Rating: 
Summary: Hiaasen Attacks Apple Pie
Review: First of all I must admit that if I heard that Carl Hiaasen had edited the Dubuque, Iowa telephone book, I would rush out and buy it. I enjoy him because I love his humor, and because I share his environmental concerns. As a retired senior executive of a large corporation, I also have no illusions about the goals of business. We need gadflies, and Carl's buzzing about can only bring issues to the surface to be thought about and discussed. Disagree with him you may, but I see nothing wrong in presenting facts about the power and plasticity of the Disney world. Many folks want their big brother provided sanitized entertainment, and will evidently brook no criticism of the source of their pleasure. For myself I am interested to find out how yet another big business manipulates local governments and the press. It's fascinating to read how devoted fans will pay 25 to 40% more for a home because its built by Mickey and his friends, while disregarding the fact that the same guys built substandard housing in Miami. The way people are mesmerized by the fantastic plastic world of Disney sometimes scares me. Its like some dystopic future world from a science fiction novel.I will agree that $8.95 is a lot to pay for 83 pages, but it sure is good quality Hiaasen.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious, wonderful writing, but ultimately unconvincing
Review: After reading this book, I came out with a significantly better impression of the Disney operation than when I started. Hiaasen admits that Disney properties are managed with slick, gleaming competence, and that they give the public exactly what it wants. His issue is that Disney tries to "improve on nature"; I feel that mankind's primary mission should be to do exactly that, to try and create a better world. The incredible bitterness of his hatred for Disney surprised me, since by the end of the book, I was convinced that South Florida would be ruled either by Disney or Francis X Kingsbury, founder of the cheesy 'Amazing Kingdom of Thrills' featured in 'Native Tongue' (my favourite Hiaasen novel). And now I'm confused: Which would Hiaasen hate the least? Incidentally, I'm not convinced Disney's vision is good, either - but at least I have to give them credit for trying. And, despite being more or less an anti-environmentalist, I really enjoy th! e quality of Hiaasen's writing, both in this book and his fiction. That's why it got a high rating from me, despite not succeeding in its basic aim.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I found this book interesting. As a former Floridian, and a resident of Manassas, where the proposed American Adventure Park was to be built, I do understand Hiaasen's dislike of "the mouse". The essay is from a series where authors write a critical essay of some current topic. Hiaasen's was Disney. Through opinions as a native Floridian and a journalist, and real news stories about Disney, Hiaasen attempts to give readers a better look at Disney, that it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Rating: 
Summary: "Disturbing"+"Entertaining"="Ultimately, Flawed"
Review: I adore Carl Hiassen. I share his concerns. I join in his delight at the comeuppances that from time to time sock Disney in the jaw. (As a resident of Northern Virginia, I was quietly pleased at our qualified victory in beating back Disney's America project.) So let me say first that I'd recommend Team Rodent as sheer, exuberant Hiassen, with its "Peep Land," "Insane Clown Michael," odious black buzzards and other hilarious locales and characters. Still, this is a slender book that wants you to believe it's much longer, better developed, and more convincing. It's Hiassen stretching everything he's got for as much as he can get (he's very good at this). He has an an anecdote or two for each short chapter, which he inflates--via the high-pressure air hose of Hiassenian hyperbole and prose--to the bursting point. What we're left with is the story of a large, powerful corporation in Florida behaving like--surprise!--a large, powerful corporation in Florida. That has convinced the broad masses to shovel money into its coffers in alarmingly large quantities. Surely, however, as a muckraker and satirist, Hiassen has divined something sinister, some fundamental filaments of rot eating through the Disney empire. For better or worse, intellectuals are the guilty consciences of their times, and Hiassen performs this necessary service. His are the useful ravings of the "anti-developmentals," who serve as salutary societal T-cells and, consequently, as needed brakes on hyperdevelopment. (It worked in Northern Virginia!) Hiassen behaves here, however, as though he had much more to work with and as though he didn't have to expend much effort to clinch his case--the "preaching to the choir syndrome"? In the end, Team Rodent seems something Hiassen simply tossed off one morning over coffee from his sanctuary in the Keys. I'd have appreciated a fuller version--with bull alligators, dire prophesies, and smacktalk intact--and a fair chance to judge whether this material's "disturbing" and "entertaining" quotients equal "ultimately, compelling." Here it doesn't, not to a dispassionate observer.
Rating:
Summary: Tongue in cheek fun, just now it ain't fiction
Review: This book is just a collection of articles clubbed together as chapters (like kick-ass) with Disney the center focus. Not as entertaining as his fiction, but for as somebody who's read all of those and who loves his writing style, this is a great crutch to get you through to his next publication date. Hiaasen's writing isn't so much an attack on Disney, as it is a satire of our own foibles. If he attacks anything in this book, it's the American "sweep it under the rug and don't talk about it" philosophy of complacency. Let's face it, Disney is a world where sex doesn't exist and appearances mean everything. Hiaasen just wants people to look under that rug and get back to reality.
Rating: 
Summary: lack of research
Review: this book was flawed from the trashy movie covers
to the insane clown posse this man clearly did not
do his research.
I mean draw the wash. mon.
then tell me what it looks like to a perv
and the insane clown posse had a large number of fans
before ever going to h-wood records. tho entertaining this book lacks hardcore facts.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money
Review: Ten bucks is a lot to pay for what is ultimately an essay. If you want to read it, get it from the library. I found it an okay read, but felt the overall feel was a bit 'snarky'. I'd compare it to an essay from a high school nerd complaining about how bad the 'cool kids' are...when his main complaint is that they are, in fact, cool. It just felts like he dislikes them because they are successful. Hey, Disney as a corporation is neither all black nor all white. So I'd say this may be worth a read if you like to get both sides of the Disney story and want to read some negatives for awhile, but really, save yourself a few bucks and get it from the library.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I found this book interesting. As a former Floridian, and a resident of Manassas, where the proposed American Adventure Park was to be built, I do understand Hiaasen's dislike of "the mouse". The essay is from a series where authors write a critical essay of some current topic. Hiaasen's was Disney. Through opinions as a native Floridian and a journalist, and real news stories about Disney, Hiaasen attempts to give readers a better look at Disney, that it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Rating: 
Summary: I think I can expand on Dj's review
Review: Ok, let me give this mandatory disclaimer: I do not work for Disney in no way nor am I a share holder.
What Dj meant when he said that Hiaasen hates Disney because he is obsessed with "adult material" was poorly expressed, but I think I can clarify the point. Apparently Hiaasen would rather a community be filled with disgusting shops and sleaze and, to use a term that he is so fond of, "S**t weasels". I mean, Disney should be praised for trying to clean up the deplorable state of Times Square and the crime filled central Florida and that island used as headquarters for a ring of drug dealers. If Hiaasen really wants to go back to the Florida of his youth, he should be praising Disney for trying to restablish the old good American values. Times Square and Orlando owe great thanks to Disney for (at least partially) fixing it up. The messy state they were in before would have caused the latter to go bankrupt. Contrary to what Hiaasen states, we need MORE Disney worlds, especially here in New York City, where I am always scared that I wont come home alive. Also, Hiaasen obviously has no sense of good art if he calls Disney's works "crapola", Walt produced some of the best art in history. The term crapola could be more aptly used when discribing Hiaasen's books,of which I have read the majority of, that are disgusting, vulgar, and, frankly, very dull. As an environmetalist myself, I hate to disagree with Carl in terms of the environmetal issues discussed in this waste of paper. However, I can tell you that it is not the case. Disney did not ruin Florida's nature. Long before the Disney Co. was even born, Florida was the #1 tourist attraction, and resorts, factories, and man made lakes damaged the everglades environment. Disney was actually one of the last companies to build upon Florida. The fact that Disney goes to great lengths to impress people is appropraite, since it is correctly held to a higher standard than most companies. Disney deserves every penny that it earns because it has brought more happiness to the world than any other entertainment corporation (more joy than Hiaasen ever will). I agree with Dj, the reviewer below, that Hiaasen just doesn't like Disney because its too "good taste" oriented for him. He is offended that the educated public prefers the Disney style rather than garbadge he writes.
On a closing note, Hiaasen insists that Disney is an "evil" empire. Well, who is the one who wants to throw the live gators in the lake? Who wants to see a tourist getting eaten by an escaped lioness? Who wants to see athletes getting attacked by snakes? These are all true disires originating in Hiaasen's sick mind. Read the book for proof. Heck, Hiaasen even neglects to mention the positive things Walt did to expose kids to the environment. Look at "Bambi", "The Vanishing Priaire", and other true life adventures. All environmentaly advocating films. Disney is not evil, it simply gives the public what it wants. Hiaasen should just shut his ignorant mouth and get an education before he writes again!
P.S. Read Jim Minter's coutner review of the book entitled "Rats to Team Rodent" its very good.
Rating:
Summary: What an idiot
Review: I think it says something that I hadn't even heard of Carl Hiaasen until I read this book. After reading it, I have vowed never to buy any of his books again. Ok, considering that some none too bright folks (thats why they like this book, and it makes sense, Hiaasen is at their level) have made such accusations in the past, let me assure you that I have never worked for Disney. But what exactly has Disney done that offends this cry baby so much. I been to Flroida only 3 times. Believe me, I saw enough sleaze there to last a life time. Don't worry Carl, sleaze ain't going nowhere.
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