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Brain Droppings

Brain Droppings

List Price: $24.95
Your Price: $16.47
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: From Hillarious to just Twisted
Review: George Carlin is an amazing talented standup comic who decided to "stretch" by writing a book. Unfotunately (or maybe fortunately), this comes off as a script for his stand-up routines. If you've seen him in person or on HBO you've seen much of this material. That's good - if you'd never heard Carlin give this in person then most will appear disjointed, rambling thoughts. On the other hand, if you can picture and hear him do this, then you'll find yourself laughing.

I had always admired Carlin and his caustic insights into everyday life. He decided his job in life was to be the court jester to the world and let us all know how full of it we are. Reading the book I found myself at times laughing - especially at the "Short Takes" section where he throws out hillarious one liners and some of his classic jokes. Then I'd read one of the short narratives and observations he's made and become concerned about his negativity. As disturbing as some of his thoughts are you start to worry ... until he hits another series of hillarious one liners.

Watch out who you loan this one to - it's got way more than the "7 dirty words you can't say on television".

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book, like Naplam and Silly Putty, is a collection of some of the funniest stuff I've ever read. I've read both books and I prefer this one. There was less of his stand-up and more original material (at least it was new to me). You just can't say enough about Carlin, this is probabally the funniest book I've ever read. If your going to read it in public, be prepared to be asked to leave the room or told to stop laughing. Something in the book will make you mad, but it you will laugh at the same time. Buy the book, in fact buy 10 copies and maybe Carlin will write another one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Title Says It All
Review: Regardless of which Carlin camp you happen to fall into - the love it, hate it, or ambivalent to it camps - there's a little something for everyone in his first book of comedy, Brain Droppings. Those familiar with George's stand-up material probably won't be surprised by what lies between these pages, but for the rest of the world, a little explanation might be necessary.

Carlin is, first and foremost, a linguist, like many comedians (Steve Martin being another notable example). Delightful comedy springs from mastering language, and Carlin wields his Promethean tongue like a nuclear bomb, sparing absolutely nothing. Is he coarse, hateful, and full of venom? Yes. By using words not like swords but an executioner's axe, Carlin dismembers ideas and meanings about politics, religion, history, pop culture, sports, and English itself. His reasoning, it seems, is to throw the reader or listener so far from common meaning that the person is forced to invent - or at least reconsider - beliefs.

Brain Droppings contains many such aphoristic nukes. Some are a few words long, others continue for a few pages. There are some classics from his stand-up in here, notably "Football and Baseball" and "A Place for my Stuff." Unfortunately, this book really does seem like a collection of brain droppings - things that just kind of fell out of Carlin's mind. Good or bad, there they are. If this book has a weak point, it's that it wasn't edited very well, and some of the things in here are just plain silly and dumb. From a man who is so obviously intelligent and humorous, I expected more at times.

Overall, though, does it work? The nuke-'em-silly technique is certainly open to debate. Will people get it? Sometimes. Remember, for every person that got Archie Bunker's satirical character, there were two that thought he represented a true American, and five that couldn't stomach listening to him at all. People will find the same thing in these pages. It's certainly worth a read; if you don't like it, one of your friends definitely will.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: No Dodging These Droppings
Review: Think of yourself being chased by a gang of Elmer Fudds. You're twenty yards ahead of them. The Fudds all fire their double-barreled shotguns at the same time. Some of the pellets fly over your head, some give you a pain in the butt, some hit smack in the middle of your funny bone.

Such is the case with "Brain Droppings", a couple thousand pellets of Carlinisms spread out over 258 pages.

The layout of the book is as wacky and disjointed as Carlin's comedy - all kinds of fonts, weird leading, bold headings and dingbats. It fits.

You'll shake your head, roll your eyes and yawn at some of the material. George loves to play with words, and he uses a lot of them in this book to go on and on and on - too much, already - about their use. For instance, redundancies: "honest truth", or euphemisms like "gambling joint = gaming resort", or oxymorons as "open secret."

There are longer sections, for instance a repeat of his classic comparison of baseball and football . . .

"In football the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun.

"In baseball the object is to go home. And to be safe! I hope I'll be safe at home!"

And, of course, George must be George and the book is full of foul language and terse tidbits guaranteed to offend all groups and subgroups. For example, "How do they get all of those Down's syndrome kids to look the same?"

And that's a milder example.

So if you're a fuddy-duddy stay away. But if you don't mind a potty-mouthed Elmer Fudd, a good time is guaranteed.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: BRAIN MANURE .... ZERO stars
Review: ...There are about 20 pages worth of laughs. The rest is gross, obscene, pointless, garbage.

Hey, I don't mind the occasional foul word and raunch. Not at all. But this was beyond raunchy into just sickco....with no point, therefore not funny. Gutter humor.

I checked out a copy at my library and I suggest you do the same. No one deserves money for this kind of trash. It should of never been published...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time On This Book
Review: It completely escapes me why any intelligent adult woudl find much of value in George Carlin's Brain Droppings. To borrow from Mr. Carlin's style of writing, the droppings from this book are more likely to have emerged from the other end of one's anatomy. Save your money.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: this man is TWISTED!!!!
Review: If you pride yourself on being open-minded, not easily repulsed, and can laugh at yourself and society at large, then this book is for you. His observations about senior citizens, politcis, abortion....and the lists.....MAN!!! Don't read this in the library, or you will get black-listed, okay?? If you loved warped, twisted views and cerebral humor, GET THIS!!! GEORGE IS A MESS!!!....but I love it!! (By the way.....if nothing offends you in this book, you're lying. It's part of George's charm.)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bold adventure
Review: This book is not for everyone. If you're afraid of exposing yourself to non-prevailing wisdom, then you should NOT check out this book. Mr. Carlin hit me several times. Good hits. Hard hits. Funny hits. Thoughtful hits. If you're proud of your ability to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time, then this book isn't for you. Mr. Carlin's mind is spooky. This book is a trip thru that spooky mind. While reading this book I often wished I had his insight. At other times I was grateful not to have his insight. I kept thinking what it must be like to be a member of his family. Never, never boring. If his personal life is anything like this book, then there are no time-outs. Perhaps this will help you. My wife could tell I was enjoying this book because of the number of times she heard me laugh. Also, because there were so many juicy sections that I read to her. I rarely do that. This book contains a section about grammar. It wasn't funny to me, only because I suffer from many of the issues that Mr. Carlin discusses. But it was instructive. I can see him looking at this and coming up with several grammatical errors. But this book has too much value for me to be timid about his criticism. There is very little in this book that doesn't invoke some kind of strong emotion. Isn't that the real value of a book?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's the thought that counts!
Review: I am surprised when I speak of George Carlin's humor and logic people always say "He has a dirty mouth". FOLKS! LISTEN TO ME AND ESPECIALLY TO GEORGE! He is trying to get a point across with his humor, which is exactly what comedian Lenny Bruce was doing many years ago. If all you see is the cussing, then you miss on an opportunity to think. It's like the old saying "What you see is what you get" ...Braindroppings is hiliarious! I really love his take on religion, politics, and fallacies that many of us seem to believe in. One line he says is "I don't want something that's good for headahces. I want something that's bad for headaches and good for me. As well, I don't want the doctor prescribing me pain pills, I need relief pills"

HE also makes fun of euphisms that many of the liberals like to use. They like conservatives, don't think about what they are doing and as well he thinks the euphisms are a form of lying. He's absolutely right! Calling someone cripple versus "differently abled" is crap, as well it is a vague term.

But, I don't want to spoil it for you. Go ahead and buy this book! It will put a smile on your face and will get you to start thinking.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Short Book!
Review: At the time, I was reading a sci-fi book that was very serious. I was thinking "God, I really need something to read that is just funny and serious at the same time." Braindroppings! (fanfare music) I have read this book with a stupid grin on my face, and I EXTREMLY love "G.c's Guide to Dining out."

Also, I was amazed by the puns that he uses so well. And his clean humor is the best part in the book. "Killer Comic" proves of this.

There is nothing wrong with the length (258 pages). It's a very fast read, BELIEVE ME!


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