To-Do Lists Of The Dead

Rating:
Summary: good, but old
Review: I first heard of this book when Katz was on the Daily Show. It's a funny book, but some entries just make you want to groan sometimes. Definitely a good light-hearted read to waste a Sunday afternoon.

Rating:
Summary: A half-hour's worth of groan inducing one-liners...
Review: I've seen Jonathan Katz interviewed on TV, and he is really really funny. Unfortunately, this book offers more "guffaws" than real laughter. The to-do lists have a *high* groan factor, such as these gems: Jim Henson: Try talking without socks on my hands; Norman Rockwell: Submit painting of severed head to "Saturday Evening Post," just to see their reaction; or Dwight Einsenhower: Rework "I'm Fond of Ike" campaign slogan. I bought this as a bathroom book that we could read for a while, and I read the whole thing in less than half an hour. Kind of a drag, I was expecting much more from him. I guess this could be a good $10 office grab bag gift, but that's about it.

Rating:
Summary: A half-hour's worth of groan inducing one-liners...
Review: I've seen Jonathan Katz interviewed on TV, and he is really really funny. Unfortunately, this book offers more "guffaws" than real laughter. The to-do lists have a *high* groan factor, such as these gems: Jim Henson: Try talking without socks on my hands; Norman Rockwell: Submit painting of severed head to "Saturday Evening Post," just to see their reaction; or Dwight Einsenhower: Rework "I'm Fond of Ike" campaign slogan. I bought this as a bathroom book that we could read for a while, and I read the whole thing in less than half an hour. Kind of a drag, I was expecting much more from him. I guess this could be a good $10 office grab bag gift, but that's about it.

Rating:
Summary: Funny but insubstantial
Review: If you're wondering what Jonathan Katz has been doing since Dr. Katz -- you'll have to keep on wondering because this book couldn't have taken more than a few hours to write. I'm usually a huge fan of Katz's work, but this one isn't quite up to his usual standards. Katz tries to carry the book on what is essentially a one-joke premise, which quickly wears thin. Don't get me wrong - it is a funny book, just a little insubstantial. If you're looking for the wit and offbeat humor you usually get from Katz, this light volume may disappoint. Still, (as one reviewer noted) it's not a bad way to waste a Sunday afternoon.

Rating:
Summary: Dry Wit
Review: This is a very enjoyable book, short and funny. It covers dead celebrities and others, and shows a dry wit. Not a howler of a book, but a great laugh nonetheless.