In little more than a hundred pages, Rall dissects and analyzes the recent war on terrorism in Afghanistan and shows why it may never be won. Eye-opening, frightening, and dispiriting. I do have some minor quibbles with it, though-- there is some repetition between the graphic novel and the written portion, and his characterization of the Afghanis themselves is sometomes contradictory. Still, this is essential reading. I've always hated the phrase, "If you read only one book this year, make it this one," but in this case, it holds true.

First-hand reporting on the feelings of the various combatants in Afghanistan. Thoroughly enjoyable. Not for those who believe the U.S. is always saintly in foreign policy.

An amazingly concise and chillingly realistic account of a crazy situation brought on paper in a powerful way.
What words and photos don't always express, Rall transfer in cartoons. You'll feel like freezing on the outskirts of Mazar E-Sharif and chased by bandits ...
If you think "Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman, is well done, rush for that one too.
If you didn't read any of them - go for both. Even faster !

Newkirk combines rare qualities: true passion and the ability to communicate that passion thoughtfully and inspiringly. Put simply, Newkirk takes the viewpoint that it's cruel and immoral to treat animals as though they feel no pain and have no needs or desires outside of what humans wish for them. That such an idea is even controversial is pretty sad. But whenever someone believes something strongly and unquestioningly, cynics spring up. Here, in the face of overwhelming proof that many animals suffer needlessly and extravagantly, the arguments of those who disagree seem particularly weak and ill-informed. Happily, Newkirk here manages to convey her considerable intensity without bogging down in theory or rhetoric. The book is peppered with lots of simple, real-world things that animal lovers can do -- avoiding pet stores that sell animals, for example -- though most seem sadly unlikely to make more than a whisker of difference. Better are the many heartbreaking real-life stories of people who have suddenly realized that animals can reflect the best of what it means to be alive. One hunter shoots a buck and approaches, wondering why the doe hasn't run off. He discovers that the doe is blind. Examining the dead buck more closely, he notices a worn-away patch on his hip and a corresponding patch on the doe's shoulder -- obviously, the buck had lead the doe through the forest. And chose not to run, rather than abandon his blind mate.

At least hunters and anglers have the courage to confront the animals they encounter. Newkirk's at her outraged best when cataloguing the unspeakable conditions endured by animals most of us never see, and thus never consider. The cheeseburger that looks so harmless in its polystyrene box probably represents a nightmare life of confinement and terror. What others dismiss as "preachy" or "dogmatic" doesn't come off that way in the face of the overwhelming evidence Newkirk presents that animals are consistently treated horribly by the food, fur and medical industries.

Hey, I know from experience that people hate hearing this stuff, and react angrily and defensively from the mere suggestion that they put some thought into their behavior and its consequences. So I don't expect this book to win many friends or convert many carnivores. But that doesn't mean I'm not thrilled and moved and sad and inflamed and delighted and inspired by a book that, I hope, will be better understood and more widely acted on in the future.

This excellent book summarises ways in which we can help stop animal abuse, which pervades all aspects of out lives. As a physician, I sought out the chapter on animals experimentation. While many people have been programmed to believe that experimenting on animals is necessary to improve human health, in fact quite the opposite is true. Not only is animal experimentation not good for human health, it may even be instrumental in delaying progress. Unfortunately, there are many who make a liveing out of this particular kind of exploitation (experimenters, pharmaceutical mega-companies, etc.), who have a vested interest in persuading the public that the practice should be continued. Ms. Newkirk's excellent book will help people begin to understand how they can help stop this cruel and unneccessary practice.

This book is a must read. I just got it in the mail last night and by this morning, I have already read half of it. I have turned my life into a vegan eating practice and I strive to maintain this same state in all I do. Always having a soft spot for animals, this book reminded me of that and opened my eyes even wider to countless and thoughtless acts of cruelty against our fellow animals. There were some points, in what I have read already, where I had to stop for a moment and get my composure after reading how some of the animals are treated. I will recommened this book to anyone who expresses concern and wants to help our friends as well as carry this knowledge with me.

Thanks for a great book.

Although this book has its share of problems, it is a must read because it is wildly entertaining and because it raises all the right questions about what Americans can really do to win the 'War on Terrorism'. Bill Maher uses language and imagery to contrast the current 'War on Terrorism' against the backdrop of the two world wars and the Cold War and to argue that unlike the present situation, Americans actually got involved back then and did something that is inconceivable today'they made sacrifices. Maher's book is divided into a series of brief, humorous essays (no more than three pages in length) each of which is illustrated with vintage style war posters that contain messages and slogans about the 'War on Terrorism'.

Some of Maher's more trenchant arguments are:

MAKE SACRIFICES
Wars are won by uniting and making sacrifices, so why not carpool as civilians did during WW II (hence the title of this book) instead of driving alone? Also, why not give up SUVs and other idiotic vanity vehicles in favor of fuel efficient ones that will reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, which is one of Al Quaeda's prime sources of revenue.

PROTECT THE CITIZENS
If the president gets a secret service, why can't we? Put real security in our airports like Israel does.

PERFORM INTELLIGENT SEARCHES
At the risk of being offensive, search likely suspects at airports, not random people including old women and children.

THE 'WAR ON DRUGS' IS REALLY STUPID
Why are we investing billions of dollars and lots of resources making sure cancer victims can't smoke pot when we could be directing all of that money and resources toward protecting civilians at home? Besides, it doesn't work and it simply makes more people hate us.

UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE HATED
People are attacking us for a reason. Try to understand what that reason is, don't just resort to comfort and clichés.

Maher's book also contains its share of flaws. I completely agree with Maher's criticism of politically correct ideology and agree with him that replacing common sense with sensitivity does not solve any problems. In some cases however, Maher misses the boat not because his arguments are insensitive but simply because they are ignorant. Here are a few examples:

THOSE ...MOSLEMS!
Maher argues that there is nothing wrong with criticizing Islam since among other things it is brutally repressive toward women. What he fails to consider is that there is no monolithic Islam that doles out the same repressive behavior the world over. The Taliban, the Saudi royal family, and Bin Laden are followers of Wahhabism, a virulent, fundamentalist sect in Islam. They have been frequently criticized by high ranking Suni and Shiite clerics who, among other things, condemned their treatment of women as unislamic. To equate all of Islam with the behavior of the Taliban (as Maher does) is to ignore this fact.

IT'S A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS
Maher, like Samuel Huntington, argues that we are experiencing a clash of civilizations and that the 'War on Terrorism' is a struggle between two conflicting cultures, the West and Islam. As Tariq Ali, Edward Said, and Howard Zinn aptly point out, religion does play an important ideological role in this conflict, but it is essentially a political one. Sure, the 9/11 terrorist were religiously motivated to sacrifice their lives, but their targets (the centers of finance, military planning and probably of government) were political ones. Similarly, while Bin Laden uses Islam as his rallying cry and justification, his goals are flagrantly political as evidenced by his statement that America would know security at home when the people of the Middle East knew security in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Palestine.

TAKE SADDAM OUT
Maher indicates that since Saddam Hussein is developing nuclear weapons and must be stopped this is no time for sensitivity. He would probably do well to read the reports of the highly insensitive and highly informed Scott Ridder, which argue that Iraq was thoroughly disarmed and posses no threat. (Ridder is a marine veteran and former intelligence officer who played a leading role in disarming Iraq after the Gulf War. He is a Republican who voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and believes war with Iraq is unwarranted.)

The strength of this book lies not so much in the fact that it provides all of the right answers but that it asks all of the right questions. Despite its flaws this book is intelligent, wildly funny and definitely worth reading. I strongly recommend however, that you read this book intelligently and skeptically, not with total acceptance. Maher would probably be the first to agree with this suggestion.

It's good to see Bill Maher back in action after his excellent show was unjustly cancelled by ... ABC. It's a sad commentary on our society when a unique and intelligent show like Politically Incorrect is pushed aside while the airwaves are saturated with cheesy reality shows, [bad] sit-coms, Jerry Springer-like talk shows, and dumbed down newscasts. If you never watched Politically Incorrect you should definitely get this book, because Bill Maher knows his stuff and he says things you won't hear in the mainstream media. And his opinions aren't tainted by a strict liberal or conservative viewpoint. He looks at each issue individually and takes a stand. One of the important points he makes is that the terrorists are funded primarily through the sale of oil, and the more oil we use the stronger they become. It's obvious that SUVs aren't helping anyone, but listen to this: It takes eleven gallons of oil to burn one 75-watt light bulb for a year. In how many American homes, and especially businesses, are the lights left on when nobody's in the room? My only criticism of this book is that it's too short, and the chapters don't go into enough detail about the particular issues they discuss. You can tell by the way the book is laid out that they really tried to stretch it.

Bill Maher's new book sounds like an alarm clock waking us from a comfortable but dangerous sleep. In brief, hard-hitting chapters, he exposes why the U.S. government would rather strip away your privacy than stand up to big oil or ruffle the political feathers of foreign leaders. He also holds up an unflattering mirror to all those who fly American flags while driving alone in those gas-guzzling SUVs. Real patriotism, argues Maher, requires more than a PR campaign. It means moving away from mindless consumerism, mindless politics, mindless citizenship. Only the current Bush Administration, with its far-right agenda and distate for civil liberties, can say with a straight face that a near-police state is the way to "defend freedom." America was not attacked on September 11th because we have too much freedom. The attack was launched because we too often support foreign regimes that deny their own people freedom. The attack succeeded because of failures in American intelligence which have still not been thoroughly investigated. If none of this has to do with the American people having "too much freedom," why then is the Bush Administration's knee-jerk response to strip away our privacy and curb our traditional freedoms? (While at the same time fattening the budgets of those who failed to safeguard America on 9-11?)

Also recommended: "Speaking of Sex: Funny, Wicked & Joyful Remarks About Almost Everybody's Favorite Subject" by John-Paul Sousa. This book is a brilliant send-up of a society where sex is sinful, criminal, scandalous - everything but natural!

Bill Press's latest spin on spin will not only open your eyes but give you a good idea about the nature of politics, as well as other fields such as media, law, and advertising. Press calls it something between the truth and a lie. It all depends on when and how you use it. Press is slightly left of center but gives a fairly even handed jab to all sides. Giving Clinton his due as the master of spin, followed closely by Bush (in politics).
A quote from the book about what makes news;

"In his masterful biography of Hearst, David Nasaw explains the famous publisher's guiding principal: "News is not a phenomenon that exists in the real world, waiting to be discovered...An event becomes news only when journalists and the editors decide to record it. More often than not, what determines whether an occurrence is noteworthy or not is the ease with which it can be plotted and narrated so that readers will want to read about it." Thus spin feeds the beast of corporate-driven journalists."

I'll leave you with one example of spin from the book:

Spin: "I'm just an average American who found herself in a situation not of her own making."
--Linda Tripp

Translation: I'm going to get a book deal and I'll rat on my friend to do it.

Recommended

I love watching Bill Press fight the right on Crossfire every night and his book gave more of his sharp sense of humor and brought back of some of what I loved about The Spin Room. This fast read would make a great Christmas gift for anyone who loves politics and is looking for a pro to cut through the spin for you.

OK, so Bill Press lost his dayjob, as co-host of CNN's Crossfire (he is now a "contributor"). But not only will we likely still see him on the tube...but he has a great back-up day-job: as an author.

Spin This! has to be one of the funniest, yet most painstakingly researched, books I have ever read. From "spins" dating back to Bibical times, to politics, to show biz, to male-female relationships, SPIN THIS laughingly explores (and exposes) it ALL. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative...or WHATEVER...you're going to find stuff that you'll LOVE in this book. Even if you don't know anything about politics it is not ALL about political spin.

And there's this bonus: Bill Press is actually a screamingly funny and highly talented writer. And that ain't spin.

If you think you're going to get a diatribe from him, think again. You really don't. And if you love Bill Press' views and expect him to let Democrats or liberals off the hook, think again, too. In reality, he sits back and explores SPECIFIC "spins" in all walks of life -- and comments on them with laugh-out-loud wisecracks.

Still not convinced that this one-of-a-kind book (it is funny but it also can serve as a GREAT reference book due to the truly solid research reflected on each page)can appeal to EVERYONE?

Then consider his Spin Hall of Fame where he lets famous commentators of all persuasions profile THEIR idea of the most outrageous spins. To name a few: Robert Novak (on Al Gore), Kate O'Beirne (Hillary Clinton), Cal Thomas (Satan), Al Franken (Karl Rove), and one of his CNN replacements, Paul Begala on GWB. Clearly his colleagues on the right and left had a lot of fun with this project, too. Painstakingly researched -- and painstakingly hilarious. Gift it to those who agree and disagree with you!

American Rhapsody purports to be a book about Clinton and the age of the "Rock and Roll President," and it is when the book sticks to this theme that it is at its most successful.

From the prologue, however, Eszterhas serves notice that at its core the book is ultimately about Eszterhas. At times his ego overwhelms the story and the listener. He refers to himself as, in addition to a Hollywood persona, a Public Figure. His tales of Hollywood, scandalous as they are, all contain one theme: Eszterhaus as a key player. "I created Sharon Stone, I resurrected this director's career, I made that actress, etc., etc." In order to justify long asides from Clinton and politics to talk about Eszterhas, Hollywood, and Eszterhas, the author utilizes the device of "talking" to Clinton, punctuating the narrative with ill-fitting asides ("bet you never had that much trouble with Janet Reno, Bubba") that serve simply to annoy the reader and remind him that the asides are truly misplaced. If you want to write about yourself and Hollywood, go ahead, Joe. Just don't try to convince us that what you have to say is really pertinent to the political side, entertaining though it may be.

Eszterhas himself is an absolutely dreadful reader. Doubtless he insisted on narrating his own book, but he does a poor job. He pauses in all the wrong places and his reading is somewhat wooden.

The characters he introduces throughout the book, however, are an absolute delight. We are treated to John McCain, Ken Starr, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, George Bush, and Bill himself paraded before us to tell their story. The actors who read these parts are wonderful, and truly sound (in voice and mannerisms) exactly like the character they mimic; the listener can easily believe that it IS Bill Clinton speaking. These monologues are always clever, often hysterical, and actually quite insightful, attempting to truly probe the psyches of the major political players.

On the whole, these tapes are certainly worth a listen. They would have been greatly improved, however, if Eszterhas had been able to resist the temptation of tooting his own horn and instead focused even more on the politicos he parodies so well.

Author/screenwriter Joe Eszterhas is a child of the 60's and 70's reared, by his own admission, on a steady diet of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Curiously, his first political hero was Senator/Presidential Candidate Goldwater. Why? Because Barry told it like it was. But LBJ won and Viet Nam escalated, followed by Nixon and Watergate. The lies were endless, and Joe was disgusted. Then, in 1992, along came William Jefferson Clinton, America's first President of the rock 'n' roll generation. Eszterhas was ecstatic. Bill won't lie because "he's one of us".

AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a powerful, bawdy, brilliant, full-frontal excoriation of Bill Clinton's almost-personal betrayal of the author's hopes and expectations. Because Bubba lied to America - about sex, his preoccupation with it, and his tawdry affair with the First Bimbo, Monica Lewinsky. Joe claims the bulk of the narrative is based on well-researched facts, though there's no bibliography of primary source material - a key omission, perhaps. Several of the chapters, presented in bold type, are admittedly fictitious monologues ascribed to several key players in this red, white and blue soap opera.

As Eszterhas explores Bubba's promiscuity specifically, and that of Washington and Hollywood in general, the lead roles are reserved for Bill, "Willard", and Monica. The supporting cast is otherwise extensive: Hillary, Bob Dole, John McCain, James Carville, Arianna Huffington (the "Sorceress"), Matt Drudge, Linda Tripp (the "Ratwoman"), Ken Starr, Bob Packwood, Sharon Stone, Warren Beatty, Larry Flynt, and Vernon Jordan, plus cameos by Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and a bevy of others. The author ascribes particular significance to the lasting and pernicious influence of his personal bogeyman-under-the-bed, Richard Nixon (the "Night Creature). Why this is apparently so really isn't clear. (Get over it, Joe! Nixon is dead for Chrissakes!) And the reasons for including the Huffingtons, Dole, and McCain on the playbill are particularly hazy, although Eszterhas clearly admires the take-no-prisoners honesty of both McCain and Carville. Prominent utilization is also made of the two infamous props of the piece: The Cigar and the Stained Blue Dress.

Though it could've benefited from tighter editing, AMERICAN RHAPSODY is a ribald, spirited, cheeky and fun read. It may stand as one of the definitive books on the Clinton Presidency. However, don't expect it to appear on your child's high school Political Science reading list anytime soon.

This is the truth! I never read any other of these exposes and during the majority of the media coverage of the episode that led to Clinton's impeachment- I switched to the animal planet. After reading some reviews on Amazon, I bought this book and I'm glad I did. "The Comeback Kid" takes plenty of flack from the author, but Eszterhas spares none. I like the names: The Big Kielbasa- Wilt Chamberlain, "The Bag Lady of Sleaze"- Lucienne Goldberg, the lady who got the story into the media,"Hilla the Hun," "The Night Creature"- Nixon- "The Manchurian Candidate"- McCain- "The Rat Woman,"- Linda Tripp, it goes on to the current president named, "The Crown Prince." The coarsest individual does have the funniest lines, i.e. LBJ- too much to repeat here. The few who seem to get off lightly, like Monica, and believe it or not- Barry Goldwater and Newsweek Magazine who had the story and never printed it.
Perhaps the most effective and distressing part of the book is when Eszterhas does a mini retrospective of all the things we didn't want to know,but did over the years, here are a few: Sen. Harkin blowing his nose on CNN without a handkerchief, Bush Sr. throwing up in China, Buchanon saying "Congress is an Israeli occupied territory," Bob Dylan and Elizabeth T., LBJ turning to the side and taking a whizz at an outdoor press conference, Nixon and Kissinger kneeling together and praying, Spiro Agnew, "If you've seen one city slum you've seen them all," Michael Jackson and his chimp, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. (?)

Eszterhas obviously knows more and remembers more than is probably good for him, but his prose is stunning as is the manner by which he weaves the book together- even with some fiction. The author was the screenwriter for Fatal Attraction and had a relationship with Sharon Stone- who also takes some upper cuts and was rumored to have been intimate with Clinton as well. I definitely recommend reading this- for the humor and frankly, The gossip is completely consuming.

If you like to laugh get this book. Otherwise, just move on, and go back to your copy of Great Irish Love Songs. "True Story: A Comedy Novel," by Bill Maher, is a tale about five young comics who are trying to make it on the stand-up circuit, back in 1979. It is also a total riot.

From stories about playing ping-pong in the nude, to acid induced conversations with God, Maher keeps the reader laughing and waiting for the all important next joke. While it may never considered to be a literary masterpiece, Maher has written a book that just plain and simple fun to read, and an absolute must for those who have dreams of becoming a stand-up comic.

Bill Maher knew what he was talking about when he wrote this outrageously funny book! He captured the comedy scene with a scence of brilliant arrogence like no other comedian could. Read this book then read it again in a year then read it a year after that, its gets better with every read. You will feel like you've lived the comedy uprising, from the small numbers of hard working dedicated comidens to the funny guy in your group of friends who thinks he can get up on stage and make it big because you "say hes funny". I recomend this book to anyone who enjoys smart comedy and/or likes the comedy club scene and would like to understand what the "Host" for the evening is thinking.

There is very little contemporary comedy in literary form. This ranks among the best (along with everything by Woody Allen and Daddy's Boy by Chris Elliott). A novel that combines both great jokes, great stories and even a story. You don't know how funny (and smart) Bill Maher truly is until you read this book

Bill Maher hosted a show in which loud opinion was passed off as knowledge, and moral posturing used in place of reason. It was seldom interesting except to those who found a hero to mouth their own personal predjudices. Occasionally you'd see someone with some actual knowledge- but they seldom were invited back. And then there was Maher himself, posing as David Brinkley.

Written down, without the smart-mouthed delivery, Maher's opinions come across as no more than poorly reasoned whining. Plenty of bitterness, but little humor or insight.

I am not what one may call a "Maher Fan". I find his show, Politically Incorrect, difficult to watch, as Mr. Maher repeatedly contradicts himself to maintain the impression that he is in control of the show. Apparently the man feels the name of the show doesn't merely refer to his feelings about political issues, but also to an abandonment of respect and coherency.

I do, however, agree with many of his stances when they are presented in a comprehensible, and occasionally funny way. This book is OK; it's not put together terribly well, and it smacks of a Dennis Miller "Rant" format. What I appreciate the most is that Maher openly criticizes both Republicans *and* Democrats. I don't expect to get very many helpful votes for saying this, but supporting one party over the other seems severely short-sighted. Over the years the party platforms have changed and members of both have committed wrongs against us in the name of Corporate Sponsorship.

Bill Maher's approach may be distasteful, but he isn't just a mouthpiece for a corporation, and that's what people really have a problem with.

I found myself at an event in November 2002 where Bill was pushing his "When you Ride Alone, you Ride with Bin Laden" book. I was so fascinated with how good it was, and how creative it is, that I kind of went on a Bill Maher kick. I bought this book afterward.

Being an incredibly SLOW reader, I was still halfway though this little paperback in under an hour. It's mostly questions that were asked at a show, the occasional comment by Bill, and very rarely sprinkled with guests' answers. There are a few gems in it, but overall, your money is much better spent on "When you Ride Alone you ride with Bin Laden."

I found this book to be very disappointing. It is very poorly written and organized. Though the book claims to be written in 1998, it was clearly written in the early 1980s, so all of the references are extremely dated. For example, it still talks about how Joan Rivers as a hot young comedienne. There are pages and pages of transcripts from old Steve Allen bits that aren't funny at all in writing, and are so dated that they contain many references and words I didn't understand.

As the title implies, I expected it to help me develop a better sense of humor by providing analysis on why things are funny and instructing how to apply those techniques. It does very little of this. It mainly focusses on the improvisational wordplay techniques that Steve Allen developed and used in his career, which if I used I think people around me would find very annoying. Very little of the information in the book can be applied to everyday life. For example, I had no use for the sections on writing comedic television scripts, being a talk show host, doing stand up comedy, or how to sell jokes to established comedians.

Thank God Steve Allen is dead, to save me the trouble of beating his skull in with this useless pile of puffery. Did you know that Steve Allen invented every comedy technique known to man? Talk about about a bitter has-been. Seems that the guy rambled into a tape recorder and some jack-ass typed it up. My problem is that I must finish a book once I start it. Steve Allen, you owe me.

HOW TO BE FUNNY is a book unlike any other. How else would we tell them apart?

Steve Allen's contribution to students of comedy and wit is a wonderful one indeed. Allen and his co-author have a book-long conversation about what is funny, what isn't, and more importantly *why* some things are funnier than others. Whether you want to write funny, talk, walk, or think funny, Steve Allen includes page after page of examples from his radio and television career. My copy is well-worn --albeit slightly small and tight around the waist -- with passages highlighted and underlined.

If you aren't funny (or funnier) after reading this book, well, then try eating it. That will definitely make you feel funny for a little while.

If you're looking for some humorous political commentary, you won't find it here. The audio book consists of a series of one minute monologues in which Maher lays out the topics to be discussed on the show, followed by the guest introductions. There aren't any clips of the guests or Maher actually discussing those topics. Frankly there is nothing humorous or entertaining about listening to a series of topics and guest introductions. It's a waste of time and money.