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Summary: economics and humor
Review: This is a laugh out loud book that deals with comparative economics in an extremely humorous and yet informative way. It will make you think as well as laugh. Very fine reading.
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Summary: Great Book
Review: The best P.J. O'Rourke book since All the Trouble in the World. You get a general knowledge of Economics and a good laugh.
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Summary: Far from funny, but Fascinating
Review: O'Rourke does a great job of showing the relationship between laws, culture and money. He does this by showing how different societies across the globe deal (or doesn't deal) with economics. There aren't complicated charts, just the facts of how everyday people make a living. You can see how socialism does much better in Sweden than in Cuba, or how capitalism works wonders in Hong Kong but bombs in Albania. What I like about the book is that O'Rourke brings a very open mind to the subject, and doesn't get caught up in ideology. In fact he does a rather good job of bringing complex economic theory down to earth so everyone can understand it. But P.J. falls a bit short in the humor department. When he isn't working it too hard his wit does comes through, but by trying to be "so cool" O'Rourke comes off as a bit dated and dull after a while. I wouldn't mind this so much, but the lame jokes get in the way of some good ideas, and an otherwise rare interesting exploration of economics. However the book is a worthy read, and with some editing might even stand the test of time.
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Summary: Great economics reader
Review: A terrific, introduction into applied economics. O'Rourke has written his best book for a number of years. The writing is precise, with a clever mix of incisive analysis, and wit. A must for O'Rourke fans.
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Summary: Ever American Should Read This Book
Review: P.J. Takes all the boring basic theory of Econoics and compares how that theory fares in the real world. He picks best and worst examples in many measures from around the world. He does this while making you bust a gut laughing. If learing had been this fun when we were in school we all be Ph. D's by now. Everyone ought to read this book before they vote again. Buy two copies I guarantee you want to give this book to someone. P.J is the best satarist writing today.
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Summary: Entertaining Fluff
Review: If you want to read a very witty, entertaining book and see a very American-centric view of the world, by all means buy this book. If you want a balanced and properly researched analysis, don't. There are far too many conclusions in here that are supported by the mere shreds of anecdotal evidence gleaned from visting a few hotels in foreign countries. A good laugh, though!
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Summary: A Very Funny Trip
Review: I got hooked on P.J. O'Rourke through his work in "RollingStone." Each of his books have usually just been expandedversions of his gonzo-style of journalism. He is definitely the sicklove child of Hunter S. Thompson (another "Rolling Stone"family member) and Dave Barry--of course with a twist of RushLimbaugh's conservatist flare. His dry wit is interlaced with a keeneye for the bizarre. He has attacked politicians and Congress in"Parliament of Whores" (still his best book to date) and the"hawks" and "doves" in "Give War aChance" (enjoyable though not as memorable). This time he takeson economists who apparently win Nobel prizes simply by boring themost people. However, he does this by actually bouncing around theglobe, from Wall Street to Havana. And Albania to Hong Kong. Andseveral other points in between. He gets deep into acountry. Immersing himself within society itself to develop his theoryof why a country's economic ills are what they are. This is usuallydone by attending the local watering holes. If anything else isredeeming to an O'Rourke work, it's certain that you will always walkaway with an unquenchable urge to have a stiff drink--or maybefour. O'Rourke examines and compares several societies andcountries that exhibit the most free of the free market (Hong Kong) orthe country with "good" socialism (Sweden) and"bad" socialism (Cuba) and several other nations likeTanzania, Albania and Russia. As well as the U.S. and Shanghai. Theexamination on these countries are too brief to be worthy of realstudy, but the truth within the humorous observations are what is thereal nugget. ...this book isthoroughly enjoyable just to get his no-nonsense and never boring takeon why the free-market is greatest invention of mankind. ....Finally, you will definitely laugh while reading thisbook.
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Summary: A thoroughly entertaining tour of the world and economics
Review: In his usual satirical style, P.J. O'Rourke tours the bars of the world and the economies of the various nations around. He skewers many popular myths about economic success or lack thereof, dispenses humorous anecdotes that contradict many "central planning" schools of thought, and generally makes an excellent case for how and why economies work like they do. Highly engaging tale of why some nations are poorer than dirt and others do better - or as he puts it "America - it doesn't suck". Read it for a good macro view of econ, and how that relates in the real world to you and I who live it.
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Summary: A Great Read, Even If You Know Nothing About Economics
Review: This book is a great read. O'Rourke tackles the great argument of the 20th Century, "Which system is superior, Capitalism or Statism," with his usual aplumb. This book educates and entertains. Almost every page contains both a gem of wisdom and a belly laugh, usually combined together. I was somewhat offended by the language, call me old fashioned; but if you want to read an economics treatise without dozing off every 5 minutes, this is your book
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Summary: Why Do People Hate PJ?
Review: There are a lot of people who hate PJ O'Rourke. The simplest explanation: He's right. He speaks to the inner realist, to those of us for who don't buy the gobbledygook of political correctness. Funnybones tickled, we read PJ with a profound sense of thanks for articulating what we always knew to be true. Unfortunately, the type of people who think they can succeed where the combined effort of Jesus, Mohamed, Buddah, etc. failed, will react to PJ with venom. They debunk PJ for being at odds not with reality, but with their own politics. Who wants to have their illusions shattered, anyways?In "Eat the Rich," PJ focuses on economics--distinct among PJ's works for having a particular focus at all, rather than being a hodgepodge of articles whose only common element is PJ himself. Great as his "economics made simple" volume, PJ is obviously getting older, and this book doesn't quite have the same edge as his previous works. Still a great read, and sure to please.
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