Arts & Literature
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Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to His Chosen Home
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
One-half of the celebrated Men in Blazers duo, longtime culture and soccer commentator Roger Bennett traces the origins of his love affair with America, and how he went from a depraved, pimply faced Jewish boy in 1980's Liverpool to become the quintessential Englishman in New York. A memoir for fans of Jon Ronson and Chuck Klosterman, but with Roger Bennett's signature pop culture flair and humor.
Being a teenager isn't easy, no matter where in the world you live or how much it does or doesn't rain in your hometown. As an outsider-a private-schooled Jewish kid in working-class, heavily Catholic Liverpool-Roger Bennett wasn't winning any popularity contests. But there was one idea, or ideal, that burned bright in Roger's heart. That was America- with its sunny skies, beautiful women, and cool kids with flipped collars who ate at McDonald's. When he embraced American popular culture, the dull gray world he lived in turned to neon teal-a color which had not even been invented in England yet. Introduced first through the gateway drug of The Love Boat, then to Rolling Stone, the NFL, John Hughes movies, Run-DMC, and Tracy Chapman, Roger embraced everything that would capture the imagination of a teenager growing up Stateside. When he made a real, in-the-flesh American friend who invited him over for the summer, he got to visit the promised land. A month in Chicago, and a life-changing night spent in the company of the Chicago Bears, was the first hit of freedom, of independence, of the Roger Bennett he knew he could be.
(Re)Born in the USA captures the universality of growing pains, growing up, and growing out of where you come from. Drenched in the culture of the late '80s and '90s from the UK and the USA, and the heartfelt, hilarious sense of humor that has made Roger Bennett so beloved by his listeners, here is both a truly unique coming-of-age story and the love letter to America that the country needs right now.
One-half of the celebrated Men in Blazers duo, longtime culture and soccer commentator Roger Bennett traces the origins of his love affair with America, and how he went from a depraved, pimply faced Jewish boy in 1980's Liverpool to become the quintessential Englishman in New York. A memoir for fans of Jon Ronson and Chuck Klosterman, but with Roger Bennett's signature pop culture flair and humor.
Being a teenager isn't easy, no matter where in the world you live or how much it does or doesn't rain in your hometown. As an outsider-a private-schooled Jewish kid in working-class, heavily Catholic Liverpool-Roger Bennett wasn't winning any popularity contests. But there was one idea, or ideal, that burned bright in Roger's heart. That was America- with its sunny skies, beautiful women, and cool kids with flipped collars who ate at McDonald's. When he embraced American popular culture, the dull gray world he lived in turned to neon teal-a color which had not even been invented in England yet. Introduced first through the gateway drug of The Love Boat, then to Rolling Stone, the NFL, John Hughes movies, Run-DMC, and Tracy Chapman, Roger embraced everything that would capture the imagination of a teenager growing up Stateside. When he made a real, in-the-flesh American friend who invited him over for the summer, he got to visit the promised land. A month in Chicago, and a life-changing night spent in the company of the Chicago Bears, was the first hit of freedom, of independence, of the Roger Bennett he knew he could be.
(Re)Born in the USA captures the universality of growing pains, growing up, and growing out of where you come from. Drenched in the culture of the late '80s and '90s from the UK and the USA, and the heartfelt, hilarious sense of humor that has made Roger Bennett so beloved by his listeners, here is both a truly unique coming-of-age story and the love letter to America that the country needs right now.
Editorial Reviews
"Fast, funny and often endearing. . . a candid and funny account of growing up in the wrong country and making it right." -- Wall Street Journal
Roger Bennett – a co-host of the "Men in Blazers" show – wrote a memoir filled with silliness, sports, and pop culture. It's good for a laugh, but it's also a thoughtful memoir about his love for the US and how to be a beacon of joy in a divided country. -- Business Insider
"What makes Reborn in the USA so special is the storytelling: Bennett's hilarious, keenly observed, and deeply moving memoir reminds us that dreams can come true-if not always quite in the way we dreamt them. A wonderful book about coming-of-age in the 1980s, dreaming of a different life, and falling in love with an idea of a place-and then with the place itself." -- John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down
What's most compelling about this book is the way it shifts the view of how we're supposed to think about the United States. It's a British projection of late 20th century America that's now rejected by most Americans and assumed to be false. Yet what people in American have been conditioned to view as an illusion was wholly genuine to Roger Bennett, and this memoir is a remarkable reminder that perception is not merely a form of historical reality. Perception is all that we have. -- Chuck Klosterman, bestselling author of But What If We're Wrong? and Chuck Klosterman X
Reborn in the USA is about a kid who grows up in the North of England, yearning to be an American in all its terrible glory. But it's really about so much more. Hilariously written from Roger Bennett's wry and thoughtful perspective, this book is a universal story of growing up and trying to figure out who you are in the world. A time capsule but also a timeless coming of age tale. -- Nick Kroll, co-creator of Big Mouth, Netflix
Bennett might be the only writer alive who can weave childhood obsessions with both the Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears and Tracy Chapman into a singular coming of age story. Reborn in the USA is a poignant, rollicking read, reminding us not only of what it means to pursue the American dream, but what that dream should-and still can-represent. -- Mina Kimes, NFL Analyst and Senior Writer, ESPN
"How many worlds can one bloke conquer? When that bloke is a warm hearted, funny, smart and hilarious storyteller named Roger Bennett, the answer seems to be: as many as he wants. This book, part memoir part love letter to his adopted home country of the United States, Reborn in the USA captivated me from first page to last." -- Brian Koppelman, co-creator and showrunner, Bi...
Roger Bennett – a co-host of the "Men in Blazers" show – wrote a memoir filled with silliness, sports, and pop culture. It's good for a laugh, but it's also a thoughtful memoir about his love for the US and how to be a beacon of joy in a divided country. -- Business Insider
"What makes Reborn in the USA so special is the storytelling: Bennett's hilarious, keenly observed, and deeply moving memoir reminds us that dreams can come true-if not always quite in the way we dreamt them. A wonderful book about coming-of-age in the 1980s, dreaming of a different life, and falling in love with an idea of a place-and then with the place itself." -- John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down
What's most compelling about this book is the way it shifts the view of how we're supposed to think about the United States. It's a British projection of late 20th century America that's now rejected by most Americans and assumed to be false. Yet what people in American have been conditioned to view as an illusion was wholly genuine to Roger Bennett, and this memoir is a remarkable reminder that perception is not merely a form of historical reality. Perception is all that we have. -- Chuck Klosterman, bestselling author of But What If We're Wrong? and Chuck Klosterman X
Reborn in the USA is about a kid who grows up in the North of England, yearning to be an American in all its terrible glory. But it's really about so much more. Hilariously written from Roger Bennett's wry and thoughtful perspective, this book is a universal story of growing up and trying to figure out who you are in the world. A time capsule but also a timeless coming of age tale. -- Nick Kroll, co-creator of Big Mouth, Netflix
Bennett might be the only writer alive who can weave childhood obsessions with both the Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears and Tracy Chapman into a singular coming of age story. Reborn in the USA is a poignant, rollicking read, reminding us not only of what it means to pursue the American dream, but what that dream should-and still can-represent. -- Mina Kimes, NFL Analyst and Senior Writer, ESPN
"How many worlds can one bloke conquer? When that bloke is a warm hearted, funny, smart and hilarious storyteller named Roger Bennett, the answer seems to be: as many as he wants. This book, part memoir part love letter to his adopted home country of the United States, Reborn in the USA captivated me from first page to last." -- Brian Koppelman, co-creator and showrunner, Bi...
Readers Top Reviews
Gregory ElmesDonnagm
Roger Bennet, one of the men in blazers, has written a mysterious combination of two parts. The first part is as written by a needy teenager composed variously of cliches, hyperbole and juvenilia. It describes life at Liverpool College where the teachers smoke and swear in class and the students are alternatively rude, destructive, obtuse and violent. Having gone to a free, working class grammar (high) school in southern England at about the same time I cannot relate to Rog’s experience for the most part, although some episodes ring true. The latter, shorter portion is written from the perspective of being an adult in America. I also followed the path of emigration from England to naturalized citizenship, having a career that was a dream come true and raising a family with American accents. This section was genuine and heartfelt that resonated strongly with me. I may at some point return to the early portion and reread it with a little more empathy.
KG
Bennett is very funny and this book is basically a John Hughes meets Porky's movie waiting to be made -- very bawdy, crude and settling the scores with high school bullies like Richard Linklater did in Dazed and Confused (seemingly using real names and pictures -- I sure hope his first girlfriend consented to the detailed description of his de-flowering). Funny that Bennett who professes to be left and anti-Thatcher but basically got the American Dream the surest way possible -- by marrying into the wealthy Kroll's of Rye, Connecticut (Nick Kroll is his brother-in-law). So not quite the working class bloke from Liverpool (prep school with a judge for a Dad) he sometimes depicts himself as. But no matter, he's a great writer, his memory of the middle school locker room perhaps far too keen and his tale is an inspirational one. The 4th Beastie Boy with references to the Children's Crusades from the 12th century. Not going to get that every day. Great summertime read.
Mike McGraw
Just a wonderful, heartfelt, frequently hilarious memoir written by a proud American that we are lucky to have on our side. It’s a reminder of the power of the American ideal at a time when it feels very far away for many of us. For all its errors, flaws, hypocrisies, and (at best) complicated history, America has served as a hope for the world. May it be so again, and may it be so for all its citizens — including those who come to our shores through whatever means necessary to make it a little brighter. Like Rog did.
When you see the first 23 reader reviews are 5 stars, you get a bit suspicious. This book is an ode to Roger’s great life written by Roger. It is — like him — quite funny. The book is about 95% a autobio of his life in Liverpool before graduating from what we call high school. Incessant references to all the various songs he liked and listened to in the 1980s. It’s a good read, and I am sure people who adore Roger will adore the book. But I found it just a tad too self-congratulatory — like what a great guy he is and what a great life he leads. I will still laugh the next time I see him on Morning Joe.
Adrian
As a naturalized American who dreams of watching Everton every week, I expected this book to be some witty soccer commentary. But while Everton is mentioned in loving fashion, the true love of Bennett's life is America, with Beastie Boys, Chicago Bears, sweltering summers, and sheer ambition. Reading his adoration juxtaposed with a harsh Liverpudlian life really highlights where Bennett's heart truly lies. Not the book I wanted to read, but in many ways this was a book I needed to read.
