Humor Books

Great reading for fans of the Borowitz Report. I read in the doctors office - by the time they got to me, I had been laughing so hard my blood pressure was down to 99 over 61 - proving laughter is good medicine!

One of my favorite kinds of satire is the fake newspaper story -- one that uses the structure of REAL stories as a device to spark real roars of laughter due to the often brutal jokes that take on a special meaning in a once-serious context. I've actually dabbled in these myself, in my early years as a journalist, on my website's previous (now defunct) satire section and now on my existing wenblog.

NO ONE does this form of satire better than Andy Borowitz. PERIOD. I never met him. I never exchanged an email with him. But I'm going to buy all of his books (used if I can, to save a bit of $). Before I had my blog I'd email his stuff with a link; now I occasionally link them.

The Big Book of Shockers is Borowitz at his best (with perhaps one overdone device; see below). You wreck the book if you go into detail, but I can share you a few of my favorite pieces: Ann Coulter's spontaneous combustion; Bill Bennett losing his wife in a poker game...and so many more. Best headline (with a great accompanying satire): CHENEY'S BRIEF APPEARANCE, RETURN TO SECURE LOCATION MAY MEAN SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER and BUSH REBUFFED BY MODEL UN.

This book is a GREAT Christmas gift. Why? Borowitz, like the super topical satire group The Capital Steps, isn't doing one-sided partisan satire. He lampoons EVERYONE. And his professional comedy writing experience shines through in each gem of a satire because he's the very best of his genre: each satire has a beginning, middle and an end, and there are no wasted words. Just laughs. You can gift this book to anyone who follows the news or politics -- it doesn't matter if its a Bush supporter or a Kerry supporter (or a Nader supporter).

The only device that doesn't quite work is a running gag -- a perhaps due to the fact that I have a blog and read so many outrageous blogs that it didn't seem all that outrageous to me. You may react differently. This "blog" is also the only one that breaks the format of this book's pieces -- satires of news stories.

Prediction: if you read this, you'll order more of his books. And that's no joke.

Great book. Andy is really good making you laugh insteead of cry with his take on politics. Mostly for Democrats, but Republicans (like me) can get a kick out of it too

I laughed at every page of Andy Borowitz's book. He is truly a comic genius! It's a refreshing light-hearted look at the sad state of politics in the world today. After reading the funny satirical articles, I could go to sleep with a smile on my face instead of a furrow in my brow. The articles in the book read like newspaper articles with hysterical twists and turns - you'll laugh out loud and want to share the book with friends and family.

If you have seen Team America and loved it (I did) but wondered, where can I get more of evil Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, look no further: this is the book for you. Kim's evil face is smiling right there on the cover, and for a good reason: he "wrote" the introduction and an "exclusive" blog for this extremely funny book. The South Park guys have nothing on Andy Borowitz, who turns out to be an evil genius in his own right. I have never laughed so hard as I did at Kim's list of favorite records he would bring with him to as desert island if the world is destroyed (by him).

Above and beyond the Kim stuff, which is worth the price of this book alone are truly hilarious news stories about everything from Bush, Kerry, Saddam and David Blaine... this is a really highly recommended purchase.

This is a super book that will give inspiration and guidance to those parents raising boys. With hilarious and insightful real experiences, this book is a must own owners manual that will explain the mysteries in the mind of the adolescent boys, much that will convince anyone that God had a sense of humor when he created boys! I recommend this book to many close friends to read!

RECOMMENDED!

I highly recommend this book to anybody who has ANY dealings with boys, even if they're not your own. This book was a wonderful insight into the mind of the male and definitely helped me understand (as the only female in a house with four males) some of the intricacies of the male psyche.

Dave Meurer is a wonderful author and the intermittant mentions of God and christianity were nice and didn't come close to the stuffy, cram-it-down-your-throat level that some authors seem to take.

I highly recommend this book, if only for the enjoyment of reading the story about Dave when he was a child and the fireworks. Hilariously funny.

I had the rare opportunity of meeting this author at a Writer's Conference. He is warm and witty and is the "real deal". Dave helps us see the lighter side of life but still through a stained glass perspective. He offers up humorous slices of life that will have you laughing out loud. Read all of the DAVE books - Boyhood Daze, Daze of Our Wives, Out on a Whim and his newest one to come in May 2002 - Stark Raving Dad.

Dave Meurer is a gifted author. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As a parent of only one son, I too have learned the hard and fast rule: You can cry, or you can laugh. Like Dave, I think I'll stick with laughter.

I am the mother of a red headed 5 year old boy. I read this book over the weekend. This book helped me to laugh at the struggles of raising boys and enjoy what makes boys different and special.The author weaves in a Christian theme. The book is worth the price. It was a help to realize all this bliss of raising a son will not go away anytime soon.

I visited Cuba a couple of years ago and have read several books on the theme. I bought this because it sounded like one I would like. It probably would be - except for one thing - I am not fluent in Spanish! I received the book from Amazon and took it on vacation and was so disappointed when I opened it and discovered it was 1/3 in Spanish! Why didn't the Amazon description mention that??? My high school Spanish just didn't cover the idioms necessary to enjoy this book. I also didn't think it needed to be printed in such large type since I was planning to read rather than perform the book.

It's a very light reading, but very funny.

The author stereo-types the Cuban culture right on and in a very humorous way.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly and bought two more for my sisters-in-law.

As a Cuban I found myself laughing out loud at all the comments and stories detailed in this wonderful book. What was discussed was definately realistic. The author Juan does a great job in showing the different eras and what truly happened during that time period....he uses humor and creativity to tell the story. I applaud Mr. Hernandez.

I had to read this book after my cousin saw the reading in person and raved about it. As still another Cubanoholic, I was up until 3 in the morning reading Mr. Hernandez's work. Read one page, where the man in prison is lamenting about a corrupt revolution that separates him from his beloved daughter and grandchildren, and the tears flow freely; read another page, about the Cuban teenager coming up with words like "typear", and you laugh at the sweet memories of a conversation that must have gone on in more households than just your own! People who grew up in the 60s and 70s will especially love this book, but the next generations need to read it, too. Quite simply, it's an affectionate, proud, beautiful history and testament. This book is Cuban, outstanding - that's all!

My father was born in Indiana and his parents relocated to Cuba when he was 4 years old. He was raised in Cuba as his father was an executive for Sears. My father left Cuba at the age of 19 and I was born in the states about five years later. I was raised in a 'cuban' american household so I can relate to so many of these stories. I laughed with Mayflower Mary and I cried (sobbed is more like it) with The Southern Way. I only wish my father were here to read William's story because in so many ways it is his story and that of my family. Thank you for remembering all Cubans, even those like me who are not 'pure' breds.

Malcolm Henderson, a well-known resident of Bocas, has written a book that fully captures the lifestyle of the expat resident. With wit, irony and lots of heart, Don't Kill the Cow Too Quick (great title!) is a must-read for anyone considering an escape to paradise showing all the ups and downs of living in a new culture and trying to adapt to same.

Can't wait for the sequel!

Cindy Cody, author Hubba Hubba

Look at a map of Central America then zoom in on Panama. Just south of the border of Costa Rica on the Caribbean shore is the archipeligo of Bocas del Toro. As the author says, Bocas del Toro is like Key West was in the 1920's just getting noticed by tourist, retirees and developers. This is a small city on a tropical island with the surronding islands, coral reefs, beaches, small farms, tropical forests and mangroves, the area that Malcom Henderson and his wife settled to live the years of their life after age 60. This book is his story of finding the area, settling there and working to fit in by building a home in town and starting a ranch (finca) on the mainland.

Henderson has an unusual writing style, very personal, like writing a diary. Some of the chapters have abrupt endings that seem a bit odd in the way that perhaps your grandfather would have told a story that takes a while to register than you get the meaning of it. His writing flows better through the book and makes it hard to put down by the end. Henderson also has a well developed sense of humor and perhaps this follows from some of the laughable situations that he gets into that still maintain the admiration of his friends. I felt a sense of loss when I finished the book, wanting to continue to hear his stories about Panama and the people of the Bocas del Toro region.

I purchased this book mainly to learn more of this region from the expatriat's viewpoint but I picked up much more than that. Anyone moving to a foreign country should anticipate the potential conflict of gringo and latino, foreigner and national, impoverished and wealthy, and greedy and charitable. Henderson covers all of this and it is a tribute to this book that he tells it with insight, humor and is able to evoke some of the essence of the region for us.

I am looking forward to reading a book with the Panamanian's view of the changes in the Bocas del Toro region next.

Malcom gives the reader a real first hand view of Bocas. He is funny and hauman. Makes you want to move there.

This has been the first book that I have read cover to cover, except for techincal manuels. I enjoyed all of Malcolm's adventures. Having been in Bocas, I can relate to some of them.

I have just finished reading, for the second time, Malcolm Henderson's enchanting tour of a marvelous part of the world and his introduction to some wonderful people. Mr. Henderson has what other writers wish they had, the innate gift of being able to tell a story. In this delightful book Mr. Henderson displays the qualities of a Mark Twain, or Ambrose Bierce in that regard. This book would make an excellent addition to University classes in creative writing and psychology courses on social psychology. Mr. Henderson succeeds in taking us to Bocas Del Toro, sharing his relationships with interesting people, and engages us in the desire to live with and assist however we can, both the indigenous tribal natives and other Panamanians. He is candid in the things he probably should not have done, as well as in those things he did well. You will become engrossed in this book as it is truly a relaxing, entertaining, and informative work. Human behavior is remarkably different in different cultures and Mr. Henderson introduces us to a truly admirable culture in Panama, in a truly admirable manner. Sit back, read, enjoy. I look forward to other offerings by this author.

I absolutly adored this book, and I can't come up with enough good things to say about it. It's great for absolutly any age (I'm 26) and I read the first three books in two days.

Wholeheartedly reccomended for girls, who will find a near perfect heroine and role model in Emma.

I loved this book,it was a great story.i cant wait till i get my hands on the third book.

I loved this story because there were more adventures and surprises, but the end made me sad until I read the next book, Once upon A Curse, and everything was better. I was hooked, I read one and I had to read them all!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!! I LOVED this book! After reading Frog Princess, I thought there couldn't be a better book in the world! But I was wrong! I loved this book even more than Frog Pricess! I love it so much, I finished it in a day. If you liked Frog Princess, READ THIS!!! If you didn't, you should still read this because it was GREAT!!! I read the third one too, and it was also great, I would recemend the series to anyone! Read them. You will LOVE them I promise!!!!!!:)

If you want to read "Dragon's Breath" I suggest you read "The Frog Princess" first so you can understand it better. In "Dragon's Breath" Emma and Eadric help Emma's Aunt Grassina, the current 'Green Wtich', turn her true love, Haywood, back into a person from a otter. After overhearing a wizard talking to the soul of her grandmother, who turned Haywood into an otter in the first place, Emma learns the things needed to turn him back. Hearing this she sets off to find the ingreddients with Eadric by her side. They find many weird 'things' along the way including dragons witch makes Emma's magic stronger. The neighboring kingdom chose this miment to attack. With Grassina distracted and Emma's magic out of controll it looks like Emma's father's army is going to lose untill something very strange happenes......

This collection, as the other 4, are one of the best comics you can read! Great! Yuo must have it!

As a satirical cartoonist, Gary Larson has no peer. His biting and hilarious insights often require a great deal of thought before you get the point. If you are not familiar with the reference used to create the cartoon, it is unlikely that you will get the point.
For example, on page 42 there is a cartoon showing deer engaged in an excavation project with a mounted cowboy observing them while perched on a hill. The caption is "Where the deer and the antelope work." If you do not know about the song, "Home on the range", then you will not understand the joke. Another example on the same page shows three frogs lying among cattails holding wine bottles. The caption here is "Yeah, I remember Jerry. Good friend of mine ... You know, I never understood a single word he said, but he always had some mighty fine wine." Once again, if you are not familiar with the song "Joy to the World" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, the joke will most likely pass you by.
Gary Larson is a genius, where that quality is manifested in ways that are twisted, yet profound. This book is hilarious.

gary larson is one he best cartoonists ever! you have to travel to the far side! all of his comics will have you thinking! its great! buy it, you'll love it!

Here's another omnibus edition of Gary Larson's weird, wacky and utterly hilarious cartoons. To enter Larson's world is to enter a world where animals have meaningful conversations, bugs make their homes in nice suburban houses, flies fly planes etc, etc. Certainly not the mainstream kind of cartoon but for anyone who likes 'off the wall' type humour this is a 'must buy'. Absolutely hilarious.

Larsen is the world's greatest cartoonist. Too bad he retired. I have envelopes filled with his cartoons clipped out of the newspaper (10+ years ago!) that I still can't bear to throw away. So I suppose this book was a good idea. It will take up less space than several bulging envelopes.

For younger people who can't remember his cartoons in the paper every day, you need to hurry up and start collecting his books so you can always be within arm's length of a smile or a laugh.

Also, I love the story about the "Jane Goodall Cartoon"

--George Stancliffe

I can't really review this book as I gave it as a gift to my son-in-law. I think he's really enjoying it - he's planning on trying a little stand up soon.

I first read "Great Comedians" in 1972 when I was starting out as a comedian. I found it to be just what I needed as a young aspiring comedian. The interviews of Woody Allen, Shelley Berman, Jack Benny, and Phillis Diller resonated with me and helped me immensely in my standup comedy development. It also inspired me to write my own book probing the methods of my generations great comedians ("Comic Insights") in order to help today's young comedians get a better idea of what it takes to do quality standup. I recently read "Great Comedians" again, and my original verdict still stands. This book is still of immense value to all aspiring comedians.

It's no secret that comedians -- great and not-so-great -- are influenced by the WORK of other comedians. The advent of film in the 20th century made this a lot easier since when a comedian died the work was still available...and now with videos etc. it's easier than ever.

But what about HOW these comedians made laughs...how they were inspired...what specific techniques they used and did not use...and what advice they would give anyone interested in going into any area of comedy?

Those have been tough answers to get. To do it you'd have to buy a slew of good and sometimes rotten bios, many of them out of print. Until now. Stand-up comedian Larry Wilde's Great Comedians Talk About Comedy brings it all together.

Great Comedians is a superb, singular achievement that collects within one lively, 402-page, info-packed volume, detailed interviews done over several years with some of the 20th century's greatest comedians and comedy actors.

The selection is absolutely mind-boggling: Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Shelly Berman, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, George Burns, Johnny Carson, Maurice Chevalier, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Dick Gregory, George Jessle, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Thomas and Ed Wynn.

Each interview is presented in straight Q&A format so you get to "hear" the question and "hear" the response, from what the comedian/comedy actor says to his/her own speech pattern. These folks worked in venues from vaudeville, to radio, to night clubs, to radio to early silent movies to talkies to TV. And their responses to questions contain revelations and constant inspiration.

A key theme: how "making it" in comedy requires timing, good material, dogged persistance, constant analysis of jokes/laughs and being LIKEABLE to an audience. Copying someone's stage personna or stealing their jokes just won't do it.

My favorite interviews were with Woody Allen (how he writes ten jokes on everything from matchbooks to napkins and only uses a few; how he won't try jokes out on friends since they're often too negative; how audience appeal MATTERS...and his pointing to Jackie Gleason as someone who often had a lousey show but people loved him), Jack Benny (the importance of learning comedy and advancing step by step...an explanation of his legendary timing), Joey Bishop ("...Luck cannot sustain you.Only talent can sustain you.."), George Burns (tips on timing, attitude and the importance emulating but not copying other performers), Phyllis Diller (five truly SUPERB short inspirational tips that can advance MANY careers...Her high laugh per minute standards), and Jerry Seinfeld (timing, getting into a focused mental framework and how his love of comedy as a kid blossomed).

This book an essential for ANYONE interested in comedy, or for students of comedy, public speakers, or anyone who simply wants to be funny in public. It's ALL HERE: the inspiration, the tips, the stories, the bios...the TOOLS.

It's now a cliche to say "comedy isn't easy" and the whole process is mysterious. Larry Wilde's Great Comedians Talk About Comedy makes it less mysterious and -- a a bit easier.

Almost all the reviews on Amazon are by stand- up comics who claim that this book has been a great resource in teaching them how to 'get em' and 'leave em' laughing.
I am not a stand- up comedian and perhaps not even a sit- down one.
But many of the people interviewed here have given me, people I have known and millions of others a lot of laughs, and a lot of happy moments. I think of how much Jack Benny meant in the old days to my parents. And how when we were growing up Tuesday night had to be with Uncle Miltie or it was not. I think of the great heart of Jimmy Durante " Good Night, Mrs.Calabash wherever you are." And also of Shelley Berman( "Some people say Aristotle died in Chalcis Euboea. I think Aristotle died 'of' Chalcis Eubeoa") Also others featured here, Carson who passed away this year who gave so many Americans their nighttime entertainment, and George Burns who with his, "Gracie.Say good night" always brought a smile. And even Joey Bishop who never seemed to me in the least funny , and Woody Allen( Unlike everyone else who reviewed this book I did not find his interview either interesting or funny, though I admit he has made a few clever remarks in his time. ie." I don't want to be an immortal. I just want to go on living forever".
Any gathering of such a great group of personalities has to be a source of entertainment.
This book as I understand it has served as a kind of 'Bible ' for stand- up comedians.
I suggest even some of the sit- down ones may get real pleasure from it.

There is very little to dislike in the content of the book. He interviews some of the great comics,comedians,funnymen of the 20th century about craft. The candidness of each interviewee is what struck me upon first reading. It often seems that comics can be quite elusive when it comes to discussing their craft. The general consensus among the subjects is that one has some innate funniness present that he can hone and sharpen in order to become a truly great comic. Wilde asks some very poignant questions about each one's process: writing, performing, and breaking into the business. He also requests of each that they divulge their major influences and what specific things they might have picked up from each. Very interesting stuff (I found out about several comics I had never heard of). There is also the requisite interview fodder of personal history and amusing anecdotes. This book seems to be the only one of its kind and is invaluable for its diverse perspectives from some of the greats. Berle, Hope, and Burns in particular provide interesting contextual history of their vaudeville days starting out (and the transition to post-vaudeville). The subjects chosen each share an unparalleled longevity in the business. I especially enjoyed the Berle and Woody Allen interviews. Each sheds light on specific aspects of "technique." The comics chosen represent a wide range of comedic styles: the reader is bound to be a fan of at least one. The book is an interesting historical document and quite unique: +5 stars.

I do have some criticisms of the book (-1 star). During later interviews in the book (chronologically), Wilde becomes a bit too referential. For example, he might begin a question with "Milton Berle once said to me..." Though it's interesting to see if a particular comic agrees with the others on certain points, this is not a terribly effective way to ask a question. Who in their right mind in the business would say that Milton Berle is full of it? The question can be asked without reference to the source (and therefore without the consequence of bias). Furthermore, the price is outrageous considering that the book could have been half the length if such a massive font was not used. Many responses to questions in the book have been edited and ostensibly continue beyond the transcription. You will notice the liberal use of elipses in nearly every interview. Perhaps if a standard font was used more of the abridged interviews could be included at no additional cost. This 2000 edition adds an interview with Jerry Seinfeld, but I'm not entirely certain how he was chosen as the only modern comic included. Could the book (originally published in 1968) have been put out cheaply in paperback? Only Larry Wilde's accountant may ever know.

I must say that this is one of the greatest books I've read. At first I thought " thousand pages,that's too much, I don't have the energy to do this". So I sat down and started to read, This is quite good, I thought. Ten hours later I just had to admit it, the book had had me mesmerized, I just couldn't put it down ! For those who haven't read this book, I highly recommend you do ! I say: Giddyup !

Douglas Adams once said that he liked dead lines, 'I like the whooshing noise they make as they go by.'

Thankfully he managed to get himself out of the bath enough times to write this gem.

Thanks Douglas

The Hitch Hikers Guide is an amazing book; it ensnares the mind and doesn't let go. The book takes you all the way from the last seconds of earth to the end of the universe, and all in a strange and humors way. The book uses backwards logic and at some points makes so little sense that it makes perfect sense. I loved the variety of characters, the detail, and the abstract thoughts. The book takes and explains the secrets of the universe and even better how to travel it. In this book you will find the answer to the meaning of life, how to get a lift from a space ship, and why no hitchhiker should ever be without a towel.

I recommend this book to anyone who thinks of the abstract or abnormal, or for that matter anyone who has an inkling of creativity in their minds. Recommended to ages 15 and up.

Ok, First off this is the first time I've done this so hang with me. The Reason I read this book was, pretty much, because the movie was comeing out, and I didn't want to see it with out reading the Book first. I'm Glad I did beacause if i had seen the movie first it would have ruined the book for me. The one thing that I noticed about this book was it's so great that you read it really fast, and when u finish you wish you hadn't read it as fast as you did.Anyway I've never Read anything like this book and probably never will again. I recomend this book to any one who likes to read good books.

Everybody's in search of something. For some it's meaning, for others it's a place in the universe, and for the rest of us, it's a digital watch. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy really illustrates that unsure feeling that we all have. Arthur Dent was lost enough on Earth, but after it's demolished, he in desperate need of finding a speck of understanding throughout the rest of the Galaxy. Good luck without your towel there, buddy boy.

I really dug this book. It didn't take you straight from point A to point B, as some novels do. It had twisty unpredictable swerves that gave you a glimpse of points X, Q and H, along the way, even though Q and H had nothing to do with anything. They were there for appreciation. For example, a nuclear bomb makes a quick transformation to a sperm whale before any damage is done. The reader is fully exposed to the Sperm whales thoughts and inner ramblings... all thirty seconds of them. It's beautifully absurd, and I loved it.

I fully enjoyed the nonsense and the silliness of the book. Little details, especially. An incredibly depressed robot, the hailing of digital watches, eager to please doors; all these things didn't necessarily prove incredibly important on the character's quest, but amusing, nonetheless. Without the silliness, this may have been another book about post-Earth days and the last thing we need is just another book about post-Earth days. Have no fear, this is not just another book.

An entertaining book for all - not just parents. This would be a great gift for anyone who gets a kick out of intelligent humor. For those with young children, you KNOW how difficult it is to get through an entire book - what's great about this book is that each chapter is a story unto itself. I found myself laughing out loud (and in total understanding) while reading about the author's various parenting dilemmas!

Dora E. H. Crow

I'm not even a parent, but I really enjoyed reading this book. It is both funny and insightful at the same time. The author describes various incidents and interactions with his daughter, and the resulting insights. It would be especially great for a new parent or someone with young children, but even people who aren't parents will enjoy it.

Anybody who has stuggled with or watched kids grow will find chuckles and some bellylaughs as the writer gives his slant on what we've all really seen as we've lived it. And, grandparents, you'll remember how things that go around come around.

Mr. Pinsky has unique perspective on parenthood and his razor sharp prose will keep you laughing for hours. I nearly wet my pants at one point. If you're a parent and up for a good laugh - read this book!

Although I am a female with no kids, I am an Aunt who has occassional responsibility for my nieces and nephews. Homedaddy made me feel alot more confident about how can I interact with the kids and gave me greater respect (and sympathy) for my brothers and sisters. I reccommend this book to any Aunt or Uncle who is trying to figure it all out.

More than anything else, this book makes a great conversation starter to bring up the often-taboo subject of infant circumcision, more aptly called Male Genital Mutilation. It's a colorful and lighthearted look at one man's very real desire to have his normal, healthy, and functional prepuce back where it belongs--on his body.

This is a great book. Everyone should read it. The barbaric crime that is circumcision must end. Carl does a great job of expressing his feelings in a non-threatening way that may get the message across.

Three cheers for a great book!

How many times have you read the words "delightfully funny" and it actually be true? This is it. "I Want My Foreskin for Giftmas" light-heartedly critizes forced circumcision. It's an issue felt by many men but who have said nothing about it.

On a warm May morning in 1948 an unknown doctor assaulted my infant body and mutilated my penis. I have been angry about it every day since! Thanks to Carl Schutt my anger has found its voice. In "I Want My Foreskin For Giftmas," Schutt tackles a very adult topic from the perspective of a little boy who has been robbed of his birthright. That little boy was Schutt, but he also was me and millions of others like us. We were defenseless against doctors too eager to perform unnecessary surgery and parents too ignorant to stop them! This book is creative, funny, and irreverent. It is a great read for everyone and a primer for all parents thinking of taking from their sons what no boy should be forced to give away. Bravos for Schutt!

This offbeat book bursts with color, imagination, raw emotion, wit, and an idealism that challenges the reader to pause and ask, "What if we've been doing it wrong all along?"

The artist and author, Carl Schutt, combines art, craft, and folk art to create a book full of humor and social commentary about why we (Americans) insist on a surgical procedure that most pediatricians agree is painful and wholly unnecessary, i.e. circumcision.

The author creates a tone that is at one moment analytically irreverent about the outmoded Judeo-Christian holdover and in the next moment cloaks himself by assuming the voice of a forlorn, foreskinless child who wonders what it would be like to be whole again. The book's searching and fearless inspection brings into the fray parents, God, and yes...even Santa! No stone is unturned.

The author/artist is an iconoclast who finds a way to smartly broach a subject that could stand to be reexamined even though it remains, for the most part, unchallenged. Who can think of a topic so taboo that its first mention at a party full of urban hipsters would result in a choking halt in conversation?

Implicitly under attack is that uptight male machismo that says, "I'm cut and there's nothing wrong with me!" Well, what if instead of there being "nothing wrong" we could all strive for an ideal and, well, be intact and unmodified? Carl Schutt exclaims that circumcision is the male body image crisis equivalent to that of a middle-aged Orange County woman retooled by countless touches of the plastic surgeon's knife; and yet it's a body image crisis that our culture artificially creates, propagates, and hoists upon boys who are only days old. What if this should be changed? What if this could be changed? It's this sort of idealism and visionary spirit that makes this creation refreshing.

Visually the book appears to have been constructed from a million shavings of felt, paper, cardboard, and other banal materials; these common media are brought together by a hand fraught with an almost maniacal need for precision, energy, and speed.

"Foreskin for Giftmas" is the ultimate gift for enlightened parents-to-be, for people who are initiates in the "zine" culture, or anyone who appreciates a clever creation like this that pushes the edge of human understanding.