FROM GROWING UP IN DETROIT, where he marched as a ten-year-old with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to attending the inauguration of President Barack Obama, where he narrowly avoided the Purple Tunnel of Doom but still saw nothing, David Alan Grier examines how he -- and America -- have changed for the better and the funnier.
Within these pages, Grier imagines being called to serve in President Obama's cabinet as the "secretary of mirth"; takes you to a wild and emotional election night party he hosted that didn't go as planned; explains the true meaning of the "magical Negro"; recalls the formative episodes from his life -- including being rejected by the Black Panthers at their headquarters door and turning down the initial offer to work on In Living Color -- and for the first time ever sneaks you backstage at Dancing with the Stars, where he exposes the inner workings of the show -- the camaraderie between dancers and stars, the excruciatingly painful rehearsals, the outrageous preparations, and each hysterical moment of his four-episode appearance and subsequent public meltdown.
Grier unabashedly muses on politics, culture, and race while recounting his own life story in this edgy, timeless, hilarious, and revelatory memoir and look at all things Barack.
Barack Like Me is David Alan Grier at his best -- the man, comic, and twenty-first-century thinker -- funny, brilliant, and original.
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"Hillarious! DAG's DWTS chapters made me laugh pretty hard. In fact, myself not being a fan of DWTS, DAG pretty much said everything I have ever felt about the judges. Good read."
— Jess (5 out of 5 stars)
“A comic of undeniable charm and supple skills.”
— Washington Post“Barack Like Me is the most important book since Alex Haley's third book, Boots. With Barack Like Me, David Alan Grier has created a world of wizards and goblins that will surely become a great TV movie someday.”
— Chris Rock“This book is funny and thought provoking. DAG may be the greatest Black American since Dr. Julius Washington Irving Carver!”
— Adam Carolla“This book will surprise and delight you. It's a splendid read!”
— Lewis Black“Hilarious! Pure DAG, Barack Like Me is a magical romp through one man's history that offers Americans a chance to examine its own. Full of surprises and profound insights, DAG takes readers on a modern journey through the looking glass of his life.”
— Dr. Drew Pinsky“The definitive guide to American blackness. A masterwork. Grier triumphs again.”
— Jimmy Kimmel“David's humor, wit and intelligence are as big as his penis…Huge! He is single-handedly keeping the black comedy myth alive.”
— Chelsea Handler" sucked. Started out funny, but then not worth the time. "
— Joseph, 7/2/2012" Just finshed this memoir of one of my favorite actor/comedian/dancers of all time. Gotta love DAG. "
— Amanda, 6/23/2011" This book provided a good combination of humor and personal stories from David Alan Grier's childhood. All in all, it was a decent read but not a book I'd read again. "
— Tamara, 11/27/2010" Hilarious. Grier can write. I always forget that comedians are writers too. "
— Christine, 10/29/2010" I VERY FUNNY BOOK "
— Debra, 10/23/2010" Irreverent. Funny with salient points. I could have done without all the swearing. "
— Sandra, 9/27/2010" DAG is the hit in the fan! Both poignant and hilarious. "
— Ruth, 6/15/2010" This book provided a good combination of humor and personal stories from David Alan Grier's childhood. All in all, it was a decent read but not a book I'd read again. "
— Tamara, 1/20/2010" DAG is the hit in the fan! Both poignant and hilarious. "
— Ruth, 12/31/2009" Irreverent. Funny with salient points. I could have done without all the swearing. "
— Sandra, 10/19/2009David Alan Grier is well known as a principle cast member of the acclaimed television series In Living Color, where he helped to create some of the show’s most memorable characters. He also costarred on Bonnie Hunt’s hit ABC comedy Life With Bonnie and starred on the hit NBC show DAG, the television miniseries The 60s, and King of Texas for cable television. He has gained recognition for his numerous feature film roles, including Baadasssss! for director Mario Van Peebles, The Woodsman opposite Kevin Bacon and Mos Def; 15 Minutes; Boomerang; Bewitched; Jumanji; and Robert Altman’s Streamers, for which he won a Golden Lion Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. He also cowrote, produced, and appeared in the independent film Poker House.