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When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden

Product Description

Customer Reviews (101)

Good Comedian; Great Book
An easy read and the chapters are very distinguishable. The humor in the book is just OK, but the information given is very worthwhile. I originally picked up this book for the posters - I am very disappointed that said posters were not in color though.

Recommended
While there were some rants that I didn't agree with, for the most part, I found myself agreeing to alot of what Maher had to say here. Written not long after 9/11 he has some great points about terrorism, national security and the way forward which, sadly, still ring true today (we've made a stunning lack of progress). It made me realize just how far we have to go.

I recently read and reviewed America Alone (another book I really enjoyed, by conservative author Mark Steyn), which makes some of the same points that Maher, a liberal writer and pundit, makes in this book (which is to say the over-arching theme that too many Americans claim not to "do politics"). But both authors argue it's not (solely) about politics. It's about waking up, not believing everything you're sold in the media, doing your own fact-checking and becoming an educated citizen of the world. It's an obligation, not a demand on your free-time.

Some crass remarks and language, but otherwise recommended.

Issues worthy of debate
I've enjoyed watching Bill Mahar on his various TV shows, and while I don't always agree with his politics, he can make be both laugh and think.I was intrigued by the premise of this book, a collection of "propaganda" posters modelled after those produced during WWII, to show the American people what they can do to contribute to the War on Terrorism.Beginning in the months right after the September 11th attacks, I've believed that the messages we were hering and the choices we were making seemed to be at odds with being at war.We moved on, almost as if nothing had happened, no one was asked to make any sacrifices.It seemed like (actually, still seems like) a strange way to fight a war.

This book is full of Mahar's characteristic sarcasm and biting irony, and his fans are sure to love it.But even thoughtful people who disagree with him should find this book of interest.If you look beyond the attempts at humor, there are a number of issues here that merit debate, a debate that we have, thus far, largely avoided.Whether Mahar is right or not, a public debate on these issues would be healthy for the country, and might actually help us improve security in meaningful ways while also reducing the need for it.While the book may have been rushed to the presses in order to prevent it from being overtaken by events, it has weathered the passage of time well, and still remains pretty relevant to current conditions.

When You Ride Alone You Still Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism -
While I remain a fan of Bill Maher, "When You Ride Alone You Still Ride with Bin Laden" disappointed me. It was hard, if not impossible at times, to distinguish Bill from a Bush-supporter vs a Bush-basher. His arguments and allegiances seemed to be all over the place in this...very easy to read...book. Definitely not his best piece of work.

New Rule: Everyone should have to read this book.
When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism - And Still Isn't is a parody of a World War II propaganda poster that read "When you ride ALONE you ride with Hitler !", which suggested that automobile owners carpool to conserve gasoline for the war effort. This isn't just ironic today - it is a complete epiphany for those of us who understand History really repeats itself.

I must applaud HBO's host of Real Time with Bill Maher because he has the courage to speak his mind on topics most Americans staunchly are ignorant of. Like Maher points out - the United States is full of people who are wasteful when it comes to everything from oil, food, and the things we should be conserving and happy to have ready access to. FREEDOM!

Maher critiques of the war in Iraq are right on. He pulls no punches and he shouldn't. Bill Maher is intelligent, funny, and has written another fine book for anyone interested in discovering real truth in real time that may change the way they view our government's practices.

I am a father, a veteran, an author, and a concerned citizen. We need more people like Bill Maher, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ron Paul in this world who know what they are talking about when they choose to be serious.

Oh yeah - Bill - if you need me to come participate in the panel, I think I can silence Christopher Hitchens for you when he gets too pompous and contrived.
... Read more

Product Description
A selection of memorable highlights and tongue-in-cheek commentaries from Comedy Central's outrageous show includes observations on the need for drunk-driving lanes, a proposal for putting warning labels on Bibles, and other current issues. Reprint."Amazon.com Review
Politically incorrect humor is nothing new. It seems most jokes fromstand-up comedians through the years have poked fun at race, religion, genderor sex while the rest have intended to be downright offensive. (Remember Don Rickles?) But BillMaher has refined his humor on the nuances and sometimes ridiculousness ofall things "politically correct." Host of the talk show "PoliticallyIncorrect," he unloads a collection of his gems for this book, such as:"Should we require a seven-day waiting period to have a child, and if so,would it be called the Brady Bunch bill?" One book you won't want to take tothe Rainbow Coalition meeting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Politically correct show, how ironic a title.
Is Bill Maher capable of anything but ad hominem arguments?I don't think so.He refers to conspiracy theorists regarding the twin towers as stupid and crazy.Stupid?Eyewitnesses and newscoverage revealed demolition explosions going off at the time.Moreover, it wasn't two towers that went down, it was three!So who has their facts straight?No plane crashed into the third tower.Furthermore, who are the victims that allegedly died on those two planes?Isn't it strange there is no list of names?Why didn't the Pentagon have camera footage of the plane crashing there?Do they have the key stone cops for security?Why is Bill Maher overly emotional about the conspiracy behind this event?Could it be because it implicates Israell and Israelli interest?With regard to his statements about America being a stupid country, is it so stupid when you made all of your money here, Bill?Is it stupid because we made your race a privileged caste?Is it stupid because our people shed their blood and economic well being in order to fight wars for your people in World War II or for shedding our blood and bankrupting our country in order to protect Israelli interest in the Middle East?How many countries get billions of dollars from the American tax payer other than Israell?The money that pays for your resorts all around the world and finances your military and housing developments on Palestiniann land.If you are so intelligent why can't you debate without using pejoratives?I think you're just a, to use your favorite expression, stupid juwe.

Does Anybody Have a Problem with That?The Best of Politically Incorrrect
It is an alright product, but I would not buy it again, because it did not inform or give me any other information that I expected, and I would only watch it once - waste of money to buy something that I would use/view only once.

Tired Tripe
Like the HBO Show: Real Time with Bill Maher; this book too often cuts to the cheap joke. Maher, always a mediocre stand-up, can't resist an easy joke where a top comic would aim higher. Bill sets the bar comfortably low: keep the yucks coming, kiss the celebrity bum, but don't break a sweat or Heaven Forbid come up with something original.

Good guy,So, so book.
I found this book to be nothing more than an instant replay of Maher's television shows. But then that's exactly what it's advertised to be. We should give thanks when we end up with something that's as advertised. It's just that after six years of Bush and Cheney, the truth is boring.

True, this is more of a soapbox than a review, but that's okay since I'm a registered Republican. George W. Bush has decreed that we're not governed by the same rules and laws as everyone else. It wasn't that long ago that Bush bashing was one of the loneliest jobs in the world. Now, if you're not careful, you'll get trampled under by the androids and politicians who are trying to distance themselves from Bush, Cheney and America's Dachau--Abu Ghraib and the Iraqi holocaust.

yawn
While you are all busy spitting at one another, Bill Maher is probably off cavorting with Hugh Hefner and his little bunnies.Maher's association with Hefner is telling on many levels.Among them are: his affinity for the 'cool' and dedication to the depthless; his lack of meaningful personal relationships, the seed from which sprouts his warped view of society; and the maniacal influence that seems to pervade so many of his thoughts. All of that said I think that people should view Maher(and read him so that his comments can be considered naked, without the veil of cuteness). He is an example to behold. Of what? That is for you to decide. ... Read more

Product Description
Political provocateur Bill Maher tells it like it is in a useful and hilarious guide for the many Americans who want to do more here at home to help the war effort, but are at a loss as to what.

Thirty-three dynamic new posters and several classics from our government’s archive, accompanied by text from one of our leading pundits and cutting-edge comedians make this the perfect book for this time in our nation’s history, the zeitgeist of one-year-post-9/11 America. This is the book that will help Americans make the connections between what we do and how it can help our troops and ourselves.

“Having always defined political correctness as the elevation of sensitivity over truth, and being an optimist, I guessed that after 9/11, Americans would judge all matters ‘pc’ to be an indulgence herewith unaffordable. Boy, was I wrong.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

I only laughed once
I listened to the audio book.I only laughed once during Bill Maher's 3 hour diatribe.I've only watched Maher on TV a few times.I didn't realize that in this book, he pretty much criticizes the American public for being too complacent about terrorism.We ought to be fighting terrorism by driving less and using less energy, so that we buy less oil, the profits of which eventually end up in the hands of Osama bin laden et al.

And we ought to be paying teachers, firemen, and policemen more.I can never understand why millionaire entertainers say such things when they are at the top of the salary food chain.

But what really upset me about this book are several anti-Asian sentiments.Maher contends that racial profiling is fair and practical.He makes fun of Norm Mineta, Transportation Secretary, for the impractical security policy of screening little old ladies the same as young muslim males.He implies that Mineta was unduly influenced by the evacuation of Japanese-Americans.He implies the evacuation was fair because of the severity of the situation.He jokes about Jeffrey Dahmer raping and brutalizing a male Chinese teenager, which the police categorize as a domestic dispute.He implies the bombing of Japan was fair because it showed the people what mass destruction was about, and it stopped the war.

He obviously hasn't studied JA incarceration and relocation.It wasn't fair.It was conducted on behalf of white farmers who wanted Japanese farmers out of California agriculture.Many Nisei demonstrated their loyalty to the US, but I do not know a single Nisei who ever said that evacuation was fair or necessary.Hiroshima showed how little a yellow life meant to the white men who decided to drop the bomb.It wasn't just a matter of being practical.

Maher even misquotes an old Chinese proverb.I think it's only fitting that Maher ends his 2002 book by saying Americans have dominated the world for 2 centuries and should go for a 3-peat.Because in the 21st century, China will be the dominant but politically incorrect and even more practical superpower.And maybe in 20 years, some loud-mouthed Chinese entertainer will joke about an aged Jewish-Irish-American former comedian-pundit who was brutally raped and then eaten by a fellow prisoner.

One last comment-- the audio book is 3 discs, and each disc is one 60 minute track, making it hard to scan.

Verbal Crap from an Intellectual Featherweight
Bill Maher is one of the poster childern for famous people being indulged for thoughts and in this case, words that would have been ridiculed in any decent school. Maher only seems willing to preache to the choir. Pointing out his own party's failings is beyond him. I checked this book from the library and was glad I didn't waste my money buying it. Mad Magazine is better written and much cheaper.

New Rule: Everyone should have to read this book.
When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism - And Still Isn't is a parody of a World War II propaganda poster that read "When you ride ALONE you ride with Hitler !", which suggested that automobile owners carpool to conserve gasoline for the war effort. This isn't just ironic today - it is a complete epiphany for those of us who understand History really repeats itself.

I must applaud HBO's host of Real Time with Bill Maher because he has the courage to speak his mind on topics most Americans staunchly are ignorant of. Like Maher points out - the United States is full of people who are wasteful when it comes to everything from oil, food, and the things we should be conserving and happy to have ready access to. FREEDOM!

Maher critiques of the war in Iraq are right on. He pulls no punches and he shouldn't. Bill Maher is intelligent, funny, and has written another fine book for anyone interested in discovering real truth in real time that may change the way they view our government's practices.

I am a father, a veteran, an author, and a concerned citizen. We need more people like Bill Maher, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ron Paul in this world who know what they are talking about when they choose to be serious.

Oh yeah - Bill - if you need me to come participate in the panel, I think I can silence Christopher Hitchens for you when he gets too pompous and contrived.

Understanding Apples

Gathering Leaves: Understanding Apples Book Two

Excellent Book!
Excellent Book. Short and to the point. A great level of intelligence - about what is wrong with out system!

Great Audiobook
I purchased the hardcover first and found it to be pretty slim on actual content for the price--the posters really didn't add a whole lot to Maher's commentary. The audio book, narrated by Maher, is delivered in his dry comedic style and as such is much funnier. Maher is, first and foremost, a comedian, and this book has to be heard to be enjoyed. ... Read more

Product Description
True Story is Maher's debut novel about the wild and crazy life of the stand-up comedian -- a bawdy, rowdy tell-all report from the front line.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

no title
This was quite a book, certainly different than anything I've ever read before.A thinly disguised autobiography by the host of a TV talk show "Politically Incorrect", which was on late at night.Maher presents himself and his fellow comedians as being unbelievably shallow human beings, more consumed with getting into a woman's pants than practically anything else in life.And these are men in their 20s, not teenagers.The language he used you couldn't even put in a movie these days.And that's going some.(Well, with the exception of "The Aristocrats".)However, it waswell written (even if the author kept throwing in what I'm sure he thought were very erudite words just to make him appear smart) and I enjoyed it.It was alternately crisp, funny, bitter, and even at times very wise.About stand-up comedy.

Hard to Digest
This book is a difficult read...It has an interesting premise, but the characters are so disinteresting and the plot so convoluted that turning pages becomes a chore.

a masterpiece of cynicism.
As far as literature goes, it's not the best. But this book is _the_ most cynical thing I have ever read. Bill Maher makes Machiavelli look like Timothy Leary by comparison. Bill Maher actually manages to think that the world is a bit worse than it actually is -- and I didn't know that was possible. The most cynical thing in this book is of course then ending, where he drops the cynicism for a second in order to give it the kind of ending the reader is dying to see. Bill Maher elevates cynicism to an artform!

not a liberatarian
bill is not a liberatarian at all

Bill Maher's "True Story" is a great novel
I thought that Bill Maher's novel, "True Story" was veryperceptive and gave a fascinating look at a group of characters. The worldof comedy is fascinating, and he has some insights into human nature ingeneral. I hope he writes more novels.

I also thought that the focus onmultiple characters instead of one central protaganist was very effective,and his style of writing was very entertaining, elegent, and literate. Iespecially enjoyed the excerpts of comedy acts that he worked into thenarrative. ... Read more

Product Description

Spin -- intentional manipulation of the truth -- is everywhere. It's in the White House, in the courtrooms, in headlines and advertising slogans. Even couples on dates -- not to mention book blurbs -- are guilty of spin. Here, colorful news analyst Bill Press freeze-frames the culture of spin to investigate what exactly spin is, who does it and why, and its impact on American society. Using examples drawn from recent history -- the Clinton presidency, the Florida recount, and the Bush White House -- Press first probes spin's favorite haunt: politics. He then surveys incarnations of spin in journalism, law, and advertising, and chews on the spin of sex and "dating," a word that has become the very embodiment of spin. Perhaps surprisingly, however, Press argues that spin isn't all bad, and that without it the harsh truths of our times might be unbearable.

With a keen sense of humor, Spin This! turns the tables on the prime purveyors of spin by highlighting some of their biggest blunders. Looking to the future, Press notes that the twenty-first century, beginning as it has with a president who was "spun into office," will be a fertile stomping ground for spin. Don't say you weren't warned. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

I was duped by false advertising!!!!
I love Bill Maher.The first reference to this book was on a page about another Bill Maher book.That reference flat says "By Bill Maher", period!!!!Clicking on that reference gets you to the page from which I could write this "review".I notice it now says "By Bill Maher (foreword)".I was selecting items for my wish list for my family's benefit and selected everything by Bill Maher.So I didn't catch what I consider to be a MAJOR deception on the part of Amazon!!Literally all my internet shopping is done through Amazon because I consider them the very best the internet has to offer.But this baloney has to stop!!!I should not be required to read the fine print to insure I'm REALLY REALLY ordering something by Bill Maher or by somebody in whom I have zero interest.Shame, shame!

LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE
Total waste of time and money.

Here's some spin: This book's not completely horrible!
I really do not like writing bad reviews but I do wish people to know what they are and are not getting.

Like some other reviewers, I was hoping for a decent discussion on spin; what, how, why. Instead, this book is an repetitive barage of mildly entertaining anecdotes, slams and profane asides. (I'm not easily offended, but any political writer who uses the word 'bl**job' as much as Press does gets a bit annoying.) That's not to mention that the book could also, and was likely intended to, serve as an advertisement for his CNN show "Crossfire" as he mentions it once per page.

To his credit, this book is non-partisan, candid and from time to time, fun. Still, from his discussions on different kinds of spin, the history of spinning and all the rest, there was not one original thought in these pages. Everything Press presses in this book, we've all thought before while pondering the nature of political spin. With that in mind, it's tough to say whether Press was being deliberately condescending by writing this book, or if that was only the unintended consequence.

Bill Press, Spinmeister Par Excellence
A delicious romp through the world of spin!!!As Bill Press's self-appointed "#1 Fan", I awaited release of this book with great anticipation; and, characteristic of his television personna, the book is intelligent, enlightening, and entertaining throughout.His sense of humor enables him to write without offending, even as one recognizes one's self in certain of his examples of spin.I hastily read the book as soon as I received it and enjoyed every page; however, just as one gobbles down a favorite food of which one has long been deprived, without really adequately tasting it, a subsequent reading, savoring every delicious morsel, provides even greater delight.Press's ability to totally enjoy himself, while providing truths, gift-wrapped in his wonderful sense of humor, provides the reader a delicious romp through the world of spin.

shallow and on top of that profane
I began reading this book with great expectations only to discover after a few chapters that it contains nothing new or worthwhile. Sure it's funny but I would have liked to see some real political analysis on the subject of spin. On top of that,and at the risk of being labelled a prude: This book is incredibly profane ! It doesn't really matter what subject mr. Press is covering, it is usually backed up by profanity. Could it be that mr. Press doesn't really have anything interesting to say that he has to rely on this cheap method ?? It certainly looks that way. ... Read more

Product Description
If you've ever been fired, you're in good company. That's what actress and writer Annabelle Gurwitch discovered when she was fired by her idol Woody Allen, who added, "You look retarded." In confiding her tale of woe to others, she realized there is a world of people out there with similar laugh-out-loud experiences. How did Bob Saget learn he was being phased out of his job on The Morning Program? "One day I showed up and my hosting chair was gone!"

A collection of anecdotes from people who've all gotten the ax, the boot, or been canned at some point in their lives, Fired! boasts an all-star cast from Tim Allen to Jeff Garlin and features contributions from people all over the country. Uproariously funny and refreshingly true, this book proves it's not the bounce that counts, it's the bounce back. ... Read more

Product Description
The Best Opening Monologues from Politically Incorrect starring Bill Maher

Featuring an introduction by Penn Jillette

For everyone who's had their fill of politicians, TV trials and the daily events seen on the eveningnews, Simon & Schuster Audio offers some relief with POLITICAL INCORRECTIONS-a collection of thefunniest opening monologues from Comedy Central's hit show Politically Incorrect starring Bill Maher.

From Republicans to Democrats, politics to pop culture, nothing will be spared from Bill Maher'shilarious, "politically incorrect" commentary in this collection of his most outrageous material.

Whether you're liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between, this witty, irreverent stab at thepolitics of the day will have you laughing as you listen! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

You'll get a kick out of the many jokes

D. Bill Maher has been a comedian I've enjoyed for a long time . . . so
when I got hold of his audio book, POLITICAL INCORRECTIONS, I
was naturally looking forward to listening to it.

Its premise intrigued me, too . . . dubbed the "best opening monologues
from hit show POLITICALLY INCORRECT," I listened with the expectation
that I'd laugh loud and often--much as I had done when I watched the
show when it was on the air.

For the most part, I did get quite a kick out of the book . . . it gave me a
great opportunity to revisit much of the 1990s (POLITICAL
INCORRECTIONS came out in 1996) and once again hear about
such popular stories of the day involving OJ, Pee Wee Herman,
Cathy Lee, Michael Jackson, and a whole host of others.

There were countless jokes fired in the typical Maher fashion with
his promise that the material has been "satirized for your
protection" . . . among just a few of those that caused me
to pause while I was driving to write them down were the following:

* [on the trend to remake old movies]
In the 90s, they had to be politically correct. So next year, they're
coming out with THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FACIALLY
CHALLENGED.

* [on Clinton's cabinet]
It is starting to look like the Temptations. There are no original
members.

* [on a recent vote in California]
61% of people voted for the proposition to limit services to illegal
aliens. The other 39% are illegal aliens.

* [on Sonny Bono going to Congress]
Exit polls show he got in with a strong coalition of gypsies,
tramps and thieves.

* [on Pee Wee Herman auditioning for a role in HOW TO SUCCEED
IN BUSINESS]
He said he could hold his own in the theater.

* [on Colin Powell commenting how Bush and Reagan were hostile to
on the race issue]
They wrote him back and told him to stop being
so uppity.

* [on St. Thomas being pounded so hard by hurricanes]
It is no longer considered a virgin island.

* [on the OJ decision]
Justice is blind. I just didn't know she was
such a big football fan.

* [on Keith Richard having a grandson]
They can tell who he is because he has so many wrinkles and his nose
is covered with white powder.

* [on a survey of American sexual behavior]
American males came in last in almost every category except one:
They were first in coming first!

My only criticism of POLITICAL INCORRECTIONS had to do
with the inclusion of each night's guests . . . they added nothing
to the book and could have easily been eliminated.

Could have been better, but still worth it.
This tape is a collection of monologues from the show when it was on Comedy Central. While the monologues are funny, space is wasted by the shows music and the introduction of the guests for each show. The space saved could have been used for more jokes, but it still worth a listen.

One minute monologues followed by guest introductions
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 Maheractually discussing those topics.Frankly there is nothing humorous orentertaining about listening to a series of topics and guest introductions. It's a waste of time and money. ... Read more

Product Description
The World¹s first "Instant Graphic Novel"! When U.S. bombs started raining on the Taliban, Rall didn't just watch it on TV--he jumped on a plane straight to the war zone to get the real story for himself. But the only cartoonist to go to Afghanistan got more than he bargained for, way more than his previous gut-wrenching trip deep up the legendary Silk Road. Within days of arriving, armed men were hunting down journalists to murder and rob them. Waving funnies didn¹t help. From the gruesome spectacle of a Taliban prisoner blowing himself up with grenades to the hilarious image of mujahideen lining up for shaves and DVD porn a day after joining the Northern Alliance, you can count on Rall for a decidedly different take on this gritty war. TO AFGHANISTAN AND BACK, features as its centerpiece a 50-page graphic novel travelogue of his experience as a cartoonist and war correspondent. It also includes Rall's articles, cartoons and photos as filed from the front for the Village Voice and syndicated throughout America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Afghan reality 101
If you want to get a grasp about what Afghanistan is really about you need to read this book.

funny but sad
Basically a graphic novel with alternating chapters of prose. Rall's experience in Afghanistan is harrowing but humourus at the same time. This is a great book for anyone interested in the Central Asian region.

Required reading
The average U.S. citizen's knowledge of the world is woefully inadequate.For citizens of a supposed representative democracy that has so many irons inso many global fires, this is inexcusable.Our knowledge of Afghanistan (and the Central Asian region) falls deeply into this dynamic.Ted Rall goes a long way toward ameliorating this problem with this book.His first-hand analysis of the complex and bloody politics of Afghanistan put the 2001 U.S. invasion of this horribly beleaguered nation into a valuable perspective.

An angry alternative view of the Afghanistan campaign
"To Afghanistan and Back: A Graphic Travelogue," by Ted Rall, is one of the most fascinating texts to emerge from the post-9/11 era of war.The book's dustcover notes that it is an updated edition with new material at the end.Although this book has a copyright date of 2002, its epilogue (pages 111-126) is dated May 3, 2003.The book also contains a brief introduction by political humorist Bill Maher.In the epilogue Rall notes that he went to Afghanistan in November and December 2001 in order to cover the U.S.-led war there for "The Village Voice" and KFI radio.The book is a striking blend of elements: Rall's reports from the war zone, photographs from the war zone, a three-chapter "graphic novella" about Rall's experience as war correspondent, and a generous helping of stand-alone cartoons about the war and post-9/11 America.

A core theme of the book is Rall's claim that the mainstream media fed the public a load of "mindless jingoism" instead of truthful reportage; he describes his Afghan mission as an attempt "to separate propaganda from reality."In the course of the book Rall satirizes mainstream media, the U.S. military, U.S. foreign policy, and the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.His view of the U.S. military is particularly scathing.In the graphic novella U.S. military personnel are invisible, distant, but dangerous agents of indiscriminate violence; in the stand-alone cartoons, they are grotesque and destructive parodies.Rall creates a pungent, nightmarish portrait of wartime Afghanistan, and describes in great detail the dangers, discomforts, and frustrations endured by himself and other journalists.War itself is depicted as an ambiguous, messy, and even absurd enterprise.

Rall's passion is evident and admirable, but the book is at times hurt by his arrogant tone.He sometimes sounds a little too convinced about the absolute truth of his own opinions, such as when he declares the Afghan war to be "merely an escalation of genocide," or when he claims that the war "will accomplish exactly nothing."With statements like those Rall strikes me as being as narrow of vision as some of the folks that he mocks elsewhere.Still, this is a bracing and thought-provoking book; Rall skillfully and effectively blends text, photography, and comic art into a compelling whole.I highly recommend "To Afghanistan" for all those with a serious interest in the Afghanistan campaign; as a military veteran of that campaign, I greatly appreciate Rall's work.

W's first dirty war
If you think that Iraq was a diversion from the just war against the evil ones in Afghanistan, think again. Ted went there and reported things in 2003 that are just now (2006) making it into the media in this country.

If you can't figure out why the guys in the white hats can't seem to beat the guys in the black hats, this will help. Otherwise, keep watching General Pace tell you that by every objective measure the War On Terror is going very, very well.

This is a fascinating book full of truth you won't find anywhere else. ... Read more

Product Description
William "Bill" Maher, Jr. born January 20, 1956 is anAmerican stand-up comedian, television host, social critic,→ political commentator, and → author. Before his currentrole as the host of → HBO's → Real Time with Bill Maher,Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called →Politically Incorrect on → Comedy Central and later on →ABC. Maher is known for his → political satire andsociopolitical commentary. His commentaries target a wideswath of topics: → religion, politics, bureaucracies of manykinds, political correctness, the → mass media, → greedamong people and persons in positions of high political andsocial power, among many others. He supports thelegalization of → marijuana and gay marriage and serves onthe board of → PETA. He is also a → critic of → religion andis an advisory board member of → The Reason Project. Maheris number 38 on → Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups ofall time. ... Read more

Product Description
If you've ever been fired, you're in good company. That's what actress and writer Annabelle Gurwitch discovered when she was fired by her idol Woody Allen ("You look retarded"). She confided her tale of woe to her friend Felicity Huffman, who made Annabelle laugh with her own stories. Annabelle realized that there was a world of people out there waiting to laugh at the experience that virtually everyone shares, and she began to collect stories of being fired from friends and colleagues. Soon she was contributing regular "Fired!" segments to Day to Day on NPR and gathering friends to appear with her in sold-out performances of Fired! in Los Angeles and New York. Fired!, her documentary film inspired by these stories, comes out in 2006.

This book is a collection of hilarious but true tales from people who've all gotten the ax, the boot, or been canned at some point in their lives. In "That's a Fact," Andy Borowitz tells the story of being fired as a writer for the television sitcom The Facts of Life after being informed that he just didn't "get" Tootie. "Take that hanger off your head, you idiot!" were the last words Jeff Garlin heard before being fired from Spec's Music store after only one day on the job, just one of the many firings he recounts in "That Garlin Boy." In "Jimmy the Idiot," Dana Gould sums up his firing from the cast of the sitcom Working that led him to become a producer of The Simpsons: "In the second episode, I was a math genius, in the third -- a motocross racer, and in the fourth episode I was replaced by a chimp, but nobody noticed." In "Poor Judgment," Illeana Douglas tells about being fired after a few hours of working as a coat check girl: "How is it possible to be fired from hanging coats? I have arms. I know what coats are. I don't come home and throw my coat on the floor. I hang it in a closet. I have experience." How did Bob Saget find out he was being phased out of his job on The Morning Program? "One day I showed up and my hosting chair was gone!"

With an all-star cast from Tim Allen to Morgan Spurlock, from Anne Meara to David Cross, and contributions from people from all over the country, this book proves it's not the bounce that counts, it's the bounce back. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Funny Showbiz Stories of Being Fired
Some books are a like a fine four-course meal. You take your time. You appreciate every bite. You savor each delectable mouthful. When it is over, you feel like you've had an experience.

Some books are like comfort food. They fill you up and make you feel good inside. You crave more, and they make you feel better when you are feeling down.

Some books are like candy bars. They are sweet, easy to eat and gone in no time.

This book was a candy bar.

Now don't get me wrong -- I LOVE candy bars. (I love them a lot.) I gobbled this book up in record time and felt a little guilty about it because it wasn't real "good" for me -- just like when I eat a candy bar. These are the type of books I read after "coming down" from a four-course meal book like The Economist Book of Obituaries.

Now I know the title may sound a bit ominous or depressing. "A book about people losing their jobs. In this economy. I don't think so. That sounds like the last thing I want to think about." But you should know that the people who lost their jobs in this book are some of the best comedy writers, comedians and actors/actresses in the business. So their tales of losing their jobs are just downright funny and amusing. Did I mention that some of the contributors include Tim Allen, Andy Borowitz, Bill Maher, Bob Saget, D.L. Hughley, Harry Shearer, David Cross, Morgan Spurlock, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Heaton, Anne Meara, Judd Apatow, Andy Dick, Matt Walsh, Jeff Garlin, Paul F. Tompkins, Tate Donovan? I'm sure you've seen some of these names somewhere. The ones you might not be familiar with write for, act in or produce such little shows like The Simpsons, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The book is broken up into five sections:

1. The Job So Terrible You Can Only Hope to Be Fired
2. The Firing You Didn't See Coming
3. The Time You Deserved To Be Fired
4. The Time Getting Fired Leads You To Something Better
5. The Time You Had To Fire Yourself.

Each "chapter" has about 10 or 12 mini-essays or interviews. And not all the contributions are about being fired from jobs; the essay by Rob Cohen called "Attractive In A Bad Way" is about how he needs to fire himself from dating because he is "that guy....the one responsible for all those late-night crying jags" and he dates women "...who are incredibly appealing on the outside, but soooooo not on the inside. Like a Godiva's chocolate...full of scorpions with diarrhea."

Here are some other lines in the book that gave me a chuckle.

From Annabelle Gurwitch's essay "Crimes and Mythdemeanors": I just couldn't believe Woody Allen was ruining my Woody Allen experience.

From Bruce Cameron's contribution "Remodels Your Redundancy": My friends have said I have a "dark gift," because instead of getting angry, most of the people I fired seemed worried for me.

From Dana Gould's "Jimmy the Idiot": I figured I'd become a movie star and use it as a springboard to writing. Is there not a more difficult route? It was as if I wanted to be a pastry chef and entered politics to do it. After all, once I'm president of the United States, I can bake anything I want.

From Maxine Lapiduss's essay "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service": ...and I didn't make a million bucks or become an instant hit on Letterman. But foolishly that wasn't what I had asked God to do for me. I'd asked for a below-minimum-wage job and some costume assistance, and that's exactly what I got. Next time, I'll be more specific.

About The Author/Editor
The book was edited by Annabelle Gurwitch -- an actress who had the distinction of being fired by her idol Woody Allen (a story she includes in the book). After that experience, she began gathering stories about being fired from her friends (and she's got some funny friends). The stories turned into a contributions on Day to Day on NPR, a show, a documentary, and a web site. She is perhaps best know as the cohost of the cult TV hit Dinner and a Movie on TBS. She is currently working on a book about marriage with her husband called You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up.

Final Opinion and Giveaway
This was a fun, easy book to read. It was pretty humorous, and I enjoyed it.

Celebrate!You've been Fired!
Even though I wrote a story for this book, I CAN BE OBJECTIVE because my contribution is only two pages.(The best two pages, by the way.)

Anyway, this book is a PERFECT gift for any friend or coworker who has just been fired and is not thrilled to bits about it.(The last job I was fired from, I WAS thrilled to bits because I had already taken another job and was facing the prospect of "calling in sick" until all my sick days were used up, but that's another story for another book.)

Anyway, this might also be a great gift for employers to give out as a parting gift to the employees they are about to fire."Fired!" will make your fired employees feel like they have finally joined the ranks of the Truly Talented and Funny people who have fired stories to tell - and it might make you feel as if you have given them a promotion instead of a kick in the pants, so it's a win-win kind of gift.

This book will help the fired feel as if they are in good company (FABulous people have written their Fired! stories in this book!) and that they can overcome the firing to be happy, productive and funny people, with a good story to tell -- which is what life is all about anyway, right?

Quick, amusing
A quick, amusing read of true stories (mostly by comedians and entertainment writers) about getting fired

Very entertaining
After I heard the author being interviewed about this book on NPR, I had to get it. It's a quick, and very enjoyable read, most of the stories are really funny, and self depreciating. As the cover makes clear, the book focuses mainly on celebrities that have been fired, and later found success.

I laughed out load at the stories!
This book is full of short stories about the experience of being fired. I loved it and found myself laughing out loud and sharing the stories with my family at the dinner table. It's not a great inspirational read but it takes a lighthearted look at "losing a job" and sometimes thats just want we need! ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Kevin Smith, J. Michael Straczynski, William Carlos Williams, Ethan Hawke, Joyce Kilmer, Philip Roth, Bill Maher, Christopher Mcquarrie, Norman Mailer, Hedwig Gorski, Mike Michalowicz, Janet Evanovich, F. Paul Wilson, Yosef Reinman, Norman Cousins, A. Merritt, William Pène Du Bois, Fred J. Cook, W. S. Merwin, Robert T. Bakker, Wanda Gág, Harlan Coben, Ed Naha, Gerald Stern, Peace Pilgrim, William J. Higginson, Lynda Hull, Alan Pizzarelli, Herbert Jay Stern, Helen Zia, Naomi Long Madgett, Philip J. Ivanhoe, Logan Pearsall Smith, Laura Mccullough, Doni Tamblyn, Betsy Sholl, Edward Stratemeyer, Leo Katcher, Donald Gallinger, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr., Diana G. Gallagher, Rocco Silano, Martha Zweig, Gary Jennings, Steve Benson, Carol Plum-Ucci, Pietro Di Donato, Joel Fuhrman, Edward Bloor, Harry Basch, William Wenthe, Daniel Nester, Harriet Adams, Chang-Rae Lee, Peter Cole, Joan Silber, Aline Murray Kilmer, Peter Waldor, Anne Marie Macari, Gary Krist, Diane Wald, Jeff Gottesfeld, Lois Utz, Gregory Galloway, John Grant, Oscar Fraley, Michael Capuzzo, Henrietta Christian Wright, Jess Row, Noelle Kocot, Samm Sinclair Baker, Shaun Simon, Gene Laufenberg, John D. Jacobson, Daisy Hernandez. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 372. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Ethan Green Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an American actor, writer and film director. He made his feature film debut in 1985 with River Phoenix in the movie Explorers, before making a supporting appearance in the 1989 drama Dead Poets Society which is considered his breakthrough role. He then appeared in such films as White Fang (1991), A Midnight Clear (1992), and Alive (1993) before taking a role in the 1994 Generation X drama Reality Bites, for which he received critical acclaim. In 1995 he starred in the romantic dra...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=164120 ... Read more

Product Description
In this hybrid of fantasy, memoir, and editorial, former Rolling Stone editor and Hollywood insider/outlaw Joe Eszterhas spares no one. He covers the Clintons, Monica Lewinsky, and Linda Tripp in Washington, D.C.; Sharon Stone, Farrah Fawcett, and David Geffen on the West Coast; and everyone involved in politics and entertainment - living or dead - in between. Combining comprehensive research with insight, honesty, and fiction, American Rhapsody is an in-your-face look at the people running this country. It is also a rollicking good tale filled with humor, tragedy, suspense, high drama, and melodrama. And, of course, it's spiced with plenty of sex. With performances by a cast of experienced actors, this romp flouts virtually every rule, joining the rich tradition of works by Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, Tom Wolfe, and Hunter Thompson.Amazon.com Review
American Rhapsody is a gleeful act of outrage, simultaneously anassault on the Clintons and a bridge-burning, tell-all Hollywood memoir inthe wicked spirit of You'llNever Eat Lunch in This Town Again. Joe Eszterhas's narrative is atorrent of consciousness with no consistent sense of direction, but it allerupts from a plausible organizing principle best articulated in thechapter "Bubba in Pig Heaven": Hollywood is where Clinton really belongs.The author claims Bill watches Blazing Saddles six times a year, andsays that Gennifer Flowers got him blazing by enacting a Sharon Stone-likecrotch-shot scene years before Basic Instinct. When a sarcasticClinton allegedly told a Hollywood producer that his enemies would soon beaccusing him of coupling with a cow, the producer sent him Eszterhas's 1989screenplay Sacred Cow, in which a president does just that.Eszterhas claims Spielberg dropped the film because of his friendship withClinton. But he still thinks Clinton would be great in the role.

The Lewinsky saga really should be ho-hum by now, but AmericanRhapsody's Evel Knievel-like leaps of free association and mad briobreathe life into it. You've never been properly introduced to Linda Trippand Lucianne Goldberg until you've read "The Ratwoman and the Bag Lady ofSleaze," its uproarious take on the pair. American Rhapsody givesdozens of stars time in the sweaty spotlight: Matt "the Scavenger" Drudge,heroic Larry Flynt (whose threat to report Republican scandals Eszterhascredits with quashing impeachment)--almost every big political scandalvictim in memory. And there are lots of Hollywood types behaving badly: Bob Dylan,Warren Beatty, Ronald Reagan, Farrah Fawcett, Sharon Stone, Robert Evans,Sly Stallone (who wanted to portray Jesus onscreen), and even JoeEszterhas. The fantasy chapters, printed in boldface, are sometimes funny(e.g., "Kenneth W. Starr Confesses"), but mostly they're both over the topand below the belt (e.g., "Willard Comes Clean," the confessions of thepresident's penis). What holds your interest is the main narrative, a headymix of showbiz gossip, personal essay, and Lester Bangs-style prose mania.--Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Joe Eszterhas has created a genre
This book is as unique and entertaining as an 8 course meal served by a team of strippers in a library.

I like Bill Clinton MORE after reading this book and suspect that he is privately a Joe Eszterhas fan.And why not?Joe Eszterhas has more closet fans than any modern American writer.

No closet for me, thanks.Joe rules.

And a P.S. to Bill... America didn't hold the knobber against you.It's just that after JFK and Marilyn, we have pretty high standards.No hoggin' in the oval office, bro.If it had been Charlize Theron we would all have high fived you.Even Hillary would have understood.

:)

Irresistably preposterous-- But know what you are in for
Eszterhas the book writer is more intriguing and ideosyncratic than Eszterhas the screen writer.Be prepared for a 60's counter culture apologia pro vita sua with interesting detours (such as a tribute to Barry Goldwater).

The book is ultimately a tour of America the Horny across the life span of baby boomers."Life span" is the proper term, since there is raunch enough for a lifetime.The organizing principle is that Bill Clinton is the avatar for the sexual acting out of the rock and roll lifestyle.Clinton is not particularly revered here, although Hilary is portrayed as so cold (and maybe gay) that Bill had little choice.

There is a lot of malicious gossip here, but some is true.The challenge is distinguishing between gossip that is malicious and that which is false and malicious.

For all the astoundingly diverse sexual activity described, there is a clinical detachment.Eszterhas uses few words (save when quoting others) that the New York Times would not print.

Eszterhas narrates lots of the book and is not an especially skilled reader-- although the ring of authenticity he gives keeps it from being annoying.Ed Asner is a fine reader.

Be prepared for Eszterhas's substantial ego.

?????
I tend to vote Republican but refuse to align myself with the Right Wing or Moral Majority. I'm the guy in the middle that the candidates are really after.I say that as any review on this book should be tempered by the politics of the reader.JE is an avowed Democrat with socialist leanings.Read his most recent book "American Animal" to verify this.So it was surprising as I read the first third of this book that after an initial bow to Clinton as the Rock & Roll Prez, one of "us", he then seems to chastise him for his fatal flaws.This part of the book is interesting, engaging, but also somewhat repetitive.I still couldn't wait to read it my allotted hour a night.

But there is only so much you can talk about this subject and JE rambles on and on until he finally manages to really offend me.How?Well, I just finished his most recent book, "American Animal" an autobiography which I immensely enjoyed.Full of Hollywood stories.But reading this, I see that JE has included many of the stories I enjoyed from his autobiography in this political commentary/fantasy.So is he a writer with a message or is he just repeating his few stories to make a buck?

I don't know what to make of this book, thus my title.Did I enjoy some parts?Yes.Are there some interesting stories?Yes.But there is a lot of waste.It's like wandering thru a jungle with a machete looking for your trail.When you find it, it's worth the work.So maybe the only item I can add of interest came from reading this with some years of aging.JE takes on Arianna Huffington who he spends quite a bit of time describing her history to show what a bad person she is and how she climbed to the top while stepping on other people's faces.But would JE have included these chapters in this form if he had known that within a few years she would shift sides and now disavow her right wing leanings?I think not.

This is not a great book.But if you enjoy reading, maybe you will enjoy it.

Decent and Deplorable- in prose from the spheres.
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.

MUCH more than smutty tell-all
What a memorable and highly rewarding read.This book is much more than the sum of it's salacious and often repugnant contents; it's also a lecture on morality and a history lesson as well.I don't see how someone who reads this book can be derisive regarding the interlacing of fiction or the sheer amount of sordid detail.Given Eszerhas' talent for script writing and keen interest for the underbelly of the American society, how his book is put together should be no surprise.It's certainly not a novel or a bucket of heresay poo.
I am one who is generally both revolted and amused by the tabloids, and shows like Entertainment Television.But I could not put this book down.The book is informative and revealing, and I found myself lauging out loud and cringing, often while reading the same paragraph.I particularly enjoyed the moments where Eszterhas reflects on his own life; it's probably the most engaging aspect of the book.Expecting to find a smutty and over the top tell-all, I found something rich in intelligent, values-based writing. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from National Catholic Reporter, published by National Catholic Reporter on October 31, 2008. The length of the article is 891 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Ridiculing religious rubes: Bill Maher, in 'Religulous,' aims for cheap laughs.(MOVIES)
Author: Kevin Doherty
Publication: National Catholic Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 31, 2008
Publisher: National Catholic Reporter
Volume: 45Issue: 1Page: 18(1)

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more