Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious, sarcastic, fact-filled....g-r-e-a-t!
Review: Can someone write a satirical, witty, ironic, message-filled book on US politics and American life in general, have it published on September 10th -- and STILL have a hilarious book with serious parts that hold up? The answer is YES. Michael Moore's Stupid White men was published on September 10 and although Moore might consider updating this book if it goes to another printing, this book is a screamingly funny, politically razor-sharp, enjoyable read from start to finish. Stupid White Men oozes sarcasm and wit on every page. Even if you don't agree with Moore, he has written a book that is the flip side of recent successful right-of-center political books. In fact, in many ways Moore presents himself as the mirror image (on the left) of Fox News' Bill O'Reilly: someone who probes for facts (presented to the reader),doesn't pull punches, reaches a strong political stand -- all the while defending the beset and disenfranchised common man against wealthy and uncaring Powers That Be. For instance, Moore's comment on the differences between Democrats and Republicans (he supported Ralph Nader) is an instant classic: "The Democrats say one thing ("Save the Planet") and then do another -- quietly holding hands behind the scenes.."with the powerful interests "...who make this world a dirtier meaner place. The Republicans just come right out and give (the interests) a corner office in the West Wing." September 11 has made some chapters seem slightly dated, but that can be corrected in a future edition. Just of the few of the many chapters include A Very American Coup (on the election), Dear George (a hilarious sarcastic letter to GWB), Kill Whitey (on race), The End of Men (self-explanatory), Idiot Nation, and Democrats DOA. Some have blasted his use of "Kill Whitey" as a title, suggesting it is an instruction -- but they must NOT have read this book. Moore's specialty is irony, as typified at the beginning of this chapter where he lampoons racial fears: "Didn't I notice suspicious gangs of white people lurking on every street corner, drinking Starbucks and wearing their gang
colors of Gap Turquoise or J. Crew Mauve?" Moore peppers the chapters with gray-shaded sidebar pages offering such information as literacy websites, leadership of the fifty largest countries, how to contact your elected representatives and the addresses of a few stores where you can purchase...ahem...exotic items. I found this book JUST as enjoyable as the two books by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, even though Moore and O'Reilly are on different ends of the political spectrum. Both visually-oriented celebrities have written highly entertaining politically-oriented books where they take information(sometimes on the same issues) and reach (often different)conclusions. Interestingly, O'Reilly and Moore are united in their disdain for former President Bill Clinton: Moore's most devastating chapter is the one on the Democrats where he lambastes Clinton, calling him "one of the best Republican presidents we've ever had." But let's just forget about political positions for just a second (which is hard to do in an increasingly polarized America). Even if you don't agree with it all (and I don't),
Stupid White Men is a FUN, FUNNY and fact-filled book. We need more Moore.
Rating:
Summary: Gave Me Nightmares, But I'm Glad
Review: This book forced me to open my eyes...I knew all this stuff was happening (lived in Texas for 20 years and now in DC) but literally shut it out of my consciousness. Should be required reading in every High School civics class (along with a balanced, guided discussion of course). Thank goodness there are those who are not afraid to speak.
Rating: 
Summary: The book gives good fact, but a little redundant in format..
Review: I'm very glad this book was able to finally be published. I am also glad that the American public is so interested in what Michael Moore has to say. He is not one to pull punches, and one must respect his self depricating humor to an extent. Mr. Moore is a hero to anyone in the DIY mind frame and continues to charm the pants off of us through his down to earth wholesomeness and unpretentious language.
Factually the book is very well researched, and sickenly omnious (being that it was written before 9/11, Enron, etc.). Humor-wise it starts to become stale. Moore attacks everything in this book, and than the chapters unfold into a sort of pattern oriented "humorous" disection. He states the facts, counters with his own take, and then offers a satirical solution.
This book is intended to not be read, but devoured. I'm sure the average reader could finish this in only a matter of days, which is good, because it's easy to swallow.
"Stupid White Men" may just stand as an example to the power of the press, like Paynes "Common Sense", "SWM" serves to inform rather than compell. This book is great reading , but not fine littereature.
Rating:
Summary: Stupid White Men...and Other Sorry excuses for the State of
Review: Michael Moore is the Will Rogers of the 21st century! It's easy to see that he is not afraid to do the research needed to write quality political satire. Readers shouldn't be scared away by the inaccuracies in the details. Remember this is political humor!
His hilarious analogies, and tales are a woven blend of truth, and fiction...just enough to provide an engine for his readers imaginations.
Rating:
Summary: Very well-researched and entertaining
Review: I thought the introductory chapter was neither funny nor well thought-out, and will turn a lot of people away from the book. But after you get past that, it is some wonderful satire. I don't always agree with Moore, but I think he is a great writer, and that people of all political bents will enjoy reading his opinions, even if they disagree.
Rating: 
Summary: Acerbic, strident, simplistic¿and very funny.
Review: The premise of this book is stated right out in the title. What is the source of all of America's ills? Moore insists that all society's ills are linked back to stupid white men. Moore argues that it's greedy CEOs, politicians and those who support them who are responsible for all social ills-from poverty, our lousy educational, electoral and governmental systems to the Battle of the Sexes-everything has been screwed up by Stupid White Men. Moore tackles these issues with sharp political intellect, dry humor and self-deprecation without sounding like a tired old liberal. In other words, he avoids coming off as an arrogant blowhard the way his ideological nemesis, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, did in his 1992 dissent "The Way Things Ought to Be" or (for the most part) as a dour, humorless brat like his political soul-mate, Ralph Nader did in his recent memoir of the 1992 presidential election, "Crashing the Party". (Although he does have his dour moments about the 1992 presidential election himself. Come on folks, get over it!)
Moore does offer solutions, but in a comical, peevish way. His solution for remediation in the Battle of the Sexes? Men should learn how a toilet seat works! His approach in this book is fun, concise -- and, no doubt in the eyes of many beholders, true. Personally, I think Moore plays the blame game a bit too much, but both his thesis and writing style are, in general, both resonant and humorous, though the book has it's tedious moments. This book is going to offend some people. If some leaders and/or opinion leaders had their way, Moore would be brought up on charges of treason for his critical remarks about the conservative agenda and the Bush administration. On the other hand, we need that to some degree. We need folks like Moore-- a rabble-rouser who encourages national discourse in a time of intellectual and political conformity. Moore is not afraid to publish dissent when it's unpopular to do so. And there's nothing more patriotic and American than that.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good, but with reservations
Review: I found this book to be informative, funny, and sometimes scary, presenting facts that I did not know (but should have!). I am fairly 'left' in my thinking, but try to be moderate, and I found that sometimes Mr.Moore went too far. Perhaps that's a way to shock the reader, getting him/her to really look at the situation. I also found that he did a fair amount of complaining, but offered no solutions. I don't expect perfect plans, but when someone calls attention to something he believes to be wrong, usually he would also have an idea of what is supposed to be right. Mr. Moore doesn't make those ideas apparent, and when he does, it's usually for laughs. Don't take this review wrong, I loved this book, and I will recommend it to all my friends...but it could have been more.
Rating:
Summary: Ouch! I didn't know THAT!
Review: I've always considered myself a well informed person. I listen to National Public Radio, pay attention to the news, and regularly surf the net for a variety of opinions on current topics. Turns out I'm not reading the right stuff. This book should come with a warning label -- "Brutal Honesty Ahead." No punches are pulled, no topics are too sacred, and no one is safe from the optimistic belief that *ALL OF US* can help make things better. Michael Moore's latest offering is filled with interesting and frightening factoids -- from 173,000 disenfranchised minority Florida voters to Enron's purchase of political influence and shadow accounting methods (written eight months before the scandal became public), Moore knows *all* about it. He has a substantial source list at the back of the book, which unfortunately means he's not making this stuff up. The part that seems to frustrate him the most is the unanswered question of why we (and the national media) aren't talking about it. You will probably not agree with everything the author says; I know I didn't. I don't think Clinton was one of our greatest "Republican" presidents, for example, despite the humorously presented overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless, Moore has a keen and biting wit, and more importantly, he has something of value to add to our national dialogue. But this isn't just a simple pessimistic rant about how terrible things are. For the lethargic majority of us, this is a serious call to arms. Names and phone numbers are provided (including that of the White House) so there aren't any excuses for not letting your voice be heard. This guy isn't just out to make a buck; he's out to make a difference.
Rating:
Summary: Ten, maybe even twelve stars
Review: Ah, Michael Moore. Not only does he make great documentaries, he writes great books. I'd love it if he could be in charge of North America, possibly even the entire world. At the very least we'd have a straight-in-your-face leadership with no hidden agenda and no side pockets stuffed with corporate cash. Stupid White Men iss enlightening, hilarious, informative and entertaining--and none of the judges abstained (or cheated.) It's a must-read for anyone who wonders just what happened to those votes in Florida and how Bush came to be what Moore, wonderfully, refers to as POTUS. Don't miss this one! You'll learn a great deal, laugh a lot, and come away thinking seriously about things you thought you already knew.
Rating: 
Summary: Unfocused but sometimes on target
Review: "Stupid White Men" should be widely read as a source of truth on many news stories which were not adequately reported by our so-called liberal media. For example, while the media reported on charges of voting fraud in Florida, Moore tells us just what did happen. Black voters in Florida were denied the right to vote by illegal and immoral actions, and the overseas votes were mishandled in a shameful way. Fox News announced that Bush was the winner in Florida at a time when Gore was actually ahead, a calculated lie that allowed the media to make Gore look like a sore loser when he contested the count. But if this chapter, "A Very American Coup," will raise our blood pressure, so too will Moore's "Dear George," in which Moore pictures for us, in a dry, factual manner, the privileged life which our "president" has led. He features Bush's three arrests and Mrs. Bush's non-arrest when she killed a high school classmate by running a stop sign. His conclusion is that Bush does not have the experience to run the country even if he had the brains. All told, though, these good points do not outweigh some serious faults in the writing. The book's humor is often ham-handed. Another problem is its unfocused point of view. While Moore criticizes Bush, he is also critical of Clinton. Yet he does not wholeheartedly support Ralph Nader either. "Moderation" and "compromise" are constantly ridiculed in this book, but what should happen, what should be done, what should be supported, is never clear. The work supports some very juvenile values, such as disdain for high school and just pure delight at causing mayhem. Another problem is the self-aggrandizing tone of the book. In one episode, Moore confronts Fred Barnes, forcing him to confess he has not read Homer himself, after criticizing public education for not teaching such classics. The author presents himself as Mr. Average, while we all realize that he is a celebrity who had his own television show for a time and has made several movies. While I think this book is important and recommend it for some of its material, my total judgment is governed by the poor writing overall.
| 
