Ben Karlin

America the book is freakin' hilarious. No, seriously, hilarious. Yes, it points out some failings in democracy and the particular problems with Re...ehem....I mean, partisanship, but this book is also a great testament to the free speech, free media, and the unrestricted access to information by which these jokes were able to circulate. I think that Jon Stewart is a very intelligent man, and, although this satire might offend some, to me, this book is not about the flaws in the system, but show more the social problems we all must face as human beings living together on this planet. I recommend this read to all of those who want to learn (unfactual) information about presidential nicknames, the real duties of cabinet members, and what hijinks democratic nations will be up to in the future. show less

The strange thing about America: The Book is that it's simultaneously both one of the most hilarious, and one of the most depressing, books that I have ever read. I mean, I can say that I--one of those dreaded liberal commie pinko Europeans--have learned something about the American political process by reading it. On the other hand, while I was reading the chapter on the modern news media I thought, you know, there's something to be said for wilful ignorance.

I would still totally sex up Jon show more Stewart. show less

I was about one paragraph into this when I realized I had to ration my reading of it. I needed to savor the humor instead of just plowing through quickly. I was crying with laughter at points.

Oh, and I'm a conservative.

Like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart itself, this book combines fact, cerebral jokes, and crude humor into a bundle of funny-because-it’s-true-but-you-wish-it-wasn’t vignettes. Instead of dealing with the day’s news as on the show, the book gives an overview of American history and politics. The audiobook has the added bonus of re-creating the show’s comic timing by featuring the voices of not only Stewart, but also Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and other Daily Show correspondents. show more The only downside to the audiobook is that it is an abridged version of the book, so I’m sure I missed out on some other comedy gold. This book is prefect for those who love the show or who enjoy satire, but not for those for whom sarcasm goes over their heads. show less