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President Me: The America That's in My Head
Imagine a world where New York Times bestselling author, comedian, actor, television, and podcast host Adam Carolla is the President of the United States. Can’t do it? You don’t have to! Adam has done it for you! Podcast king Adam Carolla first shared his unique, but always funny world view in his New York Times bestseller In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks —but he’s not done. In President Me , Carolla shares his vision for a different, better America free from big issues like big government down to small problems like hotel alarm clock placement. Running on an anti-narcissism platform, President Carolla calls for a return to the values of an earlier time when stew and casserole were on every dinner table and there were no “service dogs” on airplanes. President Me hits right at the heart of what makes our country really annoying, and offers a plan to make all of our lives, but mostly Adam’s, much better.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 8, 2014
123 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
About the author
Adam Carolla
21 books264 followersAdam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He is currently the host of The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast.
Carolla is also known as being the co-host of the radio show Loveline from 1995 to 2005 (and its television incarnation on MTV from 1996 to 2000), as the co-host of the television program The Man Show (1999–2004), and as the co-creator and performer on the television program Crank Yankers (2002–2007).
Carolla has been featured in television shows, talk radio shows, films (appearing in both independent films and those of the major film studios), internet media, podcasts, and other media outlets.
Carolla is also known as being the co-host of the radio show Loveline from 1995 to 2005 (and its television incarnation on MTV from 1996 to 2000), as the co-host of the television program The Man Show (1999–2004), and as the co-creator and performer on the television program Crank Yankers (2002–2007).
Carolla has been featured in television shows, talk radio shows, films (appearing in both independent films and those of the major film studios), internet media, podcasts, and other media outlets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
August 3, 2014
During the 2012 election I was stunned at how many people had the "audacity" to stand face-to-face with a candidate and say, "I'm twenty-two and I'm a student. As I look toward graduation and the job market, I want to know what you're going to do for me." As if Obama was going to say, "Okay. Let me get your name. Right after this debate I'm going to personally make sure you're taken care of." If it were me up there, I would say, "I'm not gonna do shit for you. But I am going to clear up the bureaucratic bullshit so you can do something for you. It's your choice, I'll clear the path. You decide if you want to stay on the couch and get high or if you want to get your shit together."A book of largely on-point rants written from the king of rants. Recommended for fans of Mr. Carolla.
August 22, 2014
So you have to understand that Adam Carolla is terrible...right? I mean, you have to sort of get over the fact that he's despicable; maybe you have a lasting fondness for him because of the years and years you listened to him on Love Line when you were a teenager. Then you grew up and stumbled across his morning radio show during your commute and found yourself listening in just to see if maybe, just maybe, you'd find some of his crap funny (which you sometimes did). Then he disappeared from radio and who the hell has the time to dig up his podcast so you grab his books from time to time when they show up at the local library.
It is much harder to suspend your dislike when you're faced with Carolla's written word versus his charismatic radio voice. This book (like so many of his works) lays out his long, angry, anti-woman, racist, objectifying, privileged, white guy whining in plain text and you know, it's just not all that terribly clever or insightful. Instead, it's sad and weird and outdated like that odd, libertarian, uncle you have to invite over for holidays. Sure, you might find yourself nodding a long a bit ('airplanes! What a hassle...') but then the rest of the pile is so heinous and over the top that it discredits any real, intellectual, logical argument he might make. From The Overweight to the Hispanic, no one is spared...and really, life is too short to waste time on reading a gazillion pages of one man's bitterness and complaining.
It is much harder to suspend your dislike when you're faced with Carolla's written word versus his charismatic radio voice. This book (like so many of his works) lays out his long, angry, anti-woman, racist, objectifying, privileged, white guy whining in plain text and you know, it's just not all that terribly clever or insightful. Instead, it's sad and weird and outdated like that odd, libertarian, uncle you have to invite over for holidays. Sure, you might find yourself nodding a long a bit ('airplanes! What a hassle...') but then the rest of the pile is so heinous and over the top that it discredits any real, intellectual, logical argument he might make. From The Overweight to the Hispanic, no one is spared...and really, life is too short to waste time on reading a gazillion pages of one man's bitterness and complaining.
October 15, 2015
You really should only read this book if you're American. It is funny and touches on Adam's perspective on of what is wrong with our country (in 2012 anyway). There are definitely some chapters that would make many squirm. At the heart, though, this book speaks to very fundamental facts that many of our young people don't want to hear: work hard, don't be entitled, and don't be a selfish jerk to those around you. You are not owed anything by life.
June 21, 2014
I think I'm suffering from Adam Carolla overload. It's my own fault, really. I loved Adam on Loveline. I loved him on his terrestrial show and when his podcast started, but lately he seems distracted and aligns himself with the right too often. I think he and I are growing apart, sadly. I have stopped his daily show altogether and I listen to his podcast with Dr. Drew like it was homework. I was hoping that this book would rekindle the flame, but I found most of the material in this book redundant...but in a good way. He has some great thoughts here, like the coin-operated respirators, I about died when I considered the logic behind it. But when Adam starts railing against Occupy Wall Street, he loses much of my respect. To him, it's as easy as pulling up your bootstraps and working hard. Working hard doesn't get you dick anymore--just go to your local mall and see how fast teenagers move in restaurants and stores. These kids know that busting your ass is a waste of time and unfortunately they're right most of the time. I agree that these kids need grit as Adam prostilitizes, but it ain't happening. We're in a new world now, and it ain't a brave one.
May 14, 2014
I'm 35 years old. I thought I was done having heroes after Barry sanders retired in his prime. But I have a new hero, and his name is alan carolla... Wait.. Adam carolla.
July 28, 2014
Another entertaining book by Adam Carolla. He is honest, frank and will say a lot of things that everyone secretly agrees with even if they are too chicken to say or even admit to themselves that they are true. He, therefore, also says a lot of things that could make people angry, resentful or offended. He even points out how people are too easily offended about things and criticizes everyone for not being willing to face real problems because you might hurt someones feelings. This is very true and politicians are the guiltiest of this. You can't stay in power if you try and tell people they are wrong or they need to do things that they don't want to do. Instead, they tell people what they want to hear and give them things they don't deserve just to stay in power. Meanwhile the whole country goes downhill. Though some of his ideas are outrageous or impossible, many of his thoughts are rooted in reality, unlike any other president on either side of the fence for the past few decades. I'd be very tempted to vote for Mr. Carolla if he ever did choose to run.
May 27, 2014
Much like his podcast, Carolla dumps on Detroit and Florida and complains about California's politicians, cops and meter readers. Nothing new. If you listen to his podcast you really needn't buy this book for entertainment but rather to support his network. As California centered as it is, it should be titled "California Assemblyman Me.
May 15, 2016
As we warm up to the last presidential primaries and the November national elections, President Me is a welcome antidote to media silliness. Not that it's serious. My view, counter silliness with more silliness.
It’s no surprise that this book is a collection of Mr. Carolla's rants. It’s his take on public policy, but the issues are simply his everyday annoyances. With his wisecracking talent, he magnifies these trivial snits into national crises that require the attention of the chief executive. Read his problems and his commonsense solutions, and you’ll find a kindred complainer.
Airport security hassles the innocent, especially the weary business traveler. The few restaurants that serve coleslaw as an alternative to French fries screw it up by adding golden raisins. Women need a perfume that smells like WD-40.
Ultimately, the cause of each and every problem is government over-regulation – and the fact that too many Americans are running around overdosed on caffeine.
Speaking of caffeine and political theory, on a recent podcast, Carolla confessed that he was chatting up a respected pundit while he waited in line at the local coffee bar. His secret advisor? None other than – Dennis Praeger – one of the more serious and downright intellectual hosts on conservative radio. Yikes, what's the world coming to?
Conspiracy theorists, take note.
It’s no surprise that this book is a collection of Mr. Carolla's rants. It’s his take on public policy, but the issues are simply his everyday annoyances. With his wisecracking talent, he magnifies these trivial snits into national crises that require the attention of the chief executive. Read his problems and his commonsense solutions, and you’ll find a kindred complainer.
Airport security hassles the innocent, especially the weary business traveler. The few restaurants that serve coleslaw as an alternative to French fries screw it up by adding golden raisins. Women need a perfume that smells like WD-40.
Ultimately, the cause of each and every problem is government over-regulation – and the fact that too many Americans are running around overdosed on caffeine.
Speaking of caffeine and political theory, on a recent podcast, Carolla confessed that he was chatting up a respected pundit while he waited in line at the local coffee bar. His secret advisor? None other than – Dennis Praeger – one of the more serious and downright intellectual hosts on conservative radio. Yikes, what's the world coming to?
Conspiracy theorists, take note.
August 9, 2014
So disappointing. To sum it up, I'm not a fan of the rant. It was meant to be a humorous rant on the problems with our country and how Adam Carolla would make it all better if he were president. Unfortunately, I just wasn't laughing most of the time. I may have laughed twice but that's not enough when there isn't much else to the book. I can't say that I agree with many of his positions either so that didn't help matters. (I actually enjoy reading different viewpoints but this wasn't the right format for that.) If the book was funny, I wouldn't have been bothered by his surprisingly ultra conservative views.
What probably made it worse was that I expected to like this book because I enjoyed "Not Taco Bell Material". I stuck it out with this one only because I didn't have anything else to listen to.
What probably made it worse was that I expected to like this book because I enjoyed "Not Taco Bell Material". I stuck it out with this one only because I didn't have anything else to listen to.
June 6, 2014
If you've ever listened to Adam Carolla's podcast, this is just transcripts of the part at the beginning when he complains about the hassles of air travel, building codes, raising kids and what have you, slightly rewritten to give them a presidential campaign theme, e.g. "When I'm president, no more of this [insert random mundane bullshit that annoyed Adam Carolla]."
Ironically, I know a few people who have either stopped listening to the podcast or listened to it once or twice and decided it wasn't for them, and they've cited the angry rants at the beginning of the show as one of the main reasons. Beyond just not being very funny, especially once you've heard them all before (this doesn't take very long at all), they just give off such a negative vibe.
Ironically, I know a few people who have either stopped listening to the podcast or listened to it once or twice and decided it wasn't for them, and they've cited the angry rants at the beginning of the show as one of the main reasons. Beyond just not being very funny, especially once you've heard them all before (this doesn't take very long at all), they just give off such a negative vibe.
June 13, 2014
Adam Carolla is unfailingly funny. President Me was thoroughly enjoyable, and I was nodding my head at the underlying values behind his jokes. Carolla has become increasingly conservative over the years. Part of that bothers me because I can no longer give myself credit for being cosmopolitan for listening to him.
One of the sections that most resonated with me was about traffic. Our traffic problem is maddening if for no other reason that is seems so fixable. Tell me what would be wrong with simply abolishing to speed limit. Instead of cops further clogging the Highway by stopping speeders, who are not part of the problem, and instead punishing people who cruise in the fast lane, refuse to get over, or who think the Highway is for their Sunday drive, coasting along at 50 mph.
One of the sections that most resonated with me was about traffic. Our traffic problem is maddening if for no other reason that is seems so fixable. Tell me what would be wrong with simply abolishing to speed limit. Instead of cops further clogging the Highway by stopping speeders, who are not part of the problem, and instead punishing people who cruise in the fast lane, refuse to get over, or who think the Highway is for their Sunday drive, coasting along at 50 mph.
July 30, 2014
There's a lot to be said for plainspokenness, and Carolla has no filter, no debt to any political party or professional grievance group--he says what he believes.
It's sad that people like him are so rare.
His first instinct is to entertain, and the book is entertaining. People of almost any political stripe will find logical ideas here beneath the comedy though.
It's not quite as deep as his previous volume (nor as funny) but still a worthy, entertaining book. (yes I just called a book titled "Not Taco Bell Material" deep).
December 11, 2017
If you listen to Adam's podcast, none of the ideas are new to you. That said, as always, I greatly enjoyed the book because even though Adam and I don't see eye to eye on every political issue, he does make a lot of sense.
This time around, I listened to this book on audio, and it was basically a three times the size podcast. Listening to the decaf coffee rant was not disappointing at all :)
This time around, I listened to this book on audio, and it was basically a three times the size podcast. Listening to the decaf coffee rant was not disappointing at all :)
June 25, 2014
This was kind of a "in 50 Years We'll All Be Chicks" redux but a good read if you are a fan of the Ace Man. I would recommend this as a book on tape because a lot of this requires his comedic delivery for the full effect.
July 21, 2014
Very funny especially if you like his earlier work. I loved the fact that he red the book, it gave it the feeling of listening to one of his best podcasts ever. I highly recommend this if you like political humor or just any of Carolla's older works
May 18, 2014
If you listen to his podcasts many of these ideas are not new but they are still very funny and mostly dead on. Easy quick read.
May 30, 2014
My goodness, this book is brilliant. Apart from being insanely funny, Carolla's latest hits the nail squarely on the head. Can I change my political affiliation from Republican to Carolla, please?
June 6, 2014
Completely unvarnished, Carolla is at his funniest, sharpest and witty best.
December 25, 2014
"President Me" is comedian Adam Carolla's manifesto for how things would be if he were President. It is funny as all heck but there is a lot of cursing and vulgarities. Adam does not hold back as he expresses what are not conservative views in particular but what should be reasonable viewpoints for anyone with a brain.
Any problems with this book? Well... Adam Carolla is an atheist so you can't expect him to care one way or the other about religion. He also curses a lot... I mean a whole lot. It's not gratuitous in the sense that he's not talking this way to shock you. I have the feeling that he talks this way most of the time.
He is logical. he is asking the question of why, in a world that demands that he be tolerant of others, shouldn't others be tolerant of his views right back? Ten years ago his views would not be considered radical. He points out the hypocrisy of the world and provided common-sense solutions to these problems and makes you laugh along with it.
Did I mention he curses a lot?
OK. Good.
Any problems with this book? Well... Adam Carolla is an atheist so you can't expect him to care one way or the other about religion. He also curses a lot... I mean a whole lot. It's not gratuitous in the sense that he's not talking this way to shock you. I have the feeling that he talks this way most of the time.
He is logical. he is asking the question of why, in a world that demands that he be tolerant of others, shouldn't others be tolerant of his views right back? Ten years ago his views would not be considered radical. He points out the hypocrisy of the world and provided common-sense solutions to these problems and makes you laugh along with it.
Did I mention he curses a lot?
OK. Good.
August 5, 2016
The fact that I read Adam Carolla's book "Not Taco Bell Material" became quite the source of merriment in my circle of literary friends. "I'm reading Hemingway right now...I know he's no Adam Carolla but..." So I decided to read this book purely to spite the snobs, because, hey, I enjoyed that book, and I enjoyed this one. It made me laugh pretty hard on more than one occasion, but then I got to the section where he ripped on vegetarians. And well, Adam Carolla hurt my feelings.
Maybe vegetarians in California are a little different from those of us in central Illinois. I'm certainly not used to being catered to, and I am still amazed and grateful when someone is kind enough to take my diet into account. What Carolla did in that section was take an already marginalized and minority group, and proceeded to mock, ridicule, and marginalize further. That's not funny, that's just mean, and I thought we were cool, man. I stood up for you.
Maybe vegetarians in California are a little different from those of us in central Illinois. I'm certainly not used to being catered to, and I am still amazed and grateful when someone is kind enough to take my diet into account. What Carolla did in that section was take an already marginalized and minority group, and proceeded to mock, ridicule, and marginalize further. That's not funny, that's just mean, and I thought we were cool, man. I stood up for you.
June 24, 2014
notes:
33..he misses the "sanitized for your protection" ribbon on the hotel toilet seat. It made taking a sh*t feel like a ground-breaking ceremony
147..henceforth all life support equipment will be coin-operated. One that works long enough to prove you have people who care about you. You better Hope they have Change.
165..buffets: when you're poor and someone says "$7.99, all you can eat", your mission statement is "They're going to lose money on this fat hombre."
166..fat-shaming
230..daytime shows..worst offender is Dr Phil. He covers all this BS with a thin candy coat of righteousness and tough love, but it's all got a chewy, nougaty center of "let's judge these a-holes and their terrible marriage."
244..the sh*tty, sh*tty music of today. The teenage-girl garbage fest that passes itself off as music that has infected our culture.
33..he misses the "sanitized for your protection" ribbon on the hotel toilet seat. It made taking a sh*t feel like a ground-breaking ceremony
147..henceforth all life support equipment will be coin-operated. One that works long enough to prove you have people who care about you. You better Hope they have Change.
165..buffets: when you're poor and someone says "$7.99, all you can eat", your mission statement is "They're going to lose money on this fat hombre."
166..fat-shaming
230..daytime shows..worst offender is Dr Phil. He covers all this BS with a thin candy coat of righteousness and tough love, but it's all got a chewy, nougaty center of "let's judge these a-holes and their terrible marriage."
244..the sh*tty, sh*tty music of today. The teenage-girl garbage fest that passes itself off as music that has infected our culture.
February 4, 2016
Classic Carolla rolled up into a book that's meant to enlighten, inspire & make you laugh out loud. A hilarious & incredibly honest book that touches on all angles of our current state as a society, President Me puts the political correctness aside in true Aceman fashion, to point out where we are flawed, failing & falling in America today. If you're a lazy progressive w/ a lack of grit & a sense of entitlement, you would hate this book & odds are, I'd hate you too. If you have a brain & understand how the world works, this is a must read! Enjoy President Me as a fun, no BS plan to fix America NOW, with plenty of laughs along the way!
June 20, 2014
For the most part, really funny, really pragmatic, and really creative. By the end though, I felt like I was reading the greatest-hits version of his podcast and I was really looking forward to something I hadn't already heard fifteen times - but I think that's the feeling you get from all of his books if you listen to him every day like I do. The UN address in the middle just did not fit at all with the flow of the book, and I didn't get why it made the cut. It seemed genuinely hateful and it just didn't work.
July 10, 2014
Nothing groundbreaking and many of the rants are familiar with podcast fans of Adam but fans will not be disappointed. The book is broken down into chapters into different platforms and positions that Carolla would take. Being a conservative libertarian I find myself agreeing with most of his positions while laughing out loud at many of the stories and examples he gives.
If you read either of his first two books and liked them you will enjoy this one. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone that is looking for a good laugh. I wish I could rate this 7 stars.
If you read either of his first two books and liked them you will enjoy this one. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone that is looking for a good laugh. I wish I could rate this 7 stars.
July 5, 2014
I felt conflicted whether I should give this 3 or 4 stars. I've been in a huuuge reading slump for a couple of years now, and this was the first book in a year that I've managed to read fairly quickly all the way through. For that reason, I felt like it deserved 4 stars. However, as much as I love Adam Carolla, I was a bit disappointed that several of the talking points in this book are things that he has discussed on his podcast on numerous occasions.
This was the first book of his that I've read, but I will definitely be reading his others because I love his sense of humor.
This was the first book of his that I've read, but I will definitely be reading his others because I love his sense of humor.
July 11, 2014
What can I say? Adam Carolla is hilarious. His insights are very funny yet deep in thought. He challenges America to get better at everything. He is tired of bureaucracy and just wants stuff done. He takes on very menial things like passionfruit ice tea. But he also tackles big issues like why parents need to care, why some cultures succeed in this country compared to others, and why the broken family is the single biggest American downfall. Love this guy. Read his books. Listen to his podcast. Drink his Mangria.
June 22, 2014
If you looking for a funny fast read and a smack of truth about what's wrong with this country then you must read this book. Obviously not all of his fixes will work but there's a ton I agree with. Carollas no nonsense approach is hilarious and a true dose of real that people just don't want to admit about themselves. This is basically an extension of his rants on the podcast. So in other words it's a must buy.
July 17, 2014
I enjoyed Adam Carolla's rants about how to get our country back on track. He covers everything from the laziness of sock manufacturers (you'll see) to the irony of not grading teachers. I'm personally not a fan of the crude language in the book, though I wasn't surprised to find it in there. I would give a PG-13 version of this book 5 stars. Either way, he has my vote for president!
May 15, 2014
Carolla's newest manifesto might be full of strong, inappropriate language, radical remarks, debatable sexist beliefs, and racially offensive comments, but had this work of art been void of such content, it would have disappointed.
If you are considering the purchase of this product, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the audiobook. The experience is cannot be compared.
If you are considering the purchase of this product, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the audiobook. The experience is cannot be compared.
July 23, 2016
Received as a GoodReads giveaway. It's definitely the most entertaining presidential candidate platform that I've read. Adam covers a wide range of topics, and even though his takes on things won't please all the people all the time, it's a lot of fun to read. I'd like to see our public officials adopt some of his ideas, actually.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews