"Why did I read I am America, And So Can You? I have to just interject that I think if there's like a theme to the book besides the fact that he just sort of ranges through a whole bunch of topics, it's really funny and entertaining and annoying and frustrating to think of what this represents. I guess figuring out what the hell he means by the title might be the point of reading the book.

What is I am America So Can You? It sort of — it presents itself in tongue-in-cheek fashion of course as sort of — not a biography but a biographically cast rampage through a whole bunch of major topics: Some that are more childhoody, some that are more adolescenty and some that are more adulthoody, and sort of as I recall how he arranges the book. It's just what you would expect a book would be of Steven Colbert and his posse of writers get together and write a book that pretends to be him.

Now, there's a lot of just sort of endless play with meaning and irony and sarcasm and indirectness and directness. If you're the sort of person who thinks that Steven Colbert is a genuine media person, then it's very important you read the book; and hopefully by the time you get to the end, you realize what an idiot you are and enjoy yourself mightily laughing at yourself. But if you were taken in, you probably don't laugh at yourself very well, so you probably should stay away from the book and stay away from me.

You know, I liked everything about it, but it's not a masterwork of American literature. It's not that kind of thing. It is essentially a comic book for adults, and it does get a little bit tiresome; it's a good thing it's not longer than it is, although I did make it through everything as I was curious about every little bit, what sorts of clever jokes they'd make.

How many stars to give I am America So Can You, well, Steven Colbert would come after me and attack my family I'm sure if I didn't give it five stars, and I think I actually do have —"

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