Jon Stewart (1)Recensioni

In this case, by "read" I meant "skimmed pretty thoroughly" while I processed it for library circulation. While it doesn't disappoint, it's not mind-blowing/eye-opening like An Inconvenient Truth. In fact, I already forgot most of the content. I just know I chuckled to myself a few times.

Doesn't quite hit the highs of the Colbert books and some of the comedy hasn't aged all that well, but most of it has

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/aAWM_tr-O9o

Enjoy!

This book was not as funny as America. I laughed a few times, but I'm glad I rented it from the library and didn't buy it.

Looking at some of the other reviews, I'm supremely glad I picked up the audiobook instead of the actual book. It worked wonderfully as an audiobook. Like, amazingly so. I actually remember listening to one particular part and wondering just how that was going to translate into text (apparently, the answer to that was not very well).

This is a tongue-in-cheek guide to Earth to the aliens who find the planet after humans have all destroyed ourselves. It's pretty hilarious, if you're okay with the fact that this book is basically making fun of us (for the record, I am, because we are a truly ridiculous species).

Laugh out loud hilarious. There were several points where I had to stop because I was laughing so hard. If you enjoyed watching him on The Daily Show, you'll enjoy this.

Amikor megtudtam, hogy Jon Stewart otthagyja a Daily Show-t, finoman szólva nem örültem. Persze tök jó Trevor Noah is, és vannak más late night show-k is, pl Stephen Colbert-rel, amire teljesen átszoktam, pláne, hogy időnként Jon Stewart is előbújik az asztala alól (ő maga – Stephen mármint – meg a Daily Show-ban kezdte a showműsoros pályafutását, mert van neki színészi is, mindegy). Na szóval kellett valami pótlék azután is, hogy az Oscar-gálától kezdve mindent végignéztem, ahol hallhattam. Nem csalódtam ebben a könyvben, pont az a fajta szarkasztikus humor, amiért annyira szeretem.

Ez egy kézikönyv a jövő űrlényeinek, akik ellátogatnak hozzánk, és azt látják, kipusztult az emberiség (lehetséges okok szintén a könyvben). Elmagyarázza nekik, kik voltunk, miket csináltunk. Rengeteg képpel, vinnyogva röhögős képaláírásokkal és magyarázatokkal, közben nagyon is pontosan (és sokszor nem túl píszín, de rendkívül önironikusan) rátapintva az emberi faj baromságaira. Legszívesebben az egészet kiírtam volna, még fogok belőle idézni.

I listened to the abridged audiobook in Playaway format. Some of it was funny, but I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. It was a creative idea.

A very funny book and, along with Steve Martin's "Pure Drivel" and Chris Buckley's "Wry Martinis", my impetus to write my first (quite sloppy) collection of essays on pop culture, "Smirking into the Abyss".

Jon juxtaposes some great cultural icons, such as the correspondences between Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, Vincent Van Gogh trying to communicate with his brother in an internet chat room, The Last Supper taking place in a trendy restaurant, Hitler guesting on "Larry King", and my favorite, the progression of the yearly 'Christmas form letter' from the mom of the kids from Hanson.

The only pitfall is, as with any pop culture-driven book (as I quickly learned) is that the shelf-life can be very brief, so some references are stale, unless you can take yourself back to the late 90's as you read to appreciate the pith with which Jon nails the reference. But, for the most part, the pieces hold up remarkably well. This is a very funny book.

Why did I pick up the book? I loved the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and am generally a big fan of his. However, this is a book that I probably read too late. I am not saying this because I am overly enthused and thus regret not to have read it earlier, but rather that it is not that timeless to be read at any time. While I enjoyed a lot of the book, some chapters just seemed too out of date for me to enjoy them as (I think) I would have enjoyed them a decade ago or straight after publication in 1999. My 3 stars rating is thus probably more my fault than Stewart's.

Amusing, tongue-in-cheek description of our planet, our culture, our political system as if left for future aliens after human life has died out. Contributors include the staff of The Daily Show, and the brand of humor they offer.

NA

Rated: B
What a wit. Found myself giggling on almost every page. Fun read.

I wanted to like this book, since I do enjoy The Daily Show. However, the book just left me with a lukewarm feeling. It was not bad; it just was not that good. Sure, it had humorous moments here and there, and I think the premise of "a handbook for aliens visiting Earth" was pretty good. But a lot of the humor seems pushed, like trying a bit too hard. This is definitely a book to skip around and browse, not one to read cover to cover. Just find your favorite parts and enjoy, skip the rest. Another reason I was disappointed is because I liked America(The Book) (which I reviewed here too). This just did not live up to that. So, read it if you are a real fan of the show, or if you feel a need to keep up after reading the other one. This is one to borrow, not buy.

I read this book towards the end of 2003. I do remember liking it, and now that I look back, I still think it is a lot better than Colbert's book, which I reviewed here as well.

Not what I was expecting.
I didn’t find this funny.

cute.

While humorous, there are some very cringe-worthy moments in this book. Mostly the overemphasis on using r*tard as an insult, and accusing people they don't like of being "secretly gay" (as we know, the worst possible insult to a straight). It just got tiring.

It does give a succinct look at American Democracy, from the different branches of government to the history of the nation. The book helps explain the functions of the executive branch, the checks and balances of the Senate and Congress, and the judicial branch. There is a brief look at the possible future of America. The final chapter consists of infographics covering the rest of the world, and why, in the writers' opinions, it's not worth going.

Even though the book is now dated, being from 2004, there are still some poignant facts through the haze of rude punch-downs and occasional poorly executed jokes. Still worth a read, I think.

I do like how the whole book is laid out like a classic school textbook.

The popular comedian, film star, and TV personality presents a humorous venture into such topics as fashion, cocktail culture, fast cars, modern Jewishness, dating, politics, and urban life.

A textbook written by a comedian. Instant adult classic.

I listened to about forty minutes of this today and was really loving it. It's pretty dang funny. I decided to stop when things got a little too crass for my taste, but I will be recommending this book to people who I know aren't as bothered by things as I am. Dang funny stuff.

This is written as a book for future aliens who come across our planet long after humanity has destroyed itself. It covers most aspects of human life, from politics to art to history to science to religion, and it's all hilarious. Definitely recommended.

A note on the audio: The audio presentation is inspired. Between the music and sound effects and various narrators (including, oddly enough, Sigourney Weaver), the whole thing has the atmosphere of a museum documentary. The juxtaposition of the silly jokes against this backdrop make them just that much funnier.

not a new classic

Very funny! I read it through, not in small doses like other people said they have and I still thought it was a great read! Jon Stewart & team are truly some of the best comedians who use intelligence, wit & smart humor!

This is suppose to be funny?

a smart-ass run down of American History..... I saw it a a put-down of the American people and a pointed finger at the collective stupidity of many/most (depending which state you are in) of the population.

there are some humorous moments and a smattering of facts.... but this didn't interest me as much as I thought it would.... I was disappointed.