Parodies Books

Those of you who are fans of engrish.com will love this book (and if you're not sure if you'll like this book, check out that website - they are very similar in content). This book has hilarious examples of how phrases can get mixed up in translation. I would caution, however, that there are many "adult" phrases that have sexual meanings or references to sex or bad language. Not for kids.

For those people who delight in circling garbled or gramatically incorrect headlines and roadway signs in their everyday life, this book is a surefire winner. Authors Petras and Petras take the reader on an international journey of well-intentioned but absolutely mis-used English.

This small-format paperback is broken into chapters by usage, from traveling to sightseeing to athletic events to dining to dealing with government agencies. Not surprisingly, Asian examples make up a good portion of the book, but there are also delightful entries from Italy, Russia, and European counties.

What makes this book work is the structure and commentary provided by the authors. This isn't a laundry list of goofy signs, rather, it is an intelligent anthology of English usage organized by subject matter. The authors provide commentary and introduction to all of the sayings, signs, and instructions.

This is a sweet little collection of some of the funniest misuse of the English language! It's nicely organized into specific categories, and I absolutely guarantee some quotes will make you cry from laughing so hard.
You'll either find yourself reading them out loud to family and friends, or copying them over and emailing them out to everyone you know!

Do you suspect that there's a book out there about how Americans sound like fools in other countries trying to speak a foreign language? (Just a little sobering thought!)

Even if I do not "speech american as my mother`s tongue" I could not stop laughing reading this wonderfull book.
Made me realize how difficult it is to translate culture.

This book is interesting to those of us who study the English language as a way of life. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit too far on the dry side. It had the potential of being funny while being somewhat educational, but it seemed to be put together while the author was occupied with other thoughts. I came away from this book with the feeling that while the information and anecdotes included were funny and interesting, the author did not put her full energies into it's creation. I would recommend this book to anyone who travels and/or enjoys the English language, but I would preface that recommendation with a suggestion to take it for what it is worth.

I remember reading the actual diary entries as they appeared ont the Internet back in 1998. Then one day they website went offline and luckily the book was published. I bought it and have a good laugh every now and then. I've even considered writing a similar daily parody for our President Mbeki, who is one of the most eccentric people on the planet. This book is for everyone and anyone who's always wondered what it's like to be Bill Gates!

This is a hilarious send up of Bill Gates written as a fake diary. What originally started as a humorous website turned into an excellent book. Read about Gates obsession with the his money, his IQ and, believe it or not, the Spice Girls. This book is a hoot.

I was able to read only five pages of this before I began to feel queasy. The inane contents of this book are such obvious fabrications. This is a last ditch attempt by Gates and his PR people to salvage the public's view of him and swing public opinion aganist the government's case. The sad part it, some people actually believe this mindrot.

This book is writen so well that I almost thougt I was actuly reading Bills diary

great book ! Funny and wit, well written. one can wonder how much thefiction is close to reality as the evil deeds of Bill are more andmore known to the public. Look for the 1999 diary !!

Again - what memories there are in these - we've all been there and remember this kind of thing.

Another Great book to visit the Patterson's with. "For Better / For Worse" has to be one of the best comic strips of all time. It really makes you think, "They are just like my family", and if you do not have kids, read the books so you know what to prepare for.

We own all of the "For Better or For Worse" books and the whole family enjoys them! In fact some of us read them more than once. This one is just as good as the others.

Really enjoyed this book, chuckled again over the strips we had enjoyed in the newspaper.

Although I am a longtime reader of For Better or For Worse, the last few years have been painful. This collection begins to show the downward slide of the storytelling and artwork. The native characters introduced have recently been completely trashed by Ms. Johnston, and this collection also covers the ongoing story of two main characters who conduct an emotional affair, even though one character is married and has a child. Even more bizarrely, everyone in the strip is portrayed as endorsing the breakup of the characters marriage and the hookup of these two.
Many of the forums devoted to FBOFW, have completely predicted all the storylines months (sometimes years)in advance. The plots are predictable and the character developments have been completely messed up, simply to fit into a nice little tie-up for Johnston's scheduled retirement date. Unfortunately, she should have retired two years ago when readers still had an affection for the characters.

...Actually, this book is a hilarious compendium ofthoughts and jokes related to myself and most of my friends who are rather unabashedly living off our parents. One friend, who particularly loved the book said, "You know when you go out to a bar. And somebody orders five drinks and then gets up to leave after throwing two dollars on table? Well, I'm that person." She loved the book and was happier to give it as a gift to her benefactors rather than being stung by the inssult of receiving it from them. This book is funny, well-written and very, very true! I heartily recommend it! I just wish I could have found a way to not pay for it!

hilarious book! it reminded me of my 20 something days when mom and dad's couch was paradise. it was easy and fun to read.everyone i've shown it to laughs hysterically. i am getting this for father's day (to remind dad of my many days as a sponger) and for my brother's graduation so he's guaranteed to become a great sponger.i recommend this book for bathroom reading,to cheer you up when your feeling discouraged with the rat race, for a parental and/or graduation gift

That's Latin for this book was pretty darn funny. I spotted it while I was...ah, over at a friends house with a few minutes to kill and wound up taking 'Sponging' home. (Actually I'm staying at my sister's), but anyway I laughed out loud while she and her husband were watching a sad movie, 'Pretty Woman' I think, anyway they asked what was so gosh darn funny and I started reading them a few passages out of the book. We wound up turning the movie off and just laughing our heads off taking turns reading the book. Needless to say, it bought me a few extra weeks on my sister's couch. Two empty pockets way up. I'm going to borrow a couple more copies for my friends.

This little gem is crazy! Flat out. Hysterical. You'll have a good laugh, but wait! Let me let you in on a lil' secret - it's useful! Here's the dope: I'm well known amongst my pal's for bein a sponger so they gave me this tome as a well-intentioned and kindly hint to change my way of living and quit taking advantage of them. Big mistake. I nodded a smiled and admitted I had transgressed the boundries of common courtesy. Secretly I set several plans into motion to sponge off of them and all the ideas were gleaned right outta this little baby! Hah! The fools! Never underestimate the power of sponging. It'll do you right

A horrible book. A horrible way to live. A cocky, selfish, disgusting group of authors. Avoid this book at all costs, and by all means don't let your children read it!

I have to admit, the book got me looking at stray shopping carts in a whole new way! I find myself eying a collection of carts in the corner of a parking lot, considering their classification and wishing I had my camera with me.

I know, it's weird.

Not everyone is going to appreciate this book, or its deadpan, clinical nature. But if you have a weakness for the strange and/or absurd, this will be a great book to have on your coffee table when you have company over. Especially if you have a Petersen's Guide right next to it.

And the front half of a shopping cart mounted like a hunter's trophy over your fireplace.

I wonder if there's a market for those.

I designed shopping carts for 5 years. After I left that company, I saw this book. I bought it as a gift for my former boss who was the owner of the company that made shopping carts. I thought that he would get a kick out of it. Before I gave it to him, I decided to glance at a few pages and ended up reading through the whole book before I gave it to him. I sort of felt bad since the book is now officially used. He loved it anyway. It was interesting and it has inspired me to do something similar.

When I first heard mention of this book (in The Believer magazine), I laughed out loud at the concept...

I laughed out loud when it showed up on my doorstep, too. The effort and thought put into the development of this silly book is tremendous. The result is an excellent play on the concept of field identification guides.

Whenever people see this book on my coffee table, it becomes a conversation piece. Funny, funny stuff.

As a certified straycartologist I applaud the effort to publicize this issue. I only hope we can convince those crumb bums in Washington that expanding our coverage to the rest of North America can only be achieved with copious federal spending.

Like the question burning in the loins of Lewis and Clark before us, what will the West reveal? My crotch is afire with this question: what will the West reveal about...ourselves? [For full effect, deliver that last word in a fervent whisper]

This book is easily one of the top four reference guides for shopping carts available on the market today. It does an excellent job of covering the following topics:

* Shopping carts

Overall, I heartily endorse this product.

The chapters on religion and litigation
are right on the money. Unfortunately
the book is a one joke affair which eventually
becomes too repetitive.

Author X. Crement gives the real poop on assholism using tongue-in-cheek observations, book references, & recommendations to provide the reader with good belly laughs yet food for thought as well. He extrapolates his theory (a parody of numerous other books & schemes) to point out the perils of assholism (applied narcissism IMHO) to both the sufferers, their co-dependents, & others who have the misfortune of meeting them. The book has some fine lines--p. 64: "They are as full of contradictions as a porcupine selling balloons," "quotes"--p. 138: Oliver South--"The most entertaining fiction I read is in the newspaper every morning," psychological observations-- p. 66: "Many neurotics & depressed people are nothing more than the victims of assholes," conclusions--p. 4: "People become assholes because asshole behavior seems to work," & statistical challenges--p. 80: "The majority of people are assholes." But he also provides a humorous 12-step program to address these problems. It's one of the funniest books I've read, up there with Grant Naylor's "Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers." Enjoy, & share with your many suffering friends (sufferers & victims alike).

It's not you! It's them! I was given one copy, read it, then bought 3 to pass along to friends in need of education. Enlighting book.

This parody on self-help books is well written and very funny. It's observations are frighteningly accurate and the author's advice is useful. Considering how common Assholism is in America I'm surprised this book is not a National Bestseller.

At first I was shocked, then I found myself laughing. So funny, and hits the nail on the head. You'll recognize every obnoxious person you ever dealt with, even (uncomfortably) yourself. I highly recommend it - and if you buy one copy, you'll buy ten to give away.

Cartoonist Cheryl O'Donovan and satirist Tom Wolferman combine their talents in The Estrogen Underground: Join the Mid-Life Revolution, an irreverent, chuckle-inducing look at issues affecting over-40 women in today's society. From dealing with disinterested, dour, dazed or doofusy young male clerks ("Tell him Santa will bring him a plasma screen TV if he checks the inventory stock for you") to reasons why one should not engage in plastic surgery ("Some people die while undergoing plastic surgery" - general anesthetic can potentially be fatal) to new age meditations for old age, The Estrogen Underground combines its mirth with humorous black-and-white sketches and photographs. A first-rate giftbook especially for beloved mothers, aunts, and grandmothers with a hearty sense of humor.

Genre: Humor

Title: The Estrogen Underground

Author: Cheryl O'Donovan & Tom Wolferman

This hysterically funny book begins with the Estrogen Anthem.
I, your name, avow to become my best essence ever, to rail against ageism, youth narcissism, to embrace my inner goddess, to find humor in life...........

Aimed at menopausal women, this book would be enjoyed by women of all ages. Filled with easy to identify situations, characters and metaphors it will have you laughing from beginning to end.

Puns, metaphors and illustrations all contribute to the hilarious content. One of my favorites being: Swan Song Hungry Model Chickpea Pot Pie-No pie just one pea....for one chick and of course, we must not forget "Hot Flash Magazine- elastic waists are always in season."

Cheryl O'Donovan, humorist and cartoonist and writer/satirist Tom Wolferman collaborate to bring women everywhere a humorous, satirical look at one of life's most discussed subjects. Give yourself a gift and pick up a copy today, and then you can spend the afternoon with your female friends laughing and enjoying this wonderful read.


Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review

May 2006

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (4/05)

All 40 million plus baby boomer women need to have this book to help them laugh their way through the so called `estrogen crisis.' Based on the variety of experiences of most woman who have gone through the cycle, "The Estrogen Underground: Reinvention" points out things like aging gracefully being a "friggin' myth" considering chin whiskers, spider veins, flabby body fat, and `parched and sags' most women get.

For the latter the authors suggest to Vaseline every pore and encase oneself in all-body sock (Illustration provided). That's the cheap version. The pricey version,...squander the kids' inheritance. Pursue your narcissistic whims with abandon. Put the plastic surgeon on speed-dial. Flounce around the kitchen with your daughter's pom-poms, shouting: "Two-four-six-eight, gonna photo rejuvenate, one-two let's all squeal, mama's getting' a facial peel." Repeat until your husband shrieks for mercy.

On the exercise scene O'Donovan and Wolderman compare the "Flawless" and "Frowsy." Of course, the "Frowsy" depicts most of us experiencing the estrogen crisis. For example, the Flawless wears a perfectly coordinated, ultra-snug outfit, whereas the Frowsy wears her husband's old XXXL t-shirt and irregular shorts she bought at a garage sale.

The authors included a section with Q & A by the internationally renowned Dermabrasia. Her answer on the safety of Botox is "I undergo injections of the Botox to such maximum my eyebrows are stuck in `90s. Not so bad. Having no facial expression keeps fifth husband always guessing!"

Filled with cartoon like illustrations, quotes, and humorous anecdotes about estrogenic invisibility, dieting, exercising, fashion, careers, and meditation, this book had me grinning at every page. Not only full of laughs "The Estrogen Underground: Reinvention" is full of truths. This book is a must for a girl's weekend away - I can promise you, this book will even take precedence over shopping!

You would think that the authors had read my mind and lived my life. It was great to read other people have had the same experiences I have had and can make them funny.

Cheryl and Tom have a word with telling it exactly how it is. I can't describe how funny it is to see such candor! A great read to keep beside the bed or on a coffee table for all to view. I'd much rather read this over and over again than read any fashion magazine out there. Go women and I can't wait for Book Two!

I just finished writing a book on women yesterday, and going through the endnotes made me think of writing something here about Life Sentence. While none of his arguments or positions made it into my book I ended up citing J.D. Smith about three times due to the outstanding and entertaining quotes he had concerning women that he used to precede each chapter. Some of them were real gems. Life Sentence is a fun, little ditty that offers up a light-hearted and whimsical look at women and marriage. A lot of what he has to say here is very true I think. And for the price, well you can't beat it. By the way, I think I spent 10 bucks for mine back when I got in 1999. Oh well.

this was a quick, funny book that both my HUSBANDand I loved. If I wasn"t already married I would have bought it for him anyway . Some really great stories that made us really laugh. I suggest this book to all men, married,engaged,divorced and to women too.

The only other book that has caused me to laugh out loud as much was, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Sadly, this information is as frightening as it is funny.

I've already purchased two to give to friends, and I'll have to get more. Any male who is about to get hitched should read this and weep. It's the terrible truth. I know. I've been there.

As a psychiatrist, and as a guy who's been married and divorced twice, I think this is one of the funniest and most profoundly truthful books I've read in recent years. I'm looking forward to more from Mr. Smith. He a has a quality of writing that reminds me of PJ O'Rourke. I hope he can turn his sense of ironic wit to other topics as well.

This book is not what I expected, which was a light-hearted look at relationships and a few digs at both sexes. What I found was a one sided view of how we are all doomed from the minute we make eye contact from across a room. I was depressed after learning that my sex life is, according to the author, going to wane right after we say "I do." If you are looking for reasons not to enter into that sacred institution, then this is the book for you.

As The Lost Blogs is fictional, so is Davidson's washed up career as a comedian, author and blogger. Men in Midlife Crisis Davidson even creates fake fans on his site he chats with because he has no life.The Lonely Guy He accuses retired celebrities Little Darlings of stalking him The Paranoid's Pocket Guide and lives in a dump neighborhood in Sherman Oaks. When he's not on his blog creating fake fans to adore him on forums, he organizes flaming parties of people who see through his little act.

Davidson's publisher wasn't interested in investing much money into promoting his book so he has to buy his own copies to hand out for free to try and keep up the sales figures to below a 500,000 ranking on Amazon.The Masquerade Overture

Need your internet fix? Need a good laugh? Wonder what Socrates (and other historical notables) would have written in his blog? Paul Davidson has hit your triangle of needs with his book, "The Lost Blogs." It is hilarious--and if you happen to be reading it on the can you'll have people wondering why there's laughter coming out of the bathroom.

It's a bit odd to read a "blog" (which is born out of an electronic format) in print, but the content is so marvelous that you forget it immediately! And best of all, no carpal tunnel syndrome from vicious mouse clicking.

There are amazing stats that say most writers only write one good book, and that the 2nd book is an enormous hurdle. But...the guy who wrote Consumer Joe, has struck again!

I thought it would be a good idea to have some milk while reading this hilarious book. BIG MISTAKE.

I started laughing in mid-drink and instead of going down to my tum-tum, the dairy exploded from my nostrils and doused the person sitting next to me on the airplane.

Several apologies and cocktail napkins later, I put the experience behind me and once again immersed myself into the funny.

The book reads so easily and is so engaging, it lulled me into compIacency and I started taking several long drinks of milk without thinking. I was reading the Ghandi entry, it made me start laughing and SHWOOOSH!! Milk squirted all over my lap and splashed my neighbor once more. This time, he wasn't quite as understanding. The vibe was icy all the way to JFK.

Oh well, at least he had the window seat and I had the rest of "The Lost Blogs" to read.

I lost my copy of The Lost Blogs. I read it way back in March during SXSW because, hey, what better time to read a blog book then when I'm out amongst the blogeratti? I whipped through it and chuckled regularly, smirking often and unable to stifle full blown laughter in a few points. It appears I'm a sucker for 2 types of nerdy blog humor: Historical blog entries from extremely positive but naive people (when John Lennon blogs about his first meeting with Yoko Ono) and accurate portrayals of blog & web geekdom ( the 3am comment war between William Randolph Hearst and Orson Welles on Welles's Citizen Kane Blog). Paul writes lots more in that style and you should be greatful for that. Too bad I couldn't keep my head together enough to remember to pick it up off the night stand before I got in a cab and got on a plane.

I'm a little wary about books that read like blogs. The blog, by it's nature, requires some action by their readers. Click here. Respond to this. Watch this video. See these pictures. There are some points in The Lost Blogs when I want my mouse. I want access to Moses' webring. I want to see the pictures and tech specs of his Holy Portable Communication Device. The blog is a unique medium. It is not quite like writing for print which is why many bloggers turned authors aren't very good and don't produce quality work.

Thankfully, Paul is accomplished and talented in both worlds and The Lost Blogs is still an excellent read despite it's lack of hotlinks.

Maybe in the future we'll have full creative fiction blog projects adeptly put together by both skilled writers and witty web professionals who can create a real honest-to-goodness blook. Until then, though, we'll keep reading The Lost Blogs and like it.

That is if I hadn't lost our Lost Blogs in Austin.

As the proud of owner of a rather beat up copy of Consumer Joe, I was giddy with excitement when I received my pre-ordered copy of The Lost Blogs and let me tell you, Mr. Davidson did not let me down.

He is one funny man. I have giggled out loud and have even had a few guffaws come out of me while reading this book. I think it would make a great gift and I plan on putting it in our reception area, much like I did Consumer Joe. Clients love to read it and it makes me happy to have clients have a good laugh while they are at my place of employment. Don't we all need a good laugh sometimes?

Thank you, Paul Davidson, for making me laugh.

Go buy this book.

Incredibly funny. Fantastically smart.
The Onion people make the rest of us feel inadequate.

This book is a great entertaining, yet somehow informative glimpse of the past. It's perfect for leaving on your table top and glancing when you have some free time. Highly recommended.

While the actual text might be full of humor the book is set up as old style newsprint which makes it not a lot of fun to read. I had bought 'Our Dumb World' and loved it, but I'm not so in love with how this book was put together.

If the title for my review offends you then don't read this book. If not then the humor found in this book will entertain you for hours. I suggest purchasing the paperback for bathroom reading and the hardcover for your classier guests.

God bless the Onion! Nothing and no one is sacred or left unscathed. I have given this to firends who are communists, democrats, republicans, evangelicals, etc. Anyone with a sense of humor and some knowledge of history will love this!