Though I’ve reviewed a few animal themed books for www.easyvegan.info, my AR/enviro blog, I’ve only sporadically posted book reviews over here. Now that I’m really into audiobooks – hey, what better to help work through the mind-numbing boredom of rote web editing? – I’m flying through my library. That, and a sudden influx of to-be-read-and-reviewed books via Library Thing and teh internets, and methinks I’m going to be drowning in reviews soon. What better place to post them than here?

I’ll start off with I Am America (And So Can You), by Dr. Stephen Colbert, DFA. Since the writer’s strike is still going strong, I’ve yet to watch a new episode of The Colbert Report in ’08. Luckily, the audio version of I Am America has helped to ease the pain somewhat. In all seriousness (and in direct contrast to my review), I do own both the hardcover and audio versions of I Am America, and the audio book is way better than the print version. Don’t get me wrong; the book is quite amusing, but Colbert’s reading gives it an extra pop that’s lacking in the book. It’s just like The Colbert Report, only without the visuals. Four stars for the hardcover, five for the audio book.

If you like the review, hop on over to Amazon.com and/or Library Thing and give me a thumbs up.

Ralphie likes his Truth hot and hard.

Make this the first book you’ve ever read.

Just don’t make a habit of it.

“I said on the very first episode of THE COLBERT REPORT that, together, I was going to change the world, and I’ve kept up my end of the bargain. But it’s not changing fast enough. Turns out, it takes more than thirty minutes a night to fix everything that’s destroying America, and that’s where this book comes in. It’s not just some collection of reasoned arguments supported by facts. That’s the coward’s way out.

“This book is Truth. My Truth.”

So explains Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA, in the introduction to his inaugural masterpiece, I AM AMERICA (AND SO CAN YOU). In the vein of unforgettable polemics such as THE O’REILLY FACTOR, LET FREEDOM RING, and HOW TO TALK TO A LIBERAL (IF YOU MUST), Dr. Colbert lets loose on a variety of controversial subjects, including race, religion, homosexuality, the media, class warfare, immigration, and old people.

Among Stephen’s many baubles of truthiness are the following truthy baubles:

* “So, maybe until that great day when all humans can’t see color, those with darker skin should take the Invisible Man’s brave example and wrap themselves in the white bandages of unity so that we all truly look the same color. You see, White people are already wrapped in bandages: the skin God gave us to protect us from racism. People of all colors deserve no less.”

* “After criminals and babies, seniors are the most coddled segment of the population.”

* “To their credit, Mormonism’s founders did something the other self-proclaimed prophets throughout history never thought of: They lived in America. I’ll admit it even makes me a bit uncomfortable to think that my doctrine was established somewhere as unseemly as the Middle East.”

If, as some touch-feely, people-hugging, liberal critics claim, Stephen suffers from emotional constipation, then I AM AMERICA is a welcome bout of verbal diarrhea. Perhaps Dr. Colbert has a mild case of IBS.

In any case, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. In fact, I recommend that you purchase two copies. To sweeten the pot, Stephen has released I AM AMERICA in both hardcover and audio book format. Each has its own unique perks. I AM AMERICA: THE BOOK is peppered with cartoons, sketches, tables, stickers, and graphs. And pictures. Sweet Jebus, the pictures! Stephen’s childhood snapshots are alone worth the $26.99 retail price ($31.25 Canadian). On the other hand, I AM AMERICA: THE AUDIOBOOK has the inflection, humor, wit, and audio that Stephen brings nightly to THE COLBERT REPORT. Plus, you don’t have to waste your time reading I AM AMERICA: THE AUDIOBOOK, what with the dictation and everything. Given that Stephen didn’t actually write I AM AMERICA, rather, he “shouted it into a tape recorder over the Columbus Day weekend,” perhaps I AM AMERICA: THE AUDIOBOOK is the truer manifestation of Stephen’s opinions. No matter; Stephen needs YOU to purchase at least one copy each of I AM AMERICA: THE BOOK and I AM AMERICA: THE AUDIOBOOK so that he can finance his own, REAL moon landing.

If you like this book, you may also enjoy DESTINED FOR DESTINY: THE UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE W. BUSH, authored and read (another two-fer!) by America’s Great(est) President, George W. Bush. He’s no Ronald Reagan, but Stephen forgives him for this transgression (and so should you).

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kthnxbai.

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Tagged: stephen colbert the colbert report i am america book review dachsund wiener dog ralphie my furbabies satire books

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 4:36 pm and is filed under a-pop-calypse now, reviews, your featherhead's furkids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.