World Famous Comics: Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government
Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government
By: P.J. O'Rourke Publisher: Vintage Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 256 Publication Date: April 28, 1992 Release Date: April 28, 1992 Studio: Vintage
Amazon.com Review: If satirists are at their best when tussling with something they hate, then this is P.J. O'Rourke's masterpiece. He clearly hates government--and has hated it since before it was cool to do so--and for all the right reasons, too: it's clumsy, inefficient, hypocritical, greedy, and arrogant. In other words, it magnifies the faults of the poor saps who staff it. Parliament of Whores is the humorist's howl of bitter laughter at the entire bloated, numskulled mess. As befits an ex-editor of National Lampoon, nothing is out of bounds for O'Rourke. Speaking of the fabled "football"--that satchel that follows the president around 24/7--the author doubts there are really launch codes in there at all--nothing but "a copy of Penthouse and a pint bottle of Hiram Walker--a Penthouse from back in the seventies, when Penthouse was really dirty, I'll bet."
Parliament of Whores is perfect for anyone who longs to cultivate an entertaining brand of cynicism, to be "a lone voice--not crying in the wilderness, thank you, but chortling in the rec room." O'Rourke is a master at making you laugh in spite of the better angels of your nature, and the only negative thing to be said about this tour de force is that his flamethrower brand of satire leaves nothing in its wake--certainly not the suggestion of an improvement. --Michael Gerber
Product Description: P.J. O'Rourke does it again. You hate yourself for laughing, but so much of it is true.
A parliament is more focused ^ Personally i thought that this was a funny book. But the major problem that I have with it is that it lacks any storyline and is consisted of political jokes and references, nothing more. If you are looking for a laugh,and were alive in the 80's, definately read this book. Because if you didnt grow up hearing about all the issues and politicians of that era, you will have a hard time understanding what the book is about. But, if you are looking for an engaging read that keeps your interest, I would not suggest this book.
After 18 years it hardly needs updating ^ Read the other reviews (both contributed and editorial) to see what the book is about. This review is here to tell you how well it stands up almost 20 years after it came out. VERY well.
When you read the section on the S&L bailout, you could apply it to the current financial debacle - just multiply the dollar amounts by 10 or 100. That rule holds through for much of the book. Just multiply by 10 or 100 and it's like reading current events. Solid work.
Among the worst I ever read! ^ This book has nothing to do with 'Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government'. It's all about a humbug journalist ranting and trying to prove that he's seen it all and knows it all while making very little sense.
While some small sections of the book does make sense, most of it's idiotic, misleading, and filled with conservative rant. PJ is either dumb or lunatic or both! Well, he's a conservative journalist trying to cover subjects much bigger than his background and intellect will ever allow him to understand. It's hard to figure how this guy is much different from Rush the redneck entertainer.
This book is among the worst I ever read. This could be a bit harse given that I read quite selectively. I could go on and on with examples of how bad this book is, but what's the point! Buy it if you're in for a ranting ride with this idiot humbug.
Small world ^ I have read this book and I am amazed by two things.
It seems that although quite a lot of time has passed since it was first published -- not much changed.
Additionally, being a Pole living in Poland I can compare the "rules" that apply to both the US and Polish authorities and it seems that they do not differ much. So although the author describes specific situation, I am afraid the problem is universal.
Great reading!
Imagining an Updated Edition ^ P.J. O'Rourke is a wildly entertaining writer. In fact, I may as well admit to being a fan of his entire canon right now. P.J.'s got such a razor-sharp wit, I don't feel the need to agree with him when I laugh at his material.
I read PARLIAMENT upon its initial publication, and suffering through the interminable 2008 presidential campaign prompted me to return to this book.
It's still really good stuff, despite the fact that the material is now 20 years old. That said, some of it has become undeniably dated. For example, P.J. lashes out at environmentalists warning of global warming as misguided "special interest groups spreading pop hysteria and merchandising fashionable panic."
Not too prescient there, I'm afraid. Worse, not funny. I think most reasonable people would now agree that the environment has graduated from a "special" interest to a vital and global one.
But elsewhere, O'Rourke's indictments of bureaucracy, judges, and Congress still have big, sharp teeth. In a way, it's too bad that he wrote most of this material back during the Bush, Sr. presidency. The former president left O'Rourke without much material to work with... I'd love to see him write this book using more contemporary (and explosive) examples.
Whaddaya say, P.J.?
Also recommended: O'Rourke's On The Wealth of Nations
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