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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Profiles in Ignorance is a sharply-written book about prominent American politicians who have owned their ignorance. This is one of those subjects where if you don't laugh at it, you just may cry.
I have long followed the Borowitz Report in the New Yorker, so I was excited to read this book. Andy Borowitz is such a gifted humorist and satirist and this did not disappoint!
I listened to the audiobook, which the author deftly narrates, at times with impressions. So many parts had me laughing out loud. He frames the ignorance of politicians so skillfully, giving his readers the background of what's going on in the world and culturally.
As several Republicans are the main targets, this is probably a book for Democrat political junkies. Highly recommended if you're looking to learn and have a good laugh.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I have long followed the Borowitz Report in the New Yorker, so I was excited to read this book. Andy Borowitz is such a gifted humorist and satirist and this did not disappoint!
I listened to the audiobook, which the author deftly narrates, at times with impressions. So many parts had me laughing out loud. He frames the ignorance of politicians so skillfully, giving his readers the background of what's going on in the world and culturally.
As several Republicans are the main targets, this is probably a book for Democrat political junkies. Highly recommended if you're looking to learn and have a good laugh.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Read this book to find out not only is Trump not an aberration of American politics, but is in fact what the GOP has worked for decades to create. He's not a failure of the American right wing system - he is emblematic of its success.
This was both an entertaining and frightening book. The things related to Reagan and somewhat with George W. surprised and shocked me. You have to wonder how some people get so far in life or actually hold an intelligent conversation. All the more recent, excruciating things about Trump are so well known that it's hard to shock anyone there. It's a well-researched book, superbly written by one of my favorite humorists.
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Andy Borowitz writes a daily satirical column for the New Yorker which is usually pretty funny. Here he devotes 250 pages or so to tracing the rise of ignorance in American politics. Eminently readable, but in some ways simply a compendium of moronic moments in politics. He does provide a guiding outline - how during Reagan and Quayle's time politicians tried to hide their ignorance do as not to face ridicule. George W. Bush made being proud of one's ignorance acceptable, and then the moron known as the former guy celebrated his ignorance. A "fun" read, but there's nothing really new here.
I actually saw Andy Borowitz live during his promotional tour for this book, which is where I purchased my very own copy. About 10 minutes of the hour or so talk was just Andy reading Dan Quayle quotes, which had the audience in stitches.
The book is simultaneously humorous and depressing. It's not Andy's typical satire. The book is well researched and serious, and follows American politics as we moved from the Age of Ridicule, through the Age of Acceptance, and finally into the Age of Celebration.
During the Age of Ridicule, ignorance was a magnet for mockery, and could kill a politician's career. Dumb politicians had to pretend to be smart. His case studies are Ronald Reagan and Dan Quayle.
The Age of Acceptance is when ignorance mutated into a sign that a politician was authentic. Dumb politicians were free to appear dumb, with varying degrees of success. His case studies here are George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.
In the current Age of Celebration, ignorance has become preferable to knowledge. Smart politicians must pretend to be dumb. One flaw in the book is that it doesn't really dwell on the smart politicians pretending to be dumb, but mention is made of several with Ivy League educations that pretend to be anything but well-educated. The focus in this section, instead, is Trump as the ultimate ignoramus-in-chief.
I don't need to get into the specifics, but the basic shift has been brought about by the so-called Information Age, in which politicians who can act are preferred over politicians who read and actually know things. Thanks to the internet and social media, voters are free to choose "only the facts they agree with." While many of us are still astounded at the depths of Trumps ignorance and incompetence, far too many see a completely different person. They believe the false persona that emerged from careful editing of The Apprentice and is reinforced by the skewed reporting by right wing news sources. To them, Trump isn't an ignoramus who refused to read or educate himself in any way. To them, Trump is the god-king-messiah he tells them he is. I would argue that almost refutes the Age of Ignorance premise, since die hard Trump supporters truly don't see him that way, and have resolutely sheltered themselves from any news source that contradicts that belief.
There is a short chapter at the end with ideas on how to combat the Age of Ignorance, which boils down to being more engaged in democracy. We must vote. We must help others vote. We must stop spending our time on social media and actually engage in local and regional politics. It's not much, and I don't know if we can truly overcome the anti-education, anti-science, anti-intellectualism wave that has taken root.
The book is simultaneously humorous and depressing. It's not Andy's typical satire. The book is well researched and serious, and follows American politics as we moved from the Age of Ridicule, through the Age of Acceptance, and finally into the Age of Celebration.
During the Age of Ridicule, ignorance was a magnet for mockery, and could kill a politician's career. Dumb politicians had to pretend to be smart. His case studies are Ronald Reagan and Dan Quayle.
The Age of Acceptance is when ignorance mutated into a sign that a politician was authentic. Dumb politicians were free to appear dumb, with varying degrees of success. His case studies here are George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.
In the current Age of Celebration, ignorance has become preferable to knowledge. Smart politicians must pretend to be dumb. One flaw in the book is that it doesn't really dwell on the smart politicians pretending to be dumb, but mention is made of several with Ivy League educations that pretend to be anything but well-educated. The focus in this section, instead, is Trump as the ultimate ignoramus-in-chief.
I don't need to get into the specifics, but the basic shift has been brought about by the so-called Information Age, in which politicians who can act are preferred over politicians who read and actually know things. Thanks to the internet and social media, voters are free to choose "only the facts they agree with." While many of us are still astounded at the depths of Trumps ignorance and incompetence, far too many see a completely different person. They believe the false persona that emerged from careful editing of The Apprentice and is reinforced by the skewed reporting by right wing news sources. To them, Trump isn't an ignoramus who refused to read or educate himself in any way. To them, Trump is the god-king-messiah he tells them he is. I would argue that almost refutes the Age of Ignorance premise, since die hard Trump supporters truly don't see him that way, and have resolutely sheltered themselves from any news source that contradicts that belief.
There is a short chapter at the end with ideas on how to combat the Age of Ignorance, which boils down to being more engaged in democracy. We must vote. We must help others vote. We must stop spending our time on social media and actually engage in local and regional politics. It's not much, and I don't know if we can truly overcome the anti-education, anti-science, anti-intellectualism wave that has taken root.
Well researched, funny, and terrifying. We truly are in the political era of revered ignorance.
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.25 stars. This author has penned a funny, insightful book of the through line of stupidity in the GOP in the last 50 years. He is obviously biased and picks facts, but this book is not meant to be a balanced telling — but more of a satirical screed against the stupidity, corruption, and disingenuousness of GOP politicians. In that regard, the book succeeds. I marked the book down a bit because Part III is almost exclusively Trump with no focus on other pols. And the conclusion was largely useless IMO.
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced