Rating: 
Summary: I'm not making this up - Pointed Satire!
Review: I find Dave Barry hilarious. He seemed to have a purpose - lampooning the federal government - but unfortunately as the book goes on, it seems to run out of steam and he is finally forced to wedge in commentary on the 2000 election and south Florida in a manner that seems, well forced. Which is too bad considering that this was probably the genesis of the book itself. It almost feels like "Well I've taken on the federal government which is a joke already so let's tell stories of the strangeness of Florida." Which is really too bad becuase he was on such a roll hitting Washington. Plus how many writers can pad out their book with references to zucchini? Valient effort that when it's on, it's great. When it's off, it's just sort of limping along there. Now granted, humor is in the eye of the reader, and you can't always expect hilarity from page 1 to the end, but I found myself going from "laugh out loud and have my subway mates look at me strangely" to "yea, that's funny. Ha ha." Never fully disappointed, but after all is said and done, I found a feeling of unfulfillment. Very fun but could have been a lot better.
Rating:
Summary: Talking Tour of Fed'l Gov't & 2000 Election & So Florida
Review: I recently finished listening to the Audio CD edition of this work. Barry's columns are usually LOL material for me and I listened to his novel Tricky Business with pleasure. So much for my bona fides. Most of the federal government gags were just plain goofy rather than funny (no, I don't work, nor have I ever worked, for Uncle). The closer DB got to home (Miami, obviously), the more I began to laugh. His dissection of the Florida vote in the 2000 Presidential match-up? LOL. His take on Dan Rather's electoral metaphors? FDOTF (Fall Down On The Floor) LOL. His vivisection of So Florida's ethnic politics, drug money dementia and the Grand Panjandrums of the Criminal Defense Bar? SICB (Stop, I Can't Breathe) LOL. Here's a BTW: Unlike another reviewer, I think Dick Hill does a fine job reading the book. His over-the-top delivery only comes into its own, however, when the story line (such as it is) leaves Washington, DC. My takeaway? Listen to Tricky Business first but don't pass this one up.
Rating: 
Summary: The real story of Zucchini's in the Federal Government
Review: The U.S. Federal Government is a great experiment in democracy. It is also, at times, ridiculous, silly, and an inadvertent satire of itself. Dave Barry takes a look at the U.S. government and finds a wealth of information to have fun with. Barry covers the evolution of government from "Early Human Governments" to the U.S. government's birth and on into today. Barry goes on to poke fun at Presidential races, income taxes and silly laws. If you think Barry is having too much fun at the expense of the Federal Govt he does take time out to ponder whether government in Florida is worse and if the state should be given back to Spain (as if Spain would take it.) Barry's satirical humor is not necessarily hard hitting but it is laugh-out loud funny. Sadly the book needed a few more Zucchini references to round itself out.
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