Rating: 
Summary: Excellent: Factual and Irreverent
Review: Just the Facts ma'am, but Michael Moore gives us <ahem> more than that. With pervasive humor and wit that sometimes can make you cry with half laughter and pain, Moore's humor strikes at the core of issues facing women, blacks, education, the US government, and of course, the issues surrounding the Bush presidency.But it's the facts that'll bowl you over, especially Bush's accomplishments in his first few months of office. Scary stuff if you're one of the 403,000 people filing for unemployment, or personally experienced the recent layoff trend. Moore tackles topics rarely heard or seen in American media outlets, and for that reason this book stands as an amazing accomplishment for a more democratic perspective on government and politics today.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting, quick read.
Review: I picked up this book at an airport in Minneapolis and finished it before landing in Los Angeles. Moore relates many interesting facts as he mercilessly bashes corporate america and our politicians. However, his arguments would have been more credible had he addressed many of the equally valid counterarguments to his liberal ideas. Moore is a smart guy, and I would have liked to see him do more than just angrily blame corrupt politicians and greedy CEOs for creating our country's supposedly horrible condition. Nevertheless, I enjoyed his satirical style and his astute observations of American society. I would definitely recommend the book to a friend or enemy.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not funny and certainly not insightful
Review: When I read through "Stupid White Men" I kept on thinking, "this can't be true," and I wasn't surprise to find that it isn't. Moore often misrepresents data throughout the book ... (it's easy to find out about on the web if you're interested). What makes me slightly sad is the number of reviews trying to present this book as an insightful piece of political analysis. This book egregiously fails in this aspect, as you have to have actual facts for political analysis and not submerge your writing in bombast and slogans.
The only way this book could have redeemed itself was by being humorous. To me it was not, perhaps because I was so overwhelmed by Moore's shallowness and absense of truth. All so he can get his Marxist convictions across in the name of satire. The reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is that I can see why someone would find this funny (and, evidently, many people did). I, however, was not amused by Moore's misguided ramblings.
Rating:
Summary: Moore hits the nail on the head, and makes more enemies.
Review: Michael Moore has been a professional "rabble rouser" for years, and this book is just the latest installment in his quest to point out the absurd and infuriating in our political world. This book made me laugh, made me angry, and just made me sad sometimes. Moore has a way of pointing out the facts and fiction in today's political world, and he spares no prisoners. I'm sure the powers that be on the right (and occasionally the left) are not happy with this book, and they shouldn't be. Moore brings their wrongdoings to light, and in the process he makes us all a little better off by letting us know the score. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Humorous, Confrontational, on Target--Voice of the People
Review:
If I had not read Greg Palast's investigative journalism book first ("The Best Democracy Money Can Buy"), I might not have taken this book as seriously as it merits. The author opens the book with a recap of what is now *known* about the theft of the U.S. Presidential election through the deliberate removal of over 50,000 predominantly black and democratic voters from the Florida voting rolls. The author captures a sense of public outrage that I have not seen in the media, and that I long to see emerge in the forthcoming Congressional elections--what kind of Nation allows its highest office to be stolen like this, with nothing said in any state? We just let it happen and life goes on? This says something about our lack of ethics and our lack of spine as individual citizens.
The entire book is full of common sense--"in your face" common sense delivered with a very fine mix of humor and outrage. This is not a book that should be taken lightly--more conventional books such as those by Ted Halstead and Michael Lind ("The Radical Center"), Allan Bloom ("The Closing of the American Mind"), William Greider ("Who Will Tell the People: The Betrayal of American Democracy"), or Lionel Tiger ("The Manufacture of Evil: Ethics, Evolution and the Industrial System") are all in deep harmony with the key points the author is making. Among them: 1) The privileged elite, the "white boys" from Ivy League schools who have, despite C averages, overcome their mediocrity and lack of ethics through family connections and incestuous business relationships, are at the root of most of our problems as a Nation. They have, in short, looted the commonwealth and prevented democratic investments in education, public health, and other "common" values. 2) The poor state of education among the masses that cannot afford private schools is the other side of the problem--the author would suggest that our Congressional representatives have replaced our teachers as "the best of the servant class" and that it is the ignorance of our Congressional representatives, most of whom know nothing of the real world beyond their own districts, and the lack of Congressional support for a truly national educational system that stabilizes investments based on quality needed rather than local real estate values, is the core deficiency holding us back as a people. This is a great airplane book, and it is a good starting point for anyone thinking ahead to how they might yet make America, and the world, a better place--a place that might support our future generations of children. Apart from the books cited above, and the many others that I have reviewed ("See more about me" should really say "See my other reviews"), I would simply to say to anyone smart enough to be visiting Amazon.com at all, it's time you took responsibility for local, state, and national political decisions. We have to take back the power, and return this country to its roots in democratic, consensual, commonwealth preserving decisions. That won't happen if we leave the "stupid white men" in charge because of our apathy.
Rating:
Summary: i can now explain the unease i've been feeling the past year
Review: It's called "having George Bush as president". I haven't finished reading this book and already can understand why I've been feeling so uneasy since the election. Every week something comes out of this administration that makes me call both my senators raging against the republicans in Washington. This book can at last explain why I'm so upset, and what I and every other thinking person in America can do about it. I have already ordered more copies to hand out to friends, relatives, anyone I think could benefit by this book.
Rating:
Summary: don't read this if you're feeling complacent
Review: Wow--Mike hits a homerun right outta the ballpark! Too bad the politics and corruption and self-serving BS he writes of weren't on that same ball. This is a great book. Besides doing a lot of venting about what's wrong with our democracy (and W. and his ilk are not the only targets here), he also provides useful ways to get involved with the system if you're just as upset as he is! The venting is also good. Besides being unapologetically honest, it's also funny. I read most of this book while commuting to work in the morning, and my co-commuters must've been wondering why I was laughing so hard. His chapter on how he's been disrespected by more white people than people of color is also an eye-opener. But, Mike, don't think it's all hugs and kisses if you're a person of color: I'm an Asian American who's spent most of the last 2 decades working with both "white" people and "people of color" in professional and activism settings. Let me tell you, when it comes to disrespect, self-serving, and selling out, there are many people of color who can do it as well (if not better) than the many white people who've crossed your path. But I digress. Definitely buy this book, but be forewarned: Don't bother, if you're feeling complacent and wondering why so many Americans are still pissed about the outcome of the 2000 election. I expect to see another book out from Mike shortly, what with this terrorism debaucle and our "intelligence appartus" being caught with their pants down. Onward!
Rating:
Summary: Only informed open minds need apply
Review: If you have the ability for critical thinking and a reasoned argument then this book will not only enlighten you, it may frighten you enough to take action and make a difference, which is what Mike Moore is trying to do. The facts are verifiable and if you question them...PLEASE personally investigate them! Don't repeat ignorant comments from unverifiable sources. (Dear Kyoto comment person, Do you honestly know what the treaty states? and that most countries DID sign it). If you are a lobbyist or an indicted corporate exec. you already know that most people will not believe the truth or even care enough to know about your business. Take the time to read this book, it's easy, funny, requires little effort, but offers information that the powerful have been very successful in repressing. Hey Americans open your minds for something.
Rating:
Summary: Michael Moore at his best!
Review: Michael has a way with words. This is a great, fast read. For those of you who get all of your news from television, this book will serve as a "wake-up call." You will discover what the "right wing" has been doing while you have been sleeping. I highly recommend it!! Michael Moore keep up the great work! Unlike some of the members of the current administration, you do a great job of "connecting the dots." Keep up the great work.
Rating:
Summary: Read it, if you dare. It's bound to affect you.
Review: You should probably read this book before it's banned. In fact, (according to a previous review) it was almost not printed. Wonder why? Because this book exposes some ugly truths. It will probably go the way of Television Nation (another Moore masterpiece) which (to the best of my knowledge), is no longer aired. Like the scene in Roger&Me when the woman bashes a bunny rabbit to death, Moore captures the comic grotesqueness of what is happening in America. Be warned! If your not able to determine when Moore is being facetious, you may end up taking this book far too seriously. The line between comedy and critical commentary is sometimes blurred. Judging by some of the reviews I've read here some of the people just don't get it. Then again, I'm skeptical that a lot of the negative reviews written in here, are written by people WHO HAVEN'T ACTUALLY READ the book. Due to the fact that they can't make any really decent criticism of it, BASED on it's CONTENTS.
Moore reminds me that we should still be referring to Bush as the "President" whilst making that quotation gesture with our hands. This book made me laugh out loud more than a few times, it taught me, it pissed me off, and it made me realize that I have to take more responsibility for what is going on.
|
