Dave Barry Books

If you love Dave Barry, you'll love this book; very, very funny look at America's political system and how it really works, or in most cases, doesn't. If you're a Dave Barry fan but not into politics don't worry, Dave can make anything funny!

Not as funny as his "Book of Bad Songs" -- nothing could top that. Not quite as funny as "Dave Barry Turns 40", but about on a par with "Dave Barry is Not Making This Up". Definitely a book that you won't want to miss, if you enjoy Dave's irreverent style (and who doesn't?).

Dave Barry once admitted to being a libertarian in an interview for "Reason" magazine, and nowhere more than "Below The Beltway" does his libertarian cynicism shine through. The commentary is just plain brilliant, besides being side-splittingly funny. Not a single D.C. institution escapes Barry's razor --Democrat or Republican, Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, or any one of the thousands of alphabet soup agencies that nobody voted for; all are deservedly skewered with just the right blend of satire, cynicism, outright nonsense and --most distubing of all-- actual quotes and references from real Federal agency "mission statements." Barry even openly admits that most of his material is made up on the spot --he even steers us to P. J. O'Rourke's "Parliament of Whores" for anyone who wants an even mix of humour AND verifiable fact-- but every so often he'll get to a part that He Swears He Is Not Making Up. And that's when the reader really starts to see government for the out-of-control, self-aggrandizing, eternally-consuming beast that it really is. I note with some amusement that some Amazon.com reviewers are taking Mr. Barry to task for his unrelenting attack on the silliness that is the Federal government, and it is those reviews that I can only conclude are either written by big-government apologists or actual Federal employees. As Barry himself says, only in Washington, D.C. is the phrase "Federal Worker" not considered funny. This book makes the WHY all the more obvious. Bravo, Mr. Barry, and keep making fun of the government for as long as there's juice in your word processor (or until Homeland Security forcibly shuts you down, whichever comes first). I have no doubt the self-important denizens of the nation's capital will continue to provide you with a never-ending supply of fresh material.

The cover shows an irreverent funny man, and this book is written for macho men as he takes on any and everyone in the federal government from the president on down. It must be his New York years to make him look down on the important people who run the government in Washington, D.C. What he is forgetting is that the states elect those people and send them there -- at least, some of them.

One truthful thing, which other columnists and nonfiction writers won't admit: "I sat around and made the stuff up." His chart explaining how Social Security works is informative, and just might be true -- truer than he thinks. He hates old people, thinks they're more interested in having sex than those able to produce a baby! Has he looked around and seen all that skin young people expose now in today's way of dressing?

"To compensate for the lack of facts, I have included ... snide remarks." So true. Making fun of the words which came out of JFK's mouth into a parody "in the course of human events (that's Lyndon's thinking) it behooves us, the people, not to ask 'What can our country do for us. anyway?' but rather, whether we have anything to fear except fear itself" (FDR) -- the original phrase which moved the Sixties Americans came from a smart speechwriter.

It wouldn't hurt the privileged of today to consider what they can do for this country. Dave Barry does his best to keep people laughing. Being too serious about serious matter we can't do anything about only causes you to feel bad. Who wants that?

He should take on district, regional, etc. government offices, especially GSA, the glorified housekeeping department of the U. S. Govt. I've tangled with two in Tennessee who are tough old soldiers (one even had military training as a "Ranger" and now he spends his days worrying about how to get rid of pigeons). The other, his superior, in Nashville takes off to Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi (who really knows) to be deployed while leaving his Nashville office unattended. These are old men living off the government worse than welfare people.

"Hitting below the belt" doesn't mean his crude, bathroom humor and words; it's what the Baptist preacher did when he attacked the Methodist ritual of sprinkling -- then says that only Baptists will get into Heaven. Seems I heard some other group say that in the past. I wonder if even Dave would go there.

Other significang pardoies include DAVE BARRY SLEPT HERE, DAVE BARRY IS NOT TAKING THIS SITTING DOWN, and DAVE BARRY DOES JAPAN.

Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway is funny for the Washington-themed humor. Add to this a section on the history of our government, a pinch of South Florida politics, and add the great, great narration, and you will laugh, laugh, laugh.

As Dave Barry states, if he wanted this to be a real good book on Washington politics, he'd have to spend a lot of time in Washington. So this is not going to be a really good book!

The jabs at the US Department of Agriculture (not sure whether it should be permitted to call dried plums "dried plums"), the driving habits of older Floridians, and the Clintonian escapades are all fair game to Barry. And wait till you hear the attorney arguments in the 2000 elections!

Read it and weep... from laughter!

This is another compilation of columns, somewhat more disjointed than Dave Barry's Money Secrets. It's great for listening to in a car, because there's really nothing - no plot - to keep track of, and you can just listen now and then. It's quirky and funny, that's about it. If you like the columns, obviously, this is something to listen to.

Dave Barry who can make a prison lifer laugh until his internal organs burst, meaning that he can make someone laugh about...anything. This is the first Dave Barry book I have read and it has put me on a diet of his humor for a long time. His essays/columns are the perfect length for any subject. I admit that I have had quite a few natural laughing highs since reading his words. I highly suggest this book for anyone.

If I wasn't so familiar with Dave Barry's work, I would probably have called this a five star book; it is a delightfully funny collection of columns by one of the best humorists in the world. But I've seen better from Dave, and have come to expect it, so I have to rate this book at four stars, simply to differentiate it from his best work (Dave Barry Turns 40, Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up, Dave Barry's Book Of Bad Songs, Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need, maybe Dave Barry's Greatest Hits).

This is another collection of Barry's columns and a surefire hit for any fan. As usual, his columns pack a punch and end with a zinger or inside joke. Mr. Language Person makes an appearance or two in this collection, and Barry also takes on TV commericials, his relationship with his wife, and (always a winner) the life of his teenaged son. Recommended!

Have you ever wanted to see a Pulitzer Prize-winning author sitting on the pot? Well, here's your chance with Dave Barry's book, Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down! While the cover shot may have visions of the scatological Farrelly Brothers doing the can-can in your head, you can put a lid on that: Barry's humor is irreverent, yes, but it is tidy-bowl clean.

Although I appreciate a good laugh as much as anyone, I have a rather serious countenance. I'm the kind of person that total strangers come up to and command, "Smile!" Another oft-posed question is, "Why aren't you smiling?" Like I'm supposed to be standing in line at the Post Office or the DMV grinning like an idiot. One possible solution could be Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down! This book did have me smiling a lot, chuckling, and even - lo and behold! - laughing out loud. (This gets an entirely different reaction while standing in line at the Post Office or the DMV... It has fellow line-loungers casting furtive glances at the "wanted" posters on the walls.)

Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down! is a collection of the humorist's previously published columns. Barry has been with The Miami Herald for nearly 20 years now, and his commentary has been syndicated all over the planet - in case you are wondering (as was I), he received the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1988. According to his bio, "Barry writes about various major issues relating to the international economy, the future of democracy, the social infrastructure and exploding toilets."

I have read several of Barry's books before, and while I prefer the ones on a theme (Dave Barry Does Japan is my personal fave), the compilations are fun too, because I'm always bound to find a little something that tickles me. The only complaint I have about these compilations, and this one in particular, are when timely themes are included. They "date" the book, and even though it's brand new, it seems old in some places (one I can recall offhand is mention of the impending Y2K problem that never materialized).

There were quite a few bits and pieces that struck a personal chord with me. As the driver of a little sports job, I was howling with laughter at Barry's rant on SUV drivers:

"...What people mainly do with Sports Utility Vehicles, as far as I can tell, is try to maneuver them in and out of parking spaces. I base this statement on my local supermarket, where many of the upscale patrons drive Chevrolet Subdivisions. I've noticed that these people often purchase just a couple of items - maybe a bottle of diet water and a two-ounce package of low-fat dried carrot shreds - which they put into the back of their Subdivisions, which have approximately the same cargo capacity, in cubic feet, as Finland... Then comes the scary part: getting out of the parking space... I drive a compact car, and on a number of occasions have found myself trapped behind a Subdivision backing directly toward me, its massive metal butt looming high over my head, making me feel like a Tokyo pedestrian looking up at Godzilla. I've tried honking my horn, but (they) can't hear me, because they're always talking on phones the size of Chiclets (The Bigger Your Car, The Smaller Your Phone, that is their motto)."

And forget Mars and Venus - Barry knows guys better than Gray could ever hope to. He has a reoccurring report in his column on Stuff That Guys Do, and a couple of them are presented here in the chapters Rubber-Band Man ("...Guys like to do stuff. This explains both the Space Shuttle and mailbox vandalism."), and Rock of Ages ("At some point or another, almost every guy wants an electric guitar. Electric guitars exert a strong appeal for guys, because they combine two critical elements: 1. guitar, 2. electricity.")

This is the sort of book that you'll want to read passages from, aloud, to anyone within earshot whether they like it or not. Barry has something to say about everything from the government's spending habits to the climate in Florida. Even if you're not especially interested in the government's spending habits or the climate in Florida, I bet you'll get a snicker or two from Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down! You really can't go wrong with this book.

Let's just say Dave Barry is the American Standard of humorists working today. He goes to the head of the class. He's a damn sight funnier than Harry Potter. And as I mentioned previously, Barry's humor is clean: With the holidays coming up, you can safely buy this book for all the Janes and Johns on your list. (Okay, even I'm flushed with embarrassment now...)

Funny and original on every page. Dave Barry is one of a very few comedy writers who can jab at both sides of the political aisle without malice and keep everyone laughing. This is the perfect book to take to the DMV, dentist or airport. Any place you need a quick laugh or a lighter perspective.

I have always been a Dave Barry fan, but, like some other reviewers, just could not get into the humor when I first picked up the book...and put it away unfinished. Then I recently received as a gift the Audio version, which is unabridged and read by Patrick Frederic...AND LOVED IT. I have a 2 hour commute to work and listened to it then---and the other commuters must have thought I was some kind of escaped lunatic---I was screaming with laughter! For some reason, Patrick Frederic's delivery of the lines is so much funnier than my reading of the lines in my head. My 2 hr. commute flew by...I was actually wishing it was longer!!

Hysterical as always. I don't follow politics as much as I should, so some of his jokes missed me. But there were places where my husband caught me laughing until I cried and then I forced him to listen while I read sections out loud. His jokes can be somewhat predictable, but that's comforting and familiar to me. I have been reading all of his books for years now and I look forward to reading his interpretation of news events the way I look forward to seeing and old friend.

Let's face it...Dave Barry has always been the funniest man ever to lift a pen to his art and prose. Of course, he's had many a wonderful American predecessor to learn from, Twain and O'Roarke...but Dave has not only mastered them, but surpassed them.

In this book, he takes poltical satire to a masterful level. Some how,he takes many of the aburdities of the day to day frustrations of our every day news, and brilliantly transformed it into satire that no other political author could ever acheives.

He is simple, to the point, and razor like in his intuitions about everything under the sun.

And like a true artist, he makes this look easy.

Why he does not get credit for his great insight into human events, actually baffles me...maybe it's because, like any true genius, he can take the truth and instead of letting it get us down, he makes us laugh about it, which makes it of course less of a threat and easier to bear.

This book will delight and inform you, and if you are wise enough to listen between the lines...it might just make you think.

Which is something we could all be doing a little more.

Not quite up to Dave Barry's usual standards, but still pretty funny. Dave Barry's History of the Millenium (So Far!) actually begins with Dave Barry's history of the last millenium, which starts off pretty weak but gets better as he progresses into the 20th century. The rest of the book consists of his year-end reviews from 2000 through 2006, the funniest parts of which are actually the bits in which he sticks closest to the truth, exaggerating just a little to highlight the absurdity of the situation. I frequently found myself thinking, "Oh yeah, I remember that...was that really five years ago?" or "Was that really only two years ago?" Sometimes he beats a joke to death, like the references to Greta Van Sustern in about every month of the relevant year. But when he shows some restraint, he is very funny.

The audio version is not bad, but Patrick Frederic isn't the best reader of a Dave Barry book I've heard. Still, he's not the worst either. Like the book he's reading, his delivery is competent with occasional moments of hilarity.

The book is just an elaboration on the "Talk like a Pirate Day" and if you think that is funny, you'll like this book. I got my copy from the library, and really one reading is enough. It's more like a very long Dave Berry article so some parts arrr a bit repetitious if you get my drift. Still though Capt'n Slappy will whack you upside the head to get you to buy this book in an effort to keep from doing real work.

Still if you realize that these guys are having fun, why not join in and talk like a Pirate. Borrow this book to read from the Library and enjoy a cold one next to the fire while you plan out your pirate party. You could waste more time having less fun reading serious stuff.

Great for "Talk Like a Pirate Day" or any day you just want to smile, this book is jam-packed with ideas and vocabulary for a modern buccaneer.

I thought this was a kitschy book, and pirates ARE gaining popularity again, so it was a good read. I had a bunch of real laugh out louds, which is always great. And it was very informative. I'm glad they didn't make me think up my own pirate name! And I really wish I knew someone whose last name ends with a 'q'.

This would be the quintessential tome on how to be a pirate, if pirates could read and used word like "quinessential" and "tome". Just say it be a roarin' good chart for those who are wantin' to be a pirate

This had a few funny bits, but I think I only laughed out loud twice. The second half of the book was painful, it had gotten so predictable. I could have finished it for them. For humor, it relied almost exlusively on turning everything pirate-related into a sexual joke. It got old fast.

Style-wise, they try very, very hard to be Dave Barry - even going so far as to suggest that a funny phrase is a good name for a rock band. I suggest that you skip this effort and go straight to the original, who makes me laugh out loud on nearly every page.

Michael J.Rosen is Director of the Thurber House; the restored boyhood home of James Thurber in Columbus, Ohio, which Garrison Keillor has dubbed the capitol/capital of American humor. This volume is the first of a planned series of biennial collections of the best funny essays by U.S. writers. From the misleading front matter to the spurious index this collection is a hoot! Sure, there are some duds (to my taste), but humor is an iffy business. A twisted metaphor which leaves me choking for breath could easily make you doubt both my and the writer's sanity - or vice versa. Even the guidelines for submissions are a delight. To whit: "TABS: Tabs should be between one quarter of an inch and one third of an inch deep. One third of an inch is preferred. If for whatever reason your tabs are not between one quarter and one third of an inch deep, please write to The Thurber House for a copy of Form 56G, on which you can explain your deviance from the tab-depth norm, ... In the unlikely event that your alternative tabbing is approved, you will then be asked to adjust your manuscript so that it is then not double spaced, but single spaced, and printed on paper that is less white." Their send-up of the often arcane submission regs of many publications goes on for four pages. (Maybe you have to be a submitter-to-periodicals to be amused.) This first collection includes several well known wits (Dave Barry, P.J. O'Rourke, Fran Lebowitz, Roy Blount, Jr., John Updike) and a host of lesser-knowns. A piece about ferrets as pets, and ferret websites, by Daniel Radosh left me gasping. (I was so convulsed that Pomonella not only climbed off my chest, but carried her feline dignity out of the room.) An interview with Lebowitz about money and wealth represents the very summit of humor - a social commentary both fiercely barbed and charmingly jocular. Tell your librarian! Good stuff!

Despite being a fan of any number of the contributors, I found this collection incredibly frustrating. So much of it fell flat for me-- Death of an Interior Designer, How to Be Difficult, Emily Dickinson, Memo to Staff, all three fables, and more. The Dave Barry was standard, but the only stand-out was Josh Kornbluth's Red Diaper Baby. I'm awfully glad I just got this from the library and didn't put any money into it.

With about 140 pieces from dozens of contributors, this humor anthology is a mixed bag. For me, some of the essays and parodies fell flat. Yet enough were truly hysterical to sustain me and keep me turning those pages. Among my favorites: Jon Stewart's "Pen Pals" and "The Last Supper, or The Dead Waiter"; Garry Trudeau's "I Am a Tip-Top Starlet" and "To Our Valued Customers"; Al Franken's "Index";Zev Borow's "A Graceland for Adolf"; Mark O'Donnell's "TV Guide, Soon"; Bill Scheft's "The All-Purpose Concession Speech"; and P. J. O'Rourke's "Memoir Essay."

Humor books are usually miscellaneous hodge-podges of "something for everybody." This one is not. It's a sustained compilation of great writing. Writing by very talented people who are variously smart-alec, smart-assed. and just plain smart. That's the one thing that's similiar about all the pieces: they're just very well done. After that, there's a huge range, from Sedaris's hilariously scatching review of kiddie theatrical productions to Garry Trudeau's re-re-retranslating of a Madonna interview back and forth from Russian. There are as many expected players--Ian Frazier, Fran Lebowitz, Dave Barry, P.J. O'Rourke with terrific pieces--as there are surprises and newer names. Favorites? Howard Mohr (who worked with Garrison Keillor on Prairie Home Companion for years), John Updike doing a parody about J. Edgar Hoover cross-dressing. David Ives, the brilliant playwright, giving a culinary history through philosophers. Even the index, by Al Franken, shows that Mirth of a Nation is serious about being funny, from cover to cover. I have the second volume, More Mirth of a Nation, and, believe it or not, it's even better. Thirds, anyone? I gather from their website it will be out in 2004. Can't wait.

I suppose if your IQ were in the mid 90's, you'd find these books amusing. I had the misfortune of taking both this one and "More Mirth..." as reading material on a cross-country flight. After 200 pages, no giggling, but lots of "oh come on" rolling of the eyes. Sophmoric crap. I ended up reading the US Airways magazine and doing the crossword instead.

I bought this book as a gag gift for a friend of mine. After glancing through it I kept it for myself. I want my Wife to read it but I don't want her getting too many ideas or too wise to me. For the people who have been married a number of years and whose marriage is filled with humor, this is a good laugh romp. Some Truth and some tongue in cheek humor. It tells you to not take life too seriously. A very Funny Book.

Barry continues being one of my favorite. His approach to human marriage relationships is no doubt almost a law (a little bit exagerated,maybe). Chapters 6 7 8 and were my favorites. I've just married and it was sort of an x-ray of my situation, except by the fact that have always believed in what he precisely satirizes: we don't need to spend a fortune in a full-of-critics-and-unpleasant people-that will not help you solve your infinite problem-night. His statements I think are of an almost universal reality. The only inconvenient for us latin american readers are perhaps the local jokes He is very serious (I'm not kidding)in telling us: Life is very simple and worth enjoying! Why screwing it up?

Another classic Barry. The title alone should give it five stars, but the content overwhelms my funny bone.

At one point, I was falling out of my chair I was laughing so hard!

oh well....5 STARS

If you've made it to that chapter (Chapter 4) without laughing so hard you have beverages coming out of your nose, please check your pulse. You may already be dead.

Anyone who has ever read a Dave Barry article can appreciate his incredibly dry wit and hilarious sense of humor. Barry always seems to capture subjects that are serious, but manages to put a funny twist on them. Not only does he nail the concept of marriage AND/OR sex in this book, but the illustrations by Jerry O'Brien are the perfect compliment. The outrageous diagrams on "How to French Kiss" remind me of my life just last week, er, I mean high school.

This book is loaded with helpful tips for both men and women. For instance, Barry feels that the best bet for a new bride on how to get along with her mother-in-law is drugs. If only more people could read this book!

This book has something in it for everyone. If you are about to get married, the chapter entitled "How to Have a Perfect Wedding No Matter What" will definately come in handy. Of course, those of you already married, chapters "How to Argue Like a Veteran Married Couple" and "Children: Big Mistake or Bad Idea?" will, most definately, be of interest.

Barry's book is a fairly quick read, and would make a nice addition to anyone's book collection, if not for the mere fact that it is a great conversation piece. Any fan of Dave Barry will love it, and if you live on another planet, and have never heard of him, this is a great book to start with. You can't help but laugh!

Though not as good as his later works, definitely worth buying, though 'Dave Barry's Guide To Life' is also availiable on Amazon.com and contains this and three other works of similiar quality and length by the same author, while being slightly cheaper than this edition alone.
Recommended.

I'M SURE THE BOOK IS GOOD BECAUSE I HAVE THE SEQUALS BUT I HAVE NOT LISTENED YET

As an avid fan of anything to do with the Peter and the Starcatchers series it only made sense for me to be excited about the NeverLand Books. The 2 books are not as good as the Peter and Starcatchers books of course but they are great companions to the series.

If you didn't like the first one "Escape from Carnivale" don't worry "Cave of Dark Wind" is much better. I think the reason this is because Carnivale was lacking anything to do with real Pirate topics like treasure! Fortunately the second book Dark Wind has the topic throughout the story which makes for a much more exciting book. I would recommend to anyone who likes to read about Peter Pan or Captain Hook. Have fun!

This is one of two children's books that were published by the same authors of the three Peter Pan Prequel books. They are fun but really for children.

My daughter says Cave of the Dark Wind is just as exciting as Escape from the Carnivale. She can't wait for more Never Land Adventures.

Execellent! My grandchildren loved every word. I will be buying all in this series.
Yolanda
Edmond, Ok

Please Help Fight Breast Cancer: http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm

Yesterday is the past Tomorrow is the future Today is a "Gift" That is why it
is called the "Present"

I was first blown away by Dave Barry's Greatest Hits, a selection from his often hilarious (occasionally in a surreal way) column. This follow-up purchase was my cheapskate way of getting four books in one omnibus (and hardcover no less) edition: at amazon someone sold the book for something like a cent and all I paid was standard postage.

Well, next time I'll be a bit less frugal and fork out for another collection of his columns. The `Guide to Life' books were still amusing, occasionally laugh out loud, but not quite at the same standard. I think the short column format suits Barry better than sticking to one theme for an entire book. He earns his money, but at times it seems to require more effort to squeeze out all the pages; whereas at his best his columns feel like he's just joyously ranting on a theme he doesn't have to sustain for any length of time before being distracted by something else.

It's a bit of a time piece too - although for anyone who lived through the 80s that can be an enjoyable feature. That being said, it's interesting how many things still ring true, even raves about computers with a fraction the RAM but disturbingly similar frustrations.

I bought this as a gift for a friend, who just happens to be an expectant mother. She was showered with "how to" books on raising babies, so I thought I would give her one more -- the Dave Barry guide. I started reading it, and ended up chuckling more often than not. A recommended read to someone who wants a laugh, and enjoys Dave Barry's outrageous writing style.

This is an omnibus edition containing four semi-related examples of Dave Barry's early, fairly short works: Dave Barry's Guide To Marriage and/or Sex, Babies and Other Hazards of Sex, Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead, and Claw Your Way To The Top.

The humor is mostly some of Dave's better stuff, although I thought that the first two sections were funnier than the last two; still, even those are well worth reading. Overall, about on a par with "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need".

This book was full of the typical hilarity found in Dave Barry's writing. The "Babies" portion had me rolling on the floor. As a mother of two young children, I was able to find humor in the most mundane of baby/toddler activities. The section on putting your baby to bed rang true and was best illistrated by the lulaby line "stay asleep until at least 6:30 am." The rest of the book followed the same kind of humor and is a definite read for anyone who wants a good laugh out of life

Much of this was written back before Dave Barry was a name brand humorist. I can remember buying copies of the babies book years ago to give to all of my pregnant friends. This is typical Barry-- pointed, free-wheeling, funny and immediately recognizable as pieces of truth that most people are too polite to mention. Written as books, these are often more sustained than the column collections, and written Back In The Day, they don't have to live up to any rep or expectation. These books are part of what MADE Dave Barry's national following.

This book deserves more reviews. I purchased it when first came out eight years ago and from time to time I revisit for the sheer honesty of capturing slices of mostly urban life in the midst of presidential campaign. When a contemporary photographer can complete such a project like this and dare to produce a book of all monochrome photos, I think that says a lot for his dedication, style, skills, and commitment to the craft. So many of the images we see in Kennerly's book are ones that depict what many of us see and walk pass everyday of our lives. But Kennerly took the time to stop and capture precious moments that we too often ignore.

I also want to add this book of course is a treat for serious photographers. Each image is well composed and processed. There's lots to learn from how Kennerly frames a photo and what he choose to leave in and out when makes a shot.

I realize that the book was published years ago, but I think it's timeless and deserves a lot more attention.

Maybe my expectations are over the top, maybe I know more than the average joe/jane when it comes to photography, or maybe I just got the whole idea of this book wrong. Whatever the reason, David Hume Kennerly's Photo du Jour is nothing more than a document of his time and access throughout 2000. For some reason, I got the idea in my head that here was a photojournalist going to lug around an extra Leica and only shoot one image a day with it. How would he choose and at 11:59PM would there be regrets over the shot passed up for the possibility of another later in the day that never presented its self? I really wanted this guy to only have ten rolls of 135-36 for the project- I wanted this to be the photo equivalent to Zen in the Art of Archery. I obviously got it wrong. Another thing that gets me about this book is how it is promoted ie. Rosenthal saying "one camera and one lens". Again, all of the conceptual limitations on this project that never materialized! If you are shooting a 21mm on an M body, setting the hyper focal distance around 5ft. and using f8 you are basically good from 2ft to infinity. Fine, understandable and I love wide angles on 35mm format but then you go a crop the image!!!!! This is my biggest jab at the book, if you are going to say one camera, one lens be photographer enough to print the FULL FRAME! I guess if you spend you life getting paid to "get the shot", you learn to shoot it close and wide and then crop what you want later. Some images in this book look like 6x7, some 135-36, and some 6x9 or even a Panavision 16:9 so again, where is the skill/discipline? The fishing equivalent would be using dynamite. The book is what it is and unfortunately is billed as something else. Howard Fineman states in the introduction that this book shows Kennerly in an "uncharacteristic mode" and says this puts him "effortlessly" in league with the likes of Evans, Smith, and Robert Frank...........Please don't insult my intelligence or these photographers. The sophomoric juxtaposition on pages 142-143 is a Photo 1 shark jump that sounded like "badap bumb". Maybe all the text and praise from a Winogrand, Cartier-Bresson, or a Davidson book got mixed up with the images in this one. More hype than hypo. With all that said, the book is beautifully bound a put together. The reproductions are clear, well printed and maintain an elegance and crispness that is not out there in many books today. If you are interested in a slice of time kind of document and are just plain addicted to looking at images, then you should be happy with this book. If you are at all knowledgeable of the work of Winogrand, Cartier-Bresson, Davidson, Friedlander (there is a lame rip off on Like a One-Eyed Cat in du Jour page 156) or even Eggleston in a color version, you may be disappointed in the cost/benefit analysis as I was. I can't remember his exact words but Duane Michals said it best- (paraphrasing)- many photographers shoot hundreds of shots hoping, amidst all of the confusion, to come up with an interesting image...but the difference between the artist and the photographer, is a sense of control. I will keep this book, shelve it with a ton of Magnum issues, and I am sure pull it down once a year or so and flip though it because that's what I do. This could have been brilliant both conceptually and perceptually but end the end, just another guy with a camera and access.

This book is a must have. At the Texas Book Festival (2002) this book caught my eye. Never heard of the photographer before but the book was exquisite: filled with stunning black and white pictures. Pictures of everyday things. Of people laughing, of streets and events - capturing the magic moments without a pose. It was a simple concept: One camera. One lens. One year. The results are photos that also capture the routine, sometimes humorous and often extraordinary moments of everyday life.

Now that Dave Barry has alerted me to the fact that Bill Gates wears a zucchini in his shorts, I will never be afraid of cyberspace again. Hahahahahaha...Oops, I'd better use an emoticon here if I want to be cybercool:

:-D == (a person laughing so hard he or she does not realize that a zucchini is sticking out of his or her pants).

Thanks to Dave, I can now display my feelings online, although I'm not certain how I'm going to work in his emoticon, "person who is none too pleased to be giving birth to a squirrel." Before reading this book, communicating with me via the internet was like trying to strike up a casual conversation with Lieutenant Data. I didn't have a clue about all of those nifty acronyms my friends were inserting into their 'instant messages'. I thought ROTFL had something to do with burying fish heads in the corn field and IMHO was an admission of sexual promiscuity.

I also found out why my boss religiously attends the Comdex convention (Dave calls it 'Geek-O-Rama' and 'Nerdstock in the Desert') in Las Vegas every fall. It has a lot less to do with amazing, futuristic hardware and geeky souvenir tee-shirts than it does with the AdultDex convention down the street.

In the midst of this author's signature adolescent humor about hard-drives, bytes and mega-ram, he uncharacteristically inserts a tender internet love story. Frankly it made me a bit uneasy--rather like watching a Three Stooges movie, and just as Mo is ready to whack Curly over the head with a platypus, the Pope suddenly appears and launches into a homily about family values. It didn't work because frankly, I wasn't prepared to stop laughing and segue into tender empathy for two middle-aged losers.

Please Dave, stick to your booger jokes, at least in books with your picture on the cover.