Denis Leary

Ok so Denis Leary can be described by one or more of the following terms; egotistical, bitter, chauvinistic, jerk, A-hole, pungent, brash, harsh, narcissistic, big headed, self-centered, self-righteous, loud, rude, crude, annoying, sarcastic, well you get my point. But there is one thing Denis Leary is not, and that is funny. No wait a minute, scratch that he is funny, and there is more than a shred of truth in his long winded, vulgar mouthed, screaming with rage rants on everything from show more bratty kids to Oprah discussing orgasms. Whether you like him or not, one can’t deny the truth behind Leary’s satirical view of the world in which we live. If you can handle more than mild profanity and the occasional slang words for parts of the human anatomy (both male and female) then you will laugh at at least a few parts of this book. If you personally spew profanity and slang words for parts of the human anatomy on a semi-to-regular basis, then you will laugh on a semi-to-regular basis.

Warning: If you fall under one or more of the following categories: male, female, young, old, single, married, homo sapiens, homophobic, homosexual, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Indian (Native American or otherwise), African (American or otherwise), blonde brunette, tall, short, skinny, fat, big boned, small boned, jelly fish, coward, proud, shy, outgoing, introvert, extrovert, burnt out, burned up, mentally challenged, physically challenged, strong, weak, rich, poor, funny, stupid, smart, clever, resourceful, witty, colorful, happy, sad, angry, or mad, you might be mildly offended by this book.

P.S. If you enjoy Denis Leary, then I suggest listening to this title as an audio book which he reads personally, as it is much more funny to listen to than to read.

Enjoy! show less

Rating: 3* of five

I was never all that big on Leary. I don't like being yelled at the way he used to in those sneaker (?) commercials when he prowled around behind a chain link fence. I'm utterly certain I didn't spend my, or anyone else's, United States dollars procuring this book. But here it is, and here it's been for at least a year.

So where'd it come from? The Little Free Library? No, why would I pick it up? I called my Young Gentleman Caller. "Sweetiedarling," I cooed and then paused show more for the ritual admonition not to call him that it makes his boys try to get back inside, "Sweetiedarling (nose-sigh from YGC) did you give me a Denis Leary book called Why We Don't Suck?" A startled pause. "Dennis Who?" he asked blankly. (My hearing is excellent and I could detect the redundant "n" in Dr. Leary's name.) No joy.

When one of y'all sends me a giftie, I leave the card inside so I won't have to commit to memory who gave me nice stuff. Memory is a slippery bar of soap at the best of times, but at my age when the bar drops there it stays. Bending down in the shower?! Are you NUTS?! Do you know how many people my age break things that they still need doing that?! So I guess the bar of soap with the name of the donor is gone for good.

Don't read this. Browse through it. If one attempted to swallow this guff in a gulp, back up it would come in a fountain of outrage as you damn near strangle while laughing. Is it worth it? For free, yeah...I guess. For money? Under a buck, yes; under two, maybe. Library sales, garage sales, that level of venue. Bookstore or Ammy? Oh HELL no. The Chronicles of St Mary's book ten will be out in a week or so, spend the spondulix on that! Guaranteed laughs and less yelling. show less

This was a great book. Leary blends memoir and rant quite well. Sure, it has a part or two where the pace slow downs a bit, but when he is hot, he is really cooking. No one is safe from his observations and direct approach. What I like about him, like other comedians I like (Lewis Black, George Carlin), is that he will make you laugh, but then you think and realize he is speaking the truth, a truth that few hear. I am not spoiling the end, but I will say he does leave us with some hope. show more Overall, a very entertaining read. I made some notes in my updates about passages I liked. show less

If you like Denis Leary's ranting comedic style, you'll enjoy this book. I could practically hear his voice in my head as I was reading. Most surprising, perhaps, was the underlying tenderness throughout, especially in the stories about his parents, his brother, his wife & kids. The book isn't exactly a memoir, but certain chapters read like one, and added depth to what otherwise might have been a superficial comedic romp.

Dr. Leary and I hold similar opinions about many things. For show more example:

"This country has the attention span of a gnat on Non-Drowsy Sudafed." (209).

"You know what kids learn when parents insist on making sure that everyone gets a trophy and everyone wins and nobody loses? They learn that losing doesn't suck. Which it does....You fall down you get up. That's how you learn how much falling down hurts and how much you never wanna fall down ever again." (98)

"Personally--seeing Janet Jackson's left nipple on TV wasn't anywhere near as offensive to me as the four million ads for Viagra and Cialis and all the other "how to get a hard-on" pills that rolled out every other minute during the same game..." (69)

In addition, I learned that Denis Leary is a published poet! (Check out the Fall 1977 issue of Ploughshares.)

Leary touches on the idiocy of pop culture, parenting, prescription drugs, Oprah and Dr. Phil, the Catholic Church, and the many differences between men & women. He's honest about all of it, but (oddly) not at all unkind. Our hypocritical, self-centered, and rather self-destructive society has many faults, but Leary points them out not because he hates this country, but because he loves it. He wants to see us pull our heads out of our collective American asses and be groovy again. show less