ANDRÉ IS AN IDIOT

André Is an Idiot is the raw, irreverent, and profoundly moving true story of André Ricciardi—a wildly creative San Francisco advertising executive known for his Ozzy Osbourne claymation Lipton Brisk spots and viral film campaigns—who turned his terminal stage IV colon cancer diagnosis into one of the most unforgettable public health warnings ever made. At 52, André ignored the simple recommendation for a colonoscopy (now advised at age 45 for average risk), dismissed early symptoms like rectal bleeding as nothing serious, and paid the ultimate price: metastatic cancer that spread to his liver. When he finally shared the news with his mother, her response was blunt: “What a f*****g idiot.” André owned it completely—adopting the phrase as the title for the documentary he co-created (directed by longtime friend Tony Benna), which premiered at Sundance 2025, won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary and the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award, and opened theatrically in 2026 via A24 and Joint Venture. This companion book—drawing from André’s own footage, therapy sessions, family interviews, absurd stop-motion sequences, and unfiltered rants—captures his journey with the same dark humor and fearless honesty he brought to everything. From documenting chemo with puppets and “death yell” practice to fierce conversations about love, regret, and family with his wife Janice and daughters Tallula and Delilah, André refused to fade quietly. He turned personal tragedy into a hilarious, heartbreaking PSA: “Get your f*****g colonoscopy.” The film (and now this book) has sparked real-world action—viewers booking screenings, sharing appointment confirmations, and helping raise awareness amid rising young-onset colorectal cancer cases. More than a memoir of illness, this is a celebration of a larger-than-life personality who lived big, loved fiercely, and died laughing—while delivering a lifesaving message about procrastination, preventive health, and squeezing every moment from the time we have. André called his final three years “the best of my life” because facing death forced clarity: family over distractions, presence over excuses, action over avoidance. Essential, unflinching, and unexpectedly funny, André Is an Idiot reminds us that one “idiotic” delay can change everything—and that owning our mistakes can save others. Don’t wait. Honor the idiot who made sure you wouldn’t have to.