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A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada
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A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada

A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada

by Rick Mercer

Doubleday Canada | September 18, 2012 | Hardcover

Based on 38 ratings | Rate this

An all-new collection of furiously funny rants from the most recent seasons of the Rick Mercer Report plus three brilliantly written, previously unpublished pieces by Rick. Illustrated throughout with photos and snatches of dialogue from Rick's encounters and exploits across Canada.
 
"[Mercer's] trademark one-camera rants against the Canadian parliamentary machine are more concise, and more believable, than any campaign ads." -The Globe and Mail
 
"The comedian of choice for viewers who read." -Toronto Life
 
"Canada's hottest TV comic." -Maclean's
 
"Week after week, Mercer continues to delight with his alternately giddy and cutting political humour." -The Canadian Press
 
"Canada's leading political satirist." -The New York Times
 
 
"A good rant is cathartic. Ranting is what keeps me sane.
They always come from a different place. Take the prime minister, for example. Sometimes when I rant about him, I am angry; other times, I am just severely annoyed-it's an important distinction."
-Rick Mercer, from his introduction
 
Within these pages you'll find every rant that Rick has so brilliantly and blisteringly delivered since the publication of his previous bestseller, Rick Mercer Report: The Book. Together these rants form a chronicle of human folly, mostly featuring politicians, of course, but with honorable mentions going to people who don't know how to use escalators and Canadian drivers who don't think they need snow tires. 
 
Is Mercer getting better or are the fools among us getting worse? Whatever the inspiration-Rick Mercer's ranting has never been stronger or more on target. 
 
There is a loud, cathartic laugh to be found on almost every page here-with the exception of Rick's impassioned rant on bullying in schools, words that touched thousands of Canadians, went viral and helped widen the debate on a major problem. Also reprinted here is the rant encouraging students to vote, which resulted directly in a campus ballot and outrage in Ottawa.  (People still are still standing on the left on escalators, and the prime minister is still very much the man he was, but you can't win them all.)
 
In addition, Rick has authored three new essays specially for this book: the hilarious behind-the-scenes story of his meeting with Rick Hansen, a hero who absolutely was not a disappointment in real life; a heartfelt reflection on public reaction to his bullying rant; and an account of his response-mystified, followed by delighted-to the news that he'd inspired a "vote mob."
 
Illustrated throughout with photographs and dialogue from Rick's travels across Canada, A Nation Worth Ranting About will make you proud, will make you think, will make you almost as angry as Rick, and over and over again will make you laugh out loud.

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All reviews of A Nation Worth Ranting About: Rick Mercer Report From Across Canada

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    The "Jon Stewart" of Canada
    by Michele (Just a Lil Lost)
    7 months ago

    Host of The Rick Mercer Report on CBC in Canada, A Nation Worth Ranting About is a collection of the famous rants that Rick Mercer does on his TV show. Often political, always succinct, Mercer’s rants are delivered in his signature voice – full of facts, with a dash of sarcasm and dry wit. Interspersed with photos from some highlight moments on the Rick Mercer Report as well as reflections on the public’s reactions to a few of his key pieces, A Nation Worth Ranting About is not only a collection of the rants from the show but also illustrates how much this country means to Rick Mercer. He demonstrates why this nation IS worth ranting about, to him. I read this book around the time of the U.S. presidential election, and it made me realize that I didn’t know very much about my own country’s politics. While Mercer’s rants are often laced with humour, I have actually learned so much more about the state of my own nation’s political environment. I like to think of Rick Mercer as the Jon Stewart of Canada, a news satirist that pokes fun at politics while educating a similar demographic of audience. Some of the most stand-out rants in this book include the ones he did on young people going out to vote, and the bullying epidemic – especially of gay teens. Not only did it touch people individually, but as a collective group as well. People can look at Rick Mercer as merely a comedian, just like they may think of Jon Stewart in the same way, but both these men have such a powerful and influential voice in the media right now. It’s like they are that teacher in school who made learning fun. This, and other reviews can be found at JustALilLost.com

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    A must read for every Canadian - whether you are into politics or not
    by Jennifer Rayment
    9 months ago

    The Good Stuff The chapter on Rich Hanson is worth the price of the book alone Self-deprecating, honest and extremely wise Makes me want to go and vote Was constantly laughing, nodding my head in agreement and on quite a few occasions there may have been snorting laughter (sorry Chapters co-workers in lunch room that day) loved it so much I made it my staff pick at work The chapter on proper escalator and elevator etiquette should be a must read for anyone over the age of 5 (Hmm wonder if he could writer a chapter on proper uses of hole punches and staplers for kids in College and University) No one is safe from his rants but they are never meant to harm His love of Canada - warts and all - is so very apparent He is willing to try anything Very touching and open for a man who likes to guard his private life & the reason why he opened up is heart breaking (As I mentioned on many, many occasions some people are straight and some people are gay -- get over it - it is none of your business) As a Canadian it is your duty to read this -get thee to your local Chapters/Indigo (and tell them JR from Shawnessy sent you - LOL!) as fast as you can - you will not be disappointed The Not So Good Stuff Wanted it to be longer Do you know how incredibly hard it is to only pick 3 quotes from this Favorite Quotes/Passages "I pledged then and there that someday, come hell or high water, I would be a member of that program - I too would be an astronaut. When I proudly announced my ambition to the class, Miss Barnes said, "Not with your math marks, buster," and my dream fell to earth." A greater man than I would have ignored those comments, studied hard, excelled at mathematics and science and made it into the space program, but I am not that kind of man. More likely, I spotted something shiny and became distracted." "This is what I want to know. How can a guy be smart enough to have a job that lets him drive a $59,000 car and be stupid enough to say he doesn't need snow tires when he's standing next to his Audi that's wrapped around a pole? This is Canada. There's no such thing as all-season tires, just like there's no such thing as all-season footwear." "Being a political junkie in this country is a bit like being a diehard Leafs fan. Year in and year out, they believe they will witness magnificence and magic, and year in and year out, they witness the opposite. But still they continue to show up, cheer, pay through the nose for a hot dog and leave in tears." "So if you're gay and you're in public life, I'm sorry you don't have to run around with a pride flag and bore the hell out of everyone, but you can't be invisible either. Not anymore. Three hundred kids is three hundred too many." (in regards to in Canada 300 kids take their own life each year) Who Should/Shouldn't Read Every Canadian (even those who have no knowledge or interest in politics) Americans - from this they will get to know us a little better 4.95/5 Dewey's I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review

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