Why We Suck

Denis Leary has never had much patience for people who coast on image, and in this book he goes after them one by one. Politicians, pop stars, celebrities and assorted phonies all get their turn in the crosshairs as he tallies up the ways the culture around him has let everyone down. His targets also include closer to home: the Irish Catholic childhood that shaped him, the daily grind of raising a family, and the absurdities of fame.

The voice will be familiar to anyone who has seen his stage work. Leary built his reputation on the one-man shows No Cure for Cancer and Lock 'n Load, and the same fast, profane, unsparing style carries these pages. He writes as a proud Irish-American with working-class roots, and his rants come with a streak of sympathy for underdogs and people who tend to be ignored.

The result is a collection of sharp tirades that double as social commentary, with nothing held back and plenty of laughs along the way. Leary is also the star and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated television series Rescue Me.