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  • Reborn in the USA

  • An Englishman’s Love Letter to His Chosen Home
  • Written by: Roger Bennett
  • Narrated by: Roger Bennett
  • Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (5 ratings)

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Reborn in the USA

Written by: Roger Bennett
Narrated by: Roger Bennett
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Publisher's Summary

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.

©2021 Roger Bennett (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners love about Reborn in the USA

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Was expecting something different

I thought this book would focus more on the author's early life in America, but that's not the case. This is about his childhood and how American culture played a (huge) part of it. I thought we would get more about how he came to the US and was "reborn". I also struggled to finish. The story's of his youth aren't that impressive, with the exception of the Beastie Boys concert, which you can read for free elsewhere. if the author writes another biography, maybe he'll finally discuss his life in America, growing a relative popular following and trying to help grow soccer into the "fourth" most popular sport in America.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2021-06-30

Oklahoma loves you brother

Rodge-O. My mate, thank you for all of the love you've poured out. This country owes you a debt for what you've brought here. Courage, and many more great days to come.
-Dave, OKC
Huuuuuuuuuuuuge Leceister fan

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5 people found this helpful

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  • Julie Newton
  • 2021-07-09

Very disappointing

Unless I zeroed in my full concentration, it was interesting to hear what English sounds like to non-speakers. After several chapters, I began to catch on. My husband never did.

I realize this was a coming of age story, but it was just disgusting to hear the full details, I.e., cooking poop in the microwave. There were many scenes I wish I could “unhear.”

I was cheering for him in the beginning, anxious to learn how he would make his dream come true, but by the end he became very unremarkable.

Sorry I wasted my time on this one.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Gunspurs
  • 2021-07-07

Loved it until the very end.

I loved this story of a nerdy boy from a dreary 1980’s Liverpool and his obsession with everything American. His dream come true of eventually becoming an American was so satisfying. Then the Epilogue from a elitist New Yorker’s political view that is so out of touch with real America that left me sad and disappointed.

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  • Gil Herrick
  • 2021-07-27

I’m not crying! You’re crying!

The very finest reading of an Audible book that I’ve experienced! It helps that I liked Roger Bennett and our common love of all things soccer , but I was not prepared for the commonalities of growing up! The story’s of friendships and sufferings. His writing for a descriptive and his spoken delivery is intimate, honest and charming. If I could give Roger 10 stars I would! Enjoy the book!

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  • Jack Temple
  • 2021-07-25

Laugh out loud funny, a must read for Americans!

I binged this audiobook in 2 days, couldn't get enough of it. Not only was it laugh out loud funny but it also gave me an immense pride to be an American. This is one of those books that is likely better listened to than read because Bennett's narration added incredible depth to the storytelling. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be inspired, a little embarrassed at times, soaked in sensational metaphors and occasionally roll on the floor laughing.

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  • Michael Parlee
  • 2021-07-13

My favorite memoir

Beautifully written, beautifully read. The life Rog Bennett breathes into his own life had me laughing (and occasionally crying) from start to finish.

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  • Philip E. Kenealy
  • 2021-07-05

Dreadful listen.

Don't waste your time. It's not a love letter to America. It's Roger's love letter to himself. Poorly done at that.

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  • Richard King
  • 2021-07-27

The American Ideal is Work

His life story is interesting. Liverpool was good to learn about. Thank you very much.

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  • MADALENE
  • 2021-07-24

Loved this book

Fantastic read for any Anglophile. If you’re a fan of Roger Bennett you will enjoy this audiobook! I laughed and cried and came away with a greater appreciation of America.

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  • Gary
  • 2021-07-14

I expected more

The title is (re) Born in the USA. As background, Mr. Bennett recounts his life in Liverpool. This account is adolescent and later teen coming of age nonsense and war stories. the only mention of the USA is in the prologue and epilogue. He appears at his citizenship ceremony fully 29 years after the last episode of debauchery in college (high school). He is married with 4 kids and a law degree-no mention where or how all this happened. He became the host of "Men in Blazers" and barely a mention of his team , Everton, it history, its tradition. The whole book is a series of negative teen experiences paralleling "Pretty in Pink", a kid after a Molly Ringwald, any in fact. All of the experiences, by the way, are negatively and sort of wistfully angrily read.

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