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Summary: This isn't just a funny book - it is well researched as well
Review: I think only conservatives threatened by this books content wouldn't find it funny. I laughed my head off, but then was impressed with the accuracy of the statements off which he was making his jokes.Franken did this book as part of a seminary at Harvard. Basically, he wrote the book (and supplied the humor) while his Harvard students because a group of very high level fact checkers. The result is a book that is vastly more accurate than anything you will find coming out of Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter.
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Summary: WHAT NO INDEX??? ARGGHH!!!
Review: I think the content is great, particularly how the Bush administration put very little priority on the terrorism warnings and attacks (remember the last one was the Cole bombing in October 2000, 1 month before the election). Al Franken calls it Operation Ignore. Also great is the comparison of Reagan's budget proposals vs. what Congress passed (Congress only added 47 B$ over those 8 years, and actual spending was 200 B$ higher than Reagan's proposals over those 8 years) -- showing that the Reagan years $1.4 Trillion increase in the national debt was about $1.2 Trillion because of Reagan's tax cuts and spending. BUT I GET MADDER AND MADDER THINKING ABOUT HOW THE BOOK HAS NO INDEX, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND ANYTHING. That the book has no index is no doubt due to it being rushed to print 2 months early to take advantage of all the publicity it got when Fox was threatening to sue. The lack of an index makes me recommend looking for another similar book like Joe Conason's Big Lies book, or wait for the next book like this to come out.
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Summary: It's just so...laughable
Review: I think the highly original and witty title of this book pretty much says it all.
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Summary: Hillarious look into the media bias controversy
Review: I think this book has a comical but at times very accurate portrayal of the media and the conservative vs. liberal media bias question. This is why it is such a great read. It also looks at specific instances in which conservative public personas such as Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly, among others, have been called out for intentional lying and periods of time in which they displayed pure ignorance. For example O'Reilly claims how he came up from nothing, living in the poor village of Westbury when in fact he lived in the upscale Levittown. When he caught with this lie he said it was the Westbury section of Levittown. Al pointed out, "There is no Westbury section of Levittown. They are two separate villages several miles apart. It was like saying he had grown up in Brooklyn- the Manhattan section of Brooklyn."(Pg. 74) I really enjoyed the realness of the book. It was more like you were listening to stories from the hilarious Franken in person rather than reading another boring analysis of the situation. Franken used specific instances with Coulter saying she was friendly with Franken when they had encountered each other once to display how freely some conservatives in media lie. I liked how the book skipped from topic to topic in each new chapter. Each chapter became a new opportunity for Franken to enlighten us into the lies we hear that we'd never check and would assume that all journalists just spoke the truth.
This book's theme is that there is no liberal slant in media but rather more of a conservative one overall. Franken admits that on some issues there is more liberal views among journalists but the networks and media overall is more conservative. I think his view is very interesting and do believe he has a legitimate point. I personally am a conservative but am open to the truth no matter who it comes from. He has pointed out instances in which there are no way to avoid that the media has had more conservative bias. He used the past presidential election to show how more negative press went to Gore than Bush which is contradictory to the way it would be with a liberal bias. The media is all around us. It relates to my life because I'm rather trusting of the media and when points made in this book are revealed it shows me some times you can't believe everything and need to take a second look at what you've been told. I don't want to look ignorant due to the fact I just believed what I heard from media without looking into it myself.
I would definitely recommend this book. The book is a fun read. I'd recommend it because it points out legitimate views using Franken's comic personality to lighten the mood. Before you read it is important to keep an open mind and to get whatever you can from it.
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Summary: It's Called S-A-T-I-R-E
Review: I think Webster's definitions says it best..."satire 1: a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn 2: trenchant wit, irony or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly". Al Franken shines at this form of humor.
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them is an entertaining and humorous read. One bookstore put it in it's Humor section. I think "Humor" is the best place for Al Franken's work. I think most of the 1 star reviews I've read just don't like Al Franken's politics and/or they haven't read the book.
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Summary: Good Enough, Smart Enough- I Liked It!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and breezed through it overnight. Franken injects plently of wit, humor and irony to balance out lots of material that could be mind-bendingly depressing. My own exposure to the "authors" who Franken debunk-
Hannity, Coulter, Reagan has left me with the disquieting sense that these are people who do not adhere to facts and who do not let small details such as valid research stand in the way. While Franken confirms this depressing fact, he does so in a way that is, well, funny. Of course, any person who doesn't understand irony or the value of a vigorous and truth-seeking press (even cloaked in "enfotainment" cover) may not enjoy this book as I did. Particularly amusing are chapters 2-6, in which Franken's deft humor is used as a razor sharp tool to slice into the "research" of Fx and its commentators. ( Apples to limes comparisons, etc.) Even hardcore idealogues would have to admit that "smorty smort, blort debort" demonstrates a level of wit and introspection that is often missing on the Right-- especially in the Fox echo chamber.
I admit, this book will prove unsatisfying for anyone who likes to think,engage in honest debate or learn new facts, because Franken does undertake these efforts. (Also, I can already hear Ann Coulter "Franken Claims Talks with God." There is something wrong with her!) I recommend this book for anyone- on either side of the aisle who is wondering just hat happened to our discourse, our free press, oh, and our surplus. Also, am eagerly awaiting Franken's Next book, I %$$ hate those *&*&!
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Summary: an eye opener
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Al Franken manages to be articulate, eloquent and extremely funny all at the same time. Rather each charge he makes of "Liar!" is backed up by well researched, specific examples of the lies they have told. He skillfully illustrates how our supposed "liberal media" is, in fact, anything but (including statistics to back it up!) He shows us how Bush lied to us about who would benefit from his tax breaks (again with stats and sources that you can actually look up and - lo and behold - they are the same as he prints them in the book!). It can make you laugh and laugh (all the Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly material, the story of meeting Barbara Bush) and then can almost bring you to tears (the story of what the Republicans did to the friends and family of Paul Wellstone after the memorial, what the Republican party did to Max Cleland, and the story of how many children will, in fact, get "left behind" due to all Dubya's cuts to education). Read this and pass it on to your friends.
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Summary: I can't give ZERO stars?!
Review: I thought Clinton or Carter were liars! This guy is a bloody hypocrite!!! 100% UN-AMERICAN!!! Somebody send this communist back to Russia where he belongs!
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Summary: Do Not vote 2004 until you read this book!
Review: I thought I was the only person who was catching those right wingers lying and willfully misrepresenting the facts... Read this book and gift it to those who watch Fox News and some MSNBC. They will thank you! This book is factual and at the same time funny. It helped me argue with right wingers and show them how things are. I am not a democrat. I am just sad and angry because of what a clan of money and power thirsty individuals did to my America. Now, if you disagree with them, you are unpatriotic! Give me a break!
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, well written satire and an eye-opener
Review: I thought it was a well written book and funny. I think he could have omited the Chickenhawk chapter. Unlike most of the people who gave it bad reviews, I have actually read this book. I have also read Coulter and O'Reilly. This one is much better and more entertaining. I think the chapter on the Wellstone memorial was very well done and is an excellent illustration of how the Republican Ministry of Propaganda and its cult of dittoheads will use any means to gain and keep power. (By the way the quote "defend to the death your right to say it." was not by Thomas Jefferson. It was Voltaire. It helps your credibility to get things right)
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