Dave Barry in Cyberspace

Rating:
Summary: Not Dave's funniest -- but still great.
Review: Let me start by saying that I love Dave Barry's work -- I've been reading everything he's written since the early-'80's, always with great anticipation. With that said, I regret to report that this book is merely OKAY. Of course it was funny (how could Dave Barry not be?!), but I only found maybe two or three rolling-on-the-ground-laughing parts. So, if you're a fan of his, or if you have an interest in computers, you should definitely read it. Just don't expect as much side-splitting as other reviewers have claimed. For laugh-out-loud-til-you-wet-yourself Dave Barry humor, I recommend any collection of his weekly columns, and also *Dave Barry Slept Here*.

Rating:
Summary: WARNING: Do not read in public places
Review: There is nothing quite as embarrassing as suddenly breaking into fits of laughter in a public place -- which is exactly what might happen if you try reading this book. Dave Barry is his usual, hilarious self, twisting ordinary facts into fresh jokes. Sometimes he even makes up those facts. Either way, it's still one of the cleverest lampoons of information technology that you'll ever read -- and probably a lot more fun than those Dummies books, too!

Unfortunately, this book on computers -- like computer technology itself -- is subject to obsolescence. Many of the websites in the "Selected Websites" section have already moved or shut down. However, Barry's reviews of these sites continue to be funny long after the site is gone.

There's also the question of that looooooong chapter on the MsPtato-RayAdverb story, which, although having its moments, is a little more mellow than Barry's usual style. It must have been a disappointment to his regular readers; at first I thought it was a waste of paper too. But after a while I came to appreciate the mini-story, which seems to be a new development of Dave Barry's writing -- a development that led to his first novel, Big Trouble.

"Dave Barry in Cyberspace" is few years out of date now, but it's still a hilarious book to read. Recommended for all Dave Barry fans, but if you're just starting to get into his books, buy this one later.

Rating:
Summary: For when you just don't want to take computers seriously
Review: This is good stuff. You can tell that Dave Barry really does know computers and the internet, but he doesn't let that stop him from writing a hilarious introduction to cyberspace for the layperson. Of course, it has been five years since he wrote the book, and anybody who has gotten to the point where he can read this review on Amazon probably knows most of what Dave Barry facetiously imparts here. Still, the book ages pretty well, and I doubt it was intended to help people learn to use computers anyway. (I hope not, at least!) Instead, the reader can laugh along as Dave Barry pokes fun at every aspect of the computer industry.

At first I was somewhat surprised to see that so many reviews didn't like the short story at the end, "MsPtato and RayAdverb." I enjoyed it and thought it was very well written. The problem is that it's not very funny (nor do I think it was intended to be as humorous as the rest of the novel), so it seems out of place. On the other hand, the story is certainly on topic, since it's about a woman and mother of three who finds love on line after learning how to use her computer.

Rating:
Summary: Occasional Humor
Review: This is not one of Dave Barry's better books. It has the usual pages and paragraphs that send you into hysterics, but the world of technology laughed at in the book is so antiquated that many of the jokes feel old. Pair that with his unsuccessful attempt to make the same jokes funny throughout the book (which he accomplishes in some others), and you have a lesser Barry book. Give one of his other's a shot.