Stephen Colbert may be "just a comedian"--one not all audiences find funny, especially among those who have been mercilessly lampooned by him--but there is no arguing that the condescending, bombastic, and largely ignorant pundit he plays on Comedy Central has brought awareness of current events and political happenings to a substantially larger portion of the American population.

The only available biography on Stephen Colbert, this book examines his life story and details how he became one of the most influential people on current American culture. Beginning with coverage of Colbert's...