Humor Books

Yes.
This is the ultimate guide to Zen.
TCC's great drawings and simple explanations brings you the Zen thinking to your home.

A must have for anyone interested in eastern culture.

Just getting started on your desire to understand eastern philosophies? Have you stood at the bookstore for hours pouring over where to start and what to buy?

Any of this authors books are a wonderful place to start. The reason? Because these books are all about the title subject in a nutshell, easy to read as a comic book, the story lines and illustrations are wonderful, and after you read this as well as all the other books by Tsai, you will have a great, well rounded start on your path and will know what you want to study more deeply!

To add, when others ask you about your interest in eastern philosophy, you can get them started here as well, because these books are fun, consise, and you know they will enjoy them over and over again!

This book exists to make Zen more accessible to the general public. For those people that practice Zen, the essence of Zen can only be felt or only be understood but not through words or pictures. As one teaching of Zen would have it, you would appreciate how beautiful the moon is rather than the finger that points you to that moon. I have to admit that this book manages to clarify certain teachings that are also mentioned in other Zen books. I'm not saying that this comic book provides me with the absolute truth about certain Zen sayings but it does provide me with an insight. Everyone has their own ways of getting to the original thinking & if this book cuts the cake, so be it. If we think that this is merely a comic book, then, it is a delusion! Remember, don't judge a book by its cover. This book is profoundly serious. Highly recommended, light-hearted & enjoyable to read.

"Comics are just words and pictures. You can say anything with words and pictures." ---someone I don't recall.

This comic book contains one hundred Zen Tales (koans), and I have heard some of them before. They seem to gain something when presented in this format. The author brings out something of the shock that is enlightenment that I hadn't really felt in the stroies before. The artwork is simple, yet effective. The writing is the same. The ideas conveyed are both profound and obvious. And, of course, it is a very enjoyable read.

Hard to imagine that a cartoon could unfold the depths of Zen. Perhaps it is the fact the cartoons are brief yet encapsulate so much. Personally, I find it to be in the expressions of the characters in the drawings that tell the story. I really feel the smiles throughout the book and can almost see them winking along with that smile.

Never straying from the seriousness of Zen, this little gem really reveals the joy that lies underneath. A great way to get started; a great little reminder for those already underway.

This book is just wonderful. I hate to say much about books here, because I hate spoilers. This one really hits home and if you have a heart you won't want to miss it!

Simolke, Duane. "The Acorn Stories", iUniverse, 2003.

Living in a Small Town

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

Acorn, Texas--population 21. 001 is the setting for Duane Simolke's wonderful "The Acorn Stories". The town of Acorn is full of stories and if you have lived in a small town you know exactly what I mean. Each of Simolke's stories lets us look into the lives of some of the most interesting characters I have ever read about. As you read each story, you seem to make new friends and when I closed the book I felt as if I actually knew many in the town. Just as the stories are all separate, they eventually tie together. There is just the right amount of detail to let the reader feel he knows the people of Acorn.
Even more interesting is that Simolke wrote this book in a very difficult style of writing--the stream of consciousness. This allows the reader to feel as if he is one of the characters and as the stories come together, we get a picture of Acorn, Texas in quite a unique way. The 16 stories in the book, although separate, are all related and this is not an easy way to write. As the characters merge, the imaginary (at least I think it is imaginary0 town seems to be very real.
The residents of Acorn are very real people--or so they seemed to me as I met them. And as the stores come together the town of Acorn is laid bare reminding me of what is left of a turkey after Thanksgiving dinner. As we meet the townsfolk, we dig below the outside appearance and go deep into the characters. The characters are quite a menagerie of folk all of whom have challenges and problem (just like we all do). It is the personalities and actions of the members of Acorn that make the stories live. In fact, I am not really sure that this is a collection of short stories because of the interactions between the stories and when they all come together it is like reading a novel.
Acorn is located in west Texas and there, under the Texas sun and the majestic oak trees (so unlike Texas) is a mixture of Hispanics and Anglos as well as a few Afro-Americans. Some were born in Acorn and some are hiding in Acorn. Newlyweds Becky and Kyle are very much in love and they are starting a life together. We meet the [...] art dealer and gallery owner who is being blackmailed by the [....] mayor of the town. There is also a famous writer hiding in Acorn because he stages his own fake suicide. There is the high school teacher who favors sports over academics and the young kid who is keeping a secret, a young man looking for a sugar momma to pay his rent, a widow ad her cat, Regina, an overbearing sister, a widow, Mae, who remembers how life was once and so on.
I must say that I loved this book and have reread several of the stories. It is a rare treat and one that will have you laughing, crying, commiserating and identifying. I have not had this much fun in a long time.

Duane Simolke's, "The Acorn Stories," is set in the fictional West Texas town of Acorn, so named because it's the only town in the entire region that has trees, thanks to the foresight of its founders. The stories are a compilation of vignettes that give the reader a glimpse into the everyday happenings of a group of residents whose lives, we learn as the chapters unfold, interconnect in fascinating and unexpected ways. With each new story, or chapter, the reader is introduced to a new character. The stories and lives of the citizens of Acorn interweave, turning "The Acorn Stories" into what is essentially a novel...quite a feat for the author to accomplish in a relatively short book.

Simolke allows the reader peeks into the thoughts of diverse characters, from a policeman's recollection of his abusive childhood, to the befuddled thoughts of a senile old man. We see events from the points of view of a deaf man who manages to do a good job as the high school's English teacher, an esteemed best selling author desperately trying to escape life's travails, and a young couple who find love and, like it or not, become parents at a most unexpected time and place...the opening of an Art Gallery that happens to be owned by the teacher's boyfriend. A small example of how the stories go around.

"The Acorn Stories" allows the reader an understanding of the human condition. We learn what makes each individual's personality tick. Simolke's characters are male and female, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, handicapped and gifted, happy and sad, satisfied and searching, hypocritical and fair-minded. The ability to depict such a wide cross section of humanity, including details of each character's breadth of knowledge and experience, takes a talented, insightful author, and Duane Simolke is such a writer.

I dislike giving ratings to books...they are too subjective...but The Acorn Stories deserves 5 stars as a very intelligently written book. Don't miss it.

Duane Simolke's offering of his sixteen short stories, many with overlapping characters and plot-lines, all set within or around the fictitious west-Texas small town of Acorn, provides its readers an insightful and literate look at what goes on in the hinderlands beyond the boundaries of this country's big cities.

Not as salaciously rendered as was Peyton Place (which, if you remember, was a small town taken on by Grace Metalious), Simolke's Acorn, Texas, still turns out to be rife with some of the same angst-ridden problems, thereby, once again, exploding the myth that rural "out there" is actually more idyllic (even Edenesque), as compared to big-city "in here".

From the who-will-have-control-of-this-relationship "dueling" of Regina Thibodeaux and Dirk Palmer in Simolke's lead-off story "Acorn", to the not-always-that-pleasant reminisces of town maven Aragon Carsons in the book's concluding "Acorn Pie", Simolke puts rural America under a microscope to unveil all of its acne, sores, scars, and festering wounds.

THE ACORN STORIES isn't for any reader out to preserve his or her unrealistic nostaligic notion that rural-America is the place "to be" "to get away from it all". On the other hand, for those of us not put off by realism and always interested in a literate writer who can provide us a peek beneath the veneer, Simolke provides some very enjoyable reading moments.

The Acorn Stories
Duane Simolke

Review by Mountman

Picture a small town in West Texas. Acorn. The reason it's called Acorn is that it is the only town in West Texas that has a lot of trees. Yes, Acorn is a fictional town but after reading The Acorn Stories, I wanted to visit the place, just to check it out.

" "Welcome to Acorn, population 21,001, the Texas town with a little name and a big heart" - Sign marking city limits of Acorn" (taken from the book.)

Like the branches of the Main Street Oak tree, the town has just as many histories and legends. Each story gives you a glimpse into lives of the people of Acorn. Also how their lives are intertwined.

There are stories about the founding family, newcomers, the rich, the poor and in between. When I first started reading it I felt like I was left hanging. Just then, in Simolke unique clever style, things began to connect. Growing up in a small town I could relate to some of the characters. Duane gives you just enough details that you get a feel for where each of the characters are coming from. There are people that you like, some that you can't wait to see if they get theirs. Big cheers for when they do!

Ones that really grabbed me are Survival and Dead Enough. Survival is about a gay, deaf teacher. Dead Enough is about a writer of murder mysteries. I'm not going to give you any details because you will have to find out for yourself.

Whether you are an avid short story reader, or a novel reader this is a must read! So check it out.

This is a compilation, like the previous works by Mr. Magruder, but it retains its vitality and insight. Although his work continues to show a liberal bias, he doesn't hesitate to point out the fallacies and misrepresentations of all sides in the political and social arenas. Worth buying, reading, and keeping.

All The Rage covers the different formats that Aaron McGruder's comic has undergone as it transitioned from a newpaper strip to animation. In this reviewer's humble opinion, some of his very best strips are included in this volume. I own all of the Boondocks books and this is by far my favorite.

I love the strip and I'm sad that it's over.
That being said, this pieces all the "best of" non-comic moments together. I read that it was 200+ pages, and thought, "Wow! That's a lot of comics!"
Well, the current comics comprise about 1/2 of the book, 1/4 goes to interviews, and 1/4 are "controversial" strips. Ooh, controversy!
These are great. If you have seen the first or second season of the shows, you will recognize some story arcs a little too well, even down to the line. Awesome.

All the Rage: The Boondocks Past and Present is more than just the latest collection of the politically charged, African-American culture-centric newspaper comic strip - it also gathers a massive assortment of interviews with comic creator, writer and cartoonist Aaron McGruder, and even prints some of the most controversial strips for the first time. Young, unsmiling radical leftist Huey gives his cynical take on everything from McDonald's ridiculous attempts to emulate hiphop culture to high-level political hypocrisy, while his gangsta-wannabe little brother Riley represents the aspect of modern rap culture that is blindly obsessed criminality: "Man, I'd never steal music off the internet... it's easier to just steal it from the store." No cow is too sacred in All the Rage; there are jabs galore for the more questionable aspects of black and white culture alike. The interviews reveal a passionate side to McGruder, embedded in his desire to do more than make his readers laugh; he also wants to make them think, and in that All the Rage is a resounding success. Highly recommended.

This is the final installment of McGruder's Boondocks comic strip. It's a bit weaker than the other two large volumes, but still very strong. There were some strips from the first collections scattered throughout, and not necessarily in order. That threw me off here and there. There's a large section of articles and interviews which are quite interesting. And finally there is an anticlimatic "controversy" section. We've seen these before and McGruder adds nothing new. Still, even though this is a weaker collection than we've seen before, it's still worth reading.

Altered Art showcases some of the most fun altered art out there today.
This field is expanding exponentially - it seems so accessible - and offers
a relief from the generally serious world we live in.
Not that altered art can't (and doesn't) have a serious side all its own. As illustration, compare the Nori Dress by Dee Fontans on page 140 with I'll Fly Away on page 128 by Betsy Reeves. They each speak to the same theme in two entirely different languages.
Terry Taylor has assembled an incredible array of talented artists, doing what they do best, altering the bits of our wonderful, wacky, crazy and sometimes sad world into a storytelling vision of art that transcends time.

.. brilliance! You won't get through it in a day or two. I have never seen so many photographs in one book before. The projects are awesome and the author, Terry Taylor, has chosen some fantastic designers to display their work. Terry is brilliant and it is evident in his art. This is an extremely inspiring book.

This book is pretty great. There are a bit fewer "great" projects in it than I had hoped for and a few things more basic than I would have liked, but the bulk of the book is great. It's very inspirational and just plain fun to look at. The book shows a lot of pretty piles of found objects without showcasing an actual project made from said items in most cases but there are tons of other examples to look at. There are also several tips on how to do things, such as solvent transfers, which are nice. I would recommend this more to a newcomer to altered art or someone who doesn't mind spending the money to look at things they likely already know how to do. Again, the prettiness of most of it is worth it though.

I browsed through this book at the local craft store at least three times over several visits before I finally decided to buy it. I sure am glad that I did! Not only is it visually appealing, filled with so many wonderful ideas, techniques, and creative springboards for one's own ideas, but it simply, yet clearly gives directions on so many different techniques. In fact, I think that the only technique that was mentioned but not fully covered was soldering.

Everything else was carefully explained, and beautifully detailed. It does cover: altered art (obviously), altered books, cards, jewelery, dolls, techniques, copyrights, history, and much much more.

I have been creating mixed-media collages and altered art for about 2 years now, so I'd consider myself, well, not a beginner but not as advanced as others. But I believe this book would be helpful to anyone, at any level. I highly recommend it and enjoy it each time I refer back to it.

It is an absolutely beautiful book, filled with great projects and suggestions. For someone with creative aspirations but little direction, just flipping through the pages provides so much inspiration.

Having received this book a few days ago, I just couldn't wait to add to the accolades here. This book is huge, complete, beautifully printed, beautifully packaged, nothing less than a dream come true for this Spidey lover.

I collect early issues for myself and my 9-year-old son, and understandably don't want either of us to handle these precious collectibles to enjoy the stories. We already had the DVD-ROM--but frankly the scans weren't that good, and nothing replaces good old print for reading in bed, etc. Everything about this book is perfect. Although I am a Romita (Sr.) fan as well, the editorial decision to include just the Ditko issues was wise, allowing the book to be a loving tribute to the eccentric co-creator of the Spiderman legend. The bonus material in this edition is wonderful, including contemporary ASM Annuals, crossover appearances in Strange Tales Annual #2 and Fantastic Four Annual #1, ads, alternate covers, the Marvel Tales reprint covers, staff photos (Ditko of course mysteriously absent), and some welcome comments by Stan Lee. (Peculiarly, although Jack Kirby was a masterful artist, he never was able to get Spidey "right", as amply demonstrated here.) Even the "The Spider's Web" from each issue is included, with letters from Vietnam grunts and kids alike, all of which REALLY takes me back to the day....

This book is a genuine piece of art, and a piece of history (personal and cultural) for me. My only possible gripes are that between the sturdy paper stock and the inclusiveness, the book is so hefty it could qualify as a deadly weapon--and that it's so darned wonderful I have to worry about my son and I wearing IT out! I might even have to buy yet another "collector's" copy here. Fortunately at this price, it's a steal!

In short--if you love Spiderman, you MUST buy this book!!!

Caution: handling this book while reading it will make your biceps big... And with great power comes great responsability!
This book, as you probably already know, packs the origin and the first four years of Spider-Man's adventures. All of Spidey's arch-villains (excepted Venom and Carnage) feature : Doc Octopus, Green Goblin, you name them. All of Spidey's world was set during these first chapters: his bullies (and future friends), his girlfriends (including the then-mysterious MJ), Aunt May etc.
When these adventures were first published, almost 50 years ago, they were genuinely pioneering, revolutionary, seminal even. The super hero comics as we know them today would not exist without this masterpiece by Stan LEE and Steve DITKO. I do not know how the teenagers of today will connect with it, but for this reader -- who read the issues herein compiled at the tender age of ten, when they were first published in France (that means the early 70s to you) --, it ages rather well. I believe all serious comics fans in the world should own these adventures and this "omnibus" is probably the best way to do so.

This is MOST DEFINATLY a MUST-HAVE item. One of the most beautiful books I have seen! Perfection is the one word that sums up this purchase! And wotta deal!! What are U waiting for??????? Order this NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The quality of this fist stories are still the best. There is drama and humor, there is action and quit moments. The revolutionary visions of Steve Ditko shine in this oversized pages. I review the second printing and the binding is different to the older Omnibus editions. The binding is better because now it is possible to wide open the pages.

Steve Ditko's art work was an acqired taste for me. His old people all looked Asian, his girl's were too thin, and his adversarial figures had
bowed lower legs. That said, he was more adventurous than King Kirby, es-pecially when he tackled Dr. Strange. Ditko was perfect for that strip,
but his breakthrough was the early Spider-Man, and for that, I will always be grateful. Get this one, if you're young. Compare it to the
masturbatory, nihilistic issues of today, and come to your own conclusions, if you can.

This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.

This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.

I've never read the entire book (I'm working on it!) but just excerpts from my eighth grade lit. book, but what I've seen of it is FUNNY! Cornelia Skinner and Emily Kimbrough get into such hilarious circumstances! This is one of the few books I've laughed aloud with!

If you enjoyed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but thought the heroines slightly too worldly, you may be delighted by this autobiographical account of two relatively naive girls off for their first continental jaunt.

It's a delightful, charming little book about their misunderstandings and misadventures, and certainly introduced me to historical ladies' undergarments in an unforgettable manner!

There are sequels (like "Forty Plus and Fancy Free") if you find you particularly liked this one, but the first is the best, as sadly firsts so often are. This is a funny little treasure of a book.

Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.

Cornelia Otis skinner is the real comedienne of this pair of authors and injects a lot more humor into this book, as opposed to most of Kimbrough's solo works. You cannot imagine two more naive college girls traveling about Europe in the 1920's. It was a simpler time, and today has great appeal to one's nostalgic side. If you get a chance to pick up a used copy, do so!

HEEBIE-JEEBIE HULLABALOO is top-of-the-line Simpsons! The presentation is high-quality with an embossed cover and bright, clear graphics inside. You won't be disappointed!

This book was as told it would come and was brand new. There was not one little mark on it. I would order from this user again.

This comic book was pretty good with another humerous approach to to the Simpsons comic saga. Stories include
1. Sideshow Blob-Sideshow Bob is turned into a giant phlem.
2. The Exorsister-Lisa possessed by the spirit of Madonna.
3. The Immigration of the Body Snatchers-Pod people take over and Homer tries to convince them they are here and not crazy.
4. Call me Homer-Famly history of Homer eating blubber in the tale of Ishmael.
5. Bart People-Bart turns into a cat.
6. Little Shop of Homers-Killer Homer plant.
Pretty good book overall.

I think this book was really funny. I really liked Homer Simpson's Halloween Carols. He is my favorite cartoon character. I guess the funniest part is, when the Simpsons were watching Kent Brockman talking about a plant that eats donuts, and Homer said "Mmmm... Donuts." That was pretty funny. Another funny scene was when everyone in Springfield found out this was just a comic book, and they didn't really exist. Homer said "If I don't exist, can I still eat donuts?" That one cracked me up. I guess, now, you can see why I like Homer Simpson so much.

For those of you who are fans of the hit television show "The Simpsons", you are probably well acquainted with the legendary "Treehouse of Horror" episodes that have become a Halloween tradition. These episodes have proven to be such a seasonal favorite that Groening and the gang have decided to dish out even more tales of terror in "Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror: Heebie-Jeebie Hullabaloo".

Hullabaloo is a collection of comics and sketches that cleverly capture the humor and style of the Simpsons Halloween specials. Much like the television version, the main stories in Hullabaloo are parodies of famous horror films. The first story in the book is a parody of the classic horror film "The Blob". In the sketch, Simpsons character Sideshow Bob takes an experimental treatment that transforms him into "Sideshow Blob". Seizing the opportunity to take revenge on his nemesis Bart, Sideshow Blob squeezes out of prison and wreaks havoc on Springfield.

After Springfield is saved from "Sideshow Blob", they barely have time to recover before Lisa becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Madonna in "The Exorsister", a combo-parody of the infamous "Exorcist" and the even more infamous Madonna. The book continues with additional parodies of films such as "Little Shop of Horrors", "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers", and "Cat People".

In between the main features of the book are a plethora of comics, guides, and stories hosted by and featuring an assortment of Springfield characters. One of these guides features everyone's favorite slack-jawed yokel, Cletus Del Roy. Cletus presents to us "A Yokels Guide to Halloween" which teaches us how to celebrate Halloween like "Edgar Allan" Poe white trash. Another extra features Bart's "Guide to Low-Budget Costumes" which shows you how to cheaply transform yourself into horrid monsters such as "Vaselino, The Thing That Wouldn't Dry". You'll also find the story of "Elijah Dunn and the One-Armed Nun", Evil Dr. Burn's "Goodtime Servant Factory", "Springfield in Hell", and much, much more.

Hullabaloo is colorful, fun, entertaining, and just in time for Halloween. The comical cast breathes sarcasm and humor into favorite horror classics. If you are a fan of the Simpsons and Halloween, then this book will not disappoint you.

This book was wonderful. Not everything applied to my situtation but it was very helpful in knowing what to expect. There were even some great tips that I shared with my husband. We even had some interesting chats regarding specifics of the book.

My wife and I purchased "Bearing the Big H", at one of Pattis' book signings. I was the first to read it. I was pleasently surprised and read it in a couple of nights. The " big H", is not something a man is normally knowledgeable about but it can drastically affect your relationship with loved ones. Ignorance is defenitely not bliss. My review? I've decided to purchase additional books for my parents(in their 80's), sister, and brother for Christmas gifts. Loved the book Patti!

Wanna laugh?..READ THIS BOOK! Wanna cry?.....READ THIS BOOK!
This author's wit and humor are both hilarious and heart tugging! This is not a medical journal on Hysterectomy, this is a very real and funny account of a very real and funny woman's journey through the BIG H. Laugh at her, laugh at yourself, but READ IT and be encouraged. Honest feelings and earthy humor make this book a delight!

As a retired nurse, I think the vast number of women who undergo removal of their uterus are usually well informed of the surgical procedure, the possible risks, and anatomical changes, but only a rare few are prepared for the hormonal frenzy that follows. Patti Pfeiffer's humorous--and sometimes heartbreaking--account of her surgery and the weeks that followed is a must read, not only for those who have had, or will have, a hysterectomy but for their spouses, too. Even those not involved in this medical dilemma will be amused by Ms. Pfeiffer's journey.

This book was both entertaining and enlightening! I would wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone facing the surgery, or anyone who just wants a good Venus/Mars laugh!

These pictures are the perfect combination of art and wit-- there is a wonderful discovery on every page. Harper's captions are just as entertaining. This book enchants adults and children alike.

"Beguiled by the Wild: The Art of Charley Harper" tickles all my funny bones. He has delighted me with not only his unique art but also whimsical description and insights into the animal kingdom.
I am on a hunt for the proper bookstand to display this book, to be smiled at page by page.
I am charmed.
Karen of Maine

This book is a great value for it's price. Alot of color prints and a wonderful samples of Charley's style. Charley Harper is a huge talent and this book is a wonderful example of that.

If you like animals, or mid century modern, you will love this book. Charley Harper's simplistic art is so wonderful and his play-on-word prose goes perfectly with his arwork. I don't know how anyone couldn't love his art or this book.

Great book. The stories that accompany the images are as wonderful as the artwork. This is the fourth time I have purchased this book; everyone I have given it to has loved it. I love to introduce people to Charley Harper's work-he will be missed.

A unique, quirky twist on observational humor. Ms. Rosenthal has a knack for capturing the minutiae of life with a concise and fresh wit. I think eleven is a funny number and, after reading this hilarious compilation of lists of eleven, you will too.

This book (and its author, whom I've never met but feel like I have) are witty, funny, intelligent, crazy, insightful, silly, sexy, and kinda stupid sometimes. Sound good? It is.

This book is absolutely hilarious! I am a high school student, and these are things that come into my mind, and many of my friend's minds on a daily basis. All I can say, this is stuff that most of us don't think to put onto paper. I wish I would have written it. But, hey, great job to Amy!

This book is absolutely hilarious! I enjoy reading humor, but rarely find anything written funny enough to laugh out loud about. This book changed that. I spent the whole book laughing as well as pondering.

This is a great, quick read that can be enjoyed over and over. Buy one for yourself and some as gifts, their great!!!

I really wanted to be heartily entertained by this book. Not having read any prior work by this author I was very hopeful. However, this Seinfield-esque "brain lint" just did not translate in print as well as it might have had Jerry and Elaine done an episode based on it. Maybe this type of humor is already getting old - or maybe I am - I just found it neither clever nor all that funny. I kept reading waiting for the funny parts, but feeling instead as if I'd been duped into purchasing something that hadn't required much originality or effort from the author after all. But, perhaps I expected too much having seen all those five stars.