Famed filmmaker and best-selling author Michael Moore paid a visit to New York last night to kick off his national book-signing tour. He was met with a standing ovation from the crowd as he sauntered in to read from and discuss his latest novel, “Here Comes Trouble,” which appeared on shelves two days ago.

Opening with a joke about his casual apparel during Fashion Week, Moore sustained the crowd’s enthusiasm with a comment on the previous night’s CNN Tea Party debate.

“We need to be having a Teacher’s Union debate, because I’m sure there [are] a lot more of those out there,” Moore said, receiving a roar of applause from the crowd.

Moore then read four excerpts from his book, which is made up of two dozen non-fiction stories tied to his life. Readings included his nearly career-ending Oscar acceptance speech for “Bowling for Columbine,” in which he condemned the war in Iraq just days after it had begun. That story set the context for his accounts of the death threats he received following the speech — one of which was from FOX News’ Glenn Beck.

At the end of the evening, Moore offered his first piece of advice to journalist and filmmaker hopefuls.

“Don’t go to NYU,” he said, after which he flashed his University of Michigan T-shirt to the crowd.

But after a few more jokes, he offered some real words of wisdom.

“Always follow your conscience and don’t work to please the audience,” he told WSN. “When you get the sense that what you’re doing is dangerous, that’s when you know you’re doing the right thing. We need more muckrakers that won’t be afraid to face the liars.”