World Famous Comics: Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)
Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)
By: Dave Barry Publisher: Putnam Adult Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Putnam Adult Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 224 Publication Date: September 17, 2007
Product Description: Thucydides, Gibbon, Tuchman, McCullough-to the names of the world's great historians must now be added the name of Dave Barry, who has taken a long, hard look at our new millennium (so far) and, when he stopped hyperventilating, has written it all down, because nobody would believe it otherwise.
In November 2000, the skies darken over Florida as hundreds of thousands of lawyers parachute into the state from bombers, while in 2002, the federal budget surplus mysteriously disappears ("Everybody looks high and low for it, but the darned thing is gone!"). In April 2003, no WMD have been found, but investigators do discover three barrels of lard, described by U.S. intelligence analysts as "a heart attack waiting to happen," while in 2004, an already troubled nation receives an even greater blow: the sight of Janet Jackson's exposed nipple. In 2005, Katrina, Cindy, Harriet, Martha, Valerie, Paris, Michael Jackson-women just got crazy that year-while in November 2006 . . . well, something happened; it'll come back to us.
Plus, an extra added bonus-Dave Barry's complete history of the millennium so recently (and unlamentedly) gone: Crusaders! Vikings! Peter Minuit's purchase of Manhattan for $24, plus $167,000 a month in maintenance fees! The invention of pizza by Leonardo da Vinci and of the computer by Charles Babbage (who died in 1871 still waiting to talk to somebody from Technical Support)!
Liberally illustrated with line drawings, filled with facts and commentary that will amaze your friends and confound your enemies (yes, we mean you, Osama!), this is the book that will finally earn Dave Barry his second Pulitzer Prize. And about darned time, too.
Absolutely Freaking Hilarious With Dave Barry I admit I do laugh out loud quite often and this book is no exception. Granted I had not read this year in review columns for these past few years so I don't know if these were just rehashes of what was printed there but honestly they were all just so funny that I read through this book in record time.
208 chuckles Funny and original on every page. Dave Barry is one of a very few comedy writers who can jab at both sides of the political aisle without malice and keep everyone laughing. This is the perfect book to take to the DMV, dentist or airport. Any place you need a quick laugh or a lighter perspective.
Like an old friend... Hysterical as always. I don't follow politics as much as I should, so some of his jokes missed me. But there were places where my husband caught me laughing until I cried and then I forced him to listen while I read sections out loud. His jokes can be somewhat predictable, but that's comforting and familiar to me. I have been reading all of his books for years now and I look forward to reading his interpretation of news events the way I look forward to seeing and old friend.
Truth is funnier than fiction Not quite up to Dave Barry's usual standards, but still pretty funny. Dave Barry's History of the Millenium (So Far!) actually begins with Dave Barry's history of the last millenium, which starts off pretty weak but gets better as he progresses into the 20th century. The rest of the book consists of his year-end reviews from 2000 through 2006, the funniest parts of which are actually the bits in which he sticks closest to the truth, exaggerating just a little to highlight the absurdity of the situation. I frequently found myself thinking, "Oh yeah, I remember that...was that really five years ago?" or "Was that really only two years ago?" Sometimes he beats a joke to death, like the references to Greta Van Sustern in about every month of the relevant year. But when he shows some restraint, he is very funny.
The audio version is not bad, but Patrick Frederic isn't the best reader of a Dave Barry book I've heard. Still, he's not the worst either. Like the book he's reading, his delivery is competent with occasional moments of hilarity.
BEST WHEN LISTENED TO--- I have always been a Dave Barry fan, but, like some other reviewers, just could not get into the humor when I first picked up the book...and put it away unfinished. Then I recently received as a gift the Audio version, which is unabridged and read by Patrick Frederic...AND LOVED IT. I have a 2 hour commute to work and listened to it then---and the other commuters must have thought I was some kind of escaped lunatic---I was screaming with laughter! For some reason, Patrick Frederic's delivery of the lines is so much funnier than my reading of the lines in my head. My 2 hr. commute flew by...I was actually wishing it was longer!!
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
