Listened to the audiobook. Some of it is funny. Some even insightful. Some just crude. A mixed bag. ( )

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 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. ( )

Having won a free copy of Denis Leary’s Why We Don’t Suck, provided an amazing read. Not only does Leary talk about today’s society; he also incorporates personal stories and his sense of comedy making it a hard to put down book. ( )

Admittedly this is not a book I would typically be drawn to. I try at all costs to avoid negative, politically charged books as I see a plethora of this every day on the news, at work, etc. but when the opportunity presented itself to read a book by Hollywood Actor Denis Leary, regardless of its subject, I thought “why not?”

You may know Denis Leary as the actor in TV Series Rescue Me or as the voice of Diego in Ice Age. You may even know his wife Ann Leary as New York Times bestselling author of The Good House or The Children. But, you most likely do NOT know Denis Leary as an author. As an author, he has written ten books, one of which is Why We Don’t Suck.

Why We Don’t Suck is written as a stream of conscious. As thoughts presented themselves, regardless of the subject, Leary wrote them down within the pages of this book (and maybe even the pages of 10 other books…). The subject matter of this particular book ranges from the political climate of Trump, Clinton and yes even Bernie, to Denis’ own celebrity encounters, while rounding out with discussion on the future as run by the millennial generation.

I found that I actually enjoyed much of what he had to say, it was certainly entertaining if nothing else. The most powerful of all subjects addressed regarded political affiliation. One story on said topic involved Leary’s ramblings surrounding twelve different people in his life. Two such people discussed were friend, Michael J. Fox, and a firefighting cousin. All twelve of the people Leary touches upon faced or continue to face adversity, like that of the two identified above. From being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 29 to perishing in the line of duty, Leary’s point remains the same: these twelve individuals possess strength and remain heroes in their own right, regardless of who they voted for. The moral presented is all too often forgotten as we bicker about “Trump this” or “Hillary that.”

While Leary’s ramblings often seemed just that…ramblings…he did have moments of eye opening remarks that brought the spotlight back on ourselves as we are forced to reflect on the America we’ve become, or maybe always were. Nevertheless, the writing WAS entertaining, albeit random and wandering at times, it is clear Denis would definitely be fun to have around the dinner table and maybe even your bookshelf.

For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/

*Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Denis' political rants are entertaining, but I found his celebrity name-dropping not very interesting. ( )