Talking to Canadians

A Memoir

By: Rick Mercer

Narrated by: Rick Mercer

Instant number one national best seller

Canada's beloved comic genius tells his own story for the first time.

What is Rick Mercer going to do now? That was the question on everyone's lips when the beloved comedian retired his hugely successful TV show after 15 seasons - and at the peak of its popularity. The answer came not long after, when he roared back in a new role as stand-up-comedian, playing to sold-out houses wherever he appeared.

And then COVID-19 struck. And his legions of fans began asking again: What is Rick Mercer going to do now? Well, for one thing, he's been writing a comic masterpiece. For the first time, this most private of public figures has turned the spotlight on himself, in a memoir that's as revealing as it is hilarious. In riveting anecdotal style, Rick charts his rise from highly unpromising schoolboy (in his reports "the word 'disappointment' appeared a fair bit") to the heights of TV fame. Along the way came an amazing break when, not long out of his teens, his one-man show Show Me the Button, I'll Push It. Or, Charles Lynch Must Die, became an overnight sensation - thanks in part to a bizarre ambush by its target, Charles Lynch himself. That's one story you won’t soon forget, and this book is full of them.

There's a tale of how little Rick helped himself to a tree from the neighbors' garden that's set to become a new Christmas classic. There's Rick the aspiring actor, braving "the scariest thing I have ever done in my life" by performing with the Newfoundland Shakespeare Company; unforgettable scenes with politicians of every variety, from Jean Chretien to George W. Bush to Stockwell Day; and a wealth of behind-the-scenes revelations about the origins and making of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada, and Talking to Americans. All leading of course to the greenlighting of that mega-hit, Rick Mercer Report....

It's a life so packed with incident (did we mention Bosnia and Kabul?) and laughter we can only hope that a future answer to "What is Rick Mercer going to do now?" is: "Write volume two."

©2021 Rick Mercer (P)2021 Doubleday Canada

Critic reviews

"Talking to Canadians: [a] funny, pitfall-strewn, no-holds-barred memoir from the ranting TV uproarist, edge-walker, envelope-pusher and pot-stirrer who once talked me into impersonating a goalie!" (Margaret Atwood, via Twitter)

Great & funny book!

Loved everything in this book! Whether you are Canadian and very familiar with Rick or neither of these things, this is packed with great stories and wonderfully funny. A must read!

Mercer Killed and He Will Kill Again

Loved every second of it. Completely absorbing and several laugh out loud moments. Brought me back to several of the moments that he describes.

Made me realize how much I miss him

Of course I don’t actually know RM in real life, but his RMR highlighted people and places that made me so proud of Canada.
I wish he would come back to TV…streaming or podcasts, he’s lovely-and I hope he will put his old shows back up so we can stream them too.

Even his Memoir is creative and brilliant

Besides how absolutely hilarious this man is, this work is so enjoyable because he is no way arrogant. Listening to it you think "Rick has no idea how brilliant he is!" The are many funny parts but you also feel you get a genuine story, no pretention. I use to see a lot of his work on TV but since getting rid of capable I had not seen any of his work. Brilliant way to get an audience Rick, write a book during Covid! Can't wait to see what he does next.

Delightful

Engaging storytelling beginning to end! Can’t help but cheer Rick from the humble beginnings and sassy attitude emerging from his school days in Newfoundland. I laughed out loud at the brazen antics in his Talking to Americans years and got a little teary with the Bosnia and Kabul stories. Hours of entertainment made even better by the man himself telling the stories!

Rick's humour and sincerity shines

a story of humble beginnings that lead into humble success. I learned a lot about who Rick Mercer is and a lot more about what made him the great comedian and Canadian that he is

Pure brilliance!

I laughed. I cried. I laughed so hard I cried! Rick Mercer is a wonderful storyteller and a great Canadian

Listen to this book!

Just download it and listen. If you're Canadian, you'll love it. If you're not Canadian, you'll learn a little more about us. Listen!