Rating: 
Summary: Why didn't someone tell me sooner?
Review: "School is Hell" was a very disturbing book for me to read because of "Lesson 18: The 9 Types of College Teachers." In the grand Aristotlean tradition Matt Groening has devised classification systems for types of teachers for grade school, high school and college, as well as for students at the first two levels. So, of course, I tried to figure out which category applied to me and so far I have narrowed it down to two uncomfortable possibilities. The first is "The Genius From Another Dimension," because I think the loony and entertaining advantages apply, but the warning of turning students into believers just does not apply because I do not believe in anything enough to pass it on. The second is "The Singe-Theory-To-Explain-Everything Maniac" because irony is the master trope of the reality, but I already know that parroting is not learning. Maybe there is a hole in Groening's theory, but that does not seem right since he seems to touch on every other aspect of education in this mini-jumbo compendium of hellish cartoons. Within the pages of "School Is Hell" there are 48 cartoons from Groening's syndicated "Life in Hell" comic strip circa 1982-87. The main attraction are the 21 lessons of the "School Is Hell" educational miniseries, but there are also the eight parts of "My 5th Grade Diary" ("I decided I'll never be prez of the U.S. so I think I'll stop now"), several pages of "Parental Brain Twisters" ("What's wrong with you?"), and assorted fillers such as "Lies My Older Brother and Sister Told Me" (e.g., "The Alphabet Trick"). Not all of these are school related, but they do feature Bongo, the young rabbit with one ear who has to endure the trials and tribulations of the educational system throughout this volume. One thing that has to be said for mandatory education in this country is that everybody should be able to relate to the subject matters in "School Is Hell." Obviously students are going to get a big kick out of "School Is Hell," because it embodies the great truth of most of Matt Groening humor, "It is funny because it is true." They will also have an easier time finding themselves in the list of 33 types of grade school students from the teacher's pet to the class clown. Teachers will also learn a thing or two from cartoons like the "Teacher's Guide to Words That Make Kids Snicker" (e.g., "Who can tell us if there are rings around Uranus?"). This is just the sort of book to students and teachers alike get through the travails of finals week. It certainly gives me a sense of nostalgia for grade school humor when being rubber was better than being glue and driving a teacher crazy was the prime directive. These cartoons are wicked bad funny.
Rating:
Summary: If life is hell then school is just adding insult to injury
Review: "School is Hell" was a very disturbing book for me to read because of "Lesson 18: The 9 Types of College Teachers." In the grand Aristotlean tradition Matt Groening has devised classification systems for types of teachers for grade school, high school and college, as well as for students at the first two levels. So, of course, I tried to figure out which category applied to me and so far I have narrowed it down to two uncomfortable possibilities. The first is "The Genius From Another Dimension," because I think the loony and entertaining advantages apply, but the warning of turning students into believers just does not apply because I do not believe in anything enough to pass it on. The second is "The Singe-Theory-To-Explain-Everything Maniac" because irony is the master trope of the reality, but I already know that parroting is not learning. Maybe there is a hole in Groening's theory, but that does not seem right since he seems to touch on every other aspect of education in this mini-jumbo compendium of hellish cartoons. Within the pages of "School Is Hell" there are 48 cartoons from Groening's syndicated "Life in Hell" comic strip circa 1982-87. The main attraction are the 21 lessons of the "School Is Hell" educational miniseries, but there are also the eight parts of "My 5th Grade Diary" ("I decided I'll never be prez of the U.S. so I think I'll stop now"), several pages of "Parental Brain Twisters" ("What's wrong with you?"), and assorted fillers such as "Lies My Older Brother and Sister Told Me" (e.g., "The Alphabet Trick"). Not all of these are school related, but they do feature Bongo, the young rabbit with one ear who has to endure the trials and tribulations of the educational system throughout this volume. One thing that has to be said for mandatory education in this country is that everybody should be able to relate to the subject matters in "School Is Hell." Obviously students are going to get a big kick out of "School Is Hell," because it embodies the great truth of most of Matt Groening humor, "It is funny because it is true." They will also have an easier time finding themselves in the list of 33 types of grade school students from the teacher's pet to the class clown. Teachers will also learn a thing or two from cartoons like the "Teacher's Guide to Words That Make Kids Snicker" (e.g., "Who can tell us if there are rings around Uranus?"). This is just the sort of book to students and teachers alike get through the travails of finals week. It certainly gives me a sense of nostalgia for grade school humor when being rubber was better than being glue and driving a teacher crazy was the prime directive. These cartoons are wicked bad funny.
Rating:
Summary: SCHOOL IS HELL!
Review: A great overview from preschool to graduation, very true to life check it out
Rating:
Summary: Witty, pointed, and humorous
Review: Groening's humor and irresistably cute bunnies, combined with sarcasm about our time and extremely accurate interpretations of school, make School is Hell terrific fun. The left-wing undertones are a big bonus, if you're into that kind of thing.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Hilarious
Review: I first read this when I was 14, and I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. Years later, I still think it's great. The bitterness, eye for detail, and--above all--truthfulness of the cartoons is amazing and are all reasons why the book is so funny. I love the whole "Life in Hell" series by Groening, but I think this one is the funniest; it's my favorite. Do yourself a favor and buy this.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Hilarious
Review: I first read this when I was 14, and I thought it was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. Years later, I still think it's great. The bitterness, eye for detail, and--above all--truthfulness of the cartoons is amazing and are all reasons why the book is so funny. I love the whole "Life in Hell" series by Groening, but I think this one is the funniest; it's my favorite. Do yourself a favor and buy this.
Rating:
Summary: Funny Funny and more funny
Review: I remember reading this book when i was in 1st grade and now that i'm in high school i'd like to read it again, unfortunately throughout the years you lose things, so i guess i'll have to order another one. Doh!
Rating:
Summary: Why didn't someone tell me sooner?
Review: I've always had a love hate relationship with school. I LOVE LEARNING despite enough years of school that I should be a doctor. Groening hit the nail on the head though, that school is about everything but learning. Conformity is king. It kind of makes me sick.
I have a degree in art education, taught school for one semester. Love teaching, love the kids. Hate the system. I don't want to go to "school" the rest of my life. Ironically, I think I picked this up at the end of that semester. I just picked it up and read it from cover to cover a few years later. A wicked gift for someone in education considering a change of career...
His actual diary from elementary school should be "required reading" for anyone in education.
Rating:
Summary: My first and favorite book in the series
Review: I've been reading this book since grade school. Now, I'm in High School and it's even funnier 'cause I get it better. You could win girlfriends with this book, if love wasn't also hell.
Rating:
Summary: Funny, yet Painfully Realistic
Review: Like all the other "Life in Hell" books, "School is Hell" is a hilarious satire; in this case the target is education at all levels. I can't write much praise that hasn't already been written. The "Hell" series has much of the sly wit of Groening's more mainstream "Simpsons" TV series, but is presented in more blunt, less subtle manner. Though characters are drawn simply (often generally described as "abstract"), the "Hell" series is among the most realistic and honest post modern creations. In "School is Hell", Groening takes us through the awkward, difficult experiences of school and growing up familiar to everyone in an accurate, funny, fatalistic manner. In this context, Groening's unrefined technique actually accentuates his stark words. The underlying theme of all his "Hell" books is that life isn't meaningful and we're just deceiving are ourselves when we try to think that it is. Though this view isn't exactly an epiphany, Groening is brilliant because he manages to make such a stark, potentially depressing realization comical. Here's an example of Groening's poignant humor: After college graduation, Binky (protagonist) receives congratulations for, "spending your whole life jumping through petty academic hurdles for meaningless rewards. Now, you will embark on a career in a massive beaurocracy where nothing you do or say will ever matter." This book is filled with such funny moments that resonant with painful honesty. All of Groening's "Life in Hell" books are an entertaining read; just as funny and painfully honest. It's this unapologetic honesty that gives this series it's emotional resonance. Most humorous works offer fleeting humor that is only initially funny (if at all). Though the "Hell" books aren't exactly deep, much like the Simpsons, Groening's humor conveys an emotional resonance which only becomes more appealing after repeated readings. "School is Hell" is the best of what it is (what ever it may be).
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