After a whole school year of reading classical literature, I bought this book to loosen up and get a laugh. A lot of stuff in this book is funny, other parts are simply clever. I'll admit that I found JG's essays a little redundant and she writes a little harshly, while Ben's additions (building yourself a "linen" cave, Mama Whitefeather's ring toss antics, and his hilarious lumberjack experience) were a lot funnier than Janeane's "inner warrior." The low points are that JG and BS don't really compliment each other and there is no real THEME to the book. This is no classic and I think that Ben's constant rantings about how he wants to make money off the book are not funny, but scary. Also, some of the references will become dated within a few years. Another downside of this book is that it's only funny the first time you read it; I read over a few of Ben's chapters a couple of months later and I didn't even laugh once. Still, if you want a quick laugh, pick up this book, and then read some Virginia Woolf so you can feel intellectual again. 3 stars.

After reading this entire book in one sitting...I wished it would continue. Garofalo and stiller's much loathed "He Said, She Said" section was hilarious as from Stiller's point of view I expected Garofalo's response to be longer and angrier...but it wasn't. Having found reading the book (my normal way of consumption) to be less than satisfying, I realized it was only lacking by not being heard in their voices. I suggest buying both the book (in hardcover if you still can) AS WELL AS in audio tape form...not renting it, but buying it. You need to hear it in your own inner mind voice, but also in Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo's voices. I just ordered my audiotape. I think the two of them could be as good a comedy team as...well. Stiller and Meara!

I bought this book because I read an interview with Janeane in the Evening Standard (London) in which she talked about the experience of writing this book with Ben. So, without a second thought I logged onto amazon and three weeks later (I live in England) the book was here.

It's a very quick read - large print and a small package - but page after page is pure humour! I've never laughed so much from reading a book in my life! I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud on the train (which over here is a serious offence!). The bit about Ben and his journey to "find himself" had me in stitches!

I don't know about it being a self-help book - I bought it cause I wanted to laugh - but I guess it does help you in a way, because if nothing else you laugh your tush-y off (and trust me, if you saw the size of mine - it's not a bad thing!)

After reading a book about Jewish Sports Heroes (no it is not that slim), the Israeli born music exec and Madonna Maverick partner, Guy Oseary, got the idea to compile a book of 100 top Jewish rockers, or rockers with some Jewish parentage or heritage. The forward by Ben Stiller and the afterward by Perry (Peretz) Farrell (Bernstein) are interesting, and I wish the rest of the book followed their formats. Stiller talks of his Bar Mitzvah and how his band played at the after party. Stiller played on a drumset that he got for xmas (hmmm). They played "Hey Jude" (Jew'd). Farrell writes about the Biblical musicians, such as David. My complaint with this book is that it lists the artists, one per page, giving some bio info, such as birthdate, birthplace, and discography, but there are no interviews with the rockers. It left me hanging. I wondered, how is Warren Zevon Jewish? How did the Beastie Boys bnai Mitzvot affect their work? How did Saul Hudson go from Saul to Slash? I was hoping for something akin to the webzine PLOTZ, which actually interviewed Beck and other Jewish rockers about their Jewish heritages. But this book just lists some basic facts. I am sure it will make a good gift for other Jewish rockers and trivia specialists. It includes no brainers, like barry Manilow, Gene Simmons, Randy Newman, Mark Knopfler, Paul Simon, Lisa Loeb, Billy Joel, Dylan, Carole King, Kenny G (Gorelick), The Beastie Boys, and Phranc; but I wish it had given more data on Herb Alpert, Malcolm McLaren, and Zevon. The rockers out there will be excited to read about the Jewish members of The Doors, Foo Fighters, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Yo La Tengo, Matchbox 20, Elastica, Wang Chung, Blue Oyster Cult, Counting Crows, Janes Addiction, The Mamas and the Pappas, and Megadeth.

After having received this book as a gift, one wonders how much griping is allowable. Nonetheless, after having skimmed through the book and after having read the entry on Bob Dylan, it gave me good pause. Since there were multiple errors on Dylan's one page, it naturally made me ask the question, "How many other errors might abound?" I am not proposing that the book should be error-free (no book is), but after having read some of the reviews, it's clear that someone should take the responsibility (Guy Oseary? or maybe his editor or researcher? or maybe the publisher?) for the many errors that fill its pages.

I'll simply point out the errors on the Dylan page. The singer did not graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1959 (nor any other university). He graduated from his high school, Hibbing High, in 1959, and then merely attended the Univ. of Minn. for a few semesters. And Dylan's second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" didn't come out in 1962 (it was 1963). Additionally, to say Dylan's songs "extolled the use of certain drugs" and to use "Rainy Day Women #12&35" as an example ("everybody must get stoned"), oversimplifies things; the lyrics to this song are actually quite rich (despite them being made almost cliche because of radio overplay and overplay in concert) but Dylan has denied--on more than one occasion--writing "drug songs." In one interview he mentioned it was hard enough to write songs without making it harder [through drugs].

After referencing the 1966 era, we're then told that Dylan "toured and recorded tirelessly" for the next 30 years. Really? Most fans will vividly recall when Dylan did not embark on a single tour from 1967-1973; he also abstained from touring in 1977, 1982-1983 and 1985.

And the "Never-Ending Tour" is listed as "1988-1996" which is odd. Dylan's touring didn't stop in 1996 (this book was published in 2001), it has continued to this day, i.e., "1988-2002."

As for the book's statement that "Bob took his adopted name from poet Dylan Thomas," this too isn't factual. Dylan has denied this on a number of occasions and others close to Dylan have corroborated his denial although the exact origins of the name are not entirely clear (typical Dylan).

We are also informed that Dylan was involved with the Lubavitch movement in Jerusalem in 1984. But this is the wrong location, and year. He studied with the Lubavitchers in Brooklyn in 1983.

And then there's the matter-of-fact statement that Dylan "explored various religions outside of Judaism, to which he ultimately returned." In 1979-1981, Dylan did more than "explore" Jesus (and he still sings about Jesus, for whatever reason, to this day). He also has never announced his departure from or return to Judaism. In typical contrarion fashion, Dylan quoted a biblical passage from the Hebrew Scriptures on his 1980 album, "Saved." And then in 1984, the year after he studied with the Lubavitchers, Dylan was asked if he thought the Old and New Testaments were equally valid. He replied, "To me." (Rolling Stone interview with Kurt Loder). Dylan has participated in the Lubavitchers' Chabad telethons (1986, 1989 & 1991) but has also continued to sing songs from the "Slow Train/Saved."

Even with all the religion hububb aside, it seems that for all I've pointed out it could've been a case of my having scoured through a full-length book...but it was, again, only a one-page entry on Dylan! And there were many errors, so buyer beware.

Maybe one day we'll have an updated, mostly corrected edition and some quotes from the artists on the significance of their rich cultural heritage.

I have not read the book. I leafed through it in a book store. What can I add that others haven't already said. The one page bios are superficial and there are many mistakes and omissions.

I response to the reviewer who said that Iggy is Jewish. Well he isn't. I read his autobiography about 12 years ago. I think he said his father was an orphan who had been adopted by a non-practicing Jewish family. But he wasn't brought up Jewish. Iggy isn't Jewish by decent, upbringing or in any other way except in name (James Newell OSTERBERG) You can hear various anti-Semitic remarks in live and 'unofficial' recordings of the Stooges.