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written, previously unpublished pieces by Rick.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.
