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maxdug's review against another edition
4.0
First off, it's hilarious! Second off it makes you feel great about paying your taxes. It leans a little too far in some parts, but overall it a story based justification of people being good and selfless.
ggosser's review against another edition
1.0
Garrison Keillor is a better person than you. That could have been the title for this book. I'm a democrat from Wisconsin, not that far from Keillor's St. Paul, MN, so you'd think we'd share some ideals and experiences. But this felt like a cranky old man lecturing me about why nothing is as good as growing up in a Protestant household in Minnesota and going to the U of M in the 60's. Everyone should be as humble as him, talking about his world travels, successful radio and writing careers, and living in Copenhagen and New York City. Everyone should be the exact same kind of democrat as him, extremely religious and hateful of any republican. I know plenty of republicans, and I don't think they're actually demons in hiding. I don't think their intention is to destroy the Earth and all of human society. But that's what I got from this book. I'm sick of both sides digging in and demonizing the other side, and Keillor is one of the worst offenders I've seen.
msjoanna's review against another edition
3.0
There is no doubt that Keillor is a talented writer. His nostalgia for the Midwest of his youth tended to remind me of the writing of Bill Bryson in The Lost Continent. But I had hoped that Keillor would have more to contribute to the political dialogue. Instead, he too often resorted to name-calling rather than reasoning. While fun to read, it ended up feeling sort of like political comfort food for Democrats. Enjoyable, but definitely not particularly meaningful.
jakekilroy's review against another edition
4.0
Nobody in the history of time had a better childhood that Garrison Keillor. It's not because of any particular details, but it's because he makes it sound like he was raised in the golden white fluffy plains of Heaven. But it wasn't. It was Minnesota, which he makes sound like the promise land. Keillor makes the entire state of Minnesota has a crime rate of 0% and free cupcake delivery or some shit is through the roof. His ability to wax poetic about the simple things in life with a epic sense of the humdrum that comes along with oral history is unmatched. He's the best at just jivin' about youth in the way that it could work in the 1800s, the 1900s, this century, the next century. Who knows when the Midwest will ever change? But he might as well be the best paid government employee of Minnesota's tourism department. Keillor is a serious idealist, which I think brings about trouble in some narratives, especially in a book about politics.
Keillor generalizes, which makes sense, since that's the only way you could write a book about democrats vs. republicans. The problem there is that every argument is easily flawed. He makes sweeping generalizations about democrats being the best and the same for republicans being the worst. I understand that he's using party platforms, but he talks about them as people. I believe in the two-party system, though I'd be very interested to have more political parties. And, even though I'm a registered democrat, I had trouble going with the whole idea that democrats aren't without terrible bullshit sins. I do think that the Democratic Party is more for the middle class and the little guy than the GOP, but I don't think we always jump at the chance to do the right thing. More often than not, as a whole, sure, but Keillor makes it sound like democrats came from Heaven/Minnesota just to save this goddamn country.
Keillor's a heck of a writer, even when his prose gets so wishy-washy, you think you could swim through it. He's all over the place, but it works in the way your grandpa used to tell you stories about the world long before you. Oh, this place, Minnesota, it has cafes and everyone's super nice and nobody ever hurts anybody and we have picnics and the only crime ever committed was caring too much and it reminds of democrats who really are the best and they just want the world to hug itself and everyone to be happy and nobody will ever be sad and everything should just be like Minnesota. I enjoyed the book quite a bit, as he can slide in a joke in the middle of some poetry that's supposed to be a memoir, so mad kudos there. I just want him to acknowledge more flaws in the Democratic party and just one (JUST ONE FUCKING) flaw about his home state.
Keillor generalizes, which makes sense, since that's the only way you could write a book about democrats vs. republicans. The problem there is that every argument is easily flawed. He makes sweeping generalizations about democrats being the best and the same for republicans being the worst. I understand that he's using party platforms, but he talks about them as people. I believe in the two-party system, though I'd be very interested to have more political parties. And, even though I'm a registered democrat, I had trouble going with the whole idea that democrats aren't without terrible bullshit sins. I do think that the Democratic Party is more for the middle class and the little guy than the GOP, but I don't think we always jump at the chance to do the right thing. More often than not, as a whole, sure, but Keillor makes it sound like democrats came from Heaven/Minnesota just to save this goddamn country.
Keillor's a heck of a writer, even when his prose gets so wishy-washy, you think you could swim through it. He's all over the place, but it works in the way your grandpa used to tell you stories about the world long before you. Oh, this place, Minnesota, it has cafes and everyone's super nice and nobody ever hurts anybody and we have picnics and the only crime ever committed was caring too much and it reminds of democrats who really are the best and they just want the world to hug itself and everyone to be happy and nobody will ever be sad and everything should just be like Minnesota. I enjoyed the book quite a bit, as he can slide in a joke in the middle of some poetry that's supposed to be a memoir, so mad kudos there. I just want him to acknowledge more flaws in the Democratic party and just one (JUST ONE FUCKING) flaw about his home state.
noysh's review against another edition
5.0
This one's a keeper. Inspired by current events, but really a rational take on patriotic responsibilities that is timeless.
Kiellor's commentary is perhaps a bit idealistic and painted in hues of nostalgia. But that's why I like him.
Kiellor's commentary is perhaps a bit idealistic and painted in hues of nostalgia. But that's why I like him.
snarlet319's review against another edition
I am reading this because my mother is making me. SHE loved it, and can't stand that I'm a Republican. Though I will not vote Republican for president this November.
anyakinsl's review
5.0
Fascinating in depth analysis of Keillor's history and politics, much of which mirror mine. At time sarcastic and witty but also touching and engaging. Would recommend!!
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