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theonionboy's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, very funny. One sign of a good humor writer is that they don't have to overplay any joke because they have so many more coming. That is definitely true here. It is a bit date now, but that is to be expected with political humor. It does get to be a bit depressing to see so many flaws in our system pointed out, without offering a solution, but I guess that is how political satire works.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
Full Disclosure--I am addicted to The Daily Show. When I miss the show, I can be found at my desk at work sneaking a peek at the internet repeat. So this was absolutely the book for me. A totally entertaining look at the "citizen's guide of democracy inaction". Lots of moments when I found myself laughing out loud. That wouldn't be so bad, but again I was at my desk. I really need to get a grip on my behavior. Loved this book.
siria's review against another edition
4.0
The strange thing about America: The Book is that it's simultaneously both one of the most hilarious, and one of the most depressing, books that I have ever read. I mean, I can say that I--one of those dreaded liberal commie pinko Europeans--have learned something about the American political process by reading it. On the other hand, while I was reading the chapter on the modern news media I thought, you know, there's something to be said for wilful ignorance.
I would still totally sex up Jon Stewart.
I would still totally sex up Jon Stewart.
siria's review against another edition
3.0
This read as much more caustic than the Daily Show's previous America: The Book—the effect of the monumental clusterfuck that has been the past five years? This was much the same mix as that book: some parts were very funny, some parts wryly, ironically amusing. Some fell too wide of the mark, especially those which relied very heavily on pop culture references (this is not a book that's going to stand the test of time), and some were just unfunny. The section on Africa, especially, made me wince; there was no subversion of stereotypes here, but an attempt to get a laugh by presenting those stereotypes as fact. It was, if not over the line, then skirting right on the line of Ironic Hipster Liberal Racism.
I listened to the audiobook, which has the benefits of allowing to you hear not just Stewart, but also John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, Sam Bee and Jason Jones interpret the material. (Oh, and I have no idea how they managed to get her, but the intro and chapter headings are read by Sigourney Weaver. Wow.) Their voices help add a level of humour that probably doesn't exist in the text.
I listened to the audiobook, which has the benefits of allowing to you hear not just Stewart, but also John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, Sam Bee and Jason Jones interpret the material. (Oh, and I have no idea how they managed to get her, but the intro and chapter headings are read by Sigourney Weaver. Wow.) Their voices help add a level of humour that probably doesn't exist in the text.
izzybooks_2000's review against another edition
4.0
I've been learning a ton about our government system, especially with the upcoming election, so this book was a hilarious and entertaining way to get a lot of info in a sarcastic tone. So sarcastic, in fact, that there were a few times I wasn't entirely sure whether he was joking or being literal. I love every video I've seen with Jon Stewart, so it was no surprise I liked this. The occasional commentary from Samantha Bee about how Canadians do things or the funny flow charts were great, too. (Although I was more than a little disturbed at the photo-shopped supreme court justices . . . who were naked and used as either paper dolls or a "match the supreme court justice to their clothes." I can't quite remember. I think I've blocked it from my mind.)
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
In the wake of everyone talking about people living in "bubbles" in the wake of the 2016 US Presidential election, I have to say that this book isn't going to puncture or cross any bubbles. That said, I found it an engaging and amusing very brief summary of the "basics" sprawling topics of US history and politics. For me it was a general refresher of many things that sounded vaguely familiar from school, but which I should really know better/have paid more attention to. Although this is definitely liberal, it pokes fun at the absurdity of the US system in every direction, so it didn't bother me so much. If you're looking for a book with proposed solutions, rather than one humorously identifying flaws, then this isn't the place for you, though. Not to sound like a jerk, but I could also foresee people who didn't have a strong background in US history of politics to believe some of the sarcasm/jokes interspersed, kind of like how Onion articles are mistaken for truth. I suppose that that is another testament to the absurdity of politics, though.