Rating: 
Summary: first rate satire
Review: This book is hilarious, but you should be forewarned that it is SATIRICAL, not literary slapstick. If your idea of great humor is The Simpsons you'll love the idea of a road map for urban LA residents, which directs them to Beverly Hills as a preferred sight for the next riot. If your idea of wit is Suddenly Susan, this might not be for you. I also want to add, as someone finishing up dual degrees in politics and economics, that Moore has a decent grasp on both. Conservative, business types like to pretend that only they understand the economy, but they often don't, or use their understanding to deceive. Moore is one of the only public figures I've seen who has pointed out that while "market forces" and all the rest exist, we don't have to bow down to them. As he says, the word "shareholders" does not appear in the constitution. There is no reason that we have to let corporations do anything but what is good for the general population. That is the important point which this book entertainingly conveys.
Rating:
Summary: Anyone who thinks they are being underpaid should read this.
Review: I have learned a lot. Anyone interested in seeing how backwards our government works and how Big Business screws everyone it employs should read this book.There are two sides to every story. Moore does a great job of showing us the second side. The one the government and big business don't want you to see. He really dug deep to find facts and figures that will astound you. And he does this while keeping his great sense of humor and satire. After reading this you will never criticize someone on food stamps or welfare once you find out how much welfare US companies really get. After reading this go watch his movie "The Big One".
Rating: 
Summary: not great, good
Review: I'm sort of surprised: everyone seems to have either loved this book or hated it, when in reality it really shouldn't elicit such strong emotions. I'm a liberal to the core, and thus I agree with most of what Moores says, but sometimes, well--the chapter on Germany was just scary. You get the vague impression as you're reading it that it must be satire--there is no WAY this guy can be serious. And yet...he is. There's just no denying it. The chapter on rioting was similar in nature, although I did appreciate the instructions on how to illegally immigrate, which would no doubt have rubbed many the wrong way. Beyond the obvious firebranding nature of the aforementioned chapters, there's some pretty hilarious material here; unfortunately, there's also some excruciatingly tedious stuff. Moore's heart is in the right place, but he's just not a particularly good satirist. What else can I say? It's worth reading, but it's not as great as I had hoped it would be.
Rating:
Summary: Yipee!
Review: Read this book! You probably won't agree with everything that Moore says - I didn't - but that's because it is at times (as many other one-star reviewers seemed to have missed) as satire as much as it is social criticism. Reasons to read: 1. Moore lives to upset the apple cart - gaurenteed to make you think 2. I love a man who admits to lusting after Mrs. Clinton 3. Damn funny 4. Educational. Moore the documentarian goes to work explaining how corporate welfare works, how what the average multimillionare celebrity spends his day, and in the most amazing chapter how political bigwig Bob Dornan is absolutely freakin' nuts (yes, Dornan is the guy who rallied against abortion but took his own wife to get one - and that isn't even the tip of the iceburg on this guy's irrationality and egotism and, well, nuttiness.) 5. Damn funny. Or did I already say that one? I had so much fun with this that I rented "Roger and Me" - which, like this book, is hilarious and real. 6. Moore is one of the few working authors today not absolutely brainwashed by wealthy and powerful. Keep fightin' for the people, Mike!
Rating:
Summary: Shows how the Right is so right, it's wrong
Review: Among other fascinating things about this one-of-a-kind polemic masterpiece is the absolute spewing venom it brings out in the Right Wing. (See some of the "one-star" reviews above.) Seems like somebody hit a nerve there! As for my own review: Michael Moore is one of a kind (damn it). Better than anyone writing in America today, he tallies up the kibble that executive fat-cats and their downsizing corporations are gobbling down, at the expense of the average American worker AND taxpayer. In the tradition of Mike Royko or Studs Turkel, Moore afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. In his own not-so-small way, he's the antidote to a society that often, unfortunately, tends to do the reverse.
Rating:
Summary: MICHAEL MOORE FOR PRESIDENT!
Review: Seriously. I know I have heard him decline such a nomination, but come on Mike give it some thought. If you know Mr. Moore from his movies and television, you won't be disappointed here. His observations and essays are excoriating exposes of corporate America and the government that whores itself to the capitalist class. Downsize This is insightful, inciteful and excruciating funny.
Rating:
Summary: Yeah, that's the spirit!
Review: this is an excellent book. i had a lot of fun reading it. maybe mike would like to help organize workers at amazon.com. yeah his stories are so funny, they are so great. maybe he could get in contact with the cwa contact at the washtech. i don't know he's a good guy. but we'd love to have you. i like the story about nike. sometimes people get so greedy, especially the more money they make, and i think that mike exposes that in his book, movie, and tv projects. the absurdity of corporate america and its damaging effects. yeah let us know mike! yer awesome!
Rating:
Summary: Michael Moore fills a much needed void in social criticism
Review: In a society where we have become more and more fragmented by simgle issue pundits Moore has found a way to put a diversity of activist causes into one root cause. It's all about class struggle, the haves have more, the have nots are desparate, and most of us feel helpless to do a damn thing about it. Moore may be wildly irreverent, and at times even silly in his presentation, but if can wake us up as well as he can entertain us this would indeed be a better nation. In fact, some of the suggestions that he makes at the end of the book are well worth considering-why I even considered running in a special election for a city council seat that is coming up here. Actually, despite the zaniness that prevades throught the book I believe that Moore himself would be a desirable candidate for public office. Perhaps he might consider the senate seat that will be vacated in New York next year. At the very least, he would open up a dialogue on subjects that they are not really being discussed by professional politicians. I know that I would work for such a campaign.
Rating:
Summary: This is a guide to practical solutions for liberals.
Review: Being a liberal should be about action, not about discussing how silly Republicans are. This book gives practical tips about how to call the FBI to arrest a senator that makes death threats against Clinton, joining Mike's Militia, etc. A reminder that there are resources we have to use to battle the religious right and the Country Club Party. Also, Moore clearly compares corporate behavior to street criminals, death threat leavers, corporate welfare mamas, and crack dealers. The point is taken: we wouldn't tolerate corporate behavior if it was happening on a smaller scale, so why should we on a large scale. Since reading his book, I check his website every week.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Michael Moore is terrific with "Downsize This". It is both very smart and very funny. Great advice for General Motors to sell crack, since it makes more profit than a car of equivalent weight.
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