Rating: 
Summary: Lighting the Darkness with Laughter - Comedic Propaganda
Review: Michael Moore is back, and this piece of comedic propaganda is at least as enjoyable as anything else he's ever done. Don't confuse Stupid White Men with solid, "neutral" journalism (which the corporate media hasn't given us for years, if ever). While he provides references at the end of the book to support his outlandish claims, he never lets the facts interfere with telling a good story. And this one is a whopper-unfortunately, it's not fiction. It's just a way of laughing at a grim reality that most Americans live with and never notice. This is just plain fun for dissidents and malcontents, but it shouldn't be confused with Noam Chomsky. Moore makes us laugh at the nonsense we have tolerated, even as we cinch our yokes tighter to shoulder the increasing burdens being placed on our backs. This rabble rousing is a necessary function when the number of American flags on bumpers and antennae exceeds the number of vehicles on the American roads. It is a necessary function when voter turn-out is setting record lows. Moore reminds us not to get so caught up in "patriotic" flag waving that we forget to mind the chicken coop-our "elected" foxes are robbing us blind. Moore tackles a wide range of issues. The first chapter details The Bush Coup of 2000 and what we, the defrauded electorate can do about it. In the second chapter he lists damage that the unelected Bush has already done to the nation. Chapter three exposes the disparity between corporate wealth and individual poverty (it's enough to make Adam Smith hang his head in shame). Chapter four raises the issues of racism, using humor ("Kill Whitey") and suggests what both white and black people can do to really improve things. The next chapter goes on to examine why Americans know so much about "meaningless" statistics (batting averages and football scores) while being clueless about how they are being oppressed and ripped off-it also honors teachers, points out the stupidity of some school regulations and has an action list on "How to be a Student Subversive instead of a Student Subservient." Chapter six is entitled, "Nice Planet, Nobody Home," and is about the social and political hypocrisy towards environmental issues. The seventh chapter examines gender issues by pondering "The End of Men." Chapter eight presents America as "Number One," but this is a shameful thing, as it includes being first in per capita energy consumption, in imprisonment, in hazardous waste production, and in the likelihood of children under the age of fifteen to die from gunfire! Chapter nine pokes fun at the prison-industrial complex, noting that 1 American in 140 is currently in prison, a higher rate than any other nation! Ten examines what's gone wrong with the Democratic Party, and includes a "hit list" of Democrats to remove from office as well as a list of vulnerable Republicans. Eleven, the final chapter, is a "People's Prayer," a humorous request to the Almighty to "Afflict the Comfortable," which includes praying for Jesse Helms to be kissed on the lips by a man, that Roman Catholic Bishops get pregnant, and that racists awaken as black people. He wraps up with an Epilogue about meeting Jeb Bush and the closing days of the Florida campaign. Notes and sources get their own section. Although the book is not footnoted, the sources for his information are traceable. His acknowledgements section begins with: "I hope you had a few good laughs. I hope it has inspired you to go and raise a ruckus. Your are the only ones who are going to change things. Promise me that you won't just put this book down and go back to playing solitaire on your computer or checking your E-mail for the tenth time today." (p. 275) And he's right. There's no sense crying about the way things are, no sense burying our heads in the sand, no sense getting lost in despair or getting too caught up in making a living to change things. Mike's reminder to laugh at the quirks, inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and stupidities is an act of liberation. Laughing, snickering, or guffawing and passing the humor on is powerfully subversive to those who take seriously the job of fleecing the public. Highly recommended, regardless of your political ideology. If you lean left, perhaps this will push you a bit further. If you lean right, this will annoy you, but you owe yourself the favor of trying to refute it ... seriously! Five stars for Moore's ability to bring scorn to bear on unjust social structures and dishonest politicians. ...
Rating: 
Summary: A lackluster effort
Review: Having thoroughly enjoyed Moore's previous two books, Adventures in a TV Nation and Downsize This!, I was quite enthusastic to get my hands this latest work, especially with all the controversy surrounding its late release. I don't know why Harper Collins was scared about distributing this book, for there's nothing in it written about the "President" (har har) that you can't read in twenty other places. In fact, the low point of the book occurs when Moore unsympathetically cribs 47 criticisms of Bush from a left-wing website without giving credit. Moore spends much of the book venting about the results of the 2000 election. He calls it a coup. While Moore might disagree with the Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore (this book, unlike Alan Derschowitz's persuasive work, did not contain any sort of analysis of the decision), Bush ascended to power legally. There was no sudden overthrow of the government, just a controversial election result. A vote took place, the election was certified, there was a legal challenge to that certification, and the challenge was ultimately defeated. Most importantly, Al Gore conceded defeat. At no point did the process deviate from what was entirely proper under our Constitution or the laws of the United States. Referring to the 2000 election as a coup downplays the vile nature of real coups, such as what recently took place in Venezuela. The other huge criticism I have is that in this book, unlike in his brilliant documentary Roger and Me and Downsize This!, Moore makes it abundantly clear in several places that he has no in-depth knowledge of the subject matter about which he is writing. The section on the Middle East is an absolute joke. Moore wants Yasser Arafat to use civil disobedience instead of violence to protest Israeli policy. Anyone with the most cursory knowledge of Arafat's history and character knows this will never happen. The man is a life-long terrorist who supports the killing of women, children and the elderly to further his political program. That Moore continues to support him is despicable, and any idea that peace will come (and with it a viable Palestinian state) with Arafat in command is a pipe dream.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine as Far as it Goes...
Review: Michael Moore does a great job of exposing the way George Bush "won" Florida. He skewers GW in ways the Mr. Bush deserves. And, he points out the many faults of the Bush Administration. But, the book is flawed for a couple of reasons. First, Mr. Moore could have used a fact checker. Some of the lists of Bush failings are just wrong. But, the second flaw is the most serious. If Mr. Moore had been honest about the similar faults of Mr. Bush's rival, Mr. Gore, and had done as good a job by fearlessly pointing out the inherent contradictions of the Clinton Administration as he does with George II's team, he could have come closer to justification of his point of view that a vote for Ralph Nader was the correct alternative in 2000. But, when pointing our the dirty tricks of the Bush campaign in Florida, Mr. Moore ignores the fact that similar tricks were played by Gore partisans in, for example, Missouri. In pointing our Mr. Bush's personal flaws, Mr. Moore ignores those of Mr. Gore and Mr. Nader. Instead he comes across as a poor loser. Mr. Moore and those 90,000 plus Floridians who voted for Mr. Nader are getting what they bargained for from the Bush Administration. All the cute tricks and folksy humor notwithstanding, Mr. Moore, Mr. Nader and their supporters have yet to learn that one must be careful what one asks for because one might just get it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book -- MUST READ!
Review: Never having been much into politics or anything along those lines, when my father recommended this book, I wasn't looking forward to reading it. But as I got further into this book, I realized, I NEED TO START CARING! This book really makes you think.
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining read
Review: Michael Moore is so mad about so many things that most of what you get in this book is many of his examples of society's problems. I agree with almost everything he says and I found the book interesting and fun to read, but as far as political discussion goes, he doesn't take a breath often enough to inject much discussion or practical ideas/solutions. Still, it's an important book to read if you're interested in modern social and political issues. Plus it reads pretty quickly.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Satirical Book EVER!
Review: I don't care what anybody says about this book - for me it is the greatest and most enthralling book I have ever read. For left-wing minded people such as myself it was about time someone stood up to the ludicrously rich and exposed the scandalous truth of the Earth we live in.
Michael Moore boldly writes his way through an array of facts that are both fascinating and alarming (i.e 'the three richest men in America have more wealth between them that the worlds sixty poorest countries combined')
As for the critisms this book has received - anybody who feels they can justify a statistic such as that is nothing short of a glutton.
Rating:
Summary: Important! Read This & Don't Be Part of the Silent Majority
Review: There are lots of interesting things in this world to read about and to do, and not everyone has an interest in politics and that's okay. However, it is important to look after yourself, your family, and your community. It's important as a citizen of a Democracy that one participates in the democratic process. This book is really brilliant, funny, and scary! It is also a wonderful eye-opener and therefore it is quite useful and informative and helps one to help oneself and one's country. Michael Moore is such a good writer and this book is his best one so far. He shows a rather dull subject like politics as the three ring circus it is! This book covers a lot of important subjects but the most eye-opening part is the part about the Bush cabinet and the ridiculous travesty of an election that placed George W. in the White House. Even if you think this might be too liberal of a book for your taste, or if you think you really could care less about politics, take a short amount of time and read this book. It's funny and easy to read and the facts in it are important for you to know. Voting is an obligation that all free people should participate in and this book shows many reasons why exercising your vote is more important now than ever. Get educated, stop being silent about your life and your future, and read this book. It's good!
Rating:
Summary: A book doing a disservice to the causes it champions
Review: If you do not like president Bush and you want to get off some steam, then this is the book for you. However, if you would like to read a reasoned critique of our society and, especially, our current administration, then you must look elsewhere. (For the record, I did not vote for Mr. Bush.) It is not only that the author is often exaggerating; he is also often wildly off the mark. Early in the book he spends a lot of time "showing" how the republican machine in Florida manipulated a few hundred votes here and there while he forgets entirely the over 100,000 votes cast for Mr. Nader in that state. He seems to forget that the U.S. presidential election system was designed to discourage third party candidates, and any time someone tries to run on a third party ticket there is the danger of thwarting the will of the majority. He is dismayed by the closeness of the two major parties but he forgets that this is the major cause of stability in our government. The book has the tone of a childish tantrum and while I found the author championing several of my own favorite causes I was dismayed by his shrill tone. With friends like him who needs enemies? ...
Rating:
Summary: Bad title, good book
Review: For those who might be put off by the title, rest assured, Moore hangs the "stupid white men" appellation only on the Bush administration, even going as far as to designate Condoleeza Rice an Honorary Stupid White Male. This is not to say that Stupid White Men doesn't contain two obligatory chapters that herald his white male guilt, just that he reserves much of his vitriol for George Shrubya, his family and his friends. And for good reason, which Moore's thorough examination of the 2000 presidential "election" makes clear. He goes on to document, in detail, the many failings of the current administration, the administration that preceded it and concludes what many of us have suspected for years now: we've moved from a democracy to a corporatocracy in which big businesses court favor with our elected officials through generous campaign contributions and other near-bribes. Despite Moore's legitimate grumblings over Bush, this isn't really an anti-Republican screed because, as he demonstrates, the Democrats have been bought by the same corporate interests. What Moore is really screaming about is not bad Republicans, but the fact that the American people really have no one looking out for their best interests. This book serves as a good call to arms to overhaul the current "two" party system, and usher in a government that is truly BY the people and FOR the people. My only quibble with the book is Moore's aforementioned white male guilt. He's being a bit unfair in suggesting that only whites are capable of perpetuating injustice (I'm sure those who lived under Ghengis Khan would disagree) and only men are capable of domestic violence. His critique of white male behavior seems particularly ironic in light of his defense of rap music, a lot of which is openly violent, misogynist and racist. A good read that will both make you laugh and fire you up enough to yell "...YES!" next time your hear The Beatles sing "You say you want a revolution..."
Rating:
Summary: You'll laugh and laugh while and after reading this book
Review: Michael Moore you are the man! I agree to almost everything in this book. However, the reason I put a 4 star instead of 5 is I think he drags on too much on the voting issue. Other than that, it is a super humorous book for all leftists.
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