Americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thought-provoking book, Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying twelve leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past. In ten powerful chapters, Loewen reveals that:
From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders, Loewen revives our history, restoring to it the vitality and relevance it truly possesses.
Take a Tour of Jewtopia
Book Description
Book Description:From Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson, the creators and stars of the national smash hit play, Jewtopia, comes the most hilarious, over-the-top guide to Judaism unlike anything you've ever seen. So comprehensive that owning a copy ensures that Elijah himself will show up at your Passover Seder!Take a Tour of Jewtopia
Customer Reviews:
An easy, fun read that made me LOL a few times.......2007-06-21
Sure, it's not a masterpiece of literature, but it was a quick, cute read that made me chuckle pretty frequently. I disagree with the person below who said the writers are ashamed of being Jewish. Nah, not true at all. They just have a sense of humor about certain aspects of their religion and spirituality. I received this book as a gift from a friend, and I would recommend it to other Jews who are proud of their faith, but also don't take it so seriously that they can't have a giggle at their own expense once in a while.
very funny.......2007-05-30
This is a very funny book about self-stereotypes of american jews. The conversations of the authors with their mothers were probably the funniest.
Oy, such drek!!!.......2007-05-08
I was thrilled to stumble across this book, because I'd loved the play. (I even bought the hat!) I'm glad my stumble happened in the library and not the bookstore, because this oversized doorstop turned out to be an incredible disappointment. "Stumble" is actually a good word for it.
The book is similar in style and tone to the "America" book from the Daily Show, but unlike that book, it's just not funny. Not. Funny. The humor is almost entirely random and juvenile, and never rises above a sort of "snicker, snicker, wasn't that a clever play on Jewish stereotypes?" level. Sure, the authors are clever guys, but clever has to be used in the service of funny to make me laugh. No such luck here, bubeleh.
I slogged through as much of the book as I could (I even made it past the half-dozen brutally tired Bush/ Cheney jokes around page 3, which was no small feat), hoping in vain that it would get better. I figured that the guys who put together such a hysterical piece of live theater would come up with something even a fraction as good in the book -- they just *had* to -- but I never managed more than a weak smile.
"Chosen Book for the Chosen People?" It's about as good a choice as choosing to take up smoking.
Jewtopia: The Chosen Book for the Chosen People.......2007-03-15
Great, fun book. I will buy more as gifts.
A book even a Swedish girl can love! .......2007-03-08
I bought this book for my Jewish boyfriend as a present -- what I didn't realize is that I would end up reading it cover to cover before I gave it to him! This book is incredibly funny -- the illustrations are amazing and it is a great read! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is in need of a great laugh!
Book Description
Everyone knows the sensation of utter regret that occurs once you've hung up the phone or said your goodbyes, and that perfect turn of phrase or witty remark comes to your mind with absolute clarity much too late. Viva La Repartee pays humble homage to those brilliant and rare responses throughout history that were expressed at the perfect moment and delivered with an aplomb that will have you pumping your fist with sweet satisfaction. From politicians and authors to entertainers and philosophers, Mardy Grothe has assembled the ultimate collection of comebacks, retorts, rejoinders, and banter from some of history's greatest wordsmiths, including Oscar Wilde, Woody Allen, Dorothy Parker, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, Albert Einstein, and much more. As entertaining as it is intellectually nourishing, Viva La Repartee is sure to arrest the attention of language lovers everywhere.
Download Description
"
For most of us, that perfect retort or witty reply often escapes us when we need it most, only to come to mind with perfect clarity when it's too late to be useful. The twentieth-century writer Heywood Broun described this all-too-common phenomenon when he wrote ""Repartee is what we wish we'd said.""
In
Viva la Repartee,
Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of
Oxymoronica, has lovingly assembled a collection of masterfully composed -- and perfectly timed -- replies that have turned the tables on opponents and adversaries. This delightful volume is a celebration of the most impressive retorts, ripostes, rejoinders, comebacks, quips, ad-libs, bon mots, off-the-cuff comments, wisecracks, and other clever remarks ever to come out of the mouths -- and from the pens -- of people throughout history. Touching on all areas of human endeavor, including politics, the arts, literature, sports, relationships, and even the risqué, the book features contributions from Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Mae West, Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, and scores more.
As entertaining as it is intellectually enriching,
Viva la Repartee is sure to capture the attention of language lovers and is the perfect antidote for anyone who's ever thought I wish I'd said that!
"
Customer Reviews:
Very entertaining -- and educational!.......2006-07-11
Entertaining little book packed full of examples of great comebacks and wit from a variety of different times, different people, and different circumstances. The book is broken down into chapters focusing on a specific type of repartee, such as "Classic Quips," "Laconic Repartee," "Stage & Screen Repartee," and "Inadvertent Repartee" (as well as many others). Some of them made me laugh out loud, and usually those were coming from the same three people: Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Dorothy Parker. But there were a gazillion I'd never heard of that were pretty hilarious as well. This is an engaging, funny, and educational (really, it is!) book that I enjoyed reading quite a bit. Great for when you only have time for short snatches of reading. I've learned a lot of slammin' comebacks I hope to have a chance to use soon!
My one complaint about the book, though, is that it was missing the best witty laconic (extremely brief) response of all time. During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the Germans sent a message to the American army demanding our unconditional surrender, or else we'd be annihilated. General McAuliffe's one word response? "Nuts!" Damn, I just love that one. Recommended!
BE WARNED!.......2006-05-28
Much as overindulgence on bon-bons can lead to deleterious effects, so can feasting on too many bon mots. After staying up late and stuffing myself on the witticisms of George Bernard Shaw, Dorothy Parker, and company, I found myself looking for any angle to slip in a quip. And after reading this amusing and well-researched book, I am loaded with ammo.
Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious!.......2006-03-25
This is a wonderful book that introduced me to many great quips and one-liners I had never before heard, even from the legends like Winston Churchill, Dorothy Parker and Mark Twain. Grothe's little proem before each quip gives great context and makes them even more unforgettable.
This is a great gift to give yourself, or - for that matter - to anyone who enjoys dancing, sparring or fencing with that most able of partners, the English language.
Viva la Repartee.......2006-02-28
Amusing book to keep by your favorite reading chair. Something I will pick up and re-read.
How I Wish I'd Said That..........2006-02-26
...or a reasonable facsimile thereof. I ordered this book as a present for my daughter who is in early her forties and is an attorney in family law. I speed-read the book and found it really entertaining. My daughter loved it! I wrote in my dedication, "perhaps you can use a couple of these in court." THAT certainly would add excitement to those court hearings!
Average customer rating:
- Great Book about Frauds
- "...he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." ..Machiavelli
- Fun with skepticism
- Excellent stories, but not as good as some of his other books
- Fun, Very Light
|
A Treasury of Deception: Liars, Misleaders, Hoodwinkers, and the Extraordinary True Stories of History's Greatest Hoaxes, Fakes and Frauds
Michael Farquhar
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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A Treasury of Great American Scandals: Tantalizing True Tales of Historic Misbehavior by the Founding Fathers and Others Who Let Freedom Swing
-
A Treasury of Royal Scandals: The Shocking True Stories History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors
-
The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy
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The Greatest War Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Military History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (History Channel)
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Royal Babylon: The Alarming History of European Royalty
ASIN: 0143035444
Release Date: 2005-05-31 |
Book Description
We may say that honesty is the best policy, but history—to say nothing of business, politics, and the media—suggests otherwise. In this infinitely citable book, the author of two bestselling treasuries of scandal recounts some of the greatest deceptions of all time. With what forged document did the Vatican lay claim to much of Europe? Who wrote Hitler's diaries? Why do millions still believe the vague doggerel that Nostradamus passed off as prophecy? Organizing his material by theme (con artists, the press, military trickery, scientific fraud, imposters, great escapes, and more), Michael Farquhar takes in everything from the hoodwinking of Hitler to Vincent “the Chin” Gigante's thirty-year crazy act. A Treasury of Deception is a zestful, gossipy exposé—and celebration—of mendacity.
A Treasury of Deception also includes:
• Ten tricksters from scripture
• Ten great liars in literature
• Ten egregious examples of modern American doublespeak
• Ten classic deceptions from Greek mythology
Customer Reviews:
Great Book about Frauds.......2007-04-20
This is a very interesting book about different frauds from around the world. Some examples from the book:
1.Nostradamus' predictions
2.Piltdown man
3.various Nazi lies and hoaxes
4.Clifford Irving's whopper of a lie when he said that he was writing a biography about Howard Hughes
5.A lady in the 1600's giving birth to rabbits
6.Various royal hoaxes dealing with pretenders to thrones
7.Boys with plenty of school spirit who got the Lincoln Museum to look purple
8.plenty other stories to keep you amused for hours.
"...he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived." ..Machiavelli.......2007-01-17
Everything in this book is a pack of lies;and every story is true.What a collection of history's Lies,Misleaders,Hoodwinkers,Hoaxes,Fakes,Frauds,Scandals,Misbehaviors,Trickery,Imposters,Chincanery,Falsehoods,Ruses,Monkey Business,Practical Jokes,Deception,Duplicity,Con Men,and all of those things that have been done to snag the gullible down through the ages.It started with an apple in the Garden of Eden, and in one form or another, has continued ever since. There has never been any part of society that has been able to keep itself immune from these deceitful practitioners of this low level art.
Farquhar has given us the essence of 74 amazing instances of deceptions that have taken in people in unbelievable ways.
He has included 4 Appendices ;
I: Ten Tricksters from Scripture.
II: Ten great Liars in Literature.
III: Ten Classic Deceptions from Greek Mythology.
IV: Ten Egregious Examples of Modern Doublespeak.
Should you be so inclined to delve further into these precious dasterdly acts,he gives an extensive Bibliography which will give much more information for your reading pleasure or if so inclined,help you become an expert in this fine art.
It seems that when one sets out to deceive,it is easier to pull it off with many, rather than a few, people.While some of the great deceptions in history seemed to be a major success to the perpetrator,one should remember the words of Walter Scott;
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,when first we practice to deceive."
While history is filled with deceptions;it is also filled with warnings about deceiving;
"Believe no tales from an enemy's tongue."
"Trust is the mother of deceit."
"He that once deceives,is ever suspected"
"To deceive a deceiver is no deceit."
"To deceive oneself is very easy."
"Deceive me once,shame on you. Deceive me twice,shame on me."
A wonderful collection of deceptions;and don't be surprised that after reading this book;that you will never again take anything for granted or at face value.
Fun with skepticism.......2006-02-03
The very first chapter, on the prophecies of Nostradamus, is worth the price of the book. Farquhar points out that Nostradamus built his prophetic reputation by making vague pronouncements so filled with symbolism that they could be interpreted to predict nearly anything. If more people read Farquhar, there'd be a lot fewer people wasting their time with other prophetic works that use the same approach, such as the book of Isaiah and the Revelation of St. John. This is something of a personal issue for me. My own father, an intelligent and talented man who could have done a lot of good in the world, spent years obsessing uselessly over these prophecies.
The rest of the book has plenty more great stories. Admittedly, Farquhar doesn't go into great detail with any of them, but so what? You can always go elsewhere to dig deeper if something interests you.
A few words to the wise. Farquhar makes skepticism fun, but don't forget that skepticism can go too far. Piltdown Man was a fraud, but the theory of evolution is not.
Excellent stories, but not as good as some of his other books.......2005-07-16
I just finished reading this book and I would have given it five stars had I not read his stories about royal scandals first. It was much more shocking than this one, although this book is worth a read. I only wish it had contained more stories, and a little more of the wit Farquhar exhibited in his other writings.
Fun, Very Light.......2005-06-15
Michael Farquhar has created another bathroom book for the history-loving set. This one, Treasury of Deception, is just what it's title implies and is broken down into categories and ranges from prison escapes to scientific frauds, from practical jokes to deadly hoaxes, such as the blood libel. It is a truly odd mixed bag and should be read over a long period in many small bites, although that may prove harder to do than anticipated and one may find oneself gobbling the whole thing down at once. The book is light at the right moments and more serious when required and, amazingly enough, never veers into the truly silly, which is a blessing.
Book Description
It was in 1914 that Mary Phelps Jacob set women free—from the prison of the corset. With a little help from her lady's maid, this ingenious New York socialite stitched together two handkerchiefs and a long pink ribbon to fashion the world's first-ever brassiere. (Jacob later sold her patent for $1,500—to a company that went on to make $15 million off her invention.) The rest, as they say, is history—a history that's amply, titillatingly documented by designer Cheree Berry in Hoorah for the Bra.
The 20s' flat-chested flappers, the 50s' bullet-bosomed bombshells, the eye-gouging cones of Madonna's Blonde Ambition-tour bustier: this provocative pop-up book reveals it all. The straps and the cups. The underwire and the padding. The elastic and the Lycra. The demure pink satin and the racy midnight lace. Hoorah for the Bra tells a tale that doesn't sag and presents a cast of characters—mail-order moguls, brassiere-torching women's-libbers, sweater-clad movie stars—who never let you down. Sure to be a bust-out hit, the book's the perfect gift for any Wonderbra dreamer or Frederick's of Hollywood vamp. To view the pop-ups, you just lift and separate!
Customer Reviews:
The Bra, Plain and Simple.......2007-10-03
This book was thorough and to the point. I truly enjoyed it and it left me with food for thought!
Hoorah for the Bra: A Perky Peek at the History of the Brassiere.......2007-03-25
It's fun and informative.
A titillating experience!!.......2006-11-04
This book is amazing!! A visual experience that is sure to please all who turn the pages. A little laughter, a little history, and a lot of fun. This one is a winner!
Book Description
The most hilarious and outrageous true stories collected in 10 years (almost) of the world's funniest investigative reporting. Proof that truth really is stranger than fiction! This wildly entertaining book features excerpts from a wide array of public documents--court transcripts, FBI files, contract riders, morgue and police reports, etc.--that hilariously illuminate some of the most important, scandalous, or bizarre news stories to make headlines in recent years. Wittily and ingeniously organized as a book of lists, THE DOG DIALED 911 reveals, among many other things: 7 things you should never tell a cop 3 ineffective ways to kill your spouse 5 dumb things to steal 2 tales of terrifying toilets 4 of Bill O'Reilly's favorite pick-up lines 3 gay wedding registries 5 of the most embarrassing Bush family arrests 6 really bad bosses 4 reasons why man is not a dog's best friend The brilliant creators of the highly popular Web site TheSmokingGun.com have combed their archives to produce a book that will make readers laugh, and laugh again, on virtually every page.THE DOG DIALED 911 rivals the best of the Onion and Darwin Awards collections, and is sure to be embraced by readers who propelled those books into long-term bestsellerdom.Not only did the Smoking Gun shatter James Frey's literary career into a million little pieces, but TSG consistently makes headlines with its revelations about celebrities and political leaders behaving badly.
Customer Reviews:
ick.......2007-02-21
This is nothing like I expected...
the entire first chapter (which is entitled: "Adult Entertainment") is full of nothing but sex jokes. This goes on for 30 pages befor you get into the Human waste, celebreties and "the creative uses of the word 'fag' by novelist Terry McMillan".
The third chapter is filled with Drunks and druggies, while the Fourth is about Bill O'Reilly.
The fifth gets slightly more interesting with slurs in Kid's puzzles, prison photos and half naked women.
The sixth deals with wierd things in papers children bring home from school or have on tests.
The seventh was the only non-trash chapter in the book. This dealt with the govenment/Politicians and funny/horrible things they did... like "Tips for Al-Qaeda Detainees".
The eighth is when you finally hear about the "Dog who dialed 911" but it is almost lost among the other trash about animals.
The ninth chapter entitled"Law and Order" deals with wierd laws and punishments. and while some is clean most has at least a hint of dirt about it.
The Tenth chapter is entitled "Freak Show" and is almost entirely about sex... with both yourself and animals.
The eleventh and last chapter (Thank God!) is about all the horiid things people say... three quarters of which deal with sex.
The most interesting thing in the book (besides the 7th chapter) are the prison photos of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, which take up 2 pages in this 216 pages of trash.
I wouldn't mind so much if this was what they advertised it was, but this was nothing like the description...and I bought this as a Christmas present...imagine my shock when I flipped though and found these things...I had to get a different present!
Mostly Boring.......2007-02-19
"The Dog Dailed 911" is drawn from public records, largely thanks to the "Freedom of Information" act. Included are such "gems" as Senator Kerry's Navy fitness report (the authors note that his KIA record exceeds that of Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, Scalia, DeLay, etc. - combined!), and "oral history" of Bush's Vietnam-era service (a copy of his dental record), Kobe Bryant's testimony to a detective regarding his Colorado rape charge, the DUI arrest report for NASCAR driver Busch, etc.
As for the dog who dialed 911, we learn that a dog accidentally stepped on a man's cell phone and speed-dialed 911 - operators, hearing a crying baby but unable to talk to anyone, dispatched officers to the owner's address where they found 150 marijuana plants.
Definitely less than I had hoped for.
Between lame and bad.......2007-02-15
I was very disappointed in this book. Much of the material was rather lame although I liked the "stupid criminal" material.
Particularly offensive to me was the celebrity information, which was largely stuff that would not intrest anyone in the least if it involved an 'ordinary' citizen. It struck me as rather intrusive and rude to make money putting into print things that are technically public domain but is really stuff that isn't anyone's business or of intrest except to the celebrity-obessed. This is a philosophical point that not everyone shares. But even if you like celebrity dirty laundry, most of this was the equivalent of once-worn plain white tshirts, not tawdry lace undies or blood-splattered clothing.
The Smoking Gun strikes back.......2007-01-18
A brand new collection of disjointed speech, absurdities, hilarious clues, wise sayings, diabolic findings: the ultimate handbook for the successful comedian? No, it's all true.
The most powerful imagination can't compare with what crude facts have in store. Pure entertainment directly from everyday life. Police reports that seem to come from the pen of an inspired Mark Twain; court transcripts pervaded with peerless drama. With "The dog dialed 911", human nature tops the heap of comedy. Once again, reality meets fantasy. And wins.
Not near as funny as I thought it would be........2007-01-17
I bought this book as a gift for X-mas, before wrapping it I read through it and i was amazed at how different it was from the description that I had heard. This book was not funny, there were a couple of pages that were semi funny but the entire book wasn't worth the $12 or so, and i feel bad about giving it as a gift.
Average customer rating:
- fun and interesting book
- Observe Correct Dosage
- Your reading time's worth
- Such a great book!!!!
- Great pick-up-and-put-down book
|
mental floss presents Forbidden Knowledge: A Wickedly Smart Guide to History's Naughtiest Bits (Mental Floss Presents)
Editors Of Mental Floss
Manufacturer: Collins
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Similar Items:
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mental floss presents Instant Knowledge (Collins Gem) (Collins Gem)
-
Mental Floss Presents Condensed Knowledge: A Deliciously Irreverent Guide to Feeling Smart Again
-
An Underground Education : The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human
-
Mental Floss
-
Mental Floss: Cocktail Party Cheat Sheets
ASIN: 006078475X
Release Date: 2005-11-01 |
Book Description
From the same evil geniuses that brought you Condensed Knowledge comes an adorably naughty and delightfully mischievous romp through the dark side of human nature.
Think of anything bad, from art heists to Genghis Kahn, and it's likely to be included in this wickedly smart and humorous guide to the seedy underbelly of basically everything. The brainiac team at mentalâfloss, creators of the hit magazine and last year's Condensed Knowledge, have scoured the darkest, dirtiest corners of history and the globe to gather this ultimate collection of the bad stuff you're not supposed to know and you certainly never learned in school.
Organised by theme, with chapters for each of the seven deadly sins, the book includes feuds, plagiarists, hoaxes, lies, schemes, scandals, evil dictators, mob bosses, acts of revenge, angry queens, cannibals and much more, all organized into bite–sized–– albeit foul–tasting–– lists (i.e."The Fascist Style Guide: Five Dictator Grooming Tips", "Four Biblical Girls Gone Wild" and "Three Delicious Animals We Charbroiled Into Extinction."). It's the perfect way to add some spice to a dull conversation and proves that learning can be not only easy, but exquisitely sinful.
People love feeling smart, but the vast majority of us don't want to work for the knowledge. This past year saw the huge success of Schott's and similar titles, demonstrating that readers are hungry for fun and quick reads that will help them feel smart again.
The book has a built–in audience of subscribers and fans of the magazine and Condensed Knowledge. The success of Schott's and similar titles have proven that there is a huge market for "get smart quick" books. It will appeal to college and high school students; teachers can use it to spice up their lessons; and it's a godsend for busy professionals who want to sound smart at parties but don't have time to do the research.
Customer Reviews:
fun and interesting book.......2007-07-27
I read this book in short bursts of time - really interesting facts that you can share at your next cocktail party - or with your spouse! Totally addictive though, try not to stay up all night reading it to completion.
Observe Correct Dosage.......2007-03-11
This over-the-counter book provides plentiful dollops of irony from the annals of history. It's perfect for keeping on the nightstand when you don't have what it takes to read a novel. The contents are appealing, however, so beware of accidental overdose.
Your reading time's worth.......2007-01-10
Interesting facts about people, whch you won't find in history books; remarkable facts about places, not to be found in geography books; and fascinating bits about people, never found on magazines.
The quirks and depths of human nature wittily classified under the umbrella of the seven 'mortal' sins. Everthing you always wanted to know, and then some.
Such a great book!!!!.......2006-05-03
As a trivia buff, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves "useless" knowledge. The book is separated into the 7 deadly sins and gives historical examples past & present. Definately a great buy!!!
Great pick-up-and-put-down book.......2006-02-26
I love this type of book because I can pick it up, read it for 1 minute or 1 hour and put it back down again. Although I did notice one error (about Truman Capote), most of the facts are interesting and amusing. I recommend it.
Customer Reviews:
What a Piece of Work is Man!.......2007-09-07
There is a line in an Eddie Murphy stand up routine from the 80's where he says "It's the fart game son you'll play it one day". I picked up this book because frankly I am a gaseous girl, who grew up playing the fart game in my house. My father used to lock the windows to our station wagon and made us guess what he had for breakfast, my sisters used to hold me down and poot in my face, we all did the pull my finger joke and we had our own names for the act:
The Barking Spider, "just stepped on a frog", Chocolate Zephyr, Rumbling Paducah, A Howdy, Perfwanky, Beefed, cat food pancake.
This book is like a bible for me, a reference book, and the encyclopedia fartanica if you will. It isn't just a book that you might put in someone's Christmas stocking to get a guffaw "oh look uncle bob got a book from Santa on farting, what a gas!"
It's full of literary references, Shakespearean sonnets, historical data, scientific facts, myths and legends, all you ever wanted to know but they never taught you in 5th grade biology! Besides all the learning you will accomplish, it's also just a funny read and that's really what the game is all about.
What a hoot!.......2007-05-12
The potty humor in this book and the laughter it evoked from me annoyed my wife in a most excellent way. My wife was, however, impressed by the allusions and citations from classic literature. It is a great book for the excremeditation chamber.
What can I say?.......2007-01-12
For a holiday gift that I purchased as a gag gift for my father..........this gift turned out to be a pretty big hit! The author presents this distasteful subject in a way that actually makes it culturally/historically interesting. This book has now been passed around my family and the subject matter has been dicussed at length and debated. Even my mom (who dislikes this kind of subject-matter) is in on the discussions. Pretty interesting stuff........
Funny and informative.......2006-11-26
An informative book that is funny and serves no purpose. What could be better?
Informative yet funny book!.......2006-02-02
A real "fartingly" funny book! It gives you the medical background information on farts, how they're formed, make the noise, smell, etc. Yet at the sametime you laugh your butt off in the way it's explained.
Book Description
Tony Soprano and the gang meet classic and modern philosophy in these witty, provocative essays. Covering everything from Aristotle to ziti, 17 wiseguys (three of them gals) explore such irresistible topics as: Is Tony Soprano a good man? Is Carmela a feminist? Morally speaking, who is the worst person on The Sopranos? Is watching the show harmful to one's moral health? And what if Tony had read Sun Tzu instead of Machiavelli?
This collection of essays by philosophers who are also fans does a deep probe of the Sopranos, analyzing the adventures — and personalities — of Tony, Carmela, Livia, and the rest of television's most irresistible Mafia family for their metaphysical, epistemological, value theory, Eastern philosophical, and contemporary postmodern possibilities. No prior philosophical qualifications or mob connections are required to enjoy these musings, which are presented with the same vibrancy and wit that have made the show such a hit.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but not as profound as I'd hoped.......2007-05-31
The book was fine, I found the articles interesting but some of them were not as thought-provoking as I'd hoped they'd be. I bought it as a gift for a friend and decided to read it first. Some of the chapters just sounded like they were written by academics with too much time on their hands or grad students making a first attempt . . . a lot of analysis without any really profound conclusions that I wouldn't have drawn on my own. The more interesting ones were "Tony Soprano as ethical manager" and "The Sopranos and subjectivist ethics."
An intriguing and informative survey of ethical judgment.......2004-07-09
Philosophers who are fans of the popular television series "Sopranos" would seem an odd mix, but Sopranos And Philosophy: I Kill Therefore I Am provides an essay collection, compiled and edited by Richard Greene and Peter Vernezze, which probes not only the show and the personalities of its actors, but the underlying philosophy and attraction of the mafia family. Sopranos and Philosophy is an intriguing and informative survey of ethical judgment and philosophy.
Blastin' ahead with the Sopranos!!!!.......2004-06-02
Finally, a great book for a great series. I am a fan of The Sopranos but was unfamiliar with the Open Court Popular Culture and Philosophy series before picking up this volume, so I can't speak to how this book compares to others in the series. But as a Sopranos fan, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that it added to my appreciation and understanding of my favorite show. To give a few examples, the essays on Sun-Tzu and Machiavelli explained clearly to a non-philosopher who these two figures (both of whom Tony mentions) are and why knowing something about them helps you to understand the motivation of some of the characters on the show. An issue which has long interested me has been whether watching the show can actually be morally harmful, and two of the essays in the book specifically addressed this topic (and put my mind at ease). And the entire ethics section provided an nice overview of this daunting subject and explained its relevance to the series, focusing on such issues as whether the series espouses a relativistic viewpoint (it doesn't), and whether Carmela is a feminist (she's on her way).
The seventeen essays are grouped under five headings: history of philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion. If these topics sound too academic for a show like The Sopranos, don't worry. All but one or two of the essays are written in a style accessible to the general reading public.
The essays provide a good mix of discussion of the first four seasons of the show. The essay on nihilism traces Tony's existential crisis across the first fifty-two episodes. The chapter on how The Sopranos is like a Greek tragedy focuses primarily on season one, whereas the essay on the problem of evil places emphasis on the dominance of that issue in season four. While many of the essays focus on Tony (for obvious reasons), it seems all the major characters are amply covered. Carmela gets an essay devoted entirely to her, and Dr. Melfi is prominently discussed in several essays. Even Charmaine Bucco comes under scrutiny.
The authors love for the show is evident in every essay, and the editors seem to have taken great care to get things right. I checked many of the quotes against my DVD copies of the series and found them dead on accurate. My only complaint is that I would have liked more essays. And though I am glad Open Court decided to put the volume out now, since it has greatly deepened my appreciation for The Sopranos, I hope they put out a revised version once the series ends.
Very disappointing.......2004-05-27
Having greatly enjoyed a previous volume in the Popular Culture and Philosophy Series, The Simpsons and Philosophy, I looked forward to a new volume on my favorite television show. Unfortunately, this book is greatly disappointing.
One wonders whether several of the contributors to this volume have actually watched The Sopranos with regularity. Factual errors about what happened in various episodes abound and the editors needed to exercise a firmer hand in the contents of the thirteen essays. With 52 episodes to choose from about three-quarters of the contributors focused heavily on the same five or six episodes. Furthermore, the focus is on the first and second seasons; few commented at all on season four. The same quotes appear in essay after essay; the same scenes between Tony Soprano and Dr. Melfi are analyzed repeatedly. While some essays are intriguing and draw together themes from across the seasons, the ability of other contributors to generalize in creative ways is severely lacking. And how about more than just Tony? Besides a fascinating essay on Carmela, the essays are about Tony. Why not have a contribution on A. J. and Meadow Soprano?? Plato would have wonderful things to say about the situation that they find themselves in as children of a family engaged in crime.
Timing of the publication of this volume is an interesting issue. Why not wait until the series is over?? The plot of the Fifth Season has disproved some of the conclusions reached in these essays. I think, but I could be wrong, that the editors and publishers wanted to make a quick buck and released the volume now. Needed is a second edition when the series is over.
Audience is an important question in these essays: Who is it?? Some essays such as the one by Steeve and another by volume editor Richard Greene are written in an obtuse, difficult language that would confound the general (I mean the non-Philosophy majoring) reader. Since the books in the Popular Culture and Philosophy Series seek to get more people interested in philosophical issues, these obtuse essays are unneeded. While these essays need redone, most others are well written and understandable.
While I am very critical of this volume, there are, however, a few good points. David Hahn's essay on whether Tony Soprano is Machiavellian is probably the best in the volume (although I don't agree with his conclusions, it does get the gray cells working). Likewise, Ronald M. Greene's essay on Tony's managerial ethics is equally compelling. Lisa Cassidy on whether Carmela Soprano is a feminist is another high point to this volume. Despite these gems, the overall quality of this volume is quite low.
Bada Bing What a Book.......2004-05-04
This book is a great read for the person who loves popular culture and the media especially the Sopranos. Tony's Tao or Way of Life is not in balance he is the leader of a crime family yet needs to see a shrink to keep his panic attacks in check.
This book takes us from Ancient China in the Art of War to the feminist point of view of Carmela. Tonys life is like a Greek tragedy with all the characters. This book asks us the question when in art dangerous?
Read this book if only to understand the jargon like "hit", "clip", "pop" "whack", "take care of", "pinched", "rat", "a friend of ours", "capo" or "goomah" If love the Soprano's this is the book for you. Even if you don't have a lot of use for Philosophy. If not "forget about it"
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