New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer

Bill Maher pretty much covers every topic under the sun in his new rules. Some of the pieces are very short (a couple of lines), others are a bit longer (page or two), making for a good balance. The book is a very easy read. He has an opinion, and contrary to the title, he is not timid about sharing it. Whether you agree or disagree, you will find something here to agree, disagree, or at least get you thinking. And you will get a smile or two as well.

I have been souring on Bill Maher for awhile, particularly after his recent comments criticizing vaccination, but I think this book finally did it for me. He includes a blurb condemning breastfeeding in public, which I think is a low blow. I'm not political about it, but I breastfed my son and will breastfeed my daughter, and think that his outrage over breastfeeding in public is poor choice for his rage. You should probably stick to the political comedy, Bill, but I won't be watching anyway.

This is a very entertaining, very quick (I read it in one sitting) book, written by Bill Maher, American comedian, tv presenter, writer and social campaigner.

Maher hosts a HBO television show called Real Time with Bill Maher, and New Rules is a segment on that show, in which he comes up with ideas for new rules to help make society run more easily. This book is a collection of those rules. Most of them are flippant and funny (one of his new rules involves the idea of Bob Dylan being the 'voice of a generation'; Maher makes the observation that if a generation could choose a voice, it would pick a better one than Dylan's - and that is the kind of tone which runs through most of the book).

However, being a stauch campaigner for the show more Democratic party - although he did support independent Ralph Nader in the 2004 election - there are a smattering of rules which reflect Maher's opinion on certain topical issues - stem cell research and same sex marriage, are two examples. On these matters, Maher drops the flippancy somewhat, and talks passionately about what he believes.

Overall though, this is a funny and light hearted book - with plenty of "He's absolutely right!" moments. show less

Maher is definitely polarizing, and I say this as a person who is politically on the same side. Although, after reading this book, I am a little confused as to what that side would be, exactly. Not for republicans. Or people in the flyover states. Or, possibly, Americans. Be prepared to be annoyed, regardless of your political bent.

I read The New New Rules: A Funny Look At How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass before I read this book. Honestly, I'm glad because this book, while funny, was not as enjoyable as its followup.

This book consists mostly of the shorter New Rules, like you find in the segment of the same name that airs toward the end of Real Time with Bill Maher. There are also essays in this one. Both the essays and the shorter jokes would have probably been more appealing had I read them shortly after the book came up. Since it's been 8 years since the events that inspired the newest jokes in the book, those jokes weren't quite as funny. I'm sure that they would have probably had me rolling over with laughter at the time, though.

Of course, the show more jokes are mainly about George W. Bush and his administration, but there are also jokes about people of more liberal leanings. And there are jokes that some might feel are inappropriate, but that might make them all-the-more necessary. Maher is unapologetic as he makes quips that most people wouldn't dare to make because he isn't afraid of making them. His brash sense of humor isn't for everyone, so if you don't like the guy and/or is his style going in, then this book probably isn't for you. show less

Dated. Intermittently funny, though. And every now and then hilarious. Maher's not a guy to pull punches, he tells you exactly how he feels about every little thing, and makes no bones about thinking you are an idiot if you have the temerity to disagree with him on any point. Some of his humor was mean, and I always mark down for mean.

A sarcastically subtitled, heavily photo-illustrated collection of concise, comedic, and caustic (and often quite foul-mouthed) blasts against the twenty-ohs' US president (Shrubbish) and many of the other stupidities of that time. I think the most important thing about Maher may be his near-uniqueness as a public personality who acknowledges that all religions are nonsensical and harmful and that Islam is the worst of them. Several of his blasts get at these points.