America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
by Jon Stewart, The Writers of The Daily Show
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jon Stewart, The Writers of The Daily ShowEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-09
ISBN: 0446532681
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Product features:
- Humor
Book Reviews of America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Book Review: I got your 'Moment of Zen' right HERE... A masterpiece.
Summary: 5 Stars
Once in a long, LONG while, a book comes along that changes the way you think about everything. Your mind is blown. The shattered pieces of your fragmented psyche lay as but a splintered reminder of what once was.
But then, without warning, everything becomes clearer. The world comes into focus. Your perception becomes sharper, keener. Logic replaces confusion. Blurry lines harden. Your sense of smell becomes... well, it doesn't change at all really. You still can't tell the olfactorial difference between freshly-baked brownies and the bloated, rotting corpse of a submarine captain, thanks to those allergies. But you are reborn.
Unfortunately this is not that book.
What this is, however, is a political absurdist's wet dream. Mr. Stewart and his team - attentive, whipsmart, and at times, moist and chewy - deliver in a concise 230+ pages an entire history of democracy, ranging from the humble origins of the democratic system ("While the [Roman] Senate theoretically represented the people, in reality its wealthy members covertly pursued pro-business legislation on behalf of such military-industrial giants as JavelinCorp, Unified Crucifix, and a cartel of resource-exploiting companies known as Big Aqueduct."), to casual observations of American democracy in the modern era ("The highest court in the land is called the Supreme Court, proving that while justice may be blind there's nothing wrong with her ego."), to several projected dystopian democracies to come ("Since 'voter intention' became an issue during the 2000 Florida election, high-tech methods of withdrawing opinion will be used. Sedation will be necessary."). And while this is a seemingly hefty amount of citation for one review, there's still 229+ pages to go, friend.
In addition to that, Stewart and Co. (or as they prefer to be called, S&C, or simply "&") provides interested (and disinterested) voters a handy guide to the presidential election this November, proving that despite all the sharply-pointed playfulness at the expense of the system, they're in favor of it, because it's better than the alternatives of self-rule... and it's a touch too soon to cede control to the moon people.
What works best for "America: The Book" is its civics-textbook format, which gives the writers plenty of room for sidebars, footnotes, charts, graphs, board games and other blessed distractions that most humor books simply cannot contain. The book's style is craftily and very evenly balanced with the central comedic content, so that neither overpowers the other (although central comedic content continues to insist that if given the chance, it would "school" textbook style in an arm-wrestling match). This ought not to be perceived as an easy task, especially considering the slave-labor conditions that comedy writers are often exposed to. (Do you believe that the entire "Daily Show" writing staff is fed on only one bucket of corn meal slop a week? Simply remarkable.)
There is but one downside to this book. Unfortunately due to a deadline mishap, the book is written without vowels or verbs -- very confusing. No. Because of the intense density of material, it should take you a long time to read it. In a way, this is not so much a "downside" as a "rogue double agent non-upside". But I do strongly recommend not trying to read it all in one sitting. If you fail to heed this warning, then I predict for you the kind of sensory-overloading mind-implosion superdeath that any fan of "Scanners" could easily see coming (and I do mean "see coming").
All in all, "America: The Book" goes where many politically-related humor books dare not tread -- right to the source. As a fan of the blend of smart-minded topical comedy with inanely-produced insight (plus a doubleshot, no whipped cream), I heartily recommend this book to anyone, provided your political skin has some scales. As for the weak of perspective (a.k.a. the faint of "Can't Take A Freakin' Joke"), this will likely be a trash can through your front window of clung-to beliefs. But hey - in the end, ALL of us are doomed when the robots get here.
Summary of America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Amazon.com ExclusivesFeaturing a foreword by Thomas Jefferson, a Dress the Supreme Court layout, and, oddly enough, a profile of George "The Iceman" Gervin, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, from Jon Stewart and the writers of the Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show, is by far one the most irreverent and wittiest (and may we add smartest) political book you're likely to encounter. Amazon.com spoke with Jon Stewart a few days before the 2004 publication of America (The Book) and they discussed bald eagles, magical talking cats, Thor Heyerdahl, and much more ? Read the Amazon.com Interview with Jon Stewart ? Listen to the Amazon.com Interview with Jon Stewart ? Watch a "vintage" Amazon.com Exclusive Video from Jon StewartMore from Jon Stewart Naked Pictures of Famous People America (The Book) [Audio CD] The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004 [DVD
Featuring a foreword by Thomas Jefferson, a Dress the Supreme Court layout, and, oddly enough, a profile of George "The Iceman" Gervin, America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, from Jon Stewart and the writers of the Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show, is by far one the most irreverent and wittiest (and may we add smartest) political book you're likely to encounter. Amazon.com spoke with Jon Stewart a few days before the 2004 publication of America (The Book) and they discussed bald eagles, magical talking cats, Thor Heyerdahl, and much more? Read the Amazon.com Interview with Jon Stewart
? Listen to the Amazon.com Interview with Jon Stewart
More from Jon Stewart
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|  America (The Book) [Audio CD] |  The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004 [DVD] |
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