Bill Maher

In the early 2000s, Bill Maher lost his TV show for saying that it's simply incorrect to refer to the acts of the 9/11 hijackers as "cowardly" because however evil the goal, deliberately hurdling toward one's own death to achieve it takes guts. This is self-evidently true, but you weren't supposed to say such things in George W. Bush's America, and Maher had to find a new network. Apparently to this day you have to present as a comedian to say this kind of thing, like a jester in a medieval show more court. In any case here we have over three hundred pages adapted from the monologues at the end of Maher's show, saying true things that few other people can get away with saying, peppered with plenty of straight-out jokes so that everybody knows he's a comedian and is allowed to say stuff.

No one is going to agree with all the positions Maher stakes out, but his appeal lies not only in his extraordinary talent to say things straight out (while being pretty funny at the same time) but in the fact that almost everyone will soon run across something that they believe themselves but don't really want to say. Isn't it sad that we're all in this position? show less

This is basically a collection of Maher's monologues and some guest quotes from his show Politically Incorrect. On the one hand, much of the material has not aged well; it covers mostly the decade of the 1990s, so the references are pretty much of the time. On the other hand, a few pieces do remain timeless, and in one or two cases, even relevant to the situations we see in society today. I did not rate this higher because the quality of the pieces is fairly inconsistent. Some are good; a show more few are brilliant; a lot are just so-so. However, if you want to take a trip down memory lane to see the pop culture of the 90s, Maher does provide a good picture of it. So, an ok book. Personally, I've liked his later book a bit better. Maher fans may want to read it if they feel a need for completion. show less

This was an uncomfortable book to read. Although I read it about 6 years later than I should have, it is still very much worthwhile. If you can't read with an open mind, it will only piss you off, regardless of your political leanings. There is something here to offend nearly anyone.

I call it an uncomfortable book to read, because in reading Maher's short essays on a variety of topics, mostly related to the "war on terrorism" I find I must generally agree with them, even when they leave the show more finger of guilt pointing at myself. This is a book about the way we should behave - the way we should be. But like the instructions of Jesus, even if you accept in your heart of hearts that he is right, it will still be inimaginably difficult to follow the advice.

For any thinking American, this book should be required reading.

I commend Bill Maher for this book. I wish he were an advisor to the President. I only go with four stars instead of five because his humor is often out of place and sometimes unnecessarily offensive.

I am not much of a television viewer, and have never seen Maher's show. This book is my only exposure to him. show less

Mr. Maher is definitely in top shape with this book. Now, a few out there may say he is too cynical, but let us be honest: the man says what needs to be said regardless of who gets offended. If as a society, we took a lot of his advice, things would probably be a lot better, but that would require people to get off their couches, get the big sticks out of their asses, and actually do something. At the end of the day, much of this is common sense, or it would seem common sense if people still show more had any common sense left. He does great takes and provides views on just about every topic under the sun without pulling any punches. If you like to think, if you like to have a laugh now and then, and you appreciate people who tell it like it is, this is the book for you. If it offends you, or you think Mr. Maher is just too negative, too cynical, or so on, you are probably one of the ones with their heads up their asses.

Only reason I did not rate it higher was a couple of the longer pieces did seem a bit too long, especially that one on Rick Perry, although, to give the author credit, what he says about Perry is certainly true, and it seems a bit prophetic now that Perry is gone from the GOP primaries. This is a pretty good book to read now during the Elections season. show less