An Embarrassment of Critch's

Immature Stories from My Grown-Up Life

By: Mark Critch

Narrated by: Mark Critch

National best seller

The heartfelt and hilarious story of beloved Canadian comedian Mark Critch's journey from Newfoundland to the national stage - and back home again.

One of Mark Critch's earliest acting gigs was in a Newfoundland tourist production alongside a cast of displaced fishery workers. Since, he's found increasing opportunities to take his show on the road. In An Embarrassment of Critch's, the star of CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes revisits some of his career's - and the country's - biggest moments, revealing all the things you might not know happened along the way: A wishful rumour spread by Mark's father results in his big break; two bottles of Scotch nearly get him kicked out of a secret Canadian airbase in the United Arab Emirates; and for anyone wondering how to get an interview with the Prime Minister and Bono (yes, that Bono) on the same evening, Critch might recommend a journey to the 2003 Liberal Convention.

Critch's top-secret access to all of the funniest behind-the-scenes moments involve many of the charismatic and notorious politicians we love to see blush, including fearless leaders Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, Paul Martin, and Jean Chrétien, celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Robin Williams, and other colourful figures he's met over years of pulling off daring skits at home and abroad. Remember when MP Carolyn Parrish took her boot to George W. Bush's head in an interview? Or when Critch asked Justin Trudeau where the best place to smoke pot on Parliament Hill was before pulling out a joint for them to share? There's more to each of those stories than you know. Though Critch has spent years crisscrossing the country - and the globe - with the explicit aim of causing trouble everywhere he goes, like the best journeys, this one takes him right back home.

©2021 Mark Critch (P)2021 Viking

Critic reviews

“Mark Critch has written a second book, which is brilliant. How annoying. He writes with a charm and an ease that make you feel like he's writing just for you. An Embarrassment of Critch’s is funny, insightful, and so damn human. It’s like a conversation with your funniest friend. I loved it.” –Jim Gaffigan, author of Dad is Fat

“Mark Critch weaves rollicking tales that both surprise and delight. His words are hilarious, insightful, and oh-so entertaining. Prepare to laugh, cry, and get a glimpse behind the curtain of Canada’s most fascinating man! Everyone in my circle will be receiving a copy of this book.” –Tessa Virtue, Olympic champion and co-author of Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold

“Mark Critch and his writing are gifts of authenticity, both completely devoid of preciousness. They are important and vital. Critch is one of the good guys and his books are good books.” –Jay Baruchel, writer, actor, director, comedian, and author of Born into It

Great stuff , keep it up !

I'm not Canadian and I am probably one of the few Yanks have considered this book by hook or Crook I watched the first season of Son of a Critch , and needed to hear more from this author I really think the show would be a hit in the States , if it comes here which very well should ! a great deal of my ancestry is Scottish Irish so I love all the colloquialism of Newfoundland and frankly can't get enough , good on ya By

Brilliant

Brilliant! A great series of stories by a great storyteller! It is highly recommended.

An Embarrassment of Critches is hard to put down.

I read this from front to back in pretty near one sitting. Mark is a talented writer and story teller.
I cried and laughed as I read Son of A Critch.

Disappointed

I loved Mr. Critch’s first book “Son of a Critch” I grew up in Newfoundland and found his stories very relatable and funny, and I was very much looking forward to this book. I could not finish it. Perhaps it was because the subject matter was now himself rather than the world he grew-up in, but I found this effort, much more self-indulgent; while he attempts to come across as funny in his stories of “ambush” and other events related to his work on “ This hour has 22 minutes”, I didn’t buy nor find endearing the ignorance, or his blatant disregard for rules, authority figures, international law and relationships, etc…is the author
trying to keep up the dumb Newfie persona? I was very confused by this book. What was the author trying to say? Go around the world being an ignorant North American-cause funny? He references comparisons to Rick Mercer and while they share similar backgrounds, that’s where the comparisons end. Rick never feigned ignorance, in fact being the smartest in the room was kind of his thing. I kind of feel the way towards the author, as the soldier on the A/C did.