... There appears to be an underlying tone of mocking the gabachos, though. Typical. "
— Claudia, 1/11/2014" Funny. Raunchy. Insightful. Informative. At times abrasive. This book is a compilation of columns, which got old after awhile, but I enjoyed it for the most part, and actually learned a great bit. "
— Hope, 1/10/2014" Had a few insights, but it still was very offensive and crude at times. "
— Priscilla, 1/4/2014" learned a whole lot about mexicans. why mexicans love morrissey and useful insults. "
— Ed, 1/1/2014" This book had funny moments but I guess I discovered that vulgarity is not my thing. So I'll say it's great if that humor satisfies you but if not it may fail short of expectation "
— Tiff, 12/15/2013" Author is very crude but clever. Wittily rebuts harsh criticisms and spiteful stereotypes of Mexicans while at the same time is able to laugh at himself and his culture. "
— Ellen, 12/1/2013" This book is HILARIOUS. I was laughing from page one. He really knows how to point out when someone is being a dumbass. It is also a nice peek into mexican culture. "
— Antonia, 7/16/2013" You can only take so much of this Mexican's banter. Some of the questions are hilarious with great answers given by the author. You can really just skim and pick and choose what you want to read. "
— Ginger, 6/29/2013" silly sarcastic fun replies to some really lame stereotypical questions.........an extension of what Mr. Arellano writes for the OC Weekly..... "
— Luz-Maria, 9/6/2012" I sometimes I don't if I should laugh or not very stereotypical yet it can be funny. I read this off and on. "
— Elizabeth, 5/26/2012" Amusing and surprisingly informative. "
— Michelle, 5/20/2012" I enjoyed the 1st half of this book, but then it got old. The same answers to the same questions. There was some really funny stuff in here though, and I learned a lot... taken with a grain of salt of course. "
— Sarah, 1/27/2012" After a little more than halfway through, I lost interest and eventually stopped reading it. Not as engaging as I thought it would be, but it's kinda funny and informing. "
— ., 1/5/2012" Satirical but also informative with often decent answers. "
— Jacqi, 12/23/2011" Hysterical. I learned that Mexicans do not call white people Gringos - they call the gabachos! Irreverant, fascinating and funny. "
— Vida, 4/8/2011" If you are Mexican and especially if you are not, read this book. Philosophy, comedy, civil rights, sex, it has it all. Very fun read! "
— Jose, 2/10/2011" I learned a lot about my people. "
— Gerry, 9/3/2010" por fin encontré con quién (o más bien 'con qué') reirme de lo que me río siempre. qué buen espejo! 100% chingón! "
— Teresa, 4/24/2010" This book had funny moments but I guess I discovered that vulgarity is not my thing. So I'll say it's great if that humor satisfies you but if not it may fail short of expectation "
— Tiff, 3/7/2010" I sometimes I don't if I should laugh or not very stereotypical yet it can be funny. I read this off and on. "
— Elizabeth, 8/18/2009" OMG this is hilarious and debunks all the stereotypes for people who have no experience with Mexican culture...... "
— Bethany, 6/26/2009" Funny, brilliant, and I'm learning a lot. "
— Elizabeth, 1/13/2009Gustavo Arellano is the editor of OC Weekly, an alternative newspaper in Orange County, California, author of Orange County: A Personal History and Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, and lecturer with the Chicana and Chicano studies department at California State University, Fullerton.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.
Christine Marshall is an actress, director, and designer living in Portland, Maine. She teaches for the Maine State Ballet and produces plays with her theater company, Mad Horse. In addition to audiobooks, she records the online version of the New Yorker.
Aaron Lockman has participated in community theater across southern Maine and the surrounding areas, including with Seaglass Performing Arts, Crossroads Theatre Company, and the Portland Players. He is also a member of Project AWARE, a nonprofit organization that does youth-empowerment workshops and presentations across New England.