Article summary

Amazon Exclusive Content
Jon Stewart on America (The Book)

Sure, we could write a pithy blurb telling you all about America (The Book), by Jon Stewart and the writers of The Daily Show, but it's much easier--and funnier--to let Jon Stewart tell you all about this irreverant new book himself.

Watch Jon Stewart talk to Amazon.com customers about America (The Book) from the set of The Daily Show.

Read or listen to our exclusive interview with Jon Stewart.

Read our exclusive Election 2004 interviews with Jon Stewart.

Customer's review

This book is about a laugh a minute

This book is a riot for anyone who enjoys satire and/or politics. Don't let your kids read it though as it's totally unsuitable for children or anyone who finds vulgarity too taboo. If you like crass, witty humour, this is a definite read.

Hilarious history lesson

This book will have you howling with laughter. Well written satire on the history of American politics, even several jabs at the neighbors to the north in Canada. Stewart's comical genius is evident in the book.

Can easily be read more than once with all the sidebars and interesting illustrations. A great book overall.

Juvenile Humor and Unnecessary Profanity Obscure Pithy Wit

America (The Book) is the most elaborate satire you will ever see of a civics text. I found myself marveling over the detail and the amazing amount of work that must have gone into producing something so original.

It would be easy to write such a satire without having a profound understanding of the weaknesses of American government processes and leaders. But America (The Book) is blessed with writers who obviously know their history and subject well. As a result, for those who do not know American government and history very well, this book will be a real eye-opener.

American democracy has achieved a near-religious status in American culture, and it's very healthy to have some air taken out of the pomposity that often surrounds that kind of awe. Our system's greatest strength is that it happens to be better than the alternatives . . . but has plenty of room for improvement. I applaud the authors and designers of this book for creating a book model that will undoubtedly spawn many look-alikes focused on other subjects. All of that will be to the good.

At its best, the book is both witty and insightful. At its worst, it is mindlessly profane to no purpose and panders to the lowest common denominator (such as the extensive use of sexual and bathroom humor). Unfortunately, the profanity and pandering dominate the wit. The authors clearly have the talent to have produced a book that was virtually all wit . . . but elected not to do so. That's a shame.

The Foreword by Thomas Jefferson raises the reader's hopes. It's a brilliant satire.

But the book quickly falls down in chapter 1 with a not very thrilling section on Democracy before America. The founding of America is more history than most people will want to read a satire of.

The sections on the president, Congress and the judiciary are average and predictable.

The book is best in its look at campaigns, elections and the media. Those sections are ruthlessly bright and leave their subjects headless without drawing any obvious blood.

The Future of Democracy section is disconnected from reality a bit too much for my taste. The Rest of the World chapter feels like filler material.

The final section on the Bush-Kerry campaign is genuinely funny and almost worth the price of the book by itself.

Some people have told me that they couldn't get through the first two chapters at first. If you are having that problem, jump ahead to chapters 6 and 7 . . . and then come back. You'll probably enjoy the book more that way.

My favorite parts of the book came in brief sections where Samantha Bee briefly contrasts the American approach to that of Canada. The observations are intelligent, well-chosen, focused and beautifully presented. These are fascinating commentaries on the U.S. and Canada that speak volumes in just a few words. Brilliant work!

Textbook case

America" is set up like a modern high school history book, replete with colorful visuals, call-outs in the margins and "expert" interviews, in this case from the Daily Show cast. While much of the book is dead-on satire, it does suffer (like the show) from a stronger-than-necessary dose of vulgarity, making it a PG-13 (if not an R-rated) experience. While references to auto-erotic asphyxiation and S&M gear might go over the heads of most teens, the copious use of profanity and the occasional nude photo won't. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show staff have collaborated to create a very humorous book discussing American Civics and the political processes that forged it. Starting with the framers of our Constitution, and then leading to the exploits and new vernacular of our President, the Daily Show staffers filled in the gaps with guffawing and knee slapping examples of U.S. Supreme Court faux pas and the status and responsibility of the media in our modern life, among many other "targets." Although much of the commentary concerns actual political incidents, be forewarned that the text is not always historically accurate and a lot of lampooning is at hand. Regardless, the book is a "hoot" to read. I generally don't read this type of book, preferring the more "literary" type like Roth's "The Plot Against America" or McCrae's "The Children's Corner," but, being a fan of Stewart's show, I had to give this one a shot.

Brilliant and moving . . . . well, brilliant at least

This is by far my favorite fake text book about US History (how many are there?) The book is set up just like a book a student would read in college/highschool even with a place to sign your name. I just slapped a book cover on it and read it in class and my teachers dont know that I'm atually having fun while learning, its a great book and if you dont have it get it well worth the cost. Seriously, the best thing about this is the cutting, pithy insight into current events. And for those who think Stewart is too Lie-beral, he really cuts things down the middle and gives both sides a good thrashing about the backside.

The Daily Show with John Stewart Presents America (The Book) Teachers Edition

Article summary

Customer's review

This book is about a laugh a minute

Hilarious history lesson

Juvenile Humor and Unnecessary Profanity Obscure Pithy Wit

Textbook case

Brilliant and moving . . . . well, brilliant at least

Related article

I Am America and So Can You

Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen #1

Naked Pictures of Famous People

Rick Mercer Report: The Book

The Best of the Colbert Report

Related topic

USATODAY.com - New in paperback

Amazon.ca: Political - Humor: Books

Jacques Clément Report on Wednesday ...

OnVideo Guide to Home Video Releases

A TOWN CALLED PODUNK

The Cookbook Store: America

Hansard -- Thursday, June 12, 1975 ...

Deaths & Funerals

Appendices

Identities and Marginalities ...

Online Materials

A TOWN CALLED PODUNK

American Indian Historic Events

Ellington on the Web - "I Ain't Got ...

Nova Scotia Quotes

Canadian Audio Video

Mythical Roots of US Drug Policy ...

E. R. Finck's God Is Faithful

BC

CAW rallies the troops