(Originally published 2007, Paperback edition 254 pages)
Mr. Sagal, the host of the excellent NPR program 'WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME!',
brought his geewhiz cynical humor to lightly exploring some of our vices. He
avoids such topics as profanity and race to focus on the more colorful topics.
The author looks into swingers, high-class eateries, strip clubs, lying,
gambling, conspicuous consumption, and porn. The book is gonzo journalism where
Mr. Sagal incorporates himself and his opinions into the different avenues
explored. His style of humor fits very well in this approach.
I found the first chapter dealing with swingers to be the least interesting section of the book. However, I'm glad I stuck with it. Except for him dabbling in gambling, Mr. Sagal seems very much like me in that none of these vices get him jazzed up enough to participate and he's more interested in understanding why people get involved in this stuff? Some interesting history and many funny observations are inside this book, but you will not find any solid answers. The Harvard-educated author is also no slouch when it comes to his take on these vices. He may have a mildly cynical view, but he does empathize with many of the people involved. Mr. Sagal also makes cultural comparisons that will have many readers googling names such as Estes Kefauver, Elisha Cook, and Ozymandias complex.
It may help the reader to listen to an episode of 'WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME!" to get a feel of Mr. Sagal's humor. While reading the book, I heard his distinctive nasal voice narrating it which made the work more enjoyable. The book is a light, funny and somewhat informative work that was a nice break from more serious, pedantic, nonfiction pieces.
I found the first chapter dealing with swingers to be the least interesting section of the book. However, I'm glad I stuck with it. Except for him dabbling in gambling, Mr. Sagal seems very much like me in that none of these vices get him jazzed up enough to participate and he's more interested in understanding why people get involved in this stuff? Some interesting history and many funny observations are inside this book, but you will not find any solid answers. The Harvard-educated author is also no slouch when it comes to his take on these vices. He may have a mildly cynical view, but he does empathize with many of the people involved. Mr. Sagal also makes cultural comparisons that will have many readers googling names such as Estes Kefauver, Elisha Cook, and Ozymandias complex.
It may help the reader to listen to an episode of 'WAIT WAIT... DON'T TELL ME!" to get a feel of Mr. Sagal's humor. While reading the book, I heard his distinctive nasal voice narrating it which made the work more enjoyable. The book is a light, funny and somewhat informative work that was a nice break from more serious, pedantic, nonfiction pieces.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #332)
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