Rating: 
Summary: Be careful if you listen while driving...
Review: I won't add to the many reviews of the content of the book, but I want to mention that Franken added material for the tape (for instance he covers his famous showdown with O'Reilly at a book convention). Franken's comedic timing in reading the book makes it that much more enjoyable. Just be careful if you listen while driving, because your explosive laughter could cause an accident.
Rating: 
Summary: A rotten little boy with a book
Review: I won't waste my time rebutting every single thing in this book, which is all either complete distortions or oversimplifications used for comedy (such as it is).Needless to say, if you buy it you've wasted your money. Try reading something enlightening and not this malcontented gibberish from a bitter underachiever.
Rating:
Summary: Another one of those books
Review: I wonder why Mr. Franken authored this book? It certainly was not to inform or offer any positive solution. Like so many new books today by name recognized people, only a few come to mind that truly inform and offer solutions to some of the problems America faces. Catherine Crier is one of those authors. Nothing against you personally, Mr. Franken, but your book needs to be dumped in favor of Ms. Crier's. You will thank youself.
Rating: 
Summary: The "Humor" Designation is Off-Mark
Review: I work in a bookstore and had the advantage of getting a one day jump start on reading the book. Having finished it rather early, I figure it might be helpful to give the first impression of the book. If we can assume that the messages in "Stupid White Men" were as well-received as the book's sales would indicate, this book should do well. It is 4 times the book that Moore's was. It has more depth, more insight, more biting humor and overall more weight. The early chapters are essentially a refutation of Coulter, Goldberg, O'Reilly, et. al. Franken uses good, solid evidence to refute the wishy-washy claims made by them, all the while infusing the whole thing with a healthy dose of on-topic humor. Particularly funny is a section on Coulter: "How to Lie With Footnotes." I cannot wait to hear the right's refutation of this book, because Franken has done detailed research, and has a firm base to stand on. Eric Alterman's book "What Liberal Media" is obviously the basis of this portion of the book. Just to give you an idea of the tone, Franken uses the phrase "HANNITY AND colmes" to describe everyone's favorite diametrically opposed duo. The next sections deal with several subjects the right took and ran with in the past couple of years: The 2000 election, the Wellstone memorial, the change in tone of politics. A highly informative chapter describes Clinton's attempts to reinforce anti-terrorism, which were ignored by the Bush administration. Another chapter describes how Clinton built up the military, and how many of the successful weapons and strategies used in Afghanistan and Iraq were developed at the behest of the Clinton Administration (Roger included!) Interlaced throughout are narratives about Franken's personal experiences, whether it be confronting the Fox News table at a White House Correspondent's dinner or taking an intern on a ruse of a campus visit to Bob Jones which abruptly ends when Franken attempts a photo of himself hanging on a cross. There are also countless transcripts of conversations Franken has had with all of these people, usually involving him making a phone call about a particular piece of evidence or misquote. Don't we wish we all had the connections to pick up the phone and call Sean Hannity after a particularly crude episode?! I have two complaints- first is that this book is being billed as a "humor" book. Moore's book is in the Social Sciences section, and this book is much more serious and weighty. More importantly, however, is Franken's use of completely fabricated, often sexual scenarios. They all end with a footnote or asterisk or a "just kidding", but they only serve to cheapen the book. Franken is a very funny man, and his "on-topic" humor is vastly superior to some of the trash he has thrown in. How this got by his editor, I do not know. These instances probably amount to no more than a page of text, which is far less than the trash in a typical O'Reilly or Coulter book. And one of them is based on an actual excerpt from O'Reilly's novel "Those Who Trespass" which is pulp romance porn at its worst. So this is a mild complaint. Yet, I am withholding a perfect five because of these parts. I suggest to Mr. Franken that he reconsider pulling them from the paperback edition and move the book to the social sciences section. It's really that good of a book, and it deserves to lose the downgrade in respectability associated with the classification. Oh, and that he contact me next time he's in Hilton Head.
Rating:
Summary: What an idiot this Franken is
Review: I would be more than happy to write a book entitled "BIGGER lies and they BIGGER lying liars who tell them: A fair and Balanced look at the Left" oh, but uh Democrats don't lie. . . .YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book is trash, and I have no respect for the idiot Al Franken, nor any other actor who decides he thinks he knows what best for the American people. Al, SHUT UP! You've had a dream life that very few americans enjoy: pretending to be someone else and getting paid millions to do it. Shut up and do you meaningless job: pretend. You're liberal B.S. is complete garbage and you're a coward.
Rating:
Summary: At Least I READ the book!
Review: I would give it 10 stars if I could. And, yes, I *am* a Republican. I consider myself a moderate. Too funny that people on here think that no Republicans would like this book. Even FUNNIER is all the people who are trashing it who have clearly not evey READ it! Their reviews say it all...and that means, they just continue to spout what they THINK it's about or what the other Right Pundits have told them it's about. No, Franken does not lie. He tells the bald-faced truth. And it's about time SOMEONE shut up the likes of Anne Coulter, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh. THEY are in the field of entertainment, yet somehow THEIR half-baked views are never questioned. Thank you, Mr. Franken, for holding them up to the light of day.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Scary
Review: I would just like to encourage anyone who has not yet read this book to rush out to their local bookstore and buy a copy. Actually, buy two copies, in case you lose one. Al Franken delivers shocking truths about our current administration with his trademark satire and wit. This book is hilarious!
Rating:
Summary: Franken is the Liar
Review: I would not recommend this book to anyone. The author is not funny and certainly is trying to promote his own political agenda. He's a radical--don't waste the money. Buy instead a great book filled with useful information entitled "How Americans can Buy American" by Roger Simmermaker. Great book. I bought 3 copies for gifts & Amazon.com has the best price anywhere for "How Americans Can Buy American."
Rating: 
Summary: why you ask, i shall respond
Review: I wouldnot buy this here book because the cover is to busy, it makes the author look desperate. Harry Potter rules !
Rating:
Summary: There's no going back!
Review: I'd been totally oblivious to the actions (and inactions) of our current administration. This book really opened my eyes!
I commend Mr. Franken on finally making a political animal of this apathetic observer!
In "Lies", Mr. Franken exposes (or rather points out) some of the more appalling discrepancies and deceptions of the extreme right.
The inconsistency of the book, however, is what prevents it from receiving a full 5 stars.
The first several chapters are quite humorous and playful as well as informative. The remainder, unfortunately, does not benefit from Mr. Franken's wit, only from his wisdom. It seems to be simply a mean spirited (albeit justified) exposé of conservative hypocrisy.
If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, with "Lies" the sugar comes early and then is nowhere to be found once the heavy medicinal doses are to be swallowed.
Those of us who admire and appreciate Mr. Franken's brand of humor are also left flat by the inclusion of inane "Mad Magazine" style satire.
This being the first Franken book I've read, I'm now anxious to read the others.
I do HIGHLY recommend this book and sincerely hope that all who read it maintain an open mind.
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