Rating: 
Summary: Justified rage tempored with humor
Review: Franken's newest book is funny, to-the-point, and surprisingly factual, considering he's mostly known as a Saturday Night Live comic/satirist. He enters into the world he is criticizing, but only to offer in-kind ripostes to the right-wing pseudo-intellectuals who dominate the popular talkshow/pundit circuit. He cuts through the bilgewater and pomposity to expose what I already knew: O'Reilly and Coulter, et al are a bunch of obnoxious phonies. In order to do so, he simply uses the very words of the rabid right authors and commentators to condemn them. He follows up on their misstatements and evasions and offers a load of evidence for what we all knew already: there is an agenda behind the NEWS that can be traced back to who pays for it. In O'Reilly's case, he proves that "fair and balanced" may be copyrighted, but that the words mean nothing when there is nothing behind them. I picked the book up to leaf through and wound up buying it. I expected a Michael Moore attack piece, but found a book that, although funny, speaks to the need for truth and accountability in the world of garbage factoids. I came away admiring Franken when I had always found him annoying and unfunny as a comedian. Here Franken uses humor as a secret weapon. It is the most effective weapon against an unfunny and self-important bunch of liars.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, Yet Terrifying
Review: Franken's second book of political humor has an edge to it that, in my opinion, the first one lacked. While his attacks on Rush Limbaugh were funny and rang true, here there is, behind the jokes, a whiff of real anger at what George W. and his friends are doing to our country. That said, the book is funny. Some places it's laugh-out-loud funny, and some places it's bitterly funny. The chapter on "Operation Ignore" is less funny than it is horribly disturbing. While this book will not convince a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, I don't think it's intended to. It is intended for you and me, to make politics more palatable with a dose of humor, while maybe nudging us a little more firmly in the direction of the polls, and convincing us that there is a difference between the parties. I thought it rocked.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully humorous thought-provoker!
Review: Franken's style is satire, which some people just don't "get". But it is not insulting ridicule; it is not lieing in order to discredit; it is not mindlessly calling names (okay ... it is calling names and then proving those names are deserved, but it is not MINDlessly calling names). His book was a page turner because he accurately checked his information and placed it in footnotes, and because he then made me laugh. But most of all, he helped me to remember and give myself credit for doubting what was happening before my eyes. He helped me to understand that my mistrust ... my feeling that something not quite right had just happened ... my certainty that right on the tip of my memory was what REALLY happened ... should have been trusted. Franken is my hero ... someone who isn't afraid to laugh at himself, and is able to give a lesson in politics that is easy to grasp. Beyond that, he isn't too lazy to make sure of his facts. Of course, it may be argued that he did so by sending 14 little TeamFranken trolls out there to google and nexis to make sure of those facts ... but evidently our media experts do not have this monstrous team, for their quotes stray far from the mouth what spat them.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, some truth (with humor)
Review: Franken's the best. Nobody can spar with him one-on-one. The best thing is that he's exposing these right-wing fanatics for what they are - liars - and how they operate - lying. Plenty of facts that ARE backed up, unlike books by Hannity, Coulter, and O'Reilly - super spinmeisters and liars that Franken skewers with humor and the truth. Get this one and know that there's still hope for all of us suffering through George Bush's Amerika.
Rating:
Summary: leftofright
Review: Franken's vitriolic take on the right is on the money. However, I would have preferred to see Al take the "high road." The comedy factor is fine but I don't care about O'Reilly's facial issues, get to the "good" stuff. Five stars for refuting idiots, minus one for occasionally sounding like the idiots.
Rating:
Summary: This is Franken's Masterpiece!
Review: Franken's wonderful sense of humor comes through on every well-researched page. He takes fairly complicated issues (i.e. the estate tax) and not only makes them easy to understand, but has you cracking up as you read about them. The book exposes lie after lie made by the Bush Administration, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News Network and others. In many instances, the lies exposed are truly frightening. Franken's chapter on September 11 is a must read for all Americans. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or somewhere in between, you will benefit from reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: More persuasive satire from a comic genius & great mind!
Review: Franken's work is pure satirical brilliance and while "Lies" remains as clever as its predecessor, the hilarious "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot," it also shines a light on some very serious subjects. Despite constant attacks from the right, Franken continues to fight on his terms, armed with humor and the truth (and sources to prove it... note to Ann Coulter). His dissection of the right and its malicious influence over the media is levelheaded and so thoroughly researched that it cannot be dismissed with mere O'Reilly-esque invective. Among the hysterical rants and shameless personal attacks on Franken's appearance and intellect by rabid right-wingers who have no respect for the truth or civil dialogue found throughout these reviews, I have yet to see a single coherent objection to his conclusions. Nevertheless, THANK YOU for so unwittingly illustrating the books entire message that neo-con fanatics can always be counted on to miss the point entirely, while remaining utterly humorless and ignoring all facts. The most valuable lesson learned by reading "Lies" is that one must never take anything written or spoken in the mainstream media (or in Amazon's reader reviews) at face value. The conservative propagandists have disgraced the first amendment by using it as justification for their ruthless, stop-at-nothing smear campaigns. Sadly, this book reinforces the belief that the radical conservatives currently occupying the White House and news desks across the country, and their sycophantic minions are deceitful, spiteful hate-mongers, who have no morals and lack the slightest hint of integrity.
Rating:
Summary: The truth is funny - but not
Review: Franken's writing is hilarious. I was chuckling uncontrollably as I read this book on an airplane. However, I also found the information that is conveyed to be very disturbing. There is very compelling information affirming some conservative media leanings, the overly apologetic liberal media, the manner in which unchecked statements enter mainstream media and the outright lies of conservative commentators. This information left me frustrated in spite of the laughter. Count me in to purchase the next Franken book. I need the laughter when confronted with the reality of the current administration.
Rating:
Summary: Side-splitting & Eye-opening.
Review: Franken's wry humor underlies a profound intelligence that is quite effective in putting across dry, distasteful and occasionally complex subject matter in an understandable and uproariously funny manner. One-star reviewers - if you find things about this book you don't like, then simply back it up. Point out examples in this book where Franken takes a quote from anyone out of context, misquotes or misleadingly partially quotes anyone, presents inaccurate information or otherwise makes any unsubstantiated statements. The fact is you can't. This is an important book. Highly recommended for its educational value as much as its side-splitting humor.
Rating:
Summary: funny and sad
Review: Franken, a funny guy, teamed up with a bunch of Harvard undergrad and Kennedy School students to fact-check the right wing media and government. The results are both saddening and funny. highlights are: -the commentry on the Paul Wellstone funeral - a subject treated seriously, with an excellent eulogy excerpt by the brother of Wellford's driver, -"Operation Ignore" which tracks the efforts the Clinton administration made against terrorism and how the entire process stalled once Bush et al. arrived. Absolutely damning evidence - there was a good chance Sept 11 & OBL could have been stopped. Condi Rice was told in her handover briefing that terrorism would "consume far more of her time than she ever imagined". She, to her credit, and Richard Clarke tried to push the planned anti Osama plan further but it got stalled by Bush, Rumsfeld et al. -A visit to Bob Jones U by Franken and his prospective student "nephew" - BJU comes out of it surprisingly well. "we'd come to BJU expecting to encounter racist, intolerant homophobes. Instead we found people who were welcoming, friendly and extremely nice" most of all Franken accusses IN PRINT the president, vice president, Ann Coulter and many others of being liers - multiple times. Essentially he is challenging them to respond via a lawsuit - a lawsuit he would win as the evidence he has gathered seems very solid. and scary. The book is let down by one or two digressions into "rabid anti conservative fiction" which will make it unapproachable for those on the right looking to see what Al is on about. A pity - he is saying things that people from both spectrums should be listening to. Read it.
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