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blakemp's review against another edition
4.0
This is by no means the best of Dave Barry's books, but it does hold a special place for me, as it is the first of his books I ever read.
12roxy's review against another edition
4.0
Specific topics may be dated, but the outlines remain the same. Still funny. Sadly, shows the stalemate situation of American politics has been around for decades.
staatz's review against another edition
3.0
If Steven Colbert were writing for a paper 30 years ago...
thrifty_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
This book isn't outdated - it's awesome. Yes, I'm too young to be a Dave Barry fan, but fan I am. I read a book of his when I was a kid and will never grow out of him. True, most of these articles were written in 1982, the year my older brother was born, but so what? Barry's criticisms are still valid, and his perspective on life certainly is as well. And to say I laughed at nearly every one of these articles would not be an exaggeration.
I feel with Barry like I'm visiting with a friend. I understand his sense of humor and can't wait to hear what else he has to tell me about. I really need to read more (OK, all) of his books.
Oh, and I read this over the course of about 40 days, which for me is unheard of (this year I've been reading obsessively and usually finish books in 5 days or less). I kept this one under the bed and read a couple articles every day or so. It made me happy before falling asleep, and it never lost its charm.
Ignore the haters, Dave. Your groupies are here for you.
I feel with Barry like I'm visiting with a friend. I understand his sense of humor and can't wait to hear what else he has to tell me about. I really need to read more (OK, all) of his books.
Oh, and I read this over the course of about 40 days, which for me is unheard of (this year I've been reading obsessively and usually finish books in 5 days or less). I kept this one under the bed and read a couple articles every day or so. It made me happy before falling asleep, and it never lost its charm.
Ignore the haters, Dave. Your groupies are here for you.
eandrews80's review
3.0
My parents owned this when I was a kid, and it's the first book I can remember reading that made me laugh until my cry. I have a very vivid memory of lying on my stomach on my top bunk, long after I was supposed to be asleep, and silently weeping with mirth. I will always have a soft spot for Dave Barry.
That said, I did not have the same reaction reading it as an adult. I definitely laughed out loud multiple times, but the material is a bit dated. I dreaded any chapter about the government or politics, mostly because Barry seems to have (or at least had) some conservative or libertarian leanings with which I don't agree. My favorite sections were "Health Habits" and "The Media is the Mess-up."
That said, I did not have the same reaction reading it as an adult. I definitely laughed out loud multiple times, but the material is a bit dated. I dreaded any chapter about the government or politics, mostly because Barry seems to have (or at least had) some conservative or libertarian leanings with which I don't agree. My favorite sections were "Health Habits" and "The Media is the Mess-up."
12roxy's review
4.0
Specific topics may be dated, but the outlines remain the same. Still funny. Sadly, shows the stalemate situation of American politics has been around for decades.
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