Parody Books

Ah...Sluggy Freelance. One of my many, many, MANY addictions. For those who don't spend at least part of every day checking out the latest adventures, SLUGGY FREELANCE: IS IT NOT NIFTY? is the essential reading. Our heroes are Torg (blond, dumb, web-site designer) and Riff (blond, ponytail, trenchcoat, builds stuff). Our heroines are Zoe (brunette neighbor of Torg and Riff) and Gwynn (Zoe's best friend, wears huge eyeglasses). Then boy (Torg) buys cute fuzzy-wuzzy bunny (Bun-Bun)...things get interesting...be prepared to laugh, giggle and wanted to post photocopies of strips in your cubicle.

Bun-Bun! Read Sluggy! Even just for Bun-Bun -- he's the best! Sluggy is entertaining -- the plots are really in-depth and easy to get into, and ... spoofs! Spoofs are the best. XD

Ahhh, Sluggy!...This is the first book in the Sluggy universe, where demons are summoned for beer, a mini-lop carrys a switchblade and a glock and your neighbours travel to other dimensions to bring aliens back with them, and well, let me check my notes . . .
The writing is sharp, funny, clever, funny, and lots of other words for funny. Sluggy Freelance is compelling, with the neverending storyline that makes you rave more. As Torg and Riff battle and befriend aliens, and try to fight off their pet bunny you become so much a pert of it that you can't let go... This book is bound for a title as not just a comic classic, but a classic comedy/tragedy/soap opera/addictive drug.

Ah...Sluggy Freelance. One of my many, many, MANY addictions. For those who don't spend at least part of every day checking out the latest adventures, SLUGGY FREELANCE: IS IT NOT NIFTY? is the essential reading. Our heroes are Torg (blond, dumb, web-site designer) and Riff (blond, ponytail, trenchcoat, builds stuff). Our heroines are Zoe (brunette neighbor of Torg and Riff) and Gwynn (Zoe's best friend, wears huge eyeglasses). Then boy (Torg) buys cute fuzzy-wuzzy bunny (Bun-Bun)...things get interesting...be prepared to laugh, giggle and wanted to post photocopies of strips in your cubicle.

The first-ever Sluggy book! Introducing our cast of characters: Riff: an inventor and freelance bum who summons Satan on the Internet. Torg: a mild-mannered web designer. Bun-bun: Torg's pet rabbit, a cute talking mini-lop with a dark past. Zoe: innocent college student, neighbor, and straight-woman. Kiki: the friendly ferret who says, "Don't plan Torg's death! Stay good, Sam!" Including parodies of Star Trek, X-files, and a bonus story not found on the Internet: A Day in the Park with Bun-bun and Teddy Weddy.

This book is a must read for Boomers that lived in and through the '60s, and should be required reading for their children! Everything you'd want to know about a Boomer, from how he dresses, to how he talks and makes decisions is in this little known book.

Anyone aspiring to rule the world should be forced to read this book at the end of a "pointed stick".

It's also one the funniest books I have ever read. The first part of the book exploring world history through the lens that each great culture has had the absurd notion that they were (are) "the most chosen nation" is priceless.

I first read this book in the mid '90s. It's still funny and important. It's required reading for my teenage children.

SG

The amount of work that went into this brilliant piece boggles my mind. Long, drawn out, stunningly comedic, the passages are cleverly cross-referenced to other verses, something akin to a thousand page inside joke. I have read exactly one book that I consider funnier than this one, that being Christopher Moore's "Lamb: The Gospel of Biff, Christ's childhood friend".

The Boomer Bible begins with bad history: the kind of history that Boomers learned, but didn't pay attention to. It goes further into the invention of the Boomer culture: do what you want to, blame everyone else for what goes wrong. Finally, it ends with an invitation to surpass this most pathetic generation, knowing that while most of what they do is a mistake and misguided, they'll only blame someone else for it.

Read for enlightenment.

Laird has something to say about the human condition - and he says it with a striking amount of style and humor. Copying the format of an actual bible (books divided into chapters and verses, complete with cross-references) the Boomer Bible gives an irreverent and scorching account of every nation's history. The prose favors brevity and hilarity. Very quickly the reader gains the impression that we humans have botched it. From the very beginning we've been nothing but bad news, killing each other with pointed sticks and spending all our time inventing new ways of murdering one another. It's been the same all through the centuries; we're bad, bad, and worse. There's no reason to expect the future will be different, there's no point in changing, so why try? Or so says Harry, the Christ-like effigy that pops up in the "New Testament" portion. The Boomer Bible was poignant, touching, and so funny there were times I had to stop reading just to appreciate it. Praise is cheap, but this truly was an amazing book.

Why only 4 stars? The books meant to parallel the prophets of the Old Testament were just plain dry, and I suspect the author might have intended them to be skipped. I slogged my way through much of them hoping for something, but surrounded by the humor and significance of the rest of the book, they were a barren desert. I ended up skipping very many pages, though I hated doing so for fear of missing something.

I unconditionally recommend this book.

The 41st Century is full of mysteries. Like what happened to Ancient Yankees who lived in North America? Why did they die out and how did they live. One day a tomb, untouched, is found and it gives us a glimpse of what these Ancient Yankees were like in the 20th Century. Sacred items, musical instruments, and the sacred point will make you laugh and wonder how much of OUR knowledge is based on such conclusions?

Motel of the mysteries is a fun, easy read.
Everyday items are seen in the light of future archeologists, with interesting, funny and sometimes insightful interpretations. Good book to share with others.

My students are looking at ancient cultures and what a great book to start with. We learn about making inferences from observation and our own prior knowledge. This book is great on teaching this.

Absolutely enjoyable, all age readership done with genuine style and that utterly necessary dose of humor so lacking in our modern world. Motel of the Mysteries truly does show what happens when we, the "modern" researchers, imprint our beliefs and values on a prior culture. It is most definitely worth reading. I bought several copies for my friends.

Archaeologists spend so much time thinking about the past, and it's inevitable that occasionally we wonder just what those in the future will think about us. This does, of course, poke some fun at the profession and the logic employed in how we come about our conclusions, while making you wonder just how wrong we might be in that regard. A must-read for archaeologists with a sense of humor, though just about anyone will find this humorous and entertaining.

Wow. Publishers Weekly didnt like this book? I love it. There isnt one sentence in it that isnt funny. It's a good book to have if you're on a long car trip and need something to keep people entertained.

This one was another "Busted-Gut/Soggy-Pants" one for me! Man! I really loved the Chapters on Europe & Going To Disney World (his map of Florida is hilarious) and his idea for "Dave World". He has a good point that the most popular Amusement Park rides are the crazy ones that make you puke ('The popularity of a ride is directly proportional to how horrible it is. There's hardly every a line for a nice relaxing ride like a Merry-Go-Round. But there's a huge crowd...consisting of mostly teenagers...waiting to go on something with a name like "The Dicer", where they basically strap you in a giant food-processor, turn it on and phone the paramedics'- DAVE BARRY). His messing with non-English phrases is loads of fun (and Canada's English-French system get a great 'Dave Barry Treatment' as well, not that I have anything against Canadians). Well, if you need some serious laffs whilst stuffed like a sardine on Flight 321 to Bangkok, Dave's your man!

Irreverent, "inaccurate" look at travel in the US and abroad. If you've ever traveled by car, flown in an airplane, visited foreign countries, camped with friends or family, you will find this book hilarious. Barry has a keen insight into the traps and pitfalls of modern-day travel and expresses it in an outrageously funny manner.

Dave Barry *is* the Funniest Man in America, and here's the proof!

Many in America are familiar with Dave Barry. I don't know anyone in Ireland or the UK who's ever heard of him. i have introduced my mother to him. She is a writer and appreciates good humour. I think she wasn't expecting him to be quite so funny though. When I said he is hillarious, I was not over reacting. I was pleasantly surprised to see her nearly fall over in histerics. Humour is good for the soul. Dave Barry is good for the soul. This book covers travel across all of the states, many European countries, Scandanavia, some parts of Asia. For his own reasons, Dave has catalogued some countries together... either his summary of one was so similar to many others, or he was so unimpressed he was lost for words! Either way, you'll enjoy this. How could you not?!

The fact that I've been searching for this book for several years is testimonial to its timeless charm. I read this book 25 years ago and have wanted to own it for quite sometime. Now that I finally found it on Amazon, I'm delighted that I can share it with my high school children who have heard so much about the book from me over the years. The book kept me in fits of laughter and I've never viewed Shakespeare's plays the same way again. Besides being funny, the stories actually convey the real plot though presenting them in an irreverent light. There are also a lot of unnecessary footnotes included. A must read for ages 13 and above.

I read Twisted Tales many years ago and loved it. Richard Armour has made the Shakespeare plays a hilarious read. When my daughter was in the second grade, she mentioned something about Shakespeare and I said I had a very funny book about his plays which I would give to her when she was older. She insisted on reading the book then anyway, loved it and goes back to it frequently. She is now 16 and recently asked for the book again!
I actually came to the Amazon website to look for more books by Richard Armour. We definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves puns, jokes and great humor, all at the expense of the great Shakespeare plays. You can even follow all the plot twists and characters in Midsummer Nights Dream.

I read Armour's books over and over again when I was younger, they are *so* hysterical and brilliant, and I was so happy to read that there are others who remember and love his books, I felt as if I was among long-lost friends...the books must be published again!

Even my favorite bookstore can't find me this one. I hadn't thought of this book in years; my 14-year-old son had an assignment to rewrite the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and it reminded me of this book. I must find it for him. I have always loved Shakespeare and deplore what passes for literature these days, so my recommendation for this book may seem odd, but this book is a must-read for all Shakespeare lovers. Let down your hair and enjoy it!

If you've ever enjoyed reading and/or seeing Shakespeare, or if you feel you've suffered terribly studying his plays in school, this book is for you. Going through several plays scene by scene (sometimes line by line), Armour finds humor even in the Bard's most serious moments. He also writes short introductory pieces to each play and a wonderful introduction. This book, along with Armour's "The Classics Reclassified," should be back in print to be enjoyed by the new generation and the ones that preceded it.

I loved deep thoughts ever since I saw them on Saturday Night Live. This book is worth every penny!

Don't let the small size of this book let you think it a light weight in the world of books on deep thoughts.What I'm really trying to say is that when something is really thought out ,it doesn' take a volumous manuscript to get the message across. Take Moses,for example,he could have filled 50 volumes explaining God's instructions.He took two stones,and in 10 Commandments,got the message across clear and simple.
When Handley set out to explain deep thinking,he managed to do it in so few pages ,he didn't even have to number them.Not only that,most of the page is a simple picture.
Most of the reviewers talk about how funny this book is.What he really makes us laugh so hard ; is how complicated we make the thoughts on living for ourselves.The great Philosophers have tried over the ages to give us great thoughts to live by.You know what? It ain't that difficult.
For instant,much has been written on the meaning of life.Handey tells us to think deep.
"Life is a constant battle between the heart and the brain.
But guess who wins. The skeleton."
Or how about this;
"You might think that the favorite plant of the porcupine is
the cactus,but it's thinking like that that almost ruined
this country."
Then his thoughts on afterlife;
"In my next life,I hope I come back as a parrot,because I
already know quite a few words."
And finally a deep thought in case we are invaded by Aliens;
"Warning to all outer-spage guys: You can capture me and put me
in your "space zoo" if you like,but I will sit way in the
back of my cage,where it's hard to see me.And when I do come
out,I won't be wearing any pants."
Now,how about that; Deep thoughts or what? Yeah,and it'll
make you laugh,too.

If you have any sort of a sense of humor whatsoever, you must get this book. Jack Handey is one of the most hilarious people alive! You may already be familiar with Handey's work, his work was featured on Saturday Night Live some years back. These are great to memorize and randomly quote throughout the day. I love this book, I've read it a bunch of times, and it's always funny.

A great break from school-related/work-related readings. Jack Handey is a genius and he will take you away from your problems--whatever they may be. I always read this book when I am upset about anything...I post the quotes around my house too. Funnier than comics.

If I were a rich gal, I would buy everyone in the world a copy of this book, because inside are some of the funniest thoughts ever produced! Each page holds a different "deep thought"; some immediately bring out the laughter, while others take a sec or two to sink in. Then you grin and want to immediately share it with someone. I think this would make a wonderful coffee table book. Put it out there at your next get-together and watch people chuckle, roar, giggle, snort, whoop, guffaw, howl, snicker, crack up, or whatever they do when they've just read something hilarious.

haha, what's funny is a few days before I found this book on here I finished my list of "101 Helpful Hints to Survive a Horror Movie". This book added a lot of ideas to what will be on my 2nd list!

This books is awesome! Just to put it shortly. You learn helpful hints and skills to survive everything from a living doll to zombies! Fun read that will send horror movie lovers over the edge. Don't hesitate to get!

Best book I have ever read. First there was the Horror movie survival guide now take it one step further and you have the amazing How to Survive a Horror Movie. This is what HMSC should have been which is no discresit to it either it's an amazing tome. Get this or die cause we all do stupid things.

While I am one more prone to laugh out loud than others, this book had me laughing loud enough that I know it could be one of the signs in the book (i.e. for the other residents... do you hear odd or manical laugher coming from the walls?).

I stumbled upon this book and am very glad I purchased it. As a self-professed Horror Movie Geek, I found the book poked fun at all the cliches found in Horror Movies. He analyzes every possible horror movie situation, from Slashers to Vampires and everything in between, and before you know it you are done with the book, wishing it hadn't ended. Read it in one night, a very fun read. Highly recommended.

My fiancée and I were browsing the book store around Halloween and saw this one on the 'new releases' table. She said "Chapter 666: What To Do If Your Corn Has Children In It.... BWAAHAHAAAA!! We're buying this!" We have not regretted the decision. Not only is it ridiculously funny, but the graphic design of the book is outstanding.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for a friend who is a hypochondriac. She got a kick out of it which is what I wanted. I'm not sure how informative it is but works good as a conversation piece on the coffee table.

This is the FUNNIEST book you'll ever read. Hands down. Fast delivery with good packaging (bubble wrap) for protection.

This book was funny. All the diseases shown are some of the worst diseases anyone could ever imagine. You won't even want to shake hands with someone after reading about Bejel. *ew*

If you have the nerve, and are into perverse entertainment, this is the book for you -- or someone who will appreciate midnight black humor with a glossy blue sheen. We're talking forty-five horrifying ways that Nature is out to get you, with plenty of gruesome details on how she will succeed, and the pitiful or nonexistent steps you can take to protect yourself.

The writing is excellent. The author has a way with words, content aside. It really takes talent to make me laugh out loud, all the way through a book, especially when what I'm reading is also giving me cold sweats and an irregular heartbeat. I couldn't put the book down, and now I'm afraid to move or breathe. Other people have to get their thrills on mountain tops -- me, I can sit right here, white knuckled, waiting for unspeakable dangers to come to me. I am now regarding my cats and coworkers with suspicion -- no, outright terror.

Three days ago, I had no trouble making the leap from tiny flickering pain in my head to malignant brain tumor. Now I look at that self-diagnosis as a sign of childlike innocence. Do you have any idea how many truly unspeakable, debilitating, and deadly diseases start out with a simple rash or swelling? Numbness, coughing, itching, of course headaches, the list of innocuous symptoms is comprehensive, and all symptoms seem to lead to blindness and loss of body parts.

I find the ailment Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, where your immune system decides to replace your sore muscles with bone, particularly insidious, although I feel better about not going to the gym now. Another favorite: Fatal Familial Insomnia, in which you never sleep again. (It's now 2 a.m. -- I'm feeling perky, and worried.) Furious Rabies, Norwegian Scabies, very bad. And let's not ignore good old pinworms, which 1 in 10 of us have at this minute and everyone has a 50/50 shot at getting at some point before they die (probably not from pinworms, which, by the way, are IN your butt and come out at night to lay their eggs ON your butt. Remember that time you scratched your itchy butt? Yuh huh. Trust me, the least of your worries. You want to be focusing on Scleroderma, in which your skin and organs slowly harden and you begin to resemble a statue, or Myasis, in which maggots crawl around beneath your skin. If you're lucky you'll get off with Chronic Idiopathic Diarrhea or Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Both of which sound marginally better than the Mycobacteriosis I could get from changing the water in my fishbowl, or Bacillary Angiomatosis (cat scratch fever).

Giving this book to a full-blown hypochondriac is what passive aggressive behavior is all about. Or, you just think your mom will really get a kick out of it.

What better way to bond to the sweet hypochondriac in your life than by giving them this book? The diseases are real, the commentary is hilarious. Guys, believe me, you won't want to swim in the Amazon after you read this.

I found myself laughing out loud when I read this book. I love Stuart and the way he handles his family and life in general - a very good read!

I bought the book as a gift for a friend, and was thoroughly satisfied with it. It is really funny and I was really happy with my purchase.

I think it really would have helped. This book is supposed to be daily affirmations, but basically is Stuart's year long diary. He is a member of several 12 step programs, and has really learned a lot from them, and has made friends who also attend them. One thing he hasn't learned from these meetings is leave his extremely dysfunctional family alone and quit trying to solve their problems for them. What I like about his book:
Let go of the result.
If you're scared to do something, go ahead and do it, and you'll wish you'd done it a lot sooner.

What I thought was improbable:
Stuart taking multiple plane flights to visit his family.
Stuart going to bed for weeks at a time with Oreos, Hydrox, etc.
Stuart never has any day-to-day problems that the rest of us have.
His friends always have plenty of time on their hands to try to get him to get out of his bed and open up his door.
Andrea losing 140 lbs in about 10 months.

But other than that, this book has a lot to say. Franken is quite knowledgeable about codependency. It's worth reading, but you must have a sense of humour.

When Stuart Smalley first came out I didn't quite see the appeal. Now with 5 years in The Program, I finally get the joke. I have lent this book to a lot of folks in my home group and we all agree that it's pretty impossible not to laugh out loud while reading it. What a funny, smart insightful man. Seriously one of the funniest books I've ever read, though I might not have "gotten it" without my familiarity with 12 step programs.

I have read all of Al Franken's books up to this point with the exception of this one. I had been a fan of Franken since his days of Saturday Night Live, particularly his Stuart Smalley character. This book further demonstrates the depth and intelligence of his humor.

The book is very similar to the movie based on it (Stuart Saves His Family). Having already seen the movie, I was anticipating certain events in the book once I started reading. Despite my previous knowledge, I found the book to be laugh out loud funny. The humor of the Stuart Smalley character is based in him trying to help out others, yet being a mess himself as is demonstrated by his membership in several support groups.

Even people passing through my home who picked this book up from my coffee table and read a few pages have enjoyed what they read. It is not hard to get the joke. This is a easy, but fun read.

One of the funniest books I read all year. Timely, interesting and extremely original. Lord Whimsy is one-of-a-kind!

The human institution known as Lord Whimsy is tooo brave, too refined, too insightful for this epoch. A man of wit/ charm/ taste; Who could have predicted his astonishing insights amongst the garbage heaps peddled by the Amazon Empire? Huzzah! B-b-b-buy it!

the lord brings it home with this tome on tastelessness in america and how to combat it with dignified attire, prose and comportment. a must-read for all those seeking a return to what cannot come back, that is to say, 'civility.'

Wonderful, witty and a perfect guide for any young or young at heart Dandy. A welcome protection from the crass and dreary world of "reality tv", Paris,Britany and Nicole. An elysium

Imagine a book written by an early 19th century country squire and self-appointed dandy, musing on style and grace and the pursuit of butterflies. Imagine an English country version of a risible Proustian sensualist, becoming enchanted and then aroused by a work of art. This is the world of Lord Whimsy and his various and sundry thoughts and writings. An incredbile anachronism, full of humorous opinions on the pursuit of life dedicated to true beauty- - both in ones dress and in ones heart. It seems almost impossible that someone would write such a book in the 20th or 21st centuries. Each chapter is a self-standing essay on art, clothing, style, birds, bees, fantastic bicycles and life in the soporific langour of outer New Jersey pretending to be Dorset or Cornwall. I love this book, but someone said it is satire. I can't tell if it's satire or serious fun, as in "I am never more serious than when I am having fun." I await the opportunity, soon I hope, to meet his Lordship at one of his public readings. That will be something!