Rating: 
Summary: Everything we have come to expect
Review: "Eat the rich" is one of O'Rourke's best books so far - managing to combine more laughs and more insights per chapter then most "comic" authors manage in a career. Here he provides incisive analysis of economic and social issues that is at once incredibly funny and thoroughly thought provoking. Even when he says something that a left leaning reader like me finds incredibly offensive, he still challenges my preconceptions and makes me think. Just when you feel you can categorise his politics, he says something that confounds such pigeonholing. This is a fascinating book, that transcends the dry subject matter. It is also difficult to read in public, for fear of emitting snorts and gales of laughter.
Rating: 
Summary: O'Rourke Pulls Through Again!
Review: A well written piece of work that will keep you laughing the entire way through. It does not, however, explain anything about economics...but then again, he spent the first chapter enlightening the reader about his hazy pot filled college years and that ECON 101 never really did it for him.
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Summary: Reviews Almost Funnier than O'Rourke
Review: To the dear reader from Edmonton who so reviles the "American Dream," why not find a more appropriate forum for your thinly veiled antagonism and national impotentcy.Not everything is a venue for your rampant Canadian inadequacies. While it's true that Americans are universally despised around the world, I'd offer that the only reason Canadians are not held in the same regard is due to the taciturn obscurity in which most of you live your lives. And I hope Sather goes to San Jose.
Rating: 
Summary: Capitalism is not economics
Review: This is NOT an introduction to economics; it is an introduction to capitalist ideology. They are not the same! It is mildly amusing in parts, but if you don't share the author's belief in the benelevolence of the free market you may find it irritatingly dogmatic.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and poignant but hardly reference literature
Review: Having read all his previous books I was not the least disappointed. The book makes a not too serious attempt to explain why certain countries are rich while others are poor. Being Swedish, I must admit that the chapter on my country was fairly accurate. Except for the lack of humor portion. We are actually a barrel of fun to be with. Whatever that quantity is. I was disturbed to read that other (American) reviews called for the book to be made mandatory reading for introductory classes in macroeconomics. Good idea, and while your at it, for Zoology: flying mammals 101 you can use the latest Batman movie! "World Economics as seen by a hilarious and intelligent American (and I mean American as portayed in Hollywood productions) traveller" would have been a more accurate title. Maybe a bit long and complicated but certainly more accurate. I would very much appreciate if the book was made compulsory reading (or, where applicable; listening) for Swedish politicians -- some points made in the book are too good to be missed by their subjects! /rb990719
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Summary: Economic Sucess...At what cost?
Review: Americans seem to place all emphasis on a country's GDP as a reflection of its quality of life. But this is a flawed method of evaluation. When the Exxon Valdez spilled its cargo in Alaska, GDP went up. When a holder of several maxed out credit cards gets another one and racks it up, GDP goes up. Over consumption is the disgrace of North America and this book points out that if a country over consumes(U.S.A.) its GDP is greater than a country that doesn't(Sweden)...big deal. Sweden just has cradle to grave health care, education, employment security, free day care, an extremely low crime rate, a civil population and an excellent environmental policy. I'll take that over the so-called "American Dream" anyday.
Rating:
Summary: Exaggerates for effect.
Review: The book was very funny, and I was flattered by the chapter about Sweden of course, but many things still annoyed me about it. He really had a tendency to exaggerate for effect. A laugh is more important than truth it seems. I don't agree with the message either (being born and educated in a "fuzzy" west-European country). Take for example the injured woman in Tanzania who died because she couldn't get any doctor. Look here, O'Rourke says, at the misery brought about by a planned economy. If we let the rich get rich, wealth will trickle down to all, and ALL will be happy! But did Reaganomics work? Doesn't street people freeze to death every day in the US - is that less tragic than the death of the Tanzanian woman? And yes, the US is the "winner" if you look at economic indicators. But look at some less abstract indicators. Say, child mortality, corruption transparancy index (the US doesn't even make it into the top 10!), number of people in jail, serial killer statistics, human rights record, number of wars the latest century, stress and general health, environmental pollution, voter participation, literacy rate, epidemics and disease (the great killer turbeculosis, thought extinct, is coming back in resistant form in Russia and...among poor and prisoners in the US). A very different picture emerges. I don't mean to bash the US, but I think O'Rourke should take the beam out of his own eye before talking about the mote in others.
Rating:
Summary: Not just funny but accurate
Review: P.J. O'Rourke is the funniest younger writer in the world today. This book is not only funny with a wonderful racy style and vivid descriptive writing but its economic are technically sound and accurate. So too, I know, are its factual details in areas where I have professional knowledge (something I can say for few books - I have a PhD in political science and have been an editor at an economic think-tank). It really is a must.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining alternative to dull economics professors.
Review: A predominantly uncolored look at World Economics through the distorted prism of Mr. O'Rourke's anything-for-a-gag mind. Not as approachable as his other work, but then, neither is the topic. It's more proof that history will remember him as that OTHER political satarist...you know...not the guy who plays piano and wears a bow tie...the National Lampoon guy...Whatshisname. Buy it today.
Rating:
Summary: Funny Throughout But Only Briefly Enlightening
Review: P.J. O'Rourke is a funny man. He has made the lessons of economics both entertaining and educational. Yet while enjoyable in its entirety, the most useful part of the book was the final 15 pages, which summarized O'Rourke economic beliefs. There was little reference to the content of the first 230 pages and they seem to have been added as a space-filler for O'Rourke's "treatise on economics." But if you enjoy humor and fifteen pages of economic ideas, then this book is for you.
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