Da Gospel According to Ali G (Hardcover)

This is the book that the whole of Staines has been waiting for: gangsta rapper Ali G gives his unvarnished views on life. Many might think that the hypnotic appeal of Ali's wannabe black street artist is something best enjoyed on the television, where all the irony of a moronic white boy living in Staines and dreaming of the street cred of rappers and drive-by shootings in an American ghetto is conveyed through his brilliant (and hilarious) version of the mangled street language that Sasha Baron Cohen (the comedian behind Ali G) is so adept at. However, the first person narration of this book works almost as well on the page, although, admittedly, one has to bear Ali G's distinctive delivery in mind. Cohen is unique among current politically correct comedians in risking the charges of racism by his comic assumption, but his book (and his TV shows) is just as affectionate as it is lacerating. If it is unacceptable to criticise the violence and misogyny of the rap lifestyle, that's just too bad. Cohen directs the most powerful weapon against the phenomenon: sardonic humour. And his recent slew of awards for the TV shows will no doubt translate into extremely healthy sales for Massive. Respect.

The rude-boy of the Staines massive has gone literary. Ali G, created by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, first came to prominence on television's The 11 O'Clock Show, where he was the resident 'Voice of Youth' who interviewed and often humiliated high-profile guests, to hilarious effect. Very funny and well-observed, Ali G became so popular that he went on to star in his own show, appear in a Madonna pop video, and front the MTV Awards. This tie-in comedy book is Ali G's guide to life as he takes you 'back to scoolz', to 'give you an heducation'. No prizes for guessing the kind of things on his curriculum. Chemistry involves the manufacture of drugs. Lessons in religion include a reading of Da Ten Commendments. There's even a cookery section where you can learn about 'healfy eatin'. As with most comedy books, there are plenty of pictures. Scantily dressed women are, rather unsurprisingly, plentiful. Ali also provides a pictorial guide to how to walk like a gangsta. There's even a Joy of Sex style guide to sexual positions in unusual places, like 'in the toilets of KFC' It's all pretty unsophisticated stuff, but will be thoroughly enjoyed by fans of the character. If lewd, juvenile references to sex, drugs, pornography, crime and gangster rappers are likely to cause offence, you should stay well away. The most likely readership for this book is young males with a schoolboy sense of humour. For Ali G fans, there's certainly enough here to provoke plenty of laughter. As the man himself would say, Nuff Respect! (Kirkus UK)

"Check dis - as a gesture of peace and to make a couple of extra squid, me has laid down me Uzi, picked up a felt-tip and wrote a book. I ain't hexactly sure wot is in it, cos me can't hactually read (they never taught it at me school), but apparently it is full of well good advice on everyfing to do with surviving life in da Barkshire ghetto; stuff like what crimes you can comit legally, how to bone your bitch in a Renault 5 after da back seat is taken up by a massive sub-woofer and what to do in a drive-by or drive-thru situation. It also contain bits of me interviews dat was too good for da telly and best of all, some wikkid fotos of me Julie's swingaz dat I promised never to show no one. Plus, to help the envirolment, I iz told dat not one single page is printed on recycled paper. Get dis quality book in your shop - me guarantee you will get massive profits from people shoplifting it. Peace, G." The book the whole of Staines has been waiting for - gansta rapper Ali G's guide to life. Comin' atcha!