Product Description
"We are professionals. Though not specifically professionals in the field of 'psychology' or 'psychiatry,' we are both highly paid actors and comedians, and as such know more about neuroses than you could possibly imagine. . . ."

If you're tired of following the rules, dating people from Mars and Venus, gorging on chicken soup for your soul, or getting lost on a road less traveled, then it's time you listened to Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo, two people who actually sweat the small stuff . . . because, let's face it, if your body doesn't sweat, it dies--much like Ben and Janeane's train wreck of a relationship many years ago. From that experience came wisdom and self-reproachment. Now, in Feel This Book, they tackle the tough questions:

- Is love necessary?
- How can I make money off my spouse?
- Compassion--is it overrated?
- Why can't I sleep around and still love you?
- How many times have you told your significant other that you would pick up something for dinner on your way home from the office, and next thing you knew you're at an all-night eatery with some hermaphrodite you found on the strip, having eggs and bacon at three in the morning?

Through helpful tips, completely fabricated case studies, the six laws of spiritual success, the fourteen by-laws of spiritual awakening, and the twenty-three addendums and sub-laws regarding anything spiritual and successful, Stiller and Garofalo teach such valuable lessons as:

- When it comes to family, grasp onto the blame and don't let go
- Make the connection . . . between Deepak and Tupac
- Your mother lied; looks are everything, and the sooner you submit and stop denying the inevitable, the happier you will be
- And much more!

Feel This Book. Let it be your path, your compass, your sensible shoes, your Frappuccino®. It's what self-help was meant to be.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
A warning to readers: though Ben Stiller (Flirting withDisaster) and Janeane Garofalo (The Truth About Cats andDogs) used to be a couple, do not confuse their advice book withChicken Soup for theCouple's Soul. This is more of a cross between James Thurberand E.B. White's satirical Is Sex Necessary? and MTV's Beavis andButt-Head: Chicken Soup for the Butt.

The ex-couple give us alternating chapters of remarkably rambling,extravagantly ironic, showbiz-insider's philosophical musings, butthey do discuss their actual relationship, just to let you know wherethey stand--right on your funny bone, exerting maximum pressure untilyou beg for mercy. After their breakup, writes Garofalo, "We agreedthat in the future we would only meet for professional purposes, or ifwe were drunk and felt like having emotionally destructive sex."

This faux tome (also read by the authors on audiocassette) is ameeting of the minds for professional purposes. But again, don't befooled by what these wily authors say! The intriguing chaptersreferred to in the opening pages--"Why Can't I Sleep Around and StillLove You?"; "How to Fake an Orgasm to Show Your Love, or The Art ofthe Squeal"; "Negotiating with God for What You Want--and GettingIt!"; "Pros and (Very Few) Cons of a Third Party in theBedroom"--these chapters do not in fact exist! What does existis a dog's breakfast of jokes from a pair of clowns. Read it and weep,but heed it at your peril. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

Book review
The book was in excellent condiiton. It looked practically new. The book is hilarious. Its a dark comedy a lot of sarcasm and wittiness. So if you enjoy that, this is a book for you.

A badly written, lazy piece of writing....inexcusable in my opinion...
I paged through this thing while hanging out at a Borders, and it was pretty awful.It seemed like it was written in a day or two, and as some have said, it was probably done just to make some extra cash.Janeane had said in an interview that she didn't really want to do it (there has been tension between her and Stiller for years, recently saying in another interview he tried to get her fired off of Reality Bites), and that her and Ben didn't actually write it together.They wrote their pieces seperately, and sent it to the editors, who tried to make sense out of it.It is a haphazard, lazy outing, and you're better off not reading this tripe at all.Considering Janeane is very articulate and well read, I thought she would be a good writer.She probably is, but working with Stiller probably dumbed her writing down.Stiller may be good at playing neurotic, nerdy characters that make fools of themselves, but he's a rather smug person (a typical Gen X type), and here he shows that's he's a terrible writer.I was never a huge fan of his, and here he just confirms my dislike.If you really want to read something from Janeane, google her numerous interviews (she's done TONS of them, probably the most of any minor celebrity ever).They're better than this "book".The fact that this book is selling used for a penny shows that people aren't as dumb as Ben and Janeane thought they were (or the publishers) when they tried to pass off this crap.

A recommendation from the Washington Post
From The Washington Post, 'The Tortured Lives of Interrogators,' June 4 2007.

"Not long ago in Iraq, he felt "absolute power," he said, over men kept in cages. Lagouranis had forced a grandfather to kneel all night in the cold and bombarded others in metal shipping containers with the tape of the self-help parody "Feel This Book: An Essential Guide to Self-Empowerment, Spiritual Supremacy, and Sexual Satisfaction," by comedians Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo. ("They hated it," Lagouranis recalled. "Like, 'Please! Just stop that voice!' ") "

Boy, is that some kind of plug...

Unbearable
A few of Janeane's chapters have one or two funny moments, but Ben Stiller's are not to be borne.

Almost nothing that Stiller writes has any laughs whatsoever.Even as parody, something should provoke a laugh or a smile.

Awful!

What a duo.
A laugh riot! Me and my brother read this and couldn't stop laughing. A must-read! ... Read more

Product Description
Six weeks after 9/11, the USA Patriot Act was rushed through Congress. This 300-page bill gave sweeping new powers to the FBI, CIA, and Immigration and Naturalization Service, permitting them to wiretap telephone conversations, read E-mails, and arrest, detain, and deport suspicious individuals. It's a Free Country examines the frightening consequences of the Patriot Act. Voices from across the political spectrum are represented, from civil libertarians of the left-Ira Glasser, Howard Zinn, Tom Hayden, and Michael Moore-to conservative critics of overreaching government, including former U.S. Representative Bob Barr of Georgia and Republican activist Paul Weyrich. Also included are original works by Steve Earle, Ani DiFranco, and Matt Groening. As Cornel West writes in his foreword: "The best way to pay homage to those innocent fellow human beings who were viciously killed on September 11, 2001 ... is to insure that their loved ones-as well as ourselves-live in an American democracy forever vigilant in its quest for freedom, and forever vigorous in its efforts to secure our precious liberties alongside our safety." A thoughtful and timely anthology, this edition has been completely updated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

It's a Free Country:Personal Freedom in America After September 11
The book arrived well within the stated time of delivery and was in good condition.

Interesting articles
This is quite a good book filled with a large number of articles about the political freedoms in the USA a year after 9/11.

As would be expected with the contributors, there is not a great deal of love to the Bush Administration or its handling of the nation in this time period.

The articles (as the editors state) tend to get repetitious after a while, so the second half of the book is more of a speed read in certain sections.

I found this book to be thought-provoking.

The fear factor
Every dictator recognises the power of fear.It's the chief rationale for controlling dissent.Justice for minorities can be shelved.The most blatant acts of government can be excused in the name of "security".This collection of essays by a wide spectrum of lawyers, writers, observers demonstrates how the Bush regime is using fear to consolidate power and undermine the democratic traditions of the United States.It has happened in the past, several of the writers note - the Alien and Sedition Acts of John Adams' administration, the Palmer Raids of World War I and the Japanese herded into concentration camps under the Roosevelt administration.While these events set a precedent, none reached the intensity nor had the far-reaching social impact the current regime has instituted since 2001-09-11.

The various authors examine the historical roots of stifling dissent in the USA.They explain what prompted governmental repressive acts and how these were implemented.Public reaction was usually swift and expressive, if not originally successful.Ultimately, protest and legal action led to disavowal or rejection of the acts or policies.With the Bush regime having declared the "war on terror" to be long-term, if not indefinite, note several authors, the new repression will endure and likely intensify.This presents the public with a new challenge.Even the normal, traditionalmechanisms of countering repression have been curtailed, almost without the public noticing.This book, incorporating a variety of political orientations, points up the fact that democracy is more fundamental than party.Rights, the authors stress, are an issue of law, not campaigns.In particular, these essayists note, restricting freedoms to improve security is a false idea.

It is clear from this book that the barrage of unconstitutional declarations by the regime are not instrumental in defeating or preventing "terrorist" activities in North America.These directives and policy statements are designed to impose a reactionary, even dictatorial, social and political structure in the United States.The collection is a warning signal both to residents and citizens of that nation and elsewhere to scrunitise carefully any pronouncements deemed to "increase security".Reference to the "porous Northern border" of the United States in the Introduction is a clarion call to Canadians to read this book and follow events here and in the US closely.With the Bush regime applying pressure on various countries to conform to its methods and accept his dictums, we must maintain a wary eye on our neighbour's intrusions.

While the attempt to gain the widest political and social spectrum of writers and commentators to expose the legal terrorism by Bush and Rumsfeld is laudable, the messagehere is blurred by repetition.We all agree the WTC attacks were "horrific" but the editors might have applied a thesaurus to reduce the number of times the word is used.The incarcerated men and children at Camp X in Guantanamo have no civil rights, and their legal rights have been curtailed by illegal declarations by the Bush regime.One solidly researched and well-written essay on that topic would have sufficed, even if multiple-authored.The same standard might have been applied to some of the other topics.While it's essential to the survival of democracy to be aware of how Bush, Rumsfeld and the rest are shredding the American Constitution, this collection stumbles slightly in the effort. [stephen a. haines- Ottawa, Canada]

Some dare to speak... yeah, team!
Three more copies en route because we vote with our money.
Applauding those who dare to speak when Newspeak
(and goldbergism via scarboroughbot) prevails and reagan
movies are censored by rove-rush-religious-reich-robots
is the least we can do in these times before the pendulum
swings back toward equilibrium of some sort..;>

May the public's awakening, evidenced by book sales
and righteous reactions to lying war-makers, occur in
our lifetimes. May more notice who is on first, who

benefits and where the money comes from and goes to
make media fear its own shadow. These contributors are
a brave lot. Castigated and cartooned by minions of
the rush-on-drugs-daily, they act and speak as if our
beloved country is not already lost. They restore hope.

Good collection of thoughtful essays...
A wide variety of contributors make this book a useful counter to the rush towards war abroad and away from civil liberties in this country.Some are funny, some tragic, but all the pieces are thoughtful and thought-provoking. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Good Advice
Solid advice for surviving these trying times and helping our fellow citizens into the light.Several books have been written outlining some of these principals, this one is simple to read and lighter than most; and in these trying times sometimes we need a break.

Thanks for a great education...and Hope!
Bill's book is awesome. It explains very clearly the ideals of the Democratic Party, better than I've heard any of them explain it. I want to get all Democratic Senators and Congressmen a copy of this book so they can explain to the public what they (we) stand for and end the confusion. I don't know how Bill figured it all out, but his writing is very logical and clear. It's freshness cuts thru all the BS we hear every day. Bill, please stay in the political landscape...we need you badly!

Hallelujah!
It is time to reclaim this great nation for the people in it! This book isn't just about reviving the Democratic party, but reviving America's zeal to be part of their own government again. so many people in recent years have given up. They feel powerless in the shadow of a government that has been snatched from the hands of the Americans it's supposed to represent.

Bill Scher's book is "call to arms" for all those people who have given up. It's time to get back in the game to reclaim OUR government and this book is a great guide for the "everyday American". Mr. Scher shows us that deep pockets are not the only way to control a government and shows us different ways WE THE PEOPLE can once again be involved in governing ourselves. His mantra of Representative, Responsive and Responsible use of taxes should be the biggest buzzwords in every election for public office from now on. I will happily pay my taxes when I know that the money is not being recklessly squandered by the elected officials sworn to protect and preserve this country.

From now on I'll be making my elected representatives accountable for where my tax dollars go. This book has actually given me, the average citizen, concrete ways to do that. Thank you, Mr. Scher!

Indispensable Must Read Book for Every Liberal
Well written and fun to read, I believe it is not overstating the case to say that this is the most important book on liberal politics currently in print. With amazing clarity, it details the precise strategy the Democrats need to win back America and save it from years of disastrous Republican policies. Don't let the title fool you -- this a serious and wise book that everyone should read.

Scher's book methodically lays out the values that liberals embrace and that the Democratic Party has been mysteriously running away from for years. It is the perfect companion to "Crashing the Gate," Markos Moultitsas Zuniga's book on the mechanics of transforming top-down Democratic Party politics into a more democratic and broad-based entity infused and enlivened by grassroots values. Markos purposefully avoids describing in that book what those values are. Don't Move to Canada describes those liberal grassroots values and how they can best be articulated.

Scher, who has a background in public relations, explains how "liberal" was transformed into a negative label by the Republicans and how it can be rehabilitated by accurately framing the political debate, among other things.

If the Democratic Party adopted the platform Scher outlines in his book, they would have a chance to remake America as a country that embodies the ideals on which it was founded and which we have come to identify as making America great. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Progressive, published by The Progressive, Inc. on May 1, 2003. The length of the article is 3179 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Janeane Garofalo. (The Progressive Interview).(Interview)
Author: Elizabeth DiNovella
Publication: The Progressive (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2003
Publisher: The Progressive, Inc.
Volume: 67Issue: 5Page: 35(5)

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from New Moon, published by New Moon Publishing on November 1, 2004. The length of the article is 654 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Humor me.(Janeane Garofalo)(Interview)
Author: Ruthie Young
Publication: New Moon (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2004
Publisher: New Moon Publishing
Volume: 12Issue: 2Page: 16(2)

Article Type: Interview

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Lou Dobbs, Janeane Garofalo, Scott Garrett, Ross Winans, Hugh Judson Kilpatrick, Ardolph Loges Kline, Mary Tuthill Lindheim, Glenn Andreotta, Peter Graves, Kenneth Burke, Rob Freeman, Troy Murphy, William Poole, Louis Freeland Post, Nicolas de Gunzburg, John C. Mather, Sylvia Pressler, Anna Harrison, Benjamin Lundy, Gerald Tomlinson, Lucy Page Mercer Rutherfurd, Joe Martinek, Rodman M. Price, Andrew Napolitano, Robert Littell, Jenny Owen Youngs, D. C. Fontana, Michael John Hoban, John Cleves Symmes, Hudson Maxim, John W. Griggs, Chris Jent, Robert H. Mccarter, Charles Joseph Fletcher, John Rutherfurd, Virginia Littell, Danny Baugher, Russ Van Atta, Steve Oroho, Alfred B. Littell, Henry J. B. Cummings, Alison Littell Mchose, Daniel Haines, Aline Murray Kilmer, Cassidy, Ira Condict, Samuel Fowler, Derek Drymon, Andrew J. Rogers, Robert Hamilton, Matt Valenti, Joseph E. Edsall, Dave Yovanovits, Gary R. Chiusano, Lewis J. Martin, Joe Porter, Johnny Budd, Nathaniel Pettit, Will Bradley, Thomas Oakley Anderson, George C. Maxwell, William Terry Jackson, J. Allyn Rosser, Daniel Myers Van Auken, Mark Thomson, William Pierson, John Linn, William Helms, Newman E. Drake. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 274. 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: Louis Carl "Lou" Dobbs (born September 24, 1945) is an American radio host, former television host, and author. He anchored CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight until November 2009 when he announced on the air he would leave the cable network. He was born in Texas and lived there and in Idaho during his childhood. After graduating from Harvard University, Dobbs worked in government and banking before becoming a news reporter for several local media outlets. He worked with CNN since it was founded in 1980 and served as a reporter and vice president. He was the ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=888834 ... Read more

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Word count: 3176. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Chuck D, Mark J. Green, Air America, List of Air America Radio Affiliates, Janeane Garofalo, Jerry Springer, Randi Rhodes, Steve Earle, Rachel Maddow, Thom Hartmann, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Richard Belzer, Arianna Huffington, the Majority Report, America Left, the Al Franken Show, Marc Maron, Morning Sedition, the Rachel Maddow Show, the Young Turks, Air America - Gloria Wise Loan Controversy, Ana Marie Cox, Sam Seder, Wwrl, Evan Montvel Cohen, Peter Werbe, Katherine Lanpher, the Marc Maron Show, Lizz Winstead, Mark Riley, Mike Papantonio, Laura Flanders, Cenk Uygur, Springer on the Radio, Sheldon Drobny, Rob Glaser, Ben Mankiewicz, Mike Malloy, Ana Kasparian, Democracy Radio, Jill Pike, Jon Elliott, Marty Kaplan, David Bender, Stephen L. Green, State of Belief, the Mark Riley Show, Ring of Fire, Angie Coiro, Politically Direct, Ecotalk, David Goodfriend, the Steve Earle Show, Unfiltered, Kyle Jason, Clout, Air America Mornings, Gritradio, Betsy Rosenberg, the Air Americans, the Time Is Now, 7 Days in America, Go Vegan, Marc Sussman's Money Message, on the Real, Gia'na Garel. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 289. 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: Air America (formerly Air America Radio and Air America Media) was an American radio network specializing in progressive or liberal talk programming. It was on the air for a little less than six years, from March 2004 to January 2010. The network featured discussion and information programs with hosts reflecting liberal or progressive points of view and specialized in presentations and monologues by on-air personalities, guest interviews, calls by listeners, and news reports. At the end of the network's existence, Air America's most popular host, Lionel, was estimated to have somewhat more than 1.75 million unique listeners a week...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=522091 ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: David Angell, Chris Dodd, Patrick J. Kennedy, Janeane Garofalo, Robert Gallo, Thomas J. Dodd, Kieran Lalor, Brian Burke, Jack Brennan, Peter J. Barnes, Birdie Tebbetts, John O'hurley, John H. Fanning, Lou Lamoriello, Lou Merloni, Mark Stephen Jendrysik, J. Howard Mcgrath, Anthony D. Galluccio, John Treacy, Kimberley Smith, Raymond Flynn, Gordon D. Fox, Edward J. Mcelroy, Dal Lamagna, Tom Dart, Mary Cullen, John Mcdonald, Karen Ignagni, Hank Soar, Doris Burke, Peter Farrelly, Charles J. Fogarty, Arn Chorn-Pond, Tara Hurley, Frank Caprio, Brendan Leonard, Sean Mcadam, Fernand St. Germain, Jack Tretton, Brian Shanley, Rich Gotham, Joseph Ungaro, William J. Sullivan, Richard J. Daronco, John Marinatto, John E. Fogarty, Mike Leonard, M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, Roisin Mcgettigan, Geoff Smith, Robert Tiernan, Timothy J. Kehoe, Richard Pitino, Michael F. Rush, John Daly, Maureen Mckenna Goldberg. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 227. 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: Christopher John "Chris" Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. Dodd is a Connecticut native and a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland, and Providence College. His father, Thomas J. Dodd, was one of Connecticut's United States Senators from 1959-1971. Chris Dodd served in the Peace Corps for two years prior to entering law school at the University of Louisville, and during law school concurrently served in the United States Army Reserve. Dodd returned to Connecticut, winning election in 1974 to the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district and was reelected in 1976 and 1978. He was elected United States Senator in the elections of 1980, and is now the l...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=335053 ... Read more

Product Description
2000 PAPERBACK EDITION. SOME WEAR AND CREASE ON BOOK.EDGE OF PAGES ARE SLIGHTLY DISCOLORED. SMALL FOLD ON A FEW PAGES.A GOOD CLEAN READING COPY.WE SHIP DAILY WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION... ... Read more

Product Description
Palast’s old-style gum-shoe detective work to dig out the info on the War on Terror, greed-dripping schemes to seize little nations with lots of oil, the hidden program to steal the 2008 election, and the media biases that keep it unreported are the meat and bones of this BBC television reporter’s new book. Armed Madhouse is illustrated with dozens of documents marked "secret" and "confidential" that have walked out of file cabinets and fallen into Palast’s hands.

You won’t find Palast in The New York Times (except its bestseller list), but you will read his reports on the hottest Web sites worldwide, hear him regularly on Air America and the Pacifica radio networks, and see his stories reappearing as the basis for Eminem’s hit video "Mosh," Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, and sampled by a dozen of today’s top platinum rock artists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (98)

Terribly funny and terribly sad
I happen to be partial to Palast's writing style, which is totally irreverent. I think the style suits the politicians he talks about in Armed Madhouse. To say I am unable to respect them is an understatement. I have nothing but contempt for Bush, Cheney and the other Neocons he talks about in this book. They treat me (as an American citizen) as if they have nothing but contempt for me - so I guess the feeling is mutual.

The premise of Armed Madhouse is to explore world events Americans should know about - but don't because they aren't covered on the nightly news. Chapter I covers, in characteristic Palast tongue in cheek, crucial background information regarding bin Laudin, the Saudis, the Pakistani intelligence service, Libya and BP - that the Bush administration didn't want the public to know about, because it clearly points to their complicity in 911. Chapter II covers a very interesting disagreement between the Bush State Department and the Pentagon on how to win control over Iraqi oil and how the Pentagon ultimately won out.Chapter III covers the fragile state of the US economy, in the face of a growing Chinese economic powerhouse and the threat of Iran, Venezuela and other countries that don't like us to start trading oil in Euros instead of petro-dollars (which would cause the US dollar to collapse, as other countries only hold US dollars to buy oil). Chapter IV carries on from Palast's earlier exposes about Bush's theft of the 2000 election - showing that Kerry stacked up the votes and the electoral votes to win in 2004 - but that massive electoral fraud denied him the presidency. Chapter V covers Bush's domestic agenda, and what amounts to a massive attack on the working class.

The appendix is an interesting piece on Hubbert's law. In it Palast agrees that crude oil has peaked, but disagrees that this represents the major crisis oil companies make it out to be. He argues, quite convincingly, that they are exaggerating the problem to jack up the price of gasoline. He also presents evidence - related to the vast amount of oil that can be extracted from tar sands - to support this view.

By Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall, author of THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE

Palast Strikes Again!
Greg Palast is an investigative reporter, the kind that were prevalent in this country in the last century but MIA from reporting so far in this century.He spent 30 years searching out and exposing the con men of business and industry, and has no problem translating that skill to politicians.This is why "Armed Madhouse" is such a good book: we know the events, and Palast connects the dots regarding how we got to where we are from our starting point.We read about our Iraq war, the conflicting plans of why it was carried out, and which plan is being adhered.We read about the "dangers" of Hugo Chavez, the coming upheaval of labor and loss of the middle class, monetary flow in the world, the methodical disenfranchisement of certain people in this country, the occupational assassination of Dan Rather, and more.Some of his stories did not come true, for unforeseen circumstances after he had written this book.However, one cannot deny that Palast has the knowledge and ability to follow a story and unbury it for those who want to know its details.Palast doesn't play favorites in his books - a plus for those who want an honest answer of how institutions really work.Forget the rabble-rousing hucksters on certain radio and TV networks - if you want to know how the wheel is greased and who is greasing it (and in what direction), read "Armed Madhouse" and other fine work by Greg Palast.

The Truth Shall Set You Free and Make you Angry.
Greg, writes about what many of us knew from the beginning of 2000 and the rigged elections in Florida and the Supreme Court selecting George Bush as President and refusing to COUNT ALL THE RECORDED VOTES. How the neo-cons set out to destroy our economy under George Bush and Dick Cheney. By lying to the Congress to start a war in Iraq and take control of the worlds oil supply, even if that meant allowing 9-11 to happen.And the killing of over four-thousand American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
With the economic and financial crisis we are NOW seeing taking place with Wall Street,their Banking Institutions,the mortgage crisis,the closing of our major Industries, record number of forclosures,a record number of bankruptcies, and over 1.5 million people losing their jobs under the Bush/Cheney regime. While their CEO buddies receive millions in bonsus's and salaries.
We come to believe that Palast is a prophet of his time.

"I laughed, I cried"
I've never read a book by such a witty investigative reporter.It would be nice if we had an objective, courageous mainstream media in this country to give us the kind of reporting Palast does. Since we don't, get your news from sources like "Democracy Now" and go get this book.

The Cauldron of Light
I read Palast's previous book "Best Democracy Money Can Buy" and was blown away by the information it contained.Palast's writing is based on current events, and he blasts government officials ON BOTH SIDES (dems and repubs).It's just that there's more dirt on Repubs, cause there's more in office.Palast is what I call an "equal opportunity hater" (not the racist kind, but the dig up dirt and say it, kind.) and pulls no punches.

I have to be honest about one thing tho...On a couple of Palast's stories in this book, Palast asks the reader to "trust him" and his sources.I say this because those few stories contain little to no evidence to support his claim (short of "a lil birdie told me").I'm natually suspicious of someone who tells me what I want to hear, but won't tell me who said it.Additionally, this book does NOT have a bibliography, which is seriously disappointing.

On the flip side, the rest of the stories are easily traceable and the evidence easy to procure with a few clicks with google.I would strongly recommend reading the book a bit at a time, and not str8 thru.The reason being is that the stories are very upsetting, and you'll understand them better if u read them with a clear mind.This goes for both proponents of Palast and opponents.

Regardless as to if you think Palast is right or wrong (keep in mind, he used to be an investigator for the govt'), his arguments are possible.And that's what's really key in his writing, as you need to know what someone will do to trick you.

I truly believe that people on both sides of the political fence can take something positive out of Palasts books.Just try to forgive the rehetoric :DI often refer to Palast's books as theh cauldrons of light.

P.S. If you love this book, also check into "Blackwater" by Jeremy Scahill. ... Read more

Product Description
Outraged over the mounting Social Security debt, Cassandra Devine, a charismatic 29-year-old blogger and member of Generation Whatever, incites massive cultural warfare when she politely suggests that Baby Boomers be given government incentives to kill themselves by age 75. Her modest proposal catches fire with millions of citizens, chief among them "an ambitious senator seeking the presidency." With the help of Washington's greatest spin doctor, the blogger and the politician try to ride the issue of euthanasia for Boomers (called "transitioning") all the way to the White House,
over the objections of the Religious Right, and of course, the Baby Boomers, who are deeply offended by demonstrations on the golf courses of their retirement
resorts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (115)

Parody of Reality
This is the first book I've read by Buckley and likely not the last.Had it not been for the in your face cover, I likely would not have picked this book up.Political novels are not exactly my cup of tea, but I thought- what the heck- Gen X'ers vs the Baby Boomers via politics, I'll give it a try.The reviews of Buckley's work had the ongoing theme of sarcasm, humor, and parody so that helped as well.

Now, this was not a laugh out loud novel, but certainly had me nodding my head in agreement with some of it's sarcasm, portrayal of political media, and the back room deals within government.And as much as I was enjoying this novel for it's outlandish antics, I couldn't help thinking that there is likely quite a bit of reality behind the plot.Mind you, "voluntary transitioning" has not been on any actual political blogs or media outlets in real life, but I am sure there is a lot of posturing of "meta issues" going on out there.

On part of the actual novel, Buckley's style moves quickly through action and dialogue.Characters are developed so seamlessly that the reader really doesn't notice that it has been done at all but rather just gets to enjoy the plot without a whole lot of Flabert style depictions.And an extra bonus is that it is all simple enough for all levels of readers to enjoy while not boring those who need a little meat with their potatoes.

Couldn't get past the seventh chapter....
..but I tried....I really really tried. I thought that this book was going to be cool, exciting and humorous. But, I found the lead character (Cass) to be boring and hypocritical. And if you can't connect with the lead character, then what's the point? It wasn't funny.Just absurd. Somewhere in the 7th chapter, I had enough and put the book down. A couple of days later, I tried again to read it. After all, I believe in second chances. But the names, characters and scenarios might just make you angry.

Terrific Parody of Politics, Advertising, & Plenty Else
If you enjoy political humor or any kind of satire from a knowledgeable insider, you are likely to enjoy Christopher Buckley's books. And this is one of my favorites. The characters are sharp and well-written and the plot moves quickly. A smart, witty and incisive read!

Clever, funny, timely, satisfying
Jason Reitman's brilliant "Thank you for Smoking" elevated Christopher Buckley's humor to the mainstream. If you enjoy political satire, this book is tremendously fun. Cassandra Devine, an intrepid 20 something blogger creates a national stir when she throws down the generational gauntlet and challenges boomers to "voluntarily transition" at the age of 70. Buckley does a great job setting up Cassandra's back story. Her character's motivation is clearly established and helps to anchor this absurd but increasingly plausible solution to the social security crisis. I thought the book had some weaknesses regarding the plot but the point of the narrative arc is not the arc, but following the spin and in this area Buckley succeeds tremendously. I plan to read all of his books. I laughed the whole weekend over Boomsday. Recommend!

A not so modest proposal
Buckley is quite aware of Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" - he even has his protagonist, Cassandra Devine, reference it. Boomsday is a traditional satire, quite even-handed in poking fun at everybody: politicians, voters, senior citizens, young people, religiosity, even the Russian Mafia. His characters are broadly drawn and a bit cardboardy, but that is a requirement of the genre. If you liked "Thank You For Smoking", you'll love "Boomsday". ... Read more