Humor Books - Page 2

An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems

Glenn Beck

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 444 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

FUNNY. OUTRAGEOUS. TRUE.

Have you ever wondered why some of the biggest problems we face, from illegal immigration to global warming to poverty never seem to get fixed? The reason is simple: the solutions just aren't very convenient. Fortunately, radio and television host Glenn Beck doesn't care much about convenience, he cares about common sense.

Take the issue of poverty, for example. Over the last forty years, America's ten poorest cities all had one simple thing in common, but self-serving politicians will never tell you what that is (or explain how easy it would be to change): Glenn Beck will. Global warming is another issue that's ripe with lies and distortion. How many times have you heard that carbon dioxide is responsible for huge natural disasters that have killed millions of people? The truth is, it's actually the other way around: as CO2 has increased, deaths from extreme weather have decreased. Bet you'll never see that in an Al Gore slideshow. An Inconvenient Book contains hundreds of these same "why have I never heard that before?" type of facts that will leave you wondering how political correctness, special interests, and outright stupidity have gotten us so far away from the common sense solutions this country was built on.

As the host of a nationally syndicated radio program and a prime-time television show on CNN, Headline News, Glenn Beck combines a refreshing level of honesty with a biting sense of humor and a lot of research to find solutions that will open your eyes while entertaining you along the way.

Me Talk Pretty One Day

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hachette Audio Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $14.37

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 736 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not as funny as I'd hoped. 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sedaris describes vignettes from his life in this wry-humored self-deprecating autobiography.

He and I do not share the same sense of humor, so though I did find some of his stories throughout the middle of the text quite funny (particularly the way he described learning French and moving to France), I found the beginning and end of the book tedious reading. Perhaps I didn't read it in the right frame of mind. If I had approached it as a collection of short stories instead of a continuing narrative, I might have enjoyed it better, and I am willing to take the blame for that oversight, though I didn't see any reference to this book as a collection of short stories in any reviews.

In the beginning, Sedaris describes himself as a vapid and shallow child, and a pretentious and annoying art student. As a reader, I simply didn't care about him.

If you can stick with this novel until chapter nine, when Sedaris moves to NYC, his humor kicks into gear and the book becomes very amusing through chapter twenty-three.

After that, subsequent chapters about uncomfortable self-revelations and insomniac fantasies are at times both repulsive and tedious, and divorced from any of the previous text. But then Sedaris finishes with one of the funniest chapters of the whole lot which leaves the reader laughing, but does nothing to draw the whole book together in conclusion.

Many people have loved this book, but I did not find it very appealing or satisfying.

C.A.Wulff - author of Born Without a Tail

Editorial Review:

David Sedaris' move to Paris from New York inspired these hilarious pieces, including the title essay, about his attempts to learn French from a sadistic teacher who declares that "every day spent with you is like having a caesarean section". His family is another inspiration. "You Can't Kill the Rooster" is a portrait of his brother, who talks incessant hip-hop slang to his bewildered father. And no one hones a finer fury in response to such modern annoyances as restaurant meals presented in ludicrous towers of food and cashiers with six-inch fingernails.

The Areas of My Expertise

John Hodgman

List Price: $29.95 By: Penguin Audio Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $18.67

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 128 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Brilliant from start to finish 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I will try to be as unbiased as possible, but it should be known that John Hodgman cut my face with a broken bottle during a disagreement over whether one should be allowed to flip over any Scrabble tile and then consider it to be a "blank." He was down 754-30, and tensions were high. I take some responsibility for provoking Mr. Hodgman with sing-song nursery rhymes intended to raise questions about his virility and ancestry.

That said, this book is one of the best-conceived, fully realized humor tours de force I have ever read. Even parts that I thought would be tedious -- such as his guide to all fifty states, or the complete list of 700 hobo names -- turned out to be unrelentingly hilarious.

So I wear my scar proudly, John Hodgman, because I must admit after reading this book: It was doled out by the better man.

Editorial Review:

Borges meets the bathroom book in John Hodgman's bestselling almanac of complete (and fabricated) world knowledge.

Abridged CDs - 4 CDs, 5 hours

Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions

Christian Lander

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 59 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

What upper middle class americans like 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am white. I consider myself to have a good sense of humor (as I assume even the most humorless among us do). However, the other night I sat with family listening to my brother-in-law reading various parts of Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions asking myself why I did not find the book at all funny. There are two reasons I don't find it funny. First the book is not about white people per se. It is describing a class to which I happily belong, upper middle class America. If in place of "white people" the author had instead had used the phrase Americans in the top quintile of the income distribution (white, black, yellow, brown or some combination thereof) or well-to-do Americans I might have found it funnier.
The problem with changing to Stuff Well-To-Do Americans Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions is that upper middle class and wealthy Americans- as we send our kids to graduate school, travel abroad, frequent farmers' markets and the like- are more than a bit uncomfortable admitting to ourselves how privileged we are. Better to chalk up the funny things we do to race than our obscenely good fortune and the fact that we have the time and the financial resources to buy organic, travel, give to charities, and throw away money purchasing books like the one under consideration here.

Secondly, no matter what their race, those trying to join the ranks of upper middle class America often appear to family and friends as though they are turning their backs on "who they really are". This book, in its own small way, contributes to this ridiculous notion by identifying so many things that are part and parcel of upper middle class life in America as being white.
In short, take the money you would have wasted on this book and donate it to some charity that is devoted to raising awareness of how desperately poor the mass of humanity still is, raises awareness of climate change, or buy some recyclable grocery bags.

Editorial Review:

They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time). Apple products, indie music, food co-ops, and vintage T-shirts make them weak in the knees.

They believe they’re unique, yet somehow they’re all exactly the same, talking about how they “get” Sarah Silverman’s “subversive” comedy and Wes Anderson’s “droll” films. They’re also down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. They’re organic, ironic, and do not own TVs.

You know who they are: They’re white people. And they’re here, and you’re gonna have to deal. Fortunately, here’s a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion. So kick back on your IKEA couch and lose yourself in the ultimate guide to the unbearable whiteness of being.

Holidays on Ice

Amazon Price: $24.48 List Price: $24.98 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hachette Audio Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $4.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 164 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

HOLIDAYS ON ICE:STORIES 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I am very pleased with the book. The condition was perfect. It arrived on time. I would purchase from dealer again.

Good, but not as good. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

While I enjoyed this book (especially the final story), I did not find it as outright hilarious as his other books. Which is not to say it isn't funny. It just did not meet the very high bar the other books set.

David Sedaris is brilliant. A must own! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Holidays On Ice is a terrific compilation and should be given as a gift to anyone who is less than enthused when December rolls around. David and his sister Amy are two of the funniest people on earth it seems. While there are a couple of stories in here that are less enjoyable than others, it is still superb comic writing and had me in hysterics while reading some parts of this collection. SantaLand Diaries is pitch perfect and ends on a hilarious note that sums up much of the ridiculous nature of the Christmas season. Front Row Center With Thaddeus Bristol is a brilliant idea executed to perfection as various children's pageants are picked apart without pity. My favorite in this collection is perhaps Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!! which is written in such a similar nature to so many Christmas letters I've read over the years except for some of the more theatrical elements of course. The tone he writes with in that piece is dead on. An absolutely wonderful present to give yourself or anyone who deserves a treat at any time of year. I'm fairly irritated to see that it is being released again this coming holiday season with new stories included which seems like a ploy to make more money, similar to the Christmas shopping season exploits depicted in this book.

Editorial Review:

In Holidays on Ice, Sedaris skewers the absurd conventions and contrivances of the holiday season with hilarious effect. Listener-favorite "SantaLand Diaries" joins new material in a bevy of holiday cheer that sparkles with imagination. Special guest Ann Magnuson performs "Merry Christmas to Our Friends and Family," and Amy Sedaris peppers the stories with tidbits of comical characters throughout.

Our Dumb World: The Onion's Atlas of The Planet Earth, 73rd Edition

The Onion

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 106 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In order to understand the news, a context of world geography and history is essential. That is why The Onion is publishing a world atlas: to help us. News that now makes no sense will now make sense. Thus begins a new age of enlightenment.

OUR DUMB WORLD contains, among other things:

• News and historic facts from other nations
  
• Historic timelines for countries
  
• Rejected flag designs
  
• The earth broken down and described, from its molten core to the outermost sphere, and the location of heaven
  
• Demographic, economic and other -ic data about each country's people, industries, and habits

Every country will be categorized in a number of ways, including:

• Ethnic cleanliness
  
• Level of Bono activity
  
• Prop comedians per 1,000 live birds
  
• Yearly income in wide-screen televisions
  
• The Monkeys they got
  
• Where it sees itself in five years
  
• Color boxes for average skin color
  
• Chart listing benefits of invading said country
  
• Most annoying handicrafts

OUR DUMB WORLD is the first original Onion audiobook in eight years--a gut-busting send-up in which no nation escapes unscathed.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Sloane Crosley

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

laugh-out-loud humor that hits close to the heart 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

"I Was Told There'd Be Cake" is a collection of essays by Sloane Crosley. She touches on every subject from childhood obsessions with Oregon Trail to the horrendous experience of moving in Manhattan and just about everything (including the kitchen sink).
She can take the simplest of experiences and turn them into an experience that will leave you rolling on the ground, laughing until you cry. She discusses topics that most people are hesitant to confront and turns it into a situation you can laugh about. Her voice is sarcastic enough to make you chuckle but not sardonic enough to be considered cruel. Most importantly, she writes about things we can relate to.
As you read, you find yourself agreeing with the things Sloane says. We've all had some experiences similar to the ones she writes about. Maybe we don't all keep toy ponies from ex-boyfriends under our kitchen sinks, but we've all been locked out of our house or attempted to bake. When you can relate to things, then they're that much funnier and they really make themselves a place in your heart.
Sloane has a great voice; it's unique but not totally out there. She's quirky and almost poetic with her words and storytelling technique. It's like she's talking to you, and she just seems like one of those people you'd want to be friends with. This chumminess also tightens the bond between you and the author. Crosley delves deep in to the human emotion with the simple tales and tickles your funny bone while she's at it.
I highly recommend this book, and I guarantee you'll love it just as much, if not more than I did.

Editorial Review:

Unabridged CDs • 6 CDs, 6 hours

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 830 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Instant New York Times Bestseller

He's Just Not That Into You -- based on the popular episode of Sex and the City -- educates otherwise smart women on how to tell when a guy just doesn't like them enough, so they can stop wasting time making excuses for a dead-end relationship.

Reexamining familiar scenarios and classic mindsets that keep us in unsatisfying relationships, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's wise and wry understanding of the sexes spares women hours of waiting by the phone, obsessing over the details with sympathetic girlfriends, and hoping his mixed messages really mean "I'm in love with you and want to be with you."

He's Just Not That Into You is provocative, hilarious, and, above all, intoxicatingly liberating. It knows you're a beautiful, smart, funny woman who deserves better. The next time you feel the need to start "figuring him out," consider the glorious thought that maybe He's Just Not That Into You. And then set yourself loose to find the one who is.

Consider the Lobster: And Other Essays

David Foster Wallace

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Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( W ) -> Wallace, David Foster

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Smart, eclectic, and hilariously funny. 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Full disclosure: I have a major intellectual crush on David Foster Wallace. Yes, yes, I know about his weaknesses - the digressions, the rampant footnote abuse, the flaunting of his amazing erudition, the mess that is 'Infinite Jest'. I know all this, and I don't care. Because when he is in top form, there's nobody else I would rather read. The man is hilarious; I think he's a mensch, and I don't believe he parades his erudition just to prove how smart he is. I think he can't help himself - it's a consequence of his wide-ranging curiosity. At heart he's a geek, but a charming, hyper-articulate geek. Who is almost frighteningly intelligent.

The pieces in "Consider the Lobster" have appeared previously in Rolling Stone, The Atlantic Monthly, the New York Observer, the Philadelphia Enquirer, Harper's, Gourmet, and Premiere magazines. Among them are short meditations on Updike's `Toward the end of Time', on Dostoyevsky, on Kafka's humor, and on the `breathtakingly insipid autobiography' of tennis player Tracy Austin. An intermediate length piece describes Foster Wallace's (eminently sane) reaction to the attacks of September 11th. Each of these shorter essays is interesting, but the meat and potatoes of the book is in the remaining five, considerably longer, pieces. They are:

Big Red Son: a report on the 1998 Adult Video News awards (the Oscars of porn) in Las Vegas.
Consider the Lobster: a report on a visit to the annual Maine Lobster Festival (for Gourmet magazine).
Host: a report on conservative talk radio, based on extensive interviews conducted with John Ziegler, host of "Live and Local" on Southern California's KFI.
Up Simba: an account of seven days on the campaign trail with John McCain in his 2000 presidential bid (for Rolling Stone).
Authority and American Usage: a review of Bryan Garner's "A Dictionary of Modern American Usage" , which serves as a springboard for a terrific exegesis of usage questions and controversies.

Here's what I like about David Foster Wallace's writing: I know of nobody else who writes as thoughtfully and intelligently. That he manages to write so informatively, with humor and genuine wit, on almost any subject under the sun is mind-blowing - it's also why I am willing to forgive his occasional stylistic excesses. (Can you spell `footnote'?) You may not have a strong interest in lobsters or pornography, but the essays in question are terrific. The reporting on Ziegler and McCain is amazingly good, heartbreakingly so, because it makes the relative shallowness of most reporting painfully evident. Finally, the article on usage is a tour de force - when it first appeared in Harper's, upon finishing it, I was immediately moved to go online and order a copy of Garner's book (which is just as good as DFW promised).

How can you not enjoy an essay that begins as follows?

"Did you know that probing the seamy underbelly of US lexicography reveals ideological strife and controversy and intrigue and nastiness and fervor on a near Lewinskian scale?

....... (several other rhetorical questions) ......

Did you know that US lexicography even *had* a seamy underbelly?"

And which later contains sentences such as:
"Teachers who do this are dumb."
"This argument is not quite the barrel of drugged trout that Methodological Descriptivism was, but it's still vulnerable to objections."
and - my personal favorite -
"This is so stupid it practically drools."

Not everyone will give this collection 5 stars, but I do.

Editorial Review:

Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike's deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person? David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures. Whether covering the three-ring circus of a vicious presidential race, plunging into the wars between dictionary writers, or confronting the World's Largest Lobster Cooker at the annual Maine Lobster Festival, Wallace projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his and a voice as powerful and distinct as any in American letters.

Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth

Jenny McCarthy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 382 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Awesome 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great book for first time pregnant women--its really funny and quick to read---chapters are really short and you cant wait to get to the next chapter...everyone pregnant woman should read this book and have her husband do the same...lol Ewa K

This is book is sooooo funny! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book was so hilarious! She definitely tells is how it is. If you want to know what is involved with having a child this is definitely the book to get.

oh my gosh!.... 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

this book was so funny! I'm not a first time mom, this will be my third baby making his debut at the end of may or early June, but it's refreshing to hear that pregnancy takes everyone by surprise at first. I wish I had this book when I was prego with my first:) Jenny leaves nothing to the imagination, and is really informative about all the weird stuff. I've never understood why pregnancy isn't talked about to all women. I've let my friend who is trying to get pregnant borrow this book so that she has some idea of what goes on. I did include a warning to her though that not all pregnancies are the same and Jenny McCarthy is just one example.

Editorial Review:

Jenny McCarthy’s best-selling Belly Laughs reveals all the joys and sweet discoveries of being pregnant, from puking bouts and hormonal rage to hemorrhoids, pregnant sex, and big ol’ granny underpants. McCarthy draws from her own difficult pregnancy to discuss every stage of expectant motherhood in vivid, sometimes excruciating — and excruciatingly funny — detail. Belly Laughs is a must-read for any woman who is pregnant, has ever been pregnant, or hopes to become pregnant.