Humor Books

Embossed with golden print on the book spine, with the soft dark linen binding and filled with glossy smudge proof pages, David Malki hands over not just his comics, but additional footnotes and quips. Happy to see that this book is labeled 1, with hopefully more to come. Look forward to page 73, all is reveled there, hopes, dreams, and whys.

Bravo, I say!

Like all of Shelley's poetry, the works in this volume impose something of a pre-postmodernist matrix of assumptions about the nature of incipient reality upon the reader -- assumptions, I might add, not properly appreciable by those unfamiliar with the lovely depredations of absinthe or the glory of beards. As a proud possessor of several sprouted facial whiskers myself, I found myself deeply moved throughout.

If you can't have William Blake croon gentle poetry into your ear, this, then, is the next best thing.

This is a beautiful collection of David Malki ! 's anachonistic webcomic potpourri. Likely to pry a wry grin from the lips of even the most humorless or otherwise sedated reader, Beards of Our Forefathers is a volume I am proud to have on my shelf. Highly recommended for both jocular humans and ursine connoisseurs of whimsical hats.

Even though I have read all of Wondermark's free online material, this purchase was still absolutely worth it. Not only for the bonus material, which went well beyond just extra strips, but because the comic holds up, and it's great to have a portable book for re-reading.

Why, not since Madame Pomphrey's Illustrated Guide to Tuberculosis have I read such an astonishing and informative reference of import. I especially enjoyed the sections covering historical taxonomies of beardography as it related to the Industrial Revolution and the invasion of the Gaxxian Armada in 1789. Any persons not having read this new classic should be stripped of their beard in full view of their childhood sweethearts. Also, they should not be allowed any soda at the box social.

Mafalda's an icon...Through her words, we see a sense of humanity and realism that was hard to find when she was born...She speaks volumes about human nature, without saying much...that's her magic, that's why, 40 years on, she's still so fresh...It's a latin american classic, but her message is universal.

I read these comics back then when I was little girl.
In the 70's Mafalda was one of the most popular comics in the major newspapers in South America. Even now it is still humorous for the whole family, my children enjoy also the DVD.

This book is good, but I bought it thinking it was the complete collection of comics as you can find in little books (12 issues). This is not the complete collection, therefore, I think that "Todo Mafalda" is better.

I grew up reading Mafalda, and it is amazing to see how the political and social criticism that made us laugh 20 years ago still as valid today as it was back then. I was expecting the complete collection of stories, this volume provide you only with a sample of the best of them. But still a great collectors edition item.

Just wanted to say that this is not only a book that tell you about the situation in Argentina in those days (in a very sutil way). This book is going to make you LAUGH. It is a briliant, smart and a sarcastic book. Its characters come to life after reading a couple of pages, and after reading the first one, you just can't stop reading the others.
I had all the book but lost them, and know I want to get them again. The problem is that the shiping lasts to long...
I don't know if I would recomend these books from people who are not spanish speakers.

This is probably the best piece of infotainment I've ever read. Van Lente and Dunlavey have managed to create a comic that's light, breezy, and educational. They give you all of the basic information on historical figures from Freud to Joseph Campbell while presenting it in an engaging way (Plato wears a luchadore mask and speaks like the Hulk, Nietsche kicks the crap out of Hitler and Leopold and Loeb over missinterpreting him). They make the stuff of dry, dreary lectures in to compulsively readable comics. I defy you to not plow through this thing in a day. Highly reccomended to anyone who feels bad about barely remembering anything from Psych 101 or who likes to learn something from their comics beyond what's in all of the pouches in Batman's utility belt.

This is without a doubt one of the funniest things I've ever read. And, shockingly (at least to me) it is also one of the most accurate I've ever read too. I have a B.A. in Philosophy and have just recently earned a M.A. in another discipline. With the exception of Derrida and Aquinas I have had exposure in an academic setting to all of the philosophers covered in here. I picked up this comic on a whim and didn't expect much (but heck, it's only eight bucks, what have I got to lose). I was laughing out loud at some of the stuff in there (I'll never forget the image of Aquinas' delusional bunny facing down the big rig truck screaming, "BRING IT ON!!! I CANNOT NOT BE!!!"). But, none (I repeat NONE) of the substantive material of any of the philosophers is sacrificed and equally impressive none (I repeat NONE) of the humor is diluted by the philosophical material. For example, Wittgenstein is covered with an accuracy I have seen in few introductory philosophy texts. Overall, this is the perfect marriage of accuracy, humor, and freakin' awesome comic genius. If you are a beginning philosophy student (e.g., no formal training but are interested in the field), an intermediate student (some philosophy classes in a university setting), or an advanced student (a degree from a university or actively pursuing post-baccalaureate studies in philosophy) you will find something of value in this. Beginners will have to read it more than once to get all the substantive ideas if you've had no exposure to them and then need to go to source material with good secondary sources to help guide you. Intermediate or advanced students will have to read it more than once because you'll be laughing so hard you won't be able to get all the jokes the first time through.

Further Recs (Beginners): Anthony Appiah's "Thinking It Through" (BEST intro to contemporary philosophy I've ever encountered. There actually IS a reason to read Descartes, Hobbes, Plato, and all those other dead white dudes that relate to topics philosophers are talking about TODAY.)
Further Recs (Intermediate): Bryan Magee's "Confessions of a Philosopher" (You can justify squeezing in a book that's not for class because technically it IS a philosophy book)
Further Recs (Advanced): Scott Soames 2 Vol "Philosophical Analysis in the 20th Century" (If your academic training was anything similar to mine, you were trained in some sort of analytic philosophy. This gives a good bird's eye view of all the faults AND virtues in our mother tongue.)

While the Action Philosophers series is better used as a gateway drug to some hard core philosophy than a substitute for actual study of the source materials, it has amazingly lucid graphic explainations of both Plato's Allegory of the Cave (vol. 1) and Descarte's Cogito, Ergo Sum (vol. 2).
I give it my heartiest reccomendation. In fact, so long as it's part of Amazon's 4 for 3 deal, I'm stocking up. I plan to give a set to each of my MA professors who teach literary theory, to gift one to my younger brother, and to keep one in my bookbag for work--tutoring high schoolers. AP is quick, portable, and nutritious.

A great intro into some of the great thoughts and thinkers. The humour is very witty. If you like Monty Pythonesque silly intellectual humour, then this book will be a treat.

This is hysterically funny. For anyone who knows the history of philosophy and likes to laugh. Philosophically accurate.

This is definitely an excellent book. I have read both this and Samurai Cat Goes to the Movies and have found both to be hilarious and highly enteraining. While often very wierd it is a great book which I would highly recommend.

I read this book about 6 times in a row as a kid...the title page fell out because it had been read so much and I framed it and put it on my wall! I really wish it was still in print...please let me know if it becomes available. It is definately a world I'd like to revisit.

"Tomokato turned, watching the sun's glaring disc begin to sink beneath a mountain-ridge. A chill breeze sprang up, stirring his whiskers. His paw clenched on the hilt of his katana, or long-sword. He wondered if he would ever see the light of day again, but he knew it did not matter. His lord had been cruelly, treacherously butchered. Fugu Otoko had had a hand in it, and Otoko had fled into the vast recesses of Catzad-Dum. Tomokato's soul ached with the lust for revenge. His slitted eyes seemed almost to smoke, like newly congealed obsidian. He smiled slightly, showing his wickedly pointed teeth. He was the very image of ferocious martial resolution.
"Just before the sun dipped from sight, a crow flew by, and was almost too awed by the sight of him to continue flapping.
" "What a stud!" the bird mumbled to himself, winging erratically southward."

So begins THE ADVENTURES OF SAMURAI CAT by Mark E. Rogers, the first in a series of at least six books about Miaowara Tomokato, the Most Perfect Samurai ever to whip out a katana, and his mischievous nephew Shiro, the most demented, blood-thirsty little fluff bunny ever to whip out a Johnson M1941 automatic rifle. Yep, that's where the ADVENTURE begins, the story itself started a few pages earlier when Tomokato defeated all 30,000 of Takeda Katsuyori's armed warrior's merely by stepping out from behind a screen and revealing himself. His mere presence had so terrified even the horses that they had stopped dead in their tracks causing a massive pile-up in which the entire attacking force had been killed. What a stud! As a reward Tomokato asks only to be allowed to visit his brother's family, a request which his lord grants since it is far too small a payment for the service Tomokato has rendered, but of course being a Perfect Samurai, he will accept nothing else.

This turns out to be a Bad Time for Tomokato to have left court, however, for in his absence Lord Nobunaga was assassinated by what may have been the largest and most diverse group in recorded in history. Upon returning and finding everyone dead, The Cat, with the assistance of his Lord's severed head which is very talky considering its present state, compiles a list of the names and address of everyone involved in the murder. It includes, but is not limited to; Cossacks, Apaches, Al Capone, Vikings, Nazis, Stalin, Mongols, and Martians. It also includes Fugo Otoko, the Blowfish Who Never Smiles mentioned in the openning quotation. When asked about the large number of out of towners on the list Nobunaga explaines that he had travelled a lot when he was a teenager.

I first encountered SAMURAI CAT and his creator Mark Rogers at the New Orleans World Science Fiction Convention in 1989, I think. He was giving a slide show and a telk in one of the panel rooms and the phrase "samurai cat" caught my eye and intrigued me. The slides were of his artwork for the third book in the series SAMURAI CAT IN THE REAL WORLD in which The Cat tracks down those who responsible for his Lord's death to Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. All of the books are heavily illustrated. I suspect that The Cat may have started out life as a visual concept and then evolved into a literary one. As it turned out Rogers was giving a reading from the third book that night in his room and all were invited. Cool.

I made a point of showing up, I just had to find out what these stories were like after having seen photos of T-Rex's in Gestapo uniforms being cut to very bloody pieces by an orange cat wearing lamellar armor and weilding a katana! A lot of other fen showed up as well, maybe 40 which is a goodly number for a regular sized hotel room. The door to his room was actually propped open but Rogers himself was nowhere to be seen. Gradually we all inched our way into the room and decided to wait in there, we were about 10 minutes early. So we waited. And waited. Then at about 5 minutes after the appointed hour Rogers staggered into room. He was out of breath and his face was the oddest shade of red I've ever seen. He really looked as if He was going to keel over. The elevators had been jammed with people so he had decided to run up all 34 flights of stairs so he wouldn't miss the reading!

I'm so glad I stayed, and equally glad that Rogers didn't stroke out that night! He had 3 more books to write. The story was wonderful, and I finally managed to getsome closure for the JFK assassination! But that's another book.

THE ADVENTURES OF SAMUAI CAT is simply put, a classic of comic genius.
It plumbs new depths of genial idoicy and will ultimately leave you knowing far more about assorted heavy weaponry than you ever imagined you would. If you're a fan of absurdist humor and don't mind having some/all of fandom's sacred cows lampooned you'll be in your element. Rogers takes on just about everyone and everthing fannish in this series, including (at the end) his own fans. Ouch. In the first book Tomokato ventures first into Tolkein country and encounters D&D gamers as well as the great winged demon B'aalhop. Then its on to the village of Outsmouth and the Real Old God K'Chu. There's Con-Ed the Barbarian, and his deadly foe Thpageti-Thoth and all sorts of other exciting and silly characters to be sliced and diced before The Cat finds himself in Asgard facing RAGNAROK!

I can't imagine having to live in a world devoid of Samurai Cat! As science fiction writer Robert Jordan said, ""The Cat Is marvelously funny and maniacally adventurous, turning every science fiction convention on its ear. I want to be Miaowara Tomokato when I grow up."

Me too.

I can honestly say these books (there is five in the series) are the best books I have ever read. My advice? Search them out and find them (I know I have all five in my personal library!). YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

This book is the first and best in the series, and contains the following sections:

KATEMUSHA
---------
In feudal Japan, loyal samurai Miaowara Tomokato returns from a family visit to find his lord dead in a scene of destruction that's completely spoiled me for similar scenes forever. Maybe it's the arrow-ridden dragon in Red Army uniform, or the landgoing replica of the Merrimac.

"From his vantage-point Takeda Katsuyori surveyed the grim scene. 'Fudge," he gritted."

THE BRIDGE OF KATZAD-DUM
------------------------
Samurai Cat pursues one of his lord's killers into Tolkien country, dealing with such critters as porks and the dread B'aalhop.

"The katana whirred and flamed, slicing through tentacle after tentacle, whistling in a constantly repeated *Datsun Tempura*, or Divine Whirling Outboard Motor Propeller Blow."

THE BOOK OF THE DUNWICH COW
---------------------------
The setting: a Lovecraftian town whose houses consist only of gabled attics to hide the squamous half-human denizens of Outsmouth.

"Yog N'goggawoggah and Yoknapatawpha, twin masses of stone-cold cream chip beef that ooze sluggishly in the center of all time and space, are their chiefs, terrible in combat, unappetizing to behold. Their herald and messenger is Stor-Atroomtemp, Lord of the Luke-warm, Cosmic Blight, Master-of-Many-Shapes-and-Interesting-in-None-of-Them. Their publicity is handled by the horrendous Isaac Azathoth...."

BEYOND THE BLACK WALNUT
-----------------------
Another murderer, Thpageti-Thoth, has fled into savage Pictland. Illustrated in gorgeous Frazetta parodies, the story shows Samurai Cat's meeting with Con-Ed the Barbarian.

"Amalric the East Anglian..., armored in a scale-mail corselet, was a tall weasly-looking teenager whose spiky hairdo sent orange and purple tufts up through the holes he had deliberately punched in his own helmet. His only weapon was a gigantic Wilkinson sword razor-blade with the words 'Hi Mum' written on it in crimson lipstick."

AGAINST THE GODS
----------------
Tomokato's search takes him next to Asgard, as the gods prepare for the final war against the giants of the Greater Jotunheim Co-Prosperity Sphere.

"Odin nodded his grimly regal head and picked up the microphone for his P.A. system. 'Attention, attention,' he began. 'This is Odin, Lord of the Hanged. Ketil Jormunreksson, report to the Throne-Room, on the double.'"

This book is a must.

The nearest thing I know of today to the satire of Li'l Abner is The Simpsons. Parodies of popular culture, politics etc.. from the perspective of flawed innocents somehow getting caught up in weird events. Al Capp's creation was probably just as well known in it's day as Groening's work is now.
There is great drawing to be seen here by the stable of cartoonists employed in Li'l Abner, there is persistently good writing which must surely have cut close to the wind in 50's America. This is pre-PC and the way Capp seemed to look at the world and the roles and weaknesses of men and women is funny to look back on. At the same time the comedy stands up in it's own right. I particularly enjoyed the Lower Slobbovia scenes. There is often a frenetic pace to all these comics, with Capp seemingly uninterested in continuity concerns.
These works do not seem to be taken from original art (perhaps it can't be located (easily anyway)). They are scanned from newspapers with mastheads still intact. This is interesting to a degree but the limitations of the sources mean the colour leaves a lot to be desired. One of Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe's dinosaurs is a different colour each week it appears. A character may have different coloured hair or clothes. Skin tone also vary greatly.
These quibbles are major but the quality of the cartooning and writing is such that it can be overlooked. The 4th volume has some isolated pages which are well coloured and that makes you wish that it was all at that higher standard. Perhaps it would be better in black and white as the dailies look great.
Time to get the dailies back out too. Get on it Fantagraphics!

I caught the tail end of the Li'l Abner series as a child in the 1960's and remember loving it. I recently started looking for some collections in libraries, but couldn't find any so I looked on Amazon and found this volume and bought it. I've had a great time reading it and even though the things it satirizes occurred before I was born, I'm familiar with much of them through my study of history. Much of what is satirized is applicable to any time and is still fresh.

I've recently been reading some of the classic satire of Voltaire (Candide) and Rabelais (Gargantua and Pantagruel) and this seems to fit right in with that style. I guess I have a warped sense of humor. I wish today's comics were this good.

I enjoyed the artwork and appreciated the explanations at the end of the book highlighting some of the items that someone born after that era may have missed. I highly recommend this book. I will probably order more volumes.

Grew up reading this series. Now I have a permanent copy of my own. Good price and great product for comics junkies.

I bought this volume (and volumes 2-4) for my Dad for Christmas because he was such a big L'il Abner fan when I was a kid in the 60's. When they arrived I just had to sit down and read them all before wrapping them up! L'il Abner is a lens focused on it's own era in time, totally tongue-in-cheek! For rollicking fun and biting satire these comics can't be beat!

Lil Abner always had a strong fan club that allowed the reprinting of the daily strips by Kitchen Sink press for about 25 volumes, which if there was no fan base, only one or two volumes would have been published.

In addition,we are very lucky that Frazetta's reputation and fan club would allow the printing of a comic strip that John Steinbeck once stated, its author, Al Capp, should be given the Putszler (excuse the spelling) prize.

Al Capp was a master satirist and storyteller, who would have one acclaim like Mark Twain or O'Henry if not for the snob attitude toward comic strips.

This is shown here. The 50-year-old color strips are re-printed in a fine manner with expert commentary about the period they were written in by Denis Kitchen.

Beware, they feature "politically incorrect" well-endowed women, and one main character, Daisy Mae, as mostly submissive, which would not be allowed in comic strips today as it would raise the ire of feminists and other "progressive" people.

On the other hand, it features the two main male characters, Abner and Pappy, as idiots or wimps, Abner and his brother Tiny as "hunks", and the one of the main women characters, Mammy as the leader of the Yokum clan, who occassionally beats Pappy, which are allowed in comic strips today as the "Progressives" seem to have no problem with this.

Remember, vintage comic strip reprints do not generate big bucks, some even lose money. They are produced out of great admiration for the strips, and we should be grateful for the publishers for doing so.


By the way, why does Amazon include a 'NO' in 'was this review helpful to you?'. People are only human and don't like opinions that differ from themselves. With some who are less mature, this the 'NO' makes it too easy express such displeasure.

Are they trying to discourage negative reviews, hence not purchase the CD. Such reviews only help a person in not being dissatisfied a product that received positive reviews

I knew my 8-year-old audience liked this book when she asked me to continue reading after the second episode . . . I knew we had a real gem when, after we read it from cover to cover, she flipped to her favorite parts and read them again.

What's more, I can't say I've ever enjoyed a comic more. The story of Amelia's dad backing out of plans for her party had me weeping; the Christmas story of Amelia learning to be (heroically) generous stirred even my jaded Christmas-hating heart; and Aunt Tanner's rock song quotes had me singing Elvis Costello and Dylan --and gave me the perfect excuse to educate the next generation on REAL music. But I digress.

The kids are sharp-tongued (well, except for Pajamaman --he doesn't talk) and vibrant, the adults are flawed humans, the stories are moving, and the cartooning is as charming as the best of Peanuts. What more could you ask for? The book will provide you and the kids hours of treasured memories.

For some time now, I've been telling anyone that would listen that Jimmy Gownley's Amelia Rules! is the best comic book for young readers to have been published in YEARS. Now, Gownley has begun reprinting the run in the handy digest format that the kids seem to dig these days.

The Whole World's Crazy reprints the first several issues in the tale of Amelia McBride, a girl who has to leave the excitement of New York City when her parents get divorced and she and her mother move to a small town to live with her aunt. The stories in this book deal with many of Amelia's firsts: her first day at a new school, her first Halloween and Christmas in her new town, and the first trip with her father after the divorce. In the comic as a whole, and in this volume in particular, Gownley frequently touches upon rather serious topics (divorce, for example) that young children have to deal with without really understanding. However, Gownley handles these subjects in a way that will help his young readers learn to handle their problems, with a blend of humor and wisdom that kids need. He's never frightening, never patronizing, and always entertaining. Amelia and her friends are wonderful characters, characters that kids can find themselves in, helping to open the door for them to embrace the story even further.

If I ever have kids -- especially daughters -- these are some of the first comics I'll get for them.

Amelia Louise McBride, a 9 year old facing divorce, moving, and the weirdest school of all time. With Wicked Witch Bloom, Mad Dog Barkley, No Neck Norris, and Old Man Biggers as teachers, "So then Noah says, "Sorry Zeke you gotta dog paddle." :-) Owen, fan of the Feds, Mary Violet, with the Mall God and Searing Hand of the Devil, Earth Dog the poet, as well as the "nerds," Reggie Grabinsky, holder of best sneeze-barfer and best superhero wanna be, Rhonda Bleenie, annoyed by sister goodie Reenie, and silent Pajamaman, who attracts s with softee chicken backpacks and being a Latchky kid. Living with her mom and Aunt Tanner, the with the straight A student motto. Facing ups like Santa, and downs like Softee Dad, this is a six star book!

When my 7-year old son is fighting with my 9-year old daughter for his turn to read AMELIA RULES!, you know these books are going to be a hit. The artwork is beautiful, the dialogue full of great humor and pathos, the stories engaging. But what appeals most to the kids, I think, is the characters themselves. Amelia is out-and-out fascinating--a perfect combination of pre-teen girl and tomboy--and her friends are as lively and entertaining as any you'll find in American literature.

In fact, this IS literature, and if you're the kind of parent who thinks comics are no better for kids than TV, AMELIA RULES! will prove you completely and utterly wrong. Get these books. Your kids won't be able to put them down--and neither will you.

I was reading this last night and was laughing my head off. It's brilliant and funny. My 4th grade daughter likes it a lot too, though she doesn't get all the jokes. Get this for your kid or get it for yourself - just get it!

Even if you're not single, there is remarkable charm and understanding in this little book about being a woman in what is STILL a remarkably marriage-obsessed society. It is a pleasure and a comfort to take part in poking fun of this reality. As ever, Author Rachel Carpenter's intellectual, dry wit comes through even in the context of the whimsical simplicity of the book. Anyone--male or female--who has ever actively looked for a life partner and consistently failed at doing so (in other words, everyone, right?) will gobble up these modern words of wisdom.

Whether you are happily married (like me) or still looking (like many of my girlfriends), this book is a good way to laugh at yourself. Even if you never looked for a partner you know someone who has offered you the perfect advice for finding a mate. I took the book to work and everyone enjoyed it and subsequently shared stories from their own experiences. Even the men loved it! They said it was fun to see us poke fun at ourselves.

A friend of mine had this book sitting on her coffee table and I opened it up and couldn't put it down. This is one of the funniest parodies I've seen in years. I was laughing out loud from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out, Carpenter would come up with another unexpected and delightfully amusing twist. I've bought four and am giving them as Valentine's gifts. Even my mother (married for 50 years!) loves it. Does anyone know who Rachel Carpenter is? Has she written other stuff? I searched her name on amazon and couldn't find other books but I'd sure love to read a novel if she's got one. Wow!

My husband brought this book to work today to show to his coworkers. It is kind of cute that he is responding so well to a pink chick book...So its clearly not just for girls.

Hilarious! A chick looking for her husband, from ballroom dance classes to AA meetings with amusing results. Does she find him? I don't want to ruin the surprise! Suffice to say, along the journey, she realizes that whether or not she finds The Man, she can lead a fulfilling, rich life.

It is difficult to say anything about this book that has not been said already. Be sure to check out the 1st book in the series too: The Bad Catholic's Guide to Good Living

1) It is irreverent... but FULL OF LOVE for the Church and Her history.

2) It is funny and campy, but proclaims the truth.

3) It has great drinking songs that gently poke fun at protestants...

4) And best of all, great drink recipes and party ideas.

All in all... AWESOME BOOK.

I am amazed by this book. The book is organized, alphabetically, by the alcoholic beverage being discussed. In the course of discussing a wine or other potent potable, one learns European and US History, the history of the Church. One learns about Saints, about economics, about conspiracies, about theology. All done in a delightful way.

There is nothing a good Catholic need wince at here.

Each article is just about the right length for a short reading, perhaps after dinner, or perhaps by yourself while waiting for a ride to the ABC store.

Having marinated in a WASP stew for a few hundred years, too many English-speaking Catholics, especially Catholics who really believe in their wild and wonderful Church, have adopted many of the Puritan excesses and general love-of-drudgery that manna-lovers since at least Webber have credited with economic efficiency and well-being.

To that, these authors provide a well-deserved razzberry, accompanied by two-handed ear-wagging. A celebration of culture, history, and faith, all delivered with good humor and all of which involve spirited feasting, drinking, and dancing - some of which (as the Baptists often warn) could lead to slow dancing!!

John Zmirak and Denise Matychowiak's "The Bad Catholic's Guide to Wine, Whiskey & Song" is a hoot. If you look up "snarky" in the Catholic dictionary, you'll find a picture of this book. You'll find the answers to questions like:

* Why do Kentucky whiskeys bear the name of the famous French royal house of Bourbon?

* How did pisco become the national drink of Peru? (See answer below)

* Is vodka Russian or Polish in origin?

It's a random walk through the history of Christendom, viewed from an epicure/enophile perspective. Thoroughly Catholic in its attitude and orthodoxy, chock full of recipes (Matychowiak is a chef), The Bad Catholic's Guide to Wine, Whiskey & Song takes the givenness and goodness of creation and physicality seriously. They explain historical events like the Quietist heresy in France using references to things like Bobby McFerrin's hit, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." It's a funny celebration and will leave you chuckling and gabbing with friends. Highly recommended.

Oh, and about that pisco:
"[Catholic clergy] march[ed] through the country on foot[,] learning a dozen languages to preach the Gospel without the benefit of gunpowder. . . . When the priests saw the conquistadors robbing the country of everything not nailed down, and enslaving the natives to work in silver mines, they started defending the Indians' rights and organizing them on farms. Jesuits taught the Indians to grow grapes and ferment them. . . . Enraged Iberian vintners -- don't cross these people, trust us -- rioted for their right to soak the colonials, and in 1614, the ever-meddling Spanish Crown outlawed the sale of Peruvian wine.

The ever-crafty Jesuits applied their scientific training to invent a new drink which fit neatly through a loophole in the law -- a brandy that was soon named for the earthenware containers which held it, piskos. . . . '[P]isco' soon caught on throughout New Spain, and gave the long-suffering Indians an industry they could count on . . . ."

My perfect book finally sees print. This has it all: booze making monks, good food, good music, excellent history, harmless fun, politically incorrect ideologue smashing humour, and (mostly) orthodox Catholicism.

One of the most underrated books of all time, and the exact gift to give to joyless Puritans or the frozen-chosen.

And presents the best case ever I've seen for FEAST DAYS being FEAST DAYS!

Deserves to be AMAZON's No. 1 Best Seller.

Hoping for Tony Kornheiser's Pumping Irony? How about Dave Barry or Carl Haaisen? Fahgetaboutit... This book is sick, sick, sick. I can't wait for his second effort. Telling it like is, Iron Mike style.

Iron Mike's scathing commentaries on the state of the nation and the world are dead on and absolutely hilarious. This book will make you think about how ridiculous our society can be, without being preachy. We are let in on the private life of Iron Mike; he introduces us to a regular cast of supporting characters who accompany him on his adventures. My personal favorite is his accountant (you'll see what I mean). There are plenty of celebrity cameos, as well. Most importantly, this book will make you laugh out loud again and again.

Much like his e-column, Iron Mike gives a big heap of non-stop profanities and more information about his personal habits than you'd ever want to know. If you think this is a bad thing - you're wrong! Anybody who gets offended easily probably wouldn't want to read it though.

iron may think hes screwed up.. ihad this problem with my rear, sort of a health thing. but i read IM battery acid cos my stepmom buy it for me after her lover took off for tijuana and she felt bad cos she had go find him.

This book was a barrel of laughs! My sides were aching from laughing so hard. Iron Mike really turns the politically correct movement on its head. This book is not for the easily-offended, but it is definitely sheer entertainment!!!

Even though I am NOT a lawyer, I enjoyed the 'Ode' 'The Big Firm'. The funniest and best read I had at Christmastime....I want to buy every one of my lawyer friends and NON lawyer friends a copy. POETIC JUSTICE??????? The illustrations tell the story in their OWN way . NOT TO BE MISSED! GFL

I have worked in big law firms, and this book captures the essence of what happens behind the scenes with a lot of humor and fun. The book identifies characters we have all encountered in working in any large business. It is entertaining to read, and certainly meant to be shared with others.

This is a very clever take on the "big firms". The writing is exceptional and the illustrations are fabulous. I would recommend this book to anyone who has worked in a law firm or knows someone who works in a law firm. Very entertaining!

My former spouse worked at a big law firm. This book is a must read for those spouses of lawyers out there who don't quite understand what their spouse is going through at a big law firm. Great humor about very real truths! My personal favorite was the section on the "Backbone Removal Machine." Non-lawyers working for big corporations will see many insights into their work world as well. You won't be disappointed.

This book is an excellent gift not only for lawyers but for everyone who has worked in or with big corporations. You will enjoy and recognize the characters and stories created by the authors. Is is hilariously true!