Humor Books

John Penberthy has written a lovely story about the importance of learning to still the mind and access the wisdom we each have deep inside. TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE tells a story from the vantage point of a honeybee named Buzz. Buzz deals with issues of feeling rejection, isolation, and confusion from those who admonish him for "beeing" different. TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE is full of such plays on words, yet this light-hearted approach to what could otherwise be a heavy, serious topic about spirituality is just the right touch for a book whose genuine intent is to remind us who we truly are.

I love the way the wise old mentor bee, Bert, provides Buzz with guidance, wisdom, and support, and the way the various crises facing the honeybee colony set the stage for some far-reaching decisions to be made. I was amazed to see how the various problems facing the bees so closely parallel human concerns and issues, and delighted to see how Buzz recognizes opportunities to come to peace with "beeing" himself regardless what other bees might say or think. A crisis involving the hive occurs when a marauding bear named Boris provides the colony with incentive to go to war... while Buzz contemplates a more peaceful vision of the hive's future.

Discover all you can bee in this charming tale... you will bee amazed!

Buzz Bee is having a great day! That is, he's having a great day until he starts thinking! Why do we have to do the same old work the same old way? Is there a better way? Why do we all have to be the same? Are we really better than those small ants and how do you know they're not as good as we are? Why does anyone have to be "better?" On and on, Buzz's questions go and others are beginning to see him as not only different but just plain weird?

What is Buzz to do or not do? Just as he seems at the very lowest point of despair, he meets an older bee, Bert. Their conversations and ruminations about love, work, death, God, religion, sameness, difference and just "being" pepper these 140 pages with a fascinating dialogue that's bound to touch every reader's mind, heart and spirit!

For Buzz is about to really enter a spiritual journey that he could never have imagined before meeting Bert. Attracted to and repelled by what he hears, he can neither conform to or ignore what he hears from this older bee who is his greatest friend.

He must go on his own journey to find out the truth or whatever else just "is!"

Sound familiar? This is a simple yet profound story effectively told and accompanied by lovely drawings that parallel the story to deeply affect the reader. To Bee or Not to Bee is a quick, lovely, powerful and unforgettable read!

Highly recommended for readers of all ages!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 5, 2008

I loved this book, I read it in one fell swoop! I had both my teenagers read it and bought a few copies and gave them to friends. To Bee or not to Bee was for me a delightful, uplifting, easy read and yet packed full of wisdom. I think we all feel stuck or stifled in our own lives at times and this book helped me realize that there really is only the present, nothing more and nothing less. The essence of the book for me, was to live every day valuing each precious moment, because we really might be hit by a mack truck and be gone, just like that. I was powerfully impacted by this book and hope the message will stay with me for a very long time.

This book is a very clever commentary that works on many conceptional levels. At the most basic level, it is an inspirational book for kids +/-9-10 years old. These kids will realize that one can follow ones own path, and that hard work provides its own return. For teenagers, the book is inspirational during those confused times when one is not sure about social acceptance. For adults, the book points to rewards of stepping out of mainstream material paths, etc. The book reminds me a bit like Jonathan Livinston Seagull, a little bit like Candide, a bit like Frost's The Road Not Taken, and a little bit like the Acuna Mitata theme from Lion King. Things seem to work out if you do what is in your heart. All in all, I highly recommend this book. It is a good read, and it's very good to stimulate family discussions.

If we learn best by stories, this book "Too Bee or Not to Bee, is filled with great reminders and many learnings. As I struggle with the difficult and fragile place of our planet, I am grateful for the comfort of this book. This book reminds me that life is complex and horrible and wonderful and terrible.
At the most basic level this is the story of Buzz, a worker bee who does what bees do, he does his part to collect honey for his hive. Along the way he looks for pollen and God. Many of his emotions are evoked. He feels anger, he witnesses the dying of many of his fellow bees and he finds contentment. And, that is the power of this book. Buzz's life is ours. So, how do we find contentment? We realize that we can choose to see the beauty in the daily acts of living. We realize that we are a part of a complex and interdependent hive.
Share this book with a teenager who is just coming to grips with the big issues of life, someone whose life is in struggle or as I will do, with members of my book club. Savor this book with an appreciative heart and a warm cup of tea.
This book is well written and the illustrations make the lessons of the book come alive.

That's really all I can say. It's not my favorite comic strip (that honor belongs to CALVIN AND HOBBES) but it is the laugh-out-loud funniest. BILL THE CAT LIVES!

The beloved characters all appear. Milo remains well-supplied with nightmares from his anxiety clost, Steve Dallas remains un-supplied with tact or charm, and Opus displays his huge supply of innocent bafflement. Winsome Yaz Pistachios appears a few times, as does Bill the Cat (the anti-Garfield) and Oliver Wendell Jones, computer geek extraordinaire.

The humor is still there, but some of the freshness rubbed off during the quarter-century since these first appeared. Some grey heads will remember Phyllis Schlafly and all the other Reagan-era targets of the Bloom County barbs. The problem with topical humor is that topics change in the real world, but remain frozen on the printed page, becoming gradually more antiquated over time.

No matter. You'll find plenty of timeless humor and maybe a bit of nostalgia between these covers, as well as a reminder of how the early 80s looked to one cartoonist of the era.

-- wiredweird

These strips aren't just funny. They're laugh out loud, roll on the floor, tears streaming down my face, people coming into the room to see "WHAT-are-you-laughing-at?!" funny.

Berkeley Breathed has created a perfect 'toon universe populated by funny and poignant humans, along with funny and poignant penguins, groundhogs, Bill the Cat and purple critters that hide in your closet of anxieties waiting to grab you as soon as you sleep. Breathed was an absolute genius at seeing some topical issue of the day (circa 1984 for this voume) holding it up to the light so that we could see it just the way that he did, then skewering the thing with what would be the humor equivalent of cupid's arrow.

I had no idea this book was still around. I had picked it up in the mid-eighties, lent it to a friend in the early nineties, and it was gone. I never thought I would see it again. What a surprise to find it again. Immediately, I picked it up and started where I had left off years ago... roaring with laughter. This collection of Bloom County golden oldies is hysterical and clever. The years have been very kind to this strip because it is as fresh as it was during the Reagain administration. Pick up "Toons for Our Times: A Bloom County Book of Heavy Metal Rump 'N Roll" and laugh your rump off!

The first time I ever picked up a Bloom County book at a bookstore in the mall...and this was the book. After a few pages, I found myself having to close the book in order to gather my wits about me, wipe the tears off my face, then attempt to forge farther ahead...usually having to immediately close the book because glancing at the same page instantly initiated another wave of helpless laughter. Had this only happened once, I could have dealt with it as the adult that I believed myself to be...but, since it happened every few pages, I realized myself to be captivated in the tormented world of Opus and friends. Unfortunately (and much to my surprise, I didn't really care), this resulted in more than a few patrons of the bookstore in question to raise their eyebrows in my direction. I would like to thank the kind person that finally joined me (they picked up a copy of their own) and together we chortled together, pausing at times to close our books at our respective pages to momentarily regain our composure. Whimsical, thoughtful, introspective, silly, hilarious, thought-provoking...If you never read another comic, even if you think you're too old for silliness, you owe it to yourself and Berke to read this...and yes, I bought the book!

Edgy and hilarious! For long time fans like me, this latest bumper collection is an essential purchase, and for Troubletown "virgins" it will be an excellent introduction to one of the top independent weekly strips. Lloyd Dangle is consistently funny (as in laugh-out-loud), thought provoking and highly quotable. As the title suggests, a lot of these cartoons came out when most cartoonists were being extremely cautious about criticizing the Bush administration as we sent troops in to occupy Iraq. Dangle went out on a limb and in retrospect we see he was right on the money.

When will Americans wake up to the fact that alternative cartoonists should be employed as Rovian and Carvillian(?) masters of political campaigns who can predict the future? Maybe after reading this book.

As the title suggests, Lloyd Dangle's "Troubletown" cartoon has been telling us what's what--and making us laugh--week in and week out since he began cartooning during Lord Reagan's reign.

This plump collection has all the tidbits you need from the last few years--from the divisive confirmation hearing of Vlad the Impaler to How A Bill Becomes A Law (Pole dancing is involved).

Cleverly disguised as a cartoon collection, this History book is presented in chronological order, which may be of use to someone desiring an absurdist trip down memory lane. For myself, the years-long assault on reason has blended all the nightmarish events together, so I'm thankful to Dangle for reminding me that Frist diagnosed Terry Schiavo via TV before the Korans were flushed down the toilet.

Forget the memoirs and dour political tomes--cartoon collections tell the true story of our turbulent times.

There's simply nothing sexier than an intelligent man with a razor sharp sense of humor. Lloyd Dangle's wit, illustrated in his political cartoon "Troubletown," is as sharp as his x-acto knife.

Reading these comics has become an addiction for me, especially because they're so language intensive. Each five-by-five inch square is packed with a full service laugh. One might think a book of cartoons is a quick read, but this isn't the case with the collection, "Troubletown Told You So: Comics that Could've Saved Us from this Mess." You'll want to spend time on each page and not miss the subtle notations and political barbs within the drawings. Indeed, many are amazingly prophetic, and evoked a sad-but-true reaction from me--even while I was laughing.

Good for the coffee table or the powder room collection, you might want to keep this away from your Republican acquaintances as they surely won't appreciate the humor. But your well-read, intellectual friends (particularly those who peruse daily newspapers and have registered as political "independents") will marvel at Dangle's ironic, right-on take on the mess that is American politics.

From the author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

I read trouble town in the paper and I recently had a chance to pick this book up from the author at a comic show. Not only does this book tell the tale of our troubled nation but it does so with terrific art! Not only that but Lloyd Dangle was very nice and sold his bok to me in a very convincing manner. Love it.

I used to live in San Francisco, where I could read Troubletown every week. Now I'm stuck in the middle of no where, so I have to wait for these great compilations when they come out. I've got all of them, and this new one really rocks thye housed! I thought from the title that it might be only focused on the Iraq War and major Bush calamities (which would be fine by me) but, as usual, Dangle aims his unique perspective at the whole world of subject matter. And, as usual, he comes up with some amazing gems.
I always find a really different perspective when I read Troubletown, Dangle sees the world through an amazing filter. I think he must be one of the most studious, well-read of political cartoonists working today.
This book is a great deal-chock full of a great years output- and it's samll and easy to carry! The perfect birthday present!

By taking the high road of humor, Amy Berger's book will not only give you a way to smile and laugh, but it will help you keep your balance and perspective in the midst of corporate foibles and fumbles. Read it and thrive!

You don't have to be a corporate warrior to appreciate Amy Berger's unique humor. If you've ever had a job and worked with people, you'll relate to Amy's hilarious book.

Looking for laughter in the not-so-humorous world of the workplace? Then buy this wise, witty and wonderful book. It will not only save your sanity while working in the crazy corporate climate but keep you guffawing as well.

Amy Berger has captured the essence and aggravation of working for big, impersonal companies. Her book is filled with insights and laughs. Very enjoyable reading!

Amy Berger tells us how the day-to-day incidents in cubicle land have shaped her life the past 20 years. Reading her book was like reading my own diary! At times, I was laughing and other times it was all I could do not to cry. Amy is to be congratulated for showing all of us in Silicon Valley that our problems are universal. I know that I forgave several former bosses after reading about Amy's bosses - different companies, different names, but the same puzzling way of managing people. (i,e. assigning work on your honeymoon! Mine was New Year's weekend)

I love this little compendium. It gives a taste of Dribbleglass' quirky-yet-so-clever humor. I love the way Scott Roeben, the author, manages to translate his singular perspective on life into witty humor. The fact that billboards are his medium makes the whole package and the website even more unique. Bravo!

This package of comedy is such a treat! Scott Roeben is not only witty, but has an unbelievably clever imagination. wonderfully funny website, packed with an awesome collection of billboards, jokes, pictures, and quirky things (e.g., ugly toes contest). I hope that he compiles a second edition of magnets to clutter up my refrigerator even more!! Great work, Scott! bs

I bought this as a gift for a friend and they loved it.
The presentation of this book is very unique and creative and the billboards are very funny.

If you buy this for someone they will love you a little more for it.

I was in a big fight with one of my friends and I bought this book for them as a peace offering and now we are back to being friends and all prior wounds have been healed. Who knew that a little refrigerator shaped box of magnets could have worked such magic. Thanks Scott this book is a gosh darn miracle.

Because I've been reading Dribble Glass for at least five years, I was sure these were going to be funny. And they are. I bought some for friends, nieces and nephews, a neighbor, two dogs and a parakeet. I guess I got a little carried away.

As a huge Dave Barry fan, I knew this item would be worth purchasing since a Dave Barry quote is right on the front of the box.

Dave says, "These billboards are sick, perverted, gross, and tasteless. But in a good way."

Folks, that is DAVE BARRY. Enough said. I've always loved the billboards and now 10 of them are on my refrigerator holding up a shopping list from 1998 that I'll get around to sooner or later.

The little book that comes with the magnets is a funny read as well. Kudos to the dribbleglass.com people.

Also known as "The Cynic's Workbook" this collection is classic and belongs in any library. Ambrose Bierce, like Mark Twain and few other of his contempories, had a biting wit that always left a mark.
Here is just a taste of his humor.

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.

Good good stuff.

Still haven't found any real competitor for the Devils Dictionary.

Sheer honesty abounds. The insurance agent that came by my place rapidly deflated when I showed him the entry for "insurance" while (to his credit) acknowledged its veracity...

"an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table."

(followed by a vicious, fictitious and brilliant dialogue between an agent and perspective mark wherein said agent tries to overcome the mark's observation that by the agent's own actuarial tables a home owner without insurance would most likely save the full value of the house in premiums well before any loss... )

And that's just one of hundreds of essays. One of my intellectual heroes.

This is a great book. The sarcasm and the definitions are the best. If you know someone who is a book lover or just enjoys quick wit-this book is for them. I bought two more just for gifts. It's one of those books that you can always pick up and find a smile...

If truth is beauty, and beauty truth, this is one good looking book. As an aspiring cynic, finding this book was akin to Ahab finding the whale. (I have no idea what that means). I don't think this book could be written today. Most of Bierce's definitions have become accepted fact. The book belongs in the library of everyone who believes Political Correctness is the beginning of the end of the world. Without the ability to communicate honestly, we are doomed. If you don't agree, you're just a bigoted fool. (see Bierce definitions). A great, funny, lucid book.

skep·tic also scep·tic (skptk)
n.
1.One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally
accepted conclusions.
2.One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3.Philosophy.
a.often Skeptic An adherent of a school of skepticism.
b.Skeptic A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of
Elis (360?-272? B.C.).
[Latin Scepticus, disciple of Pyrrho of Elis, from Greek Skeptikos, from skeptesthai, to examine.
See spek- in Indo-European Roots.]

cyn·ic (snk)
n.
1.A person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness.
2.A person whose outlook is scornfully and often habitually negative.
3.Cynic A member of a sect of ancient Greek philosophers who believed virtue to be the only
good and self-control to be the only means of achieving virtue.
[Latin cynicus, Cynic philosopher, from Greek kunikos, from kun, kun-, dog. See kwon- in
Indo-European Roots.]
Such are the real dictionary definitions of the stance which Ambrose Bierce adopted in considering the world. Beginning in 1881 and continuing to 1906, he created a series of sardonic word definitions of his own. Many of these were collected and published as The Cynic's Word Book, which he later protested was "a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve." So in 1911, he pulled together a collection that was more to his own liking and called it The Devil's Dictionary. The entries are a tad uneven in quality, but most are amusing and some are great. Each reader will have his own favorites, some of mine are as follows :
ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.
ALLIANCE, n. In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.
BIGOT, n. One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
CONSULT, v.i. To seek another's disapproval of a course already
decided on.
CYNIC, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.
DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the
growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This
dictionary, however, is a most useful work.
DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.
EDUCATION, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.
FUTURE, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our
friends are true and our happiness is assured.
HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
IDIOT, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot's activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but "pervades and regulates the whole." He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions and opinion of taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line.
POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of
principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
And, my choice for the very best among them :
CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.

By all means, read it and pick out your own; you're sure to find a few that tickle your fancy.

I bought 3 more of these books for my husband for Christmas. He loves them and has learned many things from them, even things he was able to use in his work. I also bought 2 of them for one of my brother's who is recuperating from surgery and I think he will find many things in them for use in his work, just as my husband has.

This book has a variety of different topics to entertain just about anybody while using the bathroom. I purchased it for the main bathroom used by guests, family and friends. I get a lot of good comments on it.

I was gifted this volume of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader series by my fiancee's father, this last Christmas. I didn't know what to think, at first. It seemed kind of... an odd gift.

But, what the heck, I figured: I put it on top of the toilet tank in good faith, and made plans to start reading it "when the time was right."

This is an excellent book.

I'd never had a book specifically designed to be a bathroom reader, before (though I've used other books for the purpose, such as Finnegans Wake); this is a collection of trivia and interesting, obscure anecdotes, reflecting a lot of research. The stories are fascinating, and the format (they're broken up into chunks, scattered throughout the work) is appropriate for the task at hand. Reading it was a pleasure everytime I had to sit down to work. :)

I doubt that I will wait till next Christmas, to see whether I have another volume waiting for me. This was my first in this genre, and in this series, but it certainly will not be my last.

What can you say about the 'Uncle John' books, now in its 19th incarnation, that hasn't already been said? Trivia freaks will think they've died and gone to heaven with this latest compilation of weird subjects, obscure facts and famous, infamous and oddball characters delivered up in the usual inimitable Uncle John style.

Version 19's 519 pages covers everything from food origins to toilet tech (naturally!), weird sports feats to forgotten history, dumb crooks to fads and flops, yada, yada, yada.

Whatever your interests, pick up this book. Interesting facts, fun reading - there's something for everyone in these volumes!

We gave one of these to our son-in-law for Christmas a few years ago and now it's become a tradition. You can pick any page and enjoy/learn something. And no, it doesn't have to be in the bathroom. :)

This book started me on yet another new craft obsession - carving my own stamps has turned out to be so much easier than I thought it would be!

I don't think there's anything the author could have added in this textbook - there are already wonderful stamps, a gallery, thorough instructions that are beautifully illustrated and tons of inspiration. Also a nice section for troubleshooting and fixing mistakes when something goes wrong in your carving - very helpful!

Very happy to have purchased this book!

Zig

If you are interested in learning how to carve your own art rubber stamps then you need this book as well as Art Stamping Workshop. Both books provide clear cut instructions on how to carve your own stamps to make artistic and fun stamps that are one of a kind. Well worth the 10 bucks here on Amazon! I recommend it.
5 stars!

I've been a stamp carver and art teacher for many years. This book is the best instruction guide for learning to carve that I have ever seen. The author has described all aspects of carving soft blocks for printmaking. Her step by step carving instructions are beautifully illustrated with good, clear photographs. This is a guide that can be followed by an absolute novice carver AND is very useful to the intermediate or advanced carver. As carving teacher that has given workshops all over the country, I found many of her carving tips useful. If I ever write a "how to" book, I hope it would be as helpful as this one. This book answers and illustrates with excellent photographs all of the FAQ's (frequently asked questions) that have come up in the carving workshops that I have taught. I own or at least have read nearly every stamp carving pamphlet and block printing "how to" book on the market. This book is the best I've ever seen. Sure wish I had written it!!

I think a new carver or Seasoned carver would be inspired to carve after taking a look at this book! Great job, Luann!

This book clearly details the ins and outs of carving your own rubber stamps, for those whose creative instincts urge them to follow their own path in the world of stamping. With clear, non-technical language, the author shows in words and pictures how even the simplest and most modest of tools can create lively stamped images which can stand on their own or be incorporated into larger and more complex works.

This is a good "inspiration" book for either the novice entry-level artist/stamper or for the seasoned creator who is looking for new directions for their art. Luann strikes a nice balance with her presentation, with an instruction book that is user friendly and free of "tech-talk". The "how-to" instructions are clearly written and well complemented by excellent photos showing exactly how to proceed. This book will be appreciated by any who purchase it as a springboard into new areas and levels of creativity.

I've been romping around in the Amazon Shorts universe, and I stumbled onto this short piece--something that normally I might not read, but the premise reminded me of one that Kurt Vonnegut might have given his alter ego, Kilgore Trout. It's fun and ironic and sci-fi with a Troutian moral.

This story is clever and funny to everyone- thin and not so thin! Great writer & a highly recommended read.

I love stories where the real evolves into the surreal and nothing is what you expect it to be. Therefore, I was delighted with "Weighing In", a whimsical tale fit for an episode of the "Twilight Zone".

Written by Kathe Gogolewski "Weighing In" is the story of Carolyn who at three hundred and fifty pounds is jobless and friendless. Her only passion in life is food, glorious food, its aroma, its taste, its texture, and the joy it brings to her world.

One day she is given a chance to have a job, a lover, and a long and happy life while eating her way to success. All she needs to do is sign on the dotted line.

This was a very enjoyable story filled with surprises.

OK - So, over my lifetime, I've lost and gained a thousand pounds. I know I'll never see a size 3 again. And the most expensive scale I ever owned, very high tech at the time, I took out into the desert for target practice with my .22. I grew to despise it. Instant gratification. I won.

So here you have a lovely large lady (Carolyn) who dreads scales but can't stop eating (presumably she'd never heard of lap belt surgery). Can she find love, happiness and acceptance in the company of others among the stars?

Well just download this Short and see for yourself. Anyone who has been concerned with a weight problem - too little, too much - will enjoy this light piece of fiction.

But...she didn't shoot the scale. It would've been a nice touch.

Five stars! (the cat walked across the keyboard)

As a writer who has dedicated much of her work to exploring intolerance, I found this little short a delight. This tale is a bit sci-fi and that makes for a fun twist on our culture's tendency to discriminate against the over weight. Carolyn (not my namesake, I hope!) chooses chocolate and other delights and pays the price--both in health and in her personal life. A doctor with luminous brown eyes comes to her rescue in unforseen ways.

Because this is a very short short, parameters must be set and that requires a sort of Hemingwayesque approach to storytelling. Still, I would have liked to to understand the source of the doctor's magic better. Having said that, Gogolewski keeps this story moving at a clip. It is highly entertaining and creative as they come.
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the award-winning author of THIS IS THE PLACE, HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED, and TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry. All are award-winners. All are available on Amazon.

Yeats once wrote, "None other knows what pleasures man/At table or in bed." Bil Keane, however, seems to have found in his latest 'Family Circus' opus a treasure-chest of pleasures for each and all of us.

There are some who chafe at the seeming repetitive themes within Keane's major works; I would respectfully submit that all great stories are about life and death, love and loss, fear and triumph. If not Keane, then so go Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz and Callimachus, too, for good measure. It is not originality that spawns thought and wonderment; it is the vessels of those themes (Billy, Grandma, Barfy, PJ) that inspire and enlighten.

Keane, as carrier of these vessels, reminds us of a truth so eloquently immortalized by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Some books leave us free and some books make us free." In 'What Does This Say', it is clear that the tome achieves the latter, with gusto and aplomb.

There is a certain sadness one feels in remembering happy times: turning over the last page of a good novel, and reflecting over the wonders we have just experienced, the characters who have become our friends; discovering old pictures, seeing ourselves in the halcyon throes of youth, silly smiles on our innocent faces; the plangent last notes of a Chopin nocturne, the theme, growing softer and softer now, floating across the room to rest against our face like the rhythmic breaths of a peaceful, sleeping lover.

I don't know how: but Keane captures this feeling, this happy sadness - "Oh heavy lightness," as Shakespeare put it. Billy romps around the yard. He runs all over town. His parents are in love. His family is love with itself, each unto each. Can our lives ever be like this? Perhaps not, but we can watch, watch ever single day, and wrap ourself in that happy sadness. And maybe forget, if only for a little while, the way our lives really are, the way they have to be: our heavy lightness. Thanks, Bil Keane, for that, and thanks to Amazon for letting people express themselves. Thank you all.

I absolutely love this book! It is so, so funny. I have loved the Family Circus all my life. This book is filled with funny moments as well as some touching moments involving everyone. I have developed quite a collection of Bill Keane's "Family Circus" books, and this is another wonderful, funny book to read and laugh out loud about for years to come.

If there is a finer piece of work every written in the history of comics, I have yet to see it! Once again Bil Keane has published an anthology just as sure to raise the bar for his peers in the comic industry as it is to delight his legions of fans. Though he utilizes only a single, circular panel in his art, time and time again Keane has proven that in no way does this format limit his genius of comic delievery. He consistantly produces panels of a dazzling scope and depth, which hide layers upon layers of humor that seem to demand multiple readings. Although enourmously complex and even at times displaying a dark sense of humor, Keane nevertheless is able to keep even the youngest of readers amused through his delightful art and the uplifting messages his panels hide. Sad to say, but since the death of Charles Shultz, Bil Keane has been left without a true peer in the world of comics. ...No, truly each period of human exsistence has produced a select few men whom society can look up to. Just as the Roman Historian Sallust could proudly say he lived in the Republic of Caesar and Cato, and past generations could say they lived in the days of Washington and Jefferson, so can we say we knew the time of Keane and Roy, and thus are we more fortunate than all others who came before.

Hear me people! The scribble on the front cover held up by PJ is not an origianl scribble! I knew I had seen it before, but I could not quite place it. Finally like a bolt of lightning, I sat up in bed at 2:45 AM and knew where I saw that scribble! I quickly opened my bottom drawer and pulled out my copy of the Necronomican. It was right there on page XVIII!!

I only had two hours before I started my shift at McDonald's. It was Thursday morning and that meant I had to be there very early to unload the truck delivery. I looked at the cover of this Family Circus book and could not unlock my gaze on Jeffy. "What does this say?" "What does this say?" "What does this say?" It mocked me, it called me, it demanded my attention.

Then from out of nowhere I got an idea. I opened this Family Circus novel to the LAST page. I then proceeded to read the book BACKWARDS! Then true horror struck my heart.

Start with the last cartoon, write down the last letter of each caption and work your way backwards to the first cartoon where Dolly is trying to take the skin off a cupcake. When you have all the letters written down, this message will appear.......

"Thel is the goddess of lust and desire. She lives for the pleasure of the flesh. Prices slashed at Jerrys, all items must go. Buy one spatula get one free."

Cold chills ran up and down my spine as I deciphered the what I now call the "Da Keane Code". I have quit my job at McDonald's and now work full time at home with a mountain of Family Circus books, the Necronomican, and the Book of Revelation, I believe I can pinpoint the exact time of the Rapture. I will report my findings as I discover them.