Publishers Weekly
In this cross-country tour of America, the authors make odd companions: McCain (Dirty Sexy Politics), the Republican daughter of John McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate, and Black (You’re Not Doing It Right), a Democrat and comedian. In between touring national landmarks and meeting locals, they spar over hot-button issues. Whether they are comparing the highs and lows of the Clinton presidency at his national library in Little Rock, Ark., or discussing race, sex, and the military at Fort Campbell, Ky., the book does an admirable job balancing each party’s perspective and the personal associations the authors bring to the issues. McCain’s own family’s military history and concern over gun control laws contrast nicely with Black’s concerns regarding health care, and help anchor larger issues to individual lives. The narrative is particularly lively when their city visits become outlandish, like an exploration of the American dream as realized by Yakov Smirnoff in Missouri or the sex industry in Las Vegas, Nev., but the book is less overtly funny than expected. As stereotypical party associations and extremism boil down to a genuine concern for the future of America, the result is surprisingly heartfelt. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic. (July)
From the Publisher
Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black just might bring the parties together. For at least a few hours, anyway…The book is written journal style, a sort of ‘He said, She said,’ page turner. And it works…The book’s back-and forth banter is both funny and cringe worthy…They are candid and honest about their political views, sometimes uncompromising, yet often open minded.”
TheSpitTake.com, 6/11/12
“Black and McCain are both engaging, off-putting, thoughtful, dogmatic, loose and catty…there is a palpable sense that Black and McCain are trying to get along, if only for themselves. And also for America. No, really. Each truly believes in the concept of “America,” and though their definitions vary wildly, they both agree it has something to do with inclusiveness…The book proves that people can get along if they put politics aside and treat each other as human beings.”
Edge, 6/12/12
“A serious (albeit comical) look at America’s people and politics…A highly funny and empathetic endeavor that will leave the reader with a better understanding of American politics…America, You Sexy Bitch proves that Republicans and Democrats can find common ground.”
Roll Call, 6/11/12
“[A] he said, she said account of Michael Ian Black’s and Meghan McCain’s meandering pilgrimage across the U-S-of-A.”
Portland Monthly, June 2012“An intriguing meditation on some of the very real elements that differentiate America’s bipartisan ideologies.”
Time Out Chicago, 6/20/12
“Black has…established himself as a precise and honest comic writer. Though as a comedian he trades in snark…his commitment to this project finds him earnestly engaging with the people he meets, and trying to find in them case studies for the larger political talking points.”
Washington Post, 6/19/12
“She is funny and uncensored, and he is witty and sharply observational.”
20 Something Reads, 6/27/12
“Michael’s writing bears his typical snarky cynicism, while Meghan’s writing reflects her exuberance and zest for life…An excellent read and absolutely hilarious…Though it’ll take much more than one book to fix America, Michael and Meghan show us that two very opposite people can find common ground, which gives us hope towards the future of Capitol Hill and American Politics.”
PR.com
“The book’s quirky title belies its enlightening content.”
The Interrobang, 6/21/12
“The book is incredibly funny, really honest, and full of heart and soul…Smart and funny, it’s a great summer read that entertains as much as it forces you to think.”
PolicyMic.com, 6/20/12
“[Black] knows how to make you laugh; and yet, through his humor, he was able to convincingly communicate his liberal rationale with ease…Presents some interesting thoughts about politics and culture.”
Tucson Citizen, 7/3/12
“Readable and appealing…Insightful…A surprisingly fun summer read.”
Examiner.com, 6/29/12
“An enjoyable, often funny little travelogue…An entertaining bipartisan road trip diary.”
MediaBistro’s GalleyCat Blog, 7/10/12
“[A] bipartisan Thelma and Louising of the American landscape.”
San Francisco Bay Guardian, 7/10/12“[The] point made by America, You Sexy Bitch is: politics don’t make the person.”
“New Day Northwest” (Seattle, KING TV), 7/18/12
“One of my favorite books of the summer…A hilarious look at trying to find common ground in uncommon territory.”
Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/14/12
“The most entertaining road trip you’ll take this year…Black and McCain make elegant spokespeople, and they share uproarious and enlightening tales about who we are and what we want.”
SF Weekly, 7/16/12
“[Black and McCain] may seem like an odd couple at first…[but] they show that despite their differences, they are just Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black: Two Slices of American Pie.”
Bay Area Reporter, 7/19/12“Humorous but often thought-provoking.”
San Francisco Book Review, August 2012
”A book examining preconceived notions and the long, difficult road toward dispelling some of them. McCain and Black pull no punches…Not just funny as hell, but thought-provoking and occasionally challenging…I loved it.”
InnocentWords.com, 7/28/12“The concept behind America, You Sexy Bitch is a pretty interesting experiment and comes at just the right time with the country more polarized politically than at any time in recent decades…Highly entertaining.”
Harvard Bookstore Bestsellers list, 8/03/12 and 8/10/12
Publishers Weekly, 1/16/12
“Sure to be one of the year’s most entertaining political books.”
Publishers Weekly, 5/7/12
“The book does an admirable job balancing each party’s perspective…As stereotypical party associations and extremism boil down to a genuine concern for the future of America, the result is surprisingly heartfelt.”
New York Daily News, 5/6/12“Hotly anticipated.”
The Advocate, July 2012
“[Michael Ian Black is] so cool we believe the publisher when they call it Chelsea Handler meets Hunter S. Thompson.”
Politico.com, 5/29/12
“[McCain] uses the debates with Black to re-examine her relationship with the Republican Party. Along the way, a few political figures come under fire from the outspoken daughter of a former presidential candidate—including Clinton.”
Yahoo! News, 6/13/12
“A refreshing ride, one full of honesty and chocked-full of laughs.”
New York Journal of Books, 6/12/12
Kirkus Reviews
A middle-age liberal comedian and a younger Republican media personality embark on an RV expedition together to see if they can find common ground (they do) and say something significant about America (they don't). "My own view heading into this trip is that America is at a particularly crappy time in its history," writes Black (You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations, 2012, etc.). His counterpart is McCain (Dirty Sexy Politics, 2010), flamboyant daughter of the Republican presidential candidate, who has occasionally aroused the suspicion of her party but who loves the same things as all good Republicans (guns, whiskey, red meat, country music, God, etc.). "I really love America," she writes. "I don't mean this to come off like a cliché; you know, American girl loves America, but it's true." Though family, friends and others had trouble understanding why two people who knew each other only through Twitter committed themselves to this project, something similar has been done often and better--from the "Point/Counterpoint" segment that long ran on 60 Minutes to the ultimate in strange political bedfellows, James Carville and Mary Matalin. Here, "the entire project, from idea to execution, happened in a little more than a month," writes McCain. "Michael and I sold the book before we actually met in person." The result is often tedious and shallow, as their travels reveal little beyond the obvious about New Orleans, Austin, Memphis, Salt Lake City and other cities. "Stereotypes have a funny way of falling apart when you actually talk to people," writes Black, though the book reinforces a lot of stereotypes and is rarely funny.
