Rating: Summary: Very thought provoking Review: I sat down on Christmas evening to read this book and could not tear myself away from it. Maher hits it on the nose. Whether it's our American inclination toward excess or the government's pseudo-attempts to increase national security (on the buget plan, ofcourse). Like Maher, I love my country, which is why I'm not interested in ignoring it's problems. I enjoyed Maher's ABC program, Politically Incorrect, (I no longer watch ABC since they didn't have the back bone to stand up for him) and I look forward to seeing him on television again. By the way, anyone who thinks Maher actually called American pilots "cowards" obviously did not see the show and have not bothered to double check the rumors they've heard. NOW excuse me while I order the rest of his books.
Rating: Summary: Bill For President Review: I bought this as a Christmas present for someone else and couldn't put it down. Now I must get a copy of my own. While I don't always agree with the author, his is a refreshingly strong, witty, opinionated voice in the oh-so-boring world of political talk. He repeatedly "drives home" --no pun intended-- the idea that if Americans are REALLY SERIOUS about the war on terriorism, the government and the people would do an abrupt about-face and wean ourselves from forgein oil. This book is very funny and at the same time is full of hard truths we'd like to forget. Bill Mahr challenges our nation --the president and the guy next door-- to think globally, nationally, about the family of man and NOT about me, me, me. After reading this, and "Nickle and Dimed" and "Rich White Men," I think we need to form a new political party in the U.S. -- any suggestions? Great posters, great fun, great ideas!
Rating: Summary: You should ask yourself, "Aren't I bored with this by now?" Review: Bill Maher is getting a pretty sweet deal out of our society. Before September 11, all he knew how to do was utterly failing to be funny, and it seemed that in time he would be duly forgotten. But now, he realizes that all he has to do is claim that a gang of terrorists are actually the world's greatest heroes, and the mainstream media goes berserk, actually believing he poses a deadly threat to America, and he gains a legion of adoring groupies that believe the refutation of his ludicrous diatribes that follows easily from the most basic reasoning proves that he must be a genius oppressed because of his utter brilliance. However, one thing must be made clear: I will not accuse Bill Maher of being a terrorist. I say this because Maher's entire routine since September 11 has been a pitifully obvious attempt to grab for attention by inciting people to accuse him of being a terrorist. I want to show that if he wants to dictate the way I react to him, he will have to do better than that tired old scam. I will, however, point out that there are people who look at he events of September 11 and say "What can I do to help?", and then there are people who say "How can I make a quick buck out of this?", and Bill Maher decidedly belongs in the latter group. I suspect Maher would be surprised to find out that rather than reflexively screaming "He is a terrorist", I attack his positions (or lack thereof) with a coherent discussion. In fact, I dare say, he would probably be quite offended. Finally, we come to Bill Maher's supposed opposition. He and his groupies insist adamantly that Maher is the only one enlightened enough to realize the truth, and is oppressed by an omnipresent yet strangely impotent conspiracy that seeks only to silence him but somehow never succeeds, regardless of how much power and influence it supposedly has (a classic paranoid fantasy that might make a passable arcade game, but tends to fail as a political position.) The fact is that when people become angry at Bill Maher, it has nothing to do with conspiracies or brainwashing. People become angry at Bill Maher because he persistently bludgeons them with his belief that the best way to make people laugh is to tell them that the systematic murder of their friends, parents, and relatives on September 11 was actually a beautiful, heroic act, and I fail to see why being angry at him is supposed to be an illogical reaction. If you want some really cutting social commentary, look into George Carlin's and Carl Hiaasen's work sometime. There, instead of a pathetic six-foot infant screaming at the world "Lick me, I'm edgy", you will find a truly hilarious and insightful perspective on the world, from people who seriously think about the situation they live in rather than mindlessly provoking a reaction. Otherwise, this book would be ideal for the sort of person who has a sticker in the back window of their truck of Calvin urinating on the logo of the company that actually made the truck. They seem to think it marks them as being on a different level of intelligence from the rest of us. How right they are.
Rating: Summary: Must read! Review: It does not matter whether you completely agree with Maher or not, this book is a must read for 2003. The best book I have read this year! He may not always hit a home run, but he sure gets you thinking, and that's the point. It's time to get off the couch, away from wrestling and football, and strt thinking about what kind of government we really want and what we are going to do to make it happen. This book would make a great text for High School Civics, if they still teach that. Quit letting others make the rules by which we live -- let's get involved!
Rating: Summary: Could not put it down Review: I found this in a bookshop at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport. The cover did it's job by reminding me of WW2 patriotic posters, and I found myself almost reading the whole thing before I even bought it. Good sense (and an impending departure) prevailed, and I devoured it on my flight to Allentown. For those who never saw his program "Politically Incorrect", you missed a gem of a show. This book is your opportunity to make up for what you've lost. I doubt that you, no more than I, will agree with everything in the book. My advice: Take three ideas for action from this book and make them your goal to achieve them and so defeat the terrorist threats to western civilization.
Rating: Summary: Wow! Review: You know what I like about Bill Maher? He's never afraid to say what's on his mind. Racial profiling a good thing? According to Bill, in some cases it is. He also rants about crummy airport security, wasting money on 'the war on drugs', & how 9/11 was politically motivated, not religiously motivated. (Bin Laden doesn't really care about Islam?) Well worth it if you're a fan. If not, don't bother. You either 'get him' or you don't. And if you like politically incorrect views, you may also like these other books, "No One's Even Bleeding" & "Delano".
Rating: Summary: He called US Pilots COWARDS Review: This is merely another diatribe from a Hollywood elitist who thinks his celebrity status validates his opinion on anything and everything. Recall that Mr. Maher called US Pilots cowardly for bombing from 50,000 feet, while he never risked his life for his country. You will then understand everything this useless book has to offer.
Rating: Summary: Who else but Bill Maher? Review: Who else but Bill Maher would have the guts to publish a book like this? Very few... Whether you love him or hate him, I highly encourage you to get this very provacative book. The art is excellent, as is Bill's commentary and humor. Alas, it will almost certainly not make people who fly flags on SUVs or buy diamonds for their girlfriends think any differently... they just don't care.
Rating: Summary: If Nothing Else, This Will Start a Conversation... Review: It says something about this book that Michael Moore and Ariana Huffington both have blurbs on the back cover. Maher's strength is that he hews to no particular party line. On one page he agrees with conservative right-wingers and a page later he's letting loose with a rant from the liberal playbook. The great thing about him is that he has an opinion, and he states it, and he doesn't worry about what box it all should be filed in. As such, he's a great antidote to the intellectual laziness of most of our pundits. Given, that, you can expect that at least once in this book, you'll shake your head and think, "No, that's just not right" and on some other page you'll think, "Dang-- that's exactly it." Maher cuts through a lot of the fuzz, smoke and mirrors of the post-9/11 political landscape , and even if you have to think a bit to figure out why you disagree with him, that's certainly more than any political figure has done in the last year. Maher is not polite or nice, but every society needs someone who's willing to tell the fat girl that she shouldn't wear spandex. A good timely book well worth reading.
Rating: Summary: Excellent read! Inspiring to say the least.... Review: This is a very inspiring read, Bill Maher is trying to bring back some of the values that past generations shared - like sacrifice! I love the posters, they are both funny and make a very serious point. He makes a lot of sense on what the *real* problems facing the nation are, as opposed to the politicaly correct B.S. we hear on the nightly news! Superb read, buy the book and the posters...
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