The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audiobook): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction

If you like the biting wit and satire of the Daily Show you'll love "America (the book". Written by most of the Daily Show's staff and a host of other (apparently) ghost writers America takes on the past, present, and future of America's history and socio-economic politics. The thing works like a real school textbook; having set chapters with introductions and reviews with discussion questions at the end. Though by no means are any of these to be taken even remotely seriously...okay, maybe some parts of the Rest of the World section, but that's it ;). Anyway, the book is as flippant and facetious as the Daily Show ever was; with elements such as "Would You Mind if I Told You How We Do It In Canada?" by Samantha Bee: tongue-in-cheek mini-article that peppers the text. Chapters cover everything a typical history book would cover, so you get all the Daily Show's greatness when it comes to our Founding Fathers, their wives, Congress, The President, Campaigns, Voting, Foreign Countries, and yes, even the FUTURE OF AMERICA!!! Along with these in-depth explorations of hilarious redicule you also get about ten or twelve pages of campaign fodder in the back for the '04 election and a nice big poster with Kerry and Bush boxing match advertisement on one side and a review of our "secret underground government" the other. All in all, this book has a lot of funny eye candy to offer that will have you laughing out loud, probably a little pissed off (they make fun of everyone so don't feel bad: even me; even you!...yes you!), or looking at the government in a whole new light.The only down side is the book is not as large as one might hope, but at roughly 240 pages I shouldn't complain. Nevertheless, go Used and save yourself some cash!

This delicious book is even funnier than I had imagined. It's as big as my fifth grade geography book and a lot more interesting. Laid out like a textbook, the book is divided into chapters on democracy before America, the founding fathers, the presidency, congress, the judiciary, campaigns and elections, the media, the future of democracy and, lastly, the rest of the world. Each chapter has text, illustrations, multiple choice questions, discussions questions and classroom classroom activities.There are funny nuggets everywhere. ". . .if Betsy Ross were alive and sewing American flags today, she'd be a 13-year-old Laotian boy." There is also The Game of the Presidency" laid out like a monopoly board. And we learn how to break down a $2,000-a-plate fundraiser. My favorite chapter is the one on the media, captioned "Democracy's Valiant Vulgarians." Mr. Stewart and Company hang them all out to dry. "Were You Aware? Barbara Walters is not even trying. She is estimated to have given up in 1983." In the chapter on the future of democracy, "Four Score and Seven Years from Now," will you be aware that "The Social Security Administration granted retirees a monthly check, instead of just a coupon good for a free side salad at Denny's?" Finally, you won't want to miss the spread of the Supreme Court [they're the ones who handpicked the current occupant of the White White by a five to four vote along party lines] totally naked. We are to "restore" their dignity by cutting out their robes and covering their nakedness a la the cutouts. When you turn the page, the first nudie you see if Justice Scalia. I laughed out loud!There are literally dozens of hilarious drawings, photographs, quotations, riddles, fold-outs, etc. here to help get you through this election season. Enjoy! Enjoy!

Prejudice makes me sad.... on both sides of partisan lines (see reviews of Bill O'Reilly's latest book, or Fahrenheit 911, or these ones). I don't really know why I read these reviews. I guess it's morbid curiousity. People who have never seen/read something automatically assume it is evil incarnate if they "hear" through the grapevine that it goes against their party affiliation.Even if you DO perceive a slight liberal slant to "America: The Book," (which I really couldn't - these people perpetuating these rumors probably haven't even read the book, or at least not all of it), so what? For instance, I disagree with a lot of Michael Moore's assertions/tactics, but that's all the more reason FOR watching and finding out what these opposing views are, in order to try and understand them. There might actually be some truth in there somewhere, if you're not blinded by partisanship or a stubborn spirit of prejudice.I guess what I'm trying to say is OPEN up your minds, people. All these people who gave Jon Stewart's book 1 star for being "liberal propaganda", and likewise all who gave him 5 stars because they like that he bashes Bush on his show, you all sicken me. The Daily Show bashes Bush because guess what? He's the current president... longtime fans of the show will remember that during the Clinton presidency, they ridiculed Clinton just as much as they now ridicule Bush. I bet people back then thought the show was "right-leaning", huh?Regardless of all that, it's a very funny book if you like political satire and are capable of reading at least a high school level. And yes, it does have some truth hidden in it, but it's nothing to base your philosophy of life on. It's not history. Not propaganda. IT'S HUMOR.

It's a good book, but a little boring. Read it very slowly.Not so funny as expected, but well written and interesting were and there.

If you take the joke at face value (a USA school history book with suitable amendments and comments) it's fine.

Many thanks

Lot of fun about politics. You can see that this is not so serious matter as most of us is thinking.

Interesting and informative along with a lot of delightful humour.