Brian D. Meeks

28 of 75 for 2015. I loved it. Maybe because I'm bogged down in three different serious books, all of which I'm enjoying, but not getting through very quickly. I needed something for a lark. Opened this, my latest BookBub addition, and got lost. The narrative is crisp and funny, and for those of us who have lived our lives in the bizarre world known as academia, the story is right on. I've always said that academic politics are as vicious as they come, second only to church politics. The show more author himself calls this "snarky," and yes, it may well be, but I have a feeling I'll be revisiting this college course many times in the future. Arthur is a place-holding professor, resting on his laurels after having published one best seller quite some time in the past. He has tenure now, but is just putting in time. The Dean, in an effort to get rid of him, forces him to teach a class on social media, anathema to the luddite literature professor. Nonetheless, thanks to a group of eager young TAs, Arthur takes to the subject, foiling the Dean's plot. The Dean has to up the ante, and she does. Will Arthur pull through? You'll just have to read it. Like social media itself, this book could be addictive. show less

humor, snark-fest, professor
Read from October 16 to 17, 2016

Imagine a total Luddite professor pushed into teaching a semester on social media. Snide and snarky from the git-go, the snickers and groans just keep on coming. If you're looking for anything serious here, you're in the wrong place! Loved it!
Jack Nolan is the perfect narrator for this farce.

Loved this book of academia with it's fast-tracking/back-tracking politics.
As wry as any I've read, I loved this book. Yes, there was some discomfort here and there if you took the book literally as how higher education facilities are run, but having worked in one, not as an academic but working very closely with many, I found this book completely entertaining. I worked for 15 years in academia and I still don't understand why some very good academics are passed over for tenure. This book show more reminded me of the fun we had with, I must say, some academics' quirks, but I totally loved the tongue-in-cheek, the refusal to live in the computerized world of today. The days of LAN, Gopher and Basic are long gone. The assignments Professor Byrne administers are hilarious. A harried man who didn't seem to make it to the 21st century with the rest of the world, and doesn't really seem to care. Very unique wordplay in this novel, and loved that he is not your usual character. Glad to see it's first of a series. show less

Great fun: an ALMOST traditional noirist gumshoe. The usp is beautifully underplayed to make this the most enjoyably quirky thing I've read for a long time.