Editorial Review

One of pop culture’s great enduring unsung heroes: Gary Dell’Abate, Howard Stern Show producer, miracle worker, professional good sport, and servant to the King of All Media, for the first time tells the story of his early years and reveals how his chaotic childhood and early obsessions prepared him for life at the center of the greatest show on earth.
 
Baba Booey! Baba Booey! It was a slip of the tongue—that unfortunately was heard by a few million listeners—but in that split second a nickname, a persona, a rallying cry, and a phenomenon was born. Some would say it was the moment Gary Dell’Abate, the long-suffering heroic producer of The Howard Stern Show, for better or worse, finally came into his own. In They Call Me Baba Booey, Dell’Abate explains how his early life was the perfect training ground for the day-to-day chaos that comes with producing the most popular radio show on earth.

Growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, the youngest of three boys born to a clinically depressed mother, Gary learned how to fend for himself when under attack.  Obsessed with music, he listened with religious intensity to Casey Kasem's Top 40 every Sunday morning, compulsively bought 45s of his favorite songs, and nerdily copied the lyrics into a notebook. Music became an ordering principle to his life, even as the chaos at home got out of hand. Dell’Abate’s memoir sketches the trajectory from the obsessive pop-music trivia buff to the man in the beekeeper’s mask who handily defeats his opponents playing “Stump the Booey.” We learn about the memorable moments in his life that taught him to endure epic bouts of humiliation and get his unique perspective on some of his favorite Stern show episodes—such as the day he nearly killed the Mets mascot while throwing out the first pitch, or the time his mother called Howard’s mother and demanded an apology.

Hilarious, painful, and eye-opening, it’s Gary as you’ve never seen him before, telling a story that even Stern show insiders can’t begin to imagine. ... Read more

Reviews

Nice guy, boring book
I'm a lifelong Howard Stern fan and think Gary seems like a nice enough fella. Good father, good husband, good producer. But a book this does not make.

Rather than focus on what is arguably the most interesting part of Gary's life (the show), this book touches on his upbringing on Long Island and his relationship with his family. Without spoiling anything, the stories about his mom in particular should have been interesting...but they weren't. Without Howard's color commentary to help Gary's stories along, this book reads like the world's longest run-on sentence. You know when Gary gets going on the show and tells a story without taking a breath? That is essentially what this book is like.

Gary's a nice guy, but his story isn't particularly interesting. I would pass on this and instead pick up another book they've been talking about on the show - "The Battle for Late Night" by Bill Carter.

Fa Fa Fa Fo Hi
For hard core Stern fans, if you think you know it all about Gary, you'll be pleased by the fresh material and "reveals" in this book. Without spoiling, I can tell you that Gary explains his aging parents' relationship and his mother's whereabouts, both of which he's only alluded to on the show. You know it's deep, because Howard doesn't even bring it up. (Although now that it's in the book, it's fair play, so that will be interesting for we listeners.) We also get new information about "the tape!" You know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

This may be my favorite Stern-cast-member book so far (Along with Artie's). I noticed a typo, and some sections verge on the mundane. But I'm such a Gary fan and radio geek that even his descriptions of his early internships were interesting to me.

Local Guy makes it BIG

Kiss and tell is not a trait of Gary and his loyalty is one of the many components which made him successful. "They Call Me Baba Booey" is a glimpse into the individual that not many were aware of and how he climbed, clawed and developed a successful position in a rather discerning and challenging profession. From a humbled childhood Gary became one of the most recognizable names and voices in media. Exercising tenacity, intellect and an unwilling refusal to quit Gary proves that the mold can be stretched and how an exemplary work ethic, strong desire, and an uncanny flexible personality can make dreams come true. His book recalls his endless journey and this should be a must read for aspiring recent graduates and serve as a model of survival and success.

It is an easy and enjoyable read that will leave you laughing, applauding his journey but most of all respecting his determination and character. Way to go! Waiting on volume II.
... Read more

Editorial Review

"Always put the listener first" has been NPR's mantra since its inception in 1970. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, NPR's programming attracts over 27 million listeners every week. This beautifully designed volume chronicles NPR's storied history, featuring dozens of behind-the-scenes photos, essays and original reporting by a who's who of NPR staff and correspondents, transcripts of memorable interviews, and an audio CD of the most memorable programming throughout the decades. Beyond an entertaining and inspiring tribute to NPR's remarkable history, this book is an intimate look at the news and stories that have shaped our world, from the people who were on the ground and on the air. With contributions from Steve Inskeep, Neal Conan, Robert Siegel, Nina Totenberg, Linda Wertheimer, Scott Simon, Melissa Block, P.J. O'Rourke, David Sedaris, Sylvia Poggioli, Paula Poundstone, and many more, this is the perfect book for any NPR supporter, fan, or devotee. ... Read more

Reviews

NPR: An Indispensable National Treasure, and here's 4 decades of proof., October 23, 2010
Without assistance from me--this book containing transcriptions of unbiased, informative, intellectually and emotionally rewarding broadcasts--should be self-sufficient in explaining the invaluable service NPR provides on a daily basis to all but the most hostile and mean-spirited listeners. Periodic "flaps" should not for an instant be allowed to cast a shadow on the future of National Public Radio, as close to a day-in/day-out window on America and the World as is provided by any broadcast or telecast that a listener--let's say someone limited to a single source of news, information, culture, education and entertainment--is apt to find.

As the transcriptions in this book will show, NPR strives mightily to record, as meticulously and comprehensively as possible, statements--whether by its announcers or by callers-in--to assure a fair and equal balance of opinions, sentiments, biases, information from both the left and right sides of the political spectrum. The network knows that--despite the trust it has among not merely the "intellectually elite" but immigrants, working class listeners, transients (repeatedly I hear cab drivers' radios tuned to this station), the unemployed--it is on thin ice both politically and financially. And it doesn't help that in recent times the network, which accounts for the most minuscule of government expenditures, has been a popular scapegoat for the ultra-conservative, far-right media or for political candidates needing a sound bite about how they plan to tackle the national debt.

Despite the one-time generous gift of Mrs. Ray Kroc and the contributions of loyal listeners who recognize the singular public service that NPR provides, the network simply cannot afford the least evidence of demagoguery, partisan politics, or even personal bias. It's always the very survival of NPR--this whipping boy for the outer fringe--that is at stake. If NPR lets down its guard, or allows it to be proven that it espouses a particular bias or political point of view, it's entirely possible that a political "enemy" (or opportunist) could initiate actions toward the silencing of this vital source of information, culture, and, yes, entertainment. From one admittedly narrow perspective (this listener's), even America's indigenous contribution to the arts--jazz, and the seminal genius of Armstrong, Ellington, Coltrane to this American art form--would stand in danger of having some of its most historic moments erased from the record and from public consciousness.)

NPR may be "progressive" in its views of democracy and equal justice for all, but the service is "conservative" in its projects to save, or preserve, for present and future generations the very best of what this nation can take pride in--whether in the realms of international or national issues, the humanities or the fine arts. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Every morning more than three million listeners tune in to Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio—mostly to hear the Mikes’ (Golic and Greenberg) riotous back-and-forth on everything from why baseball managers should dress like real people to how to lose a fight with the wife with dignity. In Mike and Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life, the beloved mic jockeys put their unique stamp on, well, the rules for sports and life. In years on the road, in the studio, and at home, Greeny and Golic have learned that it’s all about the big stuff: separating order from chaos, ensuring our survival as a species, and keeping peace. For instance:
 
• The Fourth of July should be eliminated and replaced with an Independence Day that falls on the first Thursday of the month, creating a four-day weekend like Thanksgiving, which, by the way, could do without the Detroit Lions.
• “The Human Element” in sports officiating and weather forecasting sucks.
• The top pick in the NBA draft lottery should go to the team that came closest to making the playoffs—not to the team that rips off fans by mailing it in after the All-Star break. 
• When someone says, “I’m being completely honest,” they might as well be claiming that they go to Hooters just for the wings.
• Kids do not get to eat french fries for breakfast. Ever. And who cares what the kids at the next table are ordering.
• No more designated hitter!
 
If you’re one of Golic and Greeny’s legions of followers, you probably can’t get enough of this sort of provocative, hilarious, and occasionally obsessive stuff. And if you’re one of those fans who live by the rule “There oughta be a rule,” then Mike and Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life is the book for you.
  ... Read more

Reviews

Beyond Disappointing, April 17, 2010
As a devoted Mike and Mike listener, and given the huge amount of self promotion daily on their show, I was eagerly looking forward to this book. In short, "meh". Nothing new, rehash of some of their old comedy bits, and as previously posted here, a format that was hard on the eyes and often difficult to follow. I know that Golic frequently talks about writing this book with his crayons - and given the format - there seems to be some truth to his assertion. As for content, the only redeeming chapter, is the one written by the wives. Save your money and wait until it appears on the bargain rack at your local bookstore.

Do not waste your time or money on this one., April 8, 2010
Let me start by saying that I am a fan of the Mike and Mike show on ESPN Radio but I am not a fan of this book in any way. Knowing the two Mike's, I did not pick of this book expecting to get any deep points on life but I did expect to get at least some new material for my money. I did not see any. This looked as if someone at ESPN had just taken different bits from the show and put them in book form. While I did find that the book made me recall several fun exchanges from the show, not enough to make it worth my time to read. I am disappointed that the boys put this book out just to make a few bucks off of their fans. One final comment on the style of the book, the lay out of the book made it diffcult to review at time, this a book you review instead of read. The print and color style at time almost made me sick. If you do not have anything new to say, then try to cover that up with new packaging.

I am sorry I purchased this book, May 16, 2010
I am really sorry that I purchased this book and spend time reading it. My time and money would have been better spent elsewhere. I had enjoyed Mike Greenberg's "Why my Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot." I expected similar entertainment with this new book. I expected Greenberg to pull awesome insight from Mike Golic, just as he does each morning on Mike and Mike in the Morning. But that is not what I found.

The writing style and layout are appropriate for a 4th grade library. Many elementary school sports fans would love the color pictures, color words (green for Greenberg, olive for Golic), and the simple concepts. Remove the references to Hooters wings and erectile dysfunction medication, and this book will be ready for young readers. It is set up perfecty for practice reading out loud. I can see it now, two boys could read aloud together to their teacher. It would be a lot easier to read that a lot of other 4th grade books.

After submitting this review, I expect to be banned from listening to Mike and Mike for three days. That's okay, it is baseball season. I an willing to miss a few days of baseball talk to help others avoid my mistake.

Like the show - between covers, July 13, 2010
I bought this book for my husband for Father's Day. He's a big Mike & Mike fan. He loved the book. Great written banter between the guys and interesting backstage and personal insights into their lives.

Great Book, July 3, 2010
I ordered this book for my husband and he loves it. It is full of photos and interesting info for sports fans. It is Mike and Mike's opinions on how sports applies or reflects on life. He has not read it through yet but has liked what he has already read. He recommends it to sports fans.

Just like the show!!, June 7, 2010
I love this book for the fact that it reads just like you are watching the show. Very insightful and most things I agree with, but also very entertaining. Big Thumbs up. Waiting for another one coming out.

Mike and Mike's book, June 7, 2010
the book was interesting,fun and only substantiates the wisdom and forethought of these 2 bright and entertaining sports journalists. ... Read more

Editorial Review

NPR was created in 1970, three years after Congress passed the Public Broadcasting Act and established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Signing the act into law, President Lyndon B. Johnson said, “We in America have an appetite for excellence . . . we want most of all to enrich man’s spirit.” Today NPR produces and distributes programming that reaches more than 26 million listeners weekly. More than 900 stations nationwide broadcast NPR programming.

From the turmoil of the Vietnam era to a delightful visit with the riotously funny Dame Edna Everage, join hosts Susan Stamberg (1970s), Noah Adams (1980s), Renee Montagne (1990s), and Guy Raz (2000s) for an unforgettable journey through the first forty years of NPR. This commemorative collection overflows with thought-provoking commentaries, award-winning journalism and humor from the public radio programs that have become an essential part of our lives: All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Tell Me More, Fresh Air and much more.

FEATURING:

Reviews

Better NPR than NPR, December 1, 2010
I contribute to NPR, but they keep asking for more, with impressive incentives. It was a wonderful realization that the incentives are available at Amazon. I LOVE this CD set, used it for an 8-hr driving duty and passed it on to a family member who will enjoy it just as much. SparkyTom ... Read more

Editorial Review

Humorous, touching stories from the National Public Radio archives that capture the essence of fatherhood.

First, what's a "driveway moment"? It's when you're so captivated by a feature story you're hearing on NPR that you stay in your car to hear it to the end—even if you're sitting in your driveway with the motor running, groceries to unpack, and kids to feed. For years, listeners have written to NPR to describe such moments.

The stories in this collection kept dads glued to their bucket seats. Now dad can listen again, at his own pace, to tales for and about fathers. Drawn from All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other award-winning NPR programs, they include a humorous account of a father's habitual snoring, a dad's reflection on leading his son's boy scout troop, an insightful look at the challenges of being a teenage father, and a touching reminiscence about lessons that NPR host Scott Simon learned from his comedian father. Hosted by Simon, these stories are comforting, bittersweet, and everything in between. ... Read more

Reviews

He laughed out loud!, August 31, 2009
My dad said some of these stories made him laugh out loud, so the stories live up to their claims!

My husband enjoyed this, January 27, 2009
Limited use since it's not something you'd want to pull out over & over again but a sweet & interesting Father's day gift.

Heartwarming, January 7, 2008
My daughter gave me this CD for Fathers Day and I was so impressed with it that I bought one for my son and son-in-law for Christmas.

Wonderful, August 26, 2009
This is a must-have CD. I cried, I laughed, I deeply thought about each one of the cases I listened to.

great cd, March 1, 2009
I gave this to my hubby for his birthday and he said he really enjoyed listening to this in his car. Great and fun stories! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The sequel to News from Lake Wobegon features monologues from live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion. 4 cassettes. ... Read more

Reviews

Garrison Keillor's best story compilation ever, January 27, 2001
This CD compilation 16 of the finest stories in the history of the famed, long-running radio show "A Prarie Home Companion". The stories come under four headings: "Faith", "Hope", "Love", and "Humor". Some of the best stories from this package include "Smokes", a brilliant story of a father's attempt at quitting smoking out of pure guilt. "Let us Pray" tells the story of Pastor Inquvist and the stir up he causes among his congregation. "A Trip to Grand Rapids" is about a weekend getaway gone horribly wrong. "Truckstop" is the painfully hilarious account of the events both before and after Florian Krebsbach accidentally leaves his wife Myrtle at a truckstop. "Homecoming" is the story of Karl Krebsbach and his nightmarish experience on the day of his daughter's High School homecoming. These and many other brilliant stories make an amazing array of the Lake Wobegon experience.

An excellent CD from Lake Wobegon, October 18, 1998
This CD had me laughing out loud especially the story "Homecoming" which involves the confrontation between the Lake Wobegon homecoming parade (headed by a tank - of course) and a truck with a different type of tank - a septic one. In terms of big comic set pieces, I don't think GK has bettered this one (not even the classic "Living Flag")

Thank goodness there's More News from Lake Wobegon!, June 1, 2000
These tapes are an absolute must for anyone who enjoys heartwarming, humorous stories. I've listened to them many times and have never tired of them. All the stories are memorable, but one in particular stands out in my mind. A young man overhears his father telling someone that his son is a "pretty good boy." The son thinks to himself that this was the closest his father ever came to saying, "I love you," and it was close enough for him.

Garrison Keillor's voice is very enchanting. He even sings a little on the tapes. For a fun, old-fashioned evening I suggest friends and family gather round with a plate of oatmeal cookies and a mug of hot chocolate and listen to More News from Lake Wobegon.

Can't wait for bed, April 9, 2000
I can't wait to go to bed, pop in a cassette and listen to more stories from the lake. This is America at it's finest and funniest moments. Two thumbs up to all the people of lake Wobegon for making me laugh and making me go to bed early.

More News from Lake Wobegon, August 25, 2006
My husband had an aneurysm and now has trouble reading. He loves to listen to Garrison Keillor. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Stories from the National Public Radio archives honor America's national pastime.

Stories so compelling you'll stay in your car to hear them through—even if you're sitting in your own driveway. Peabody-winning Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan presents tales about the big leagues and the little, the fans in the stands, the players, the history, and the lore.

Highlights include commentaries from some of the game's most recognized authorities, a look back at some of baseball's most important figures (Jackie Robinson, Joltin' Joe DiMaggio), and colorful segments about the game's unexpected delights, from the Hidden Ball Trick to the "All You Can Eat" option at Dodger Stadium. ... Read more

Reviews

The best so far, January 22, 2009
The best of the "Driveway Moments" so far. Snappy and engaging and hilarious -- there's not a dull moment in this collection. I'll be buying this for all of my baseball fan friends.

Great gift for a baseball fan, October 11, 2009
I bought this for my Dad; and he loved it. The pieces cover a broad range of eras and topics about the Great Game. If you love baseball, you'll enjoy this CD. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Selected from the National Public Radio archives, these stories by some of NPR's favorite commentators will keep listeners laughing.

A "driveway moment" is when you're so captivated by a story on NPR that you stay in your car to hear it to the end—even if you're sitting in your own driveway. Some are serious, some are touching, and some, like the stories included here, are very, very funny.

Literate, intelligent, and droll, each tale is worth hearing again and again, and now you don't have to stay in your car.

NPR Funniest Driveway Moments includes stories and interviews from your favorite NPR commentators and guests such as David Sedaris, Sarah Silverman, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Dame Edna, Larry David, Darryl Littleton, Justice Stephen Breyer, Jonathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, and more. ... Read more

Reviews

Hit or Miss collection from NPR, May 4, 2008
Truth in advertising - The 16 stories on this set - most about eight minutes long - are NOT the "funniest moments" from NPR. Because they were culled from shows aired only between 2003 and 2008 on NPR news magazine type programs like "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered", there was a limit. While some are truly funny interviews (Only David Sedaris's track is a monologue, rather than an interview), others are actually serious discussions of comedy. Author and comedian Daryl Littleton is interviewed discussing his book on Black stand-up comedy and, while some recorded excerpts of Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx are included, this is a serious discussion. The second longest piece in the collection (13:26) is an interview with Jonathan Winters and was one of the highlights for me. But, though it's funny in parts, Winters is more serious discussing his abusive parents and becomes emotional during the interview with Scott Simon on "Weekend Edition".

I'm a big fan of the pop culture stores broadcast on the various NPR shows, and particularly interviews done by Scott Simon. The other notable piece on this collection is the first track of Disc One - an interview by Simon with Dame Edna. Slightly longer than the Winters interview, Dame Edna (Barry Humphries) continually says things so funny that Simon breaks up on the air. If laughter is contagious, it's certainly obvious here. I found myself breaking into laughter along with Simon.

If you want interviews on the business of Comedy, there's a better collection, culled from "Fresh Air with Terry Gross" (full title "Fresh Air: Laughs with Terry Gross" - also released by Highbridge Audio. (Note: there are no "Fresh Air" interviews on "Driveway Moments).

So, a better title for this set would be: "A Sampler of moments with comedians appearing on NPR magazine shows". I enjoyed it but it could have been better.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

Funny but not funniest, January 6, 2009
I expected the stories to be a lot funnier because it is called teh funniest driveway moments. I found that I laughed at some parts, but it was just as easy to turn it off and not finish the story or just skip to the next track. Overall it was good, but not as funny as I anticipated.

not so funny or gripping, and not too family-oriented either, December 25, 2008
I like NPR and the comedians on the CD, however I don't particularly agree with the title of the product or the product description. While there are (mostly) interviews with comedians, not much of the interview time is spent on their comic material. They spend more time talking about their lives. If you're familiar with the comedians (as I was) then this will be of some interest, whereas if you're not (or even if you are) you want to hear more of what makes them funny than that. Given that they're such short interviews, they're pretty light and not really as deep or gripping as the clever "driveway moments" description suggests. Had I been listening to them live on the radio, no, I would not have stayed in the car to finish listening to them.

They're also not so good for family listening. A piece on Pryor delves into the use of the "n word" going back and forth between using the word itself and the euphemism. Billy Connolly talks about his childhood sexual molestation and also the "dance of the flaming [...]" whereby some flaming paper is actually held in one's rear. Hmm.

True to the title, November 14, 2009
I sat in my driveway until the end of the CD because I had fallen asleep. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Now with more than forty pictures of naked breasts, Howard Stern's Miss America offers remarkable revelations about:

Howard's secret meeting with Michael Jackson!
The Stern family pact with Adolf Hitler!
Howard's never-before-revealed mental illness!

With chapters on Howard's ongoing battle with the FCC and his legendary campaign for governor of the state of New York, Miss America covers some of the greatest news stories of recent history—from the Atlantic City penis sandwich to an exclusive with Jackie O's embalming-fluid delivery boy and of course, Philadelphia's own fecal-obsessed Uncle Ed.

Reviews

More introspective than "Private Parts" but STILL FUNNY!, April 5, 2001
I thought "Private Parts" was funnier, but this book is different--it is more introspective but still has many hilarious moments. The hysterical chapter on Stern's meeting with Michael Jackson is definitely worth the price of this book alone. He trashes Jackson thoroughly, asking the question no one dares to ask: "If you love children so much, where are the girls?" I kept reading this chapter over and over again. What I like about Howard Stern is that he is not afraid to tell the truth. He is not awed by celebrities and doesn't hesitate to shred them apart when they deserve it. He is great at exposing celebrity hypocrisy and hype. Another incredibly funny account is Stern's experience with cybersex and meeting his cybermates in person. The language is foul, vulgar and crude in this book, but if you can get beyond that, you'll realize what an incredibly brilliant and funny man Stern is. Even the way he uses typefaces in this book effectively conveys his feelings to the reader and makes what he says twice as funny. If you're offended by graphic language, I wouldn't recommend this book. But if you have a biting, satirical, twisted sense of humor, you'll enjoy this book immensely.

Hilarious!, January 17, 2002
I don't read as much as many people, but I couldn't put this book down. My wife often had to tell me to stop laughing or leave the room! If you like Howard, you've gotta get this book.

Absolutely hysterical!, August 1, 2001
After reading Private parts, I fully expected this book to be similiar as I'd never read it but instead, it's a very humorous account of Howards many funny life events with a full account of his staff and their many duties. We hear about such fasinating things as Fartman's antics to his political era which I'm sure will go down in history. I beginning to ask myself, "Is there anything this man CAN'T do?" Funny and entertaining. I fully recommend this book.

Ground Breaking, January 25, 1999
Howard Stern proves again why he is called the King of All Media. A funny, truthful, and sometimes painful collection of behind the scenes stories. Also a great tribute to all those that have worked for him or against him. I dare any stern haters to read this book and compare it to any other book of its kind. Stern is the most important thing to hit radio since Marconi.

Great Fun Reading, August 4, 1998
This book is a must have for all Stern fans and also the Non-Stern fans who just want to actually have fun reading!Reading has become such a bore but not with Miss America by your side!HOWARD IS TRULY THE KING!!!

Awesome in it's jesting at any and all people he knows., July 21, 1998
I'll keep this short. Howard Stern's "Miss America" is probably considered repugnant to those he mocks, cajoles, baits and farts at. To the rest of us who aren't in his book, we understand the way in which the FCC has it in for him. We identify to being screwed over and being resented for our sucesses. Read the cybersex chapter first.

Five star is not enough!, July 3, 1998
Any moron can read, understand, and enjoy this book. This is the funniest book of all time--especially the Michael Jackson chapter. You can't help but to laugh out lound.

The best book I've ever read, better than Private Parts, June 23, 1998
I just couldn't put this book down. There were no boring chapters, everything I read made me laugh out loud. I hope Howard writes more books

a cocktail table curio for the non-insider....and...., January 27, 1998
a bathroom rack visual to oogle during pauses.

Stern is the Bill Clinton of invasive celebs in our lives which causes the meek and the squimish to avoid funny flix like "Private Parts" and this follow-up gem called "Miss America". Howard, like Woody Allen, is a non-template, insightful and easy to despise because of his persona. READ "MISS AMERICA" PLS!

Best book I've ever read!, October 14, 1997
I love this book for the simple fact that it straight out told the truth. Howard didn't hold back on anything! This book was funny and entertaining! I loved it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

“I think people have an absolute ear for what is true,” Garrison Keillor told an interviewer. It is this rare and marvelous sense of truth—of laughter, joy, and compassion and situations—that makes Keillor such a brilliant and beloved storyteller.

The collection includes: Your Book Saved My Life, Mister, End of the Trail, Meeting Famous People, Family Honeymoon Al Denny, Basketball, After A Fall, The Babe, We Are Still Married, Drowning, Attitude, Letter From Ruth Luger to Joanne Leinenkranz, Nu Er Der Youl Igen, The Chuck Show of Television. ... Read more

Reviews

First time listening-now a fan, August 29, 2005
I received this audiobook as a gift. And what a gift it was! I thouroughly enjoyed all of the stories, especially "Meeting Famous People" and "The Babe." These are all warm, witty stories, and Keillor's voice is wonderful to listen to. I am looking forward to hearing some of his other works.

Not his best work, May 25, 2001
Don't get me wrong; I would still rather listen to this than any other storyteller alive today, but there are plenty of things in my opinion that have come out of Keillor's brain that are vastly superior. Only if you have to have everything by this brilliant mind will you want this.

As mentioned, it is abridged and not live, May 25, 2001
Perhaps, and indeed probably, I am greatly spoiled by Keillor's stories. As a result, I don't like changes, such as the lack of a live audience which I think Keillor feeds off of. However, it must be said that there are stories here that only Garrison Keillor could possibly come up with and that is by no means nothing.

Excellent Story Teller, September 30, 2010
This is G. Keillor at his best. By stepping out of the Lake Woebegon box he expands to a number of unusual side trips that are a joy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Four all-time favorite episodes from the popular radio show—complete, unexpurgated, and hilarious.

Click and Clack may be America's most trusted car repair experts. They are certainly the funniest, as millions of listeners who tune in each week to Car Talk can attest. As each show unfolds, it develops its own zany feeling and rhythm, sometimes due to the strength of the coffee or a particularly large burr in Tommy's undershorts.

This Car Talk set is for fans who want to waste another four perfectly good hours. Rather than a "best of" collection, it's four complete shows—every call, every joke, every "Don't drive like my brother" admonition, every puzzler, every punny mention of a fictional show staff member (chauffeur Picov Andropov, night club manager Don Kashane), and every maniacal laugh.

The four shows include the 2002 Mother's Day extravaganza with Click and Clack's long-suffering mom, and "You Can’t Do It Unless the Number Is Two" from February 2001, the show that gave birth to a new Car Talk mantra and exposed Tommy's radical views on education (like, it should end after 7th grade). ... Read more

Reviews

Too Many Duplicates, August 16, 2007
Many of these episodes are already on their other CD's. In fact one CD is dedicated to Mother's Day and is almost a duplicate of the Maternal Combustion CD. With so many programs and so few CD's I don't know why they duplicate them.

Listen to the Boys.., April 13, 2009
I have played the CD several times in my car, even on our trip to Florida and we loved them, I can listen to those two guys over and over. Their way with people and what they know about cars is amazing. Even our friends from England love to hear Click and Clack, nothing like that over there, keep up the great works, guys.

A pick any 'Car Talk' fan will relish., September 7, 2007
Four favorite Car Talk shows selected by Tom and Ray Magliozzi (aka Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers) are presented in this winning collection, from a visit by Martha Stewart to 'Bugsy' Lawlor's letters home, this offers broadcast radio drama at its best and is a pick any 'Car Talk' fan will relish.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Editorial Review

"I know the liberals call you 'the most dangerous man in America,' but don't worry about it, they used to say the same thing about me. Keep up the good work."
-Ronald Reagan in a letter to Rush Limbaugh, December 11, 1992

Do you remember your first time?

People tend to remember the moment they first heard The Rush Limbaugh Show on the radio. For Zev Chafets, it was in a car in Detroit, driving down Woodward Avenue. Limbaugh's braggadocio, the outrageous satire, the slaughtering of liberal sacred cows performed with the verve of a rock-n-roll DJ-it seemed fresh, funny and completely subversive. "They're never going to let this guy stay on the air," he thought.

Almost two decades later Chafets met Rush for the first time, at Limbaugh's rarely visited "Southern Command." They spent hours together talking on the record about politics, sports, music, show business, religion and modern American history. Rush opened his home and his world, introducing Chafets to his family, closest friends, even his psychologist. The result was an acclaimed cover-story profile of Limbaugh in The New York Times Magazine.

But there was much more to say, especially after Limbaugh became Public Enemy Number One of the Obama Administration. At first Limbaugh resisted the idea of a full-length portrait, but he eventually invited Chafets back to Florida and exchanged more than a hundred emails full of his personal history, thoughts, fears and ambitions. What has emerged is an uniquely personal look at the man who is not only the most popular voice on the radio, but the leader of the conservative movement and one of the most influential figures in the Republican Party.

While Limbaugh's public persona is instantly recognizable, his background and private life are often misunderstood. Even devoted Dittoheads will find there's a lot they don't know about the self-described "harmless little fuzzball" who has, over the years, taken on the giants of the mainstream media and the Democratic Party-from Bill and Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama-with "half his brain tied behind his back, just to make it fair." Chafets paints a compelling portrait of Limbaugh as a master entertainer, a public intellectual, a political force, and a fascinating man. ... Read more

Reviews

My "Army of One" experience, May 27, 2010
I received the book from Amazon as I arrived home yesterday evening. I was obviously pleasantly surprised as displayed by the picture I sent to both of you. The irony was not lost on me either, as a book about Rush Limbaugh, defender and champion of the private sector was actually delivered ahead of "shed"-ule, (not to be confused with "sked"-ule) and un-damaged by that wonderful government program - The U.S. Postal Service. Who knew?!?

The book is about 210 pages long and is an easy and enjoyable read. I read it start to finish on the back patio in about 4 hours, where I smoked two Churchill's (La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 7), consumed three "adult beverages" (Laphroaig single malt scotch), and wore my Club Gitmo t-shirt ("Your tropical retreat from the stress of Jihad").

For ditto-heads who are everyday listeners, much of the material covered about the show is already known, e.g. - Operation Chaos, The NFL ownership saga, "I Hope He Fails", Michael J. Fox, etc... While ditto-heads know about these events because we attentively listen three hours a day, it is nice to be reminded of them, as they always bring back fond memories. Especially some of the older things we forget about back during the Clinton years that aren't as fresh on our minds. What was interesting to me was discovering how Rush personally feels about some of these things as they pertain to his show (not his politics); such as "Barack the Magic Negro" (by "white comedian" Paul Shanklin) is his favorite parody they've ever done on the show.

Interestingly enough we also find out a little "inside baseball" about the show and the people who make it happen, such as "Bo Snerdley" is actually James Golden and his politics were unknown to Rush when he was hired (Snerdley is actually a conservative, it's not a act. " He don't front, yo!" as the Official Obama Criticizer, Certified Black Enough100% Organic Slave Blood, might say). Additionally we find out Rush is similar to most of his listeners, in that he didn't like George H.W. Bush nor Bob Dole. During the 1992 and 1996 campaigns, he may have been seen as actively backing those candidates but in reality his attitude toward those two candidates were similar to his feelings on McCain; as Rush contends they were all essentially the same candidate: Moderate wishy-washy Republicans who stood for something other than pure Reaganism. As always, Rush was right. His relationship with "W" is also explored. He felt GWB would be more Reagan-esque in his policies than his father or Dole, and was disappointed how far "W" veered off that path after his 2004 re-election. However, they apparently do have a close friendship, even before he became president.

The most interesting part for regular listeners however, is not the recap of previous feuds or topics discussed on the show, but finding as what Rush is like as an actual person. He has always been a very private man and ambiguous about who he really is and what he REALLY thinks of himself and his success (as opposed to what his "on air" persona thinks of El Rushbo). This book cracks that shell...slightly, but really enough. Rush is a complex person in that he is very much a regular mid-western guy but apparently lives a very extravagant lifestyle; which is no surprise to someone worth close to $600 million, however he only really uses 3 or 4 rooms in his house, the rest are for his guests...he's very conscience about his guest being comfortable. When they stay on his five home estate they get the privilege of driving a black Maybach 57 S ($450,000 each) whenever they wish, wherever they wish. He also has a suit of armor, a life sized painting of himself, an exact replica of the chandelier the hung in the NY Plaza hotel lobby over his dining room table. Not my taste, but it's his money. Also, unlike most liberals, he a good tipper. The author came to discover from the wait staff at a restaurant (not Rush) he often tips upwards of $5,000 at dinner. While being interviewed by Chafets, Rush asked the question, "Do you know what bought me all this?" Before Chafets could answer, Rush proudly decreed, "Capitalism"! Rush, being the regular guy he is may also be prone to "adult language", which he apparently inherited from his father. Off air, during commercial breaks, he often call the Bamster a "f-ing liar", to which Snerdley replies "If I could lie like that, I could have any girl in the world."

Reading about his family history (they're like "royalty" in Cape Girardeau, well before Rush III was born) and how Rush (Rusty as a child) navigated several attempts as a DJ with varying success, his time as a "racial pioneer" in the marketing department in Kansas City, to his relationship with his brother were fascinating. What was most fascinating to me was Rush didn't ever really speak of politics of his political opinions until he was in his early thirties. His childhood and adult friends, such as George Brett, has no idea he was such a conservative and so skilled at articulating what it means to be a conservative.

The book is a fair portrayal of Rush, it's exactly what ditto-heads would have expected. There are some parts we may have a disagreement with the author; Chafets thinks Rush has a blind spot on race in America, or that he crossed the line when it came to "Caller Abortions" (which I still think were a brilliant piece of radio). Overall, I would say for ditto-heads it's a very satisfying book which basically confirms what we already know about Rush, or what we suspected. I would definitely recommend it to ditto-heads.

For liberals, my recommendation may be a different story. If you already have your mind may up about Rush, this book isn't for you. You'll dismiss it as an airbrushed, lying portrayal of "racist, bigot, sexist, homophobe" (which is liberal speak for any conservative) because it actually humanized him and paints him as a good person. And as most good liberals know, there are no good conservatives.

If you're on the fence about Rush or unfamiliar with him but interested, first of all, listen to him for three week...then pick up this book.

Not the Man the Media Portrays, May 25, 2010
[Note: I've changed my rating from 5 to 4, only because the more I think about it, the more I feel that the lightweight nature of the book does not push it into a 5-star category. Still a good airplane read. But not great biography. M. Alexander]

Zev Chafets new book works as a kind of corrective to the spin put on Rush by our Legacy Media. And because this book (probably for the most part) is based on Rush's cooperation with the author, the reader gets some fascinating insights into Rush.

Unlike Zev, who first heard Rush as a national radio host, I first heard Rush long before he became a national icon, and so I had exposure to him without media spin. Although I don't agree with some of what Rush says (for example, I am pro-choice and okay with gay marriage...what business is it of the government anyway?)

I lived in Sacramento, California, when Rush Limbaugh first came to town and tried out his new 3-hour radio format without guests, just his own power as an entertainer and political commentator. Nobody knew about Rush, so nobody had much of a chance to plant a manufactured picture of him before he went on the air.

A friend and I listened to his moderate conservative voice, irreverent humor, and his intelligent political commentary. He was a hit in Sacramento, and within a few years was marked to go national. We knew he would be big.

We also anticipated how he would be attacked as a far-rightwing extremist, a hate-filled conservative. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but the politics is such that implanting that image before people had a chance to hear him would guarantee that a significant portion of the audience wouldn't hear him. Unfortunartely, once people were predisposed to be convinced of the "truth" that Rush Limbaugh was extremist and hate-filled and meanspirited, they would filter their experience of him in light of that "truth."

As a side note, and to dispell the myth of Rush as a rightwing Christian extremist, in the 1980s in Sacramento, during the time when Christian evangelists were finding evil lyrics being recorded in reverse on record albums to program the Devil into the nation's youth, Rush decided to expose how ridiculous that was. (Rush's has a DJ's background, and you will notice that many of the entertainment tactics on his show are DJ-oriented).

On a Monday, he announced that to his listeners that Slim Whitman's "Una Paloma Blanca" contained such reversed lyrics. He did not play an example that day, but he seriously assured listeners that Slim Whitman's albums were a danger to the American Way of Life. Christians called up seriously believing Rush. They did not catch on that he was making fun of them.

On Tuesday, he kept the satire going and people still bought it. By Wednesday he brought in an example, which he played on the air. It was ridiculous, with a devilish voice saying, "Well, you found me, Old Beelzebub...etc" People still thought it was real.

On Thursday, finally, readers were calling up saying they knew it was a satire, astonished that the Sacramento evangelical Christian community did not recognize the satire, and finally Rush admitted that he had manufactured the whole thing to make a satirical point.

Rush was not well-liked by those Christians in Sacramento.

If you have a reactive negative response to Rush, AND you have not invested much time in actually listening to him, I would suggest that you are a victim of intentional programming. Rush is a conservative, but has intelligence and a fine sense of humor. Zev's book gives you wonderful details, even for the devoted Rush fan.

(Added from my comments)

A book like this will primarily attract longtime fans, who like me will know all the stories in it. Chafets provides a lot of ornamentation, but nothing substantively new. Which is fine. Rush is very transparent about his life, and his critics have already dug up the light amount of dirt in his life story.

Chafets writes in a conversational style. This is neither great biography in the Churchillian sense, nor it a mere pap. It strikes a nice light middle tone, and is a fast airplane-trip read. The greatest strength of this book is that Chafets has done some legwork, traveling to the cities Rush inhabited, speaking with people from his past and present, quoting conversations, as well as current conversations with Rush. The book is only gently chronological, jumping around in time, especially in the second half. It has an index that is good enough, and reads quite well on my iPad's iBook app. (Not available in Kindle yet.)

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "HE COULD VANQUISH HIS CRITICS *WITH HALF-HIS-BRAIN TIED BEHIND HIS BACK, JUST TO MAKE IT FAIR*", May 27, 2010
Combining historical data along with personal interviews and emails from Rush himself... author Zev Chafets has fashioned a detailed narrative of Rush Limbaugh's life from childhood to his current day *MEGA-STAR* status. While unabashedly admitting in the opening that the first time he heard Rush on the radio was akin to the first time he saw Elvis on TV... I found it refreshing that the author did not try to cover-up Limbaugh's gaffes whether public or private. Along with following Rush's life steps from Missouri... to Pennsylvania... to California... to New York... to Florida... and everywhere in between... this remarkably free-flowing easy to read tale of the man that Ronald Reagan himself dubbed "THE-MOST-DANGEROUS-MAN-IN-AMERICA"... includes his prescription drug addiction... rehab... legal battles... and public embarrassment and mea culpa.

Rising from not being an overly popular teenager who worked as a disc jockey and whose life goals were more of the same... to becoming perhaps the most influential non-politician in the country... Chafets digs deep to show the influence and history of the men in Rush's family. Rush's Grandfather, Rush Sr. was a lawyer and when he retired at the age of *ONE-HUNDRED-TWO-YEARS-OLD* he was the oldest attorney working in the United States. A fact that Rush's enemies might want to take into consideration if they're hoping Rush won't be around very long. Rush's Father, Rush Junior, also a lawyer... was an absolute hero to Rush III... "AND STILL CALLS HIM THE SMARTEST MAN I EVER MET." "BIG RUSH" was a World War II combat pilot and his anti-communist opinions and the way he thought the United States should be run formed the nucleus of what Rush is today. Brother David is also a lawyer and worked out most of the deals that have made Rush a multi-multi-millionaire. One of those deals was a partnership with the former head of ABC Radio, Ed McLaughlin. "THE ARRANGEMENT MADE A FORTUNE FOR BOTH LIMBAUGH AND McLAUGHLIN." David (With Rush's approval.) is interviewed and quoted throughout the book.

Along the way to conservative radio greatness Rush worked for the Kansas City Royals baseball team for five years in a number of non-glamorous positions... and despite his non-athletic capabilities and desires... became a close friend of Hall Of Famer George Brett. Limbaugh who is famous for assigning mocking nicknames to his political enemies wasn't always known as Rush Limbaugh. At times he was known as "RUSTY SHARPE" and "BACHELOR JEFF CHRISTIE". Along with making money Limbaugh created a whole new talk radio vocabulary. His fans became known as "DITTOHEADS"... and enemies fell under many "Rushian" categories such as... "UGLO-AMERICANS"... "COMMIE PINKO LIBERALS"... "FEMINAZIS" and "TREE HUGGERS". The author as well as Rush is not afraid to step up to the plate regardless of who's pitching. The author deftly writes: "HE HAD BEEN GIVEN HIS FIRST CHANCE TO REALLY TAKE ON THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN 1992, WHEN TED KOPPEL INVITED HIM TO DEBATE SENATOR AL GORE ON ABC'S "NIGHTLINE". LIKE THE FIRST ALI-LISTON BOUT, IT LOOKED LIKE A RIDICULOUS MISMATCH." Following a wordy Gore screed... "KOPPEL WAS EVIDENTLY IMPRESSED." "I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ON CAPITOL HILL WHO IS MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE SUBJECT OF ENVIRONMENT THAN AL GORE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY WHAT HE SAYS."

"LIMBAUGH DIDN'T HAVE TO AND HE DIDN'T. HE KNEW PERFECTLY WELL THAT GORE WASN'T A CLIMATOLOGIST, HE JUST PLAYED ONE ON TV."

This far sweeping montage includes not only Rush's 1994 updated "35 UNDENIABLE TRUTHS OF LIFE"... (Here's a sample of some of my favorites.) #10- "THE 1980's WAS NOT A DECADE OF GREED BUT A DECADE OF PROSPERITY; IT WAS THE LONGEST PERIOD OF PEACETIME GROWTH IN AMERICAN HISTORY." #25- "FOLLOW THE MONEY. WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, "IT'S NOT THE MONEY," IT'S ALWAYS THE MONEY." #29- LIBERALS MEASURE COMPASSION BY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GIVEN WELFARE. CONSERVATIVES MEASURE COMPASSION BY HOW MANY PEOPLE NO LONGER NEED IT."... but also includes an interview (Approved by Rush.) with "Florida based-clinical psychologist, Steven Stumwasser, who specializes in treating addiction" and had Rush as a patient. Whether you love Rush... or hate Rush... this book is well worth your time.

Excellent. Not A Sycophant Author., June 1, 2010
Top reasons I liked and recommend this book:
-It discloses both the good and not good side of Limbaugh in well-written prose.
-This author writes about Rush Limbaugh's life in an objective manner and not as a fan.
-It contains facts about Limbaugh that were previously unknown (some Limbaugh would not like you to know).
-It emphasizes the facts properly and doesn't dwell on the more pedantic portions of his life too long.
-The author uses fantastic sources (including Limbaugh himself) to document events.
-The events in Limbaugh's life are just plain unusual and very interesting.
-Although I am not in agreement with him on some issues, Limbaugh is a fascinating personality.

Cancelling out Avid Readers DA Review, May 26, 2010
Since Avidreader gave the book one star without reading it; I'm giving it 5 stars since I know it will be great and at least I'm honest about what I'm doing--cancelling out Avidreader's ignorance.

Chafets is a real reporter, June 20, 2010
I have to agree with M. Alexander's review that the book is too lightweight to get a five-star rating. At just over 200 pages, it will be a one-sitting read for a lot of people, two sittings for me.

Having been in the news business myself for 25 years, I can quickly smell who's trying to render an honest report and who's pushing some kind of agenda.

Chafets is a real reporter. And there's not a lot of them left.

Part of this job is recognizing your own biases -- and everybody is biased one way or another. Armed with this knowledge, you try to sift your facts carefully and try to be as fair as you can to everybody, even those you don't agree with. A lot of the time, that just means quoting people in context. Just because I don't agree with somebody doesn't mean I need to do a hatchet job on them. And I can think of a couple occasions where I had such doubts about a person's integrity that I just held my fire -- at least until the criminal justice system finally confirmed my suspicions and I could finally go ahead and write in confidence.

Chafets' writing fits my standards for ethical journalism. He's no conservative but you can tell on every page that he's trying to make sense of his subject and do as fair and balanced a report as he can.

I finished "An Army of One" just a couple days after Chafets' 1990 "Devil's Night: And Other Tales of Detroit." Although somewhat dated, it's still worth tracking down. You can sense a little liberal bias here and there but overall, Chafets went to Detroit with his eyes, ears, and mind open.

We probably won't see the definitive Limbaugh biography in our lifetimes. Indeed, just the show transcripts could have been mined for maybe 100 pages of additional material. Still, Chafets manages to cover a lot of territory in just over 200 pages, and in a thoroughly fair and engaging manner.

Ignore the Liberals!, June 5, 2010
I just finished the book, and I thought it was very good. I particularly enjoyed reading about Rush when he's not on the radio...in private times. I wish there had been more of that. But it was enjoyable reliving Rush's past triumphs (and not so much the let-downs).

I thought the author's treatment of Rush was fair; but of course that will cause the knee-jerk liberals to claim bias. Just hearing the conservative side of an argument is considered bias by liberals.

Reading some of the other reviews, the negative ones, I see the same old tired accusations; Rush is a racist, bigot, etc. Any one who listens to Rush knows that is not true, and I think they just sound like narrow minded bigots themselves. I think a lot of conservatives are a little tired of being called names. But that's okay; the liberals will have their heads handed to them in November with the help of El Rushbo...and I can't wait.

If you're a liberal who might be curious, this is the book for you. I consider this book to be an honest portrayal of Rush. And it's entertaining.

I highly recommend the book!

Review of John K. Wilson's Review, June 1, 2010
This is a review of the earlier review of this book by the highly liberal and absurdly biased John K Wilson, rather than a review of the book itself. Although I thought that the book was great (I did read it), I wanted to take a moment to comment on the freakishly lengthy, phony hatchet-job that Wilson did. I'm sitting here wondering if he was paid to write his review.

As an intractable sycophant for Barack Obama (Wilson's written two adoring books on his savior) and the left, Wilson's childish non-review is nothing more than a naive slam by someone with a pre-determined agenda. Wilson's also written a highly "forced" review, since he struggled to hunt up any issue--most trivial--that he could find to expand into something that he claims is important

Wilson criticizes Chafets' relationship with Rush (Obama's two autobiographies were ghost written by admirers--what a surprise!), mentions the tired old story of Rush's ancient drug use, invents nonsense implying that Chafets is a racist, criticizes a lack of endnotes and sources (does anyone care?), pretends to be surprised that "Chafets is a relentless defender of Rush," makes a confused and accusatory argument that alleges that "Chafets projects his own moderate conservative views onto Limbaugh," claims that "Chafets simply failed to ask any important questions..." (vague, damning opinion), falsely claims that "the book is also piled high with filler," makes a nonsense argument that "there's not one word in the book about Limbaugh's inept misunderstandings about the Constitution" by citing a trivial mistake (a common liberal device), whines about typos, and complains that the book is poorly researched and offers a single error as evidence.

Wilson goes on and on, picking at anything that he can find and inventing the rest. Then at the bottom of his review, he notes that he's the author of a new book, "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Rush Limbaugh's Assault on Reason."

Yes, Wilson is certainly biased, and his agenda is obvious.

Wilson's absurd opus magnum has so many false and misleading statements that it's a disgrace. I recommend that you ignore his review.

One of a kind., June 12, 2010
Most people who "know" that Limbaugh is a racist, lying hate-monger have never listened to his radio program. Similarly, these people won't read a book about him that is fair minded, accurate, informative and entertaining. Perhaps they couldn't understand either. Too bad for them, its their loss.

"I hope he fails!!", August 1, 2010
This is an excellent book if anyone wants to know who Rush Limbaugh is and why and what he does that makes him such a popular spokesman in America today.
If you have been listening to "Old Rushbo" on the EIB Network for years as I have,there is nothing in this book that will surprise you;although there are still enough interesting tidbits to make it a worthwhile read for any ardent Limbaugh fan.
One thing that did first amaze me was that so many of the Reviewers rated this book so highly.A book of this nature usually results in Reviewers giving ratings based on their political bent.I can only come to the conclusionn that very few Reviewers readers were Liberals,and in my experience to suggest to a Liberal that they should read a book about Rush Limbaugh ;would be a total waste of one's time.
There is no doubt that Limbaugh is an entertainer,and he makes no bones about it.He is also a true believer and proponent of conservative principles;and he frequently states that he is a conservative without any qualifiers.As a comparison, Democrats can't stand it when the word Liberal or Socialist is used to describe them,and they even shy away from using it.
Just for fun when I am around Liberals,and here in Canada,they are even more plentiful in the Media,Education,Government positions, and all forms of public service,and unions ;I mention Limbaugh and they turn green with hate and venom. Then I ask them if they ever listen to him,they say they wouldn't waste their time .These people are great listeners and supporters of the CBC,the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,a government and highly Liberal and Socialist slanted organ.In fact if you want to listen to Rush Limbaugh one has to go to the Buffalo radio station if you live in the Toronto area.Standard cable offerings here,offer only CNN,NBC,MSNBC,ABC,and of course CBC or as Rush would call them "The Drive -By Media",If you choose to listen to Fox---then that is a special,and you have to subscribe to it as an extra.That is what the Regulators consider fair and balanced.As a matter of fact,there is pressure to make Aljazera a regular offering with the BBC ..but never Fox News...Forget that thought!!
Limbaugh is very open with his thoughts and he never clouds things up like his oponents on the Left do.He is ready and able to debate all comers and all ideas.However;he feels and frequently states that the Left are unable to compete in the aerena of ideas and openly tells them that ,that is the reason he has virtually no copetition when it comes to Talk Shows.He had Al Franken (who failed with his highly sponsored Talk Show)on his show once,and if he wanted to learn how to be successful ,he would show him.Franken gave up and decided with the help of Soros to run for the Senate.His success and following performance in the Senate is turning out to be no better than his success with his talk show.Maybe he should go back and talk to Rush,he'll surely have some good advice for him.Just to show how adept Rush is at what he does,he had Michael Moore on his show and it was pitiful how outmached the great one from the Left was in trying to compete with Rush in "the arena of ideas.
When the Drive-By bedia took Rush's comment about how he hoped Obama would fail in his attempts to take America down the road to Socialism,Rush confronted them face on,and showed them for what they were.Although Rush knows what he believes in and never clouds it in smoke and mirrors,he is seldom wrong.
When the Media put on the blindfolds and slanted everything to support Obama;Limbaugh warned what and who Obama was all about.Limbaugh is looking more right than ever as time goes on,and there are beginning to be a lot of people who are coming to the conclusion that they didn't really know who Obama was.They should have listened to Limbaugh..and that goes for the Media too.
If you are going to critize Limbaugh,you'd best stick with the types of cigars he smokes,or what football team he backs;but in the arena of ideas,you're choosing a formidable opponent.
Over the years,Rush has stood up and been counted on many issues.
Just last week,he took on the whole business of Electric cars that "Omama Motors" and the enviromentalists are foisting on America.The Government is shovelling huge amounts of money into this dream to produce a little 4-seater car (sewing machine on wheels),costing over 40K,has a range of 40 miles(and what do you do when you get there,wait for hours to recharge it,where?) or return on its back-up engine that uses high grade gas;and wait till we find out how long the battery lasts and how much a replacement will be worth.Talk about a Socialist approach of producing a product nobody wants.All for a warped idea of an alternative to using energy sources that are readily available,and the left foolishly obstructs development.The only thing that Rush didn't say,was that he hopes they fail.He didnt have to,the future of the "Volt" will compete with the "Edsel"--remember that boondoggle?
If you don't think Rush is dead right about this,let me know me when you see John Kerry,Bonny Frank,Nancy Pelosi,Harry Read,and the rest of these Liberals trading in their Limos and Jets for a "Volt".Rush ain't fallin for this one either,and makes it clear that he is going to continue with his own fleet that he has acquired with his own money that he has earned himself,without any stimulus from any bunch of Socialists.
If you are a Conservative ,you'll enjoy this book;and on second thought,don't even tell your Liberal friends about it,they're still looking for a copy of "The New Soldier" by John Kerry.It's harder to find than an "Edsel",but in a few years you might find find the "Volt" in a museum alongside that little Nash car that could drive from the road then right into the water like a boat ,even its name escapes me now.Like the "Volt";nobody wanted it either. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An entertaining and insightful examination of the Emmy-award winning American satirical news show, broadcast on Comedy Central in the US, and (in an edited edition) on More4 in the UK and CNN International around the world.

• Includes discussion of both The Daily Show and its spin-off show, The Colbert Report
  
• Showcases philosophers at their best, discussing truth, knowledge, reality and the American Way
  
• Highlights the razor sharp critical skills of Jon Stewart and his colleagues
  
• Faces tough and surprisingly funny questions about politics, religion, and power head on

Reviews

Jon Stewart: A Modern Socrates?, October 18, 2007
That's one of the comparisons the authors make, and they may have a point.
What this book has to offer is a bunch of essays, by various authors, of the worldview, the methods and morals of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and the merry band of Senior Correspondents.
I greatly enjoyed all of them, and I thought there were some great insights in there. I only regret that the essays were a bit repetitive, sometimes, and that the philosophical theories involved didn't go much much beyond the Greeks (and the Founding Fathers). But a good read overall!

Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. ~Peter Ustinov, December 17, 2007
With elections coming and Jon Stewart sadly taking a break, this book substitutes (and when the writer's strike ends, should complement) as a guide to thinking critically about the media and the flat caricatures they give us of candidates.

I agree with the previous reviewer that the essays tend to overlap, but the still cover a lot of ground. The most repeated and important topics being: What is irony and what's good about it? What should the role of media be in a democracy and why do we learn this from a show on Comedy Central?

There is a reason that this book is The Daily Show and Philosophy and that there will never be a book about Bill O'Reilly and Philosophy or Wolf Blitzer and Philosophy. Somehow comedians have come to be some of our best journalists too. Watch the show because it's hilarious. Read this book to understand why this particular kind of humor is so desperately needed.

You never know what you're going to get, January 3, 2008
This odd little book is part of an odd little series at Blackwell on Philosophy and Popculture (yes, that's how they spell it). Some chapters aim to explore serious philosophical issues such as irony or truth with reference to "The Daily Show." Other chapters seem to be excuses for the author to play around with their favorite show and call it scholarship. It's far from clear what the book as a whole is trying to do, other than helping the publisher make some sales.

As this suggests, the chapters are highly variable in quality. As a rule of thumb, those chapters that quote more extensively from the "Daily Show" succeed better than those that don't. A few have almost no discussion of the show at all, instead using a theme from the show as a starting point for a riff unconnected with the show itself. The better chapters explore some serious issue with material taken from the show.

While some chapters don't really discuss "The Daily Show," others don't really discuss philosophy. For example, some successful chapters: analysis of the structure of Jon Stewart's humor and political rhetoric. That's not philosophy, but that really doesn't matter - - the chapter works. Most of the chapters do work in one way or another.

The book as a whole reveals a weak editorial hand as there is significant repetition across chapters. Most glaringly, two consecutive chapters summarize Harry Frankfurt's concept of "bullshit," while only one (the second, as it turns out) is necessary. Far too many chapters repeat the Annenberg Foundation study that frets about people getting their news from "The Daily Show" -- though one chapter, to its credit, makes a serious argument than this is a Good Thing.

Finally, one feature of this book warrants comment. The contributors reflect a young crowd of academics, and only five of the 21 have tenure. (If you chose philosophers at random from their association directory, you'd probably get the reverse, with five untenured out of 21.) They don't, for the most part, teach at prestigious places. These chapters in an edited book from a commercial press are unlikely to help their professional advancement. Why are they writing these chapters, then? Do they want their students to think they're cool? Are they doing serious philosophy? Are they just messing around? The book gave me no insight into the authors' purposes, and that purpose should be an important part of any book. A few are trying to be funny, and those chapters actually worked pretty well and I knew what the author was up to.

Whatever the goal, it's true that I learned a bit about philosophy and I gained some insight into why "The Daily Show" works as humor, news, and media critique. I also skimmed quickly through some chapters, which didn't really do any of those things. The book most resembled Forrest Gump's box of chocolates.

Real Philosophy, Srsly!, October 17, 2009
This is a real philosophical analysis of the humor and also the information of the Daily Show. Fans will love it because it gives great respect for our hero, John Stewart, including comparing him to philosophers of the past. If you have a friend who does not appreciate the Daily Show, buy this book and quote a few pithy passages from it as your arguments in favor of giving the show another chance. John Stewart is a genius, and the book makes it clear why.

This book is a must have and a must read for TDS/TCR fans., January 31, 2008
This book is a must have and must read for not only all The Daily Show but also, ALL The Colbert Report fans! It's absolutely brilliant. Period.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Skits, songs, stories, and more from A Prairie Home Companion reveal the secret world of a stalwart people.

When you fly Lutheran Air, there’s no first class, meals are potluck with assignments by rows (rows 1-6, bring rolls; rows, 7-15, salad), all fares are by freewill offering, and the plane doesn’t land until the budget is met.

Welcome to the Land of Lutherans, where people drive Fords, wear cardigans, go to church at Third Lutheran (which used to be called First Lutheran, but Lutherans are more comfortable with being Third), drink a lot of coffee, serve chow mein noodles on tuna hot dish, work hard, and don’t make a fuss. Selected from live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion, this collection celebrates the kindest people on God’s green earth—except for the mean ones. If you’re not a Lutheran, you’ll laugh out loud. If you are, you’ll smile as hard as you can.

Contents:

• I’m a Lutheran
• Lutheran Tours: Vacation Guilt
• Potato Salad
• Elim Lutheran Anniversary with Philip Brunelle
• Iniquity on the Tundra with Charles Keating
• LYLE: Lutheran Youth League for Evangelism
• St. Patrick’s Day
• The Story of Bob with Vern Sutton
• Church Directory
• Guy Noir: New Year’s Eve Indiscretion
• LOL: Lutherans On Line
• Lutheran Polka
• Summer Vacation
• Flood: Floating Away with Your Pastor
• Evelyn Lundquist Counseling Agency (ELCA): Easter Briefing
• Church Organist

Reviews

Garrison Keillor and the Lutherans, November 15, 2009
For his take on "Church People," Garrison Keillor has collected some of the best Lutheran bits from A Prairie Home Companion. There are songs, several "New from Lake Wobegon" accounts, skits and other bits of humor, all related in some way to the Lutherans Keillor characterizes as dour makers of hot dishes who are filled with cold country guilt. It's great for a long ride across Kansas in November and other times you need to fill up silent time and space. This is one of his best collections in recent years. Good listening even for Methodists and other more optimistic sorts.

Very entertaining..., December 7, 2009
We recently traveled a long distance for Thanksgiving. Church People provided hours of entertainment. There is a wide variety of selections on this collection, all fun to listen to.

Church People is an enjoyable CD, February 14, 2010
I heard one track on the radio at Christmas and had to get this CD. It was the one on the mythical church organists. I expect to have a lot of fun playing this for friends and family. I am Baptist, not Lutheran, but I still find this a funny CD. No one is made fun of, he just points out the foibles of human nature.

Lutherans arise!!, August 27, 2010
This book on CD had me giggling from beginning to end. As a lifelong Lutheran, as well as a Lutheran pastor's daughter, a choir director and organist, I could totally relate. I Love Garrison Keillor and his humor!

A Mighty storyteller is our Garrison!, September 15, 2010
Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" has been the source of wonderful music and stories for the past 30-odd years. This collection of material from the show is but the tiniest smidgen of the wonderful things that Keillor and his cast have to offer around the topic of religion. Keillor serves up commercials for Lutheran Airlines (Motto: "An uplifting experience") where dinner is potluck, and for Lutherans On Line, who want a church experience that is more interactive and meaningful (read, "shorter.") We get several segments of the news from Lake Wobegon, dealing with overreaching substitute organists, a baseball beaning that triggers a man's existential crisis, the patriotic wonders of a properly made Fourth of July potato salad and a pastor's angst when the wrong picture gets into the church directory. Guy Noir makes an appearance, helping a young Sunday school teacher who tipsily bared more of herself than her soul. The interview with a woman adrift in her home on the flooded Red River, using crates of Bibles for ballast, was hilarious. The polka band playing old hymns was a hit, as was the piece on summer vacations, the low point of every Midwest Lutheran's warm season.

"Church People," recorded before various live audiences, is heartwarming, irreverent, doleful and joyful by turns. Keillor's deep, sonorous voice is a treasure that never gets old. Worth repeated listens.

Church People, April 3, 2010
If you love Garrison Keillor you have to listen to this. If you have ever enjoyed a church supper, groaned at the church organist, or smiled at Prairie Home Companion, this is a must buy. The music and observations are funny and poignant.

Misunderstood product, May 17, 2010
I thought I was getting a book on CD that would be read by Garrison Kiellor. Instead it is a collection of radio skits. I did listen to all of them, and passed along the CD to my Pastor. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Before Bob & Ray, comedians told jokes. After Bob & Ray, they told stories. When they first got together in 1946 on WHDH-AM Boston, no one guessed that their subtle, intelligent, deadpan brand of humor would revolutionize the comedic landscape.

With a gift for an improvisation and a keen understanding of the absurd, Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding created a universe of wonderful characters and rewrote the rules for what’s funny. Consider any important comedy star since—Bob Newhart, Garrison Keillor, Woody Allen, Johnny Carson, George Carlin, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld—and you can hear the debt to Bob & Ray.

This collection honors the two and only with selections from their early years (1950s, ’60s, and ’70s) and public radio years (’80s), their 1984 Carnegie Hall performances, and three previously unreleased archival recordings. ... Read more

Reviews

Good news and bad news (plus a full listing of the 96 track titles) ..., October 5, 2010
The GOOD news is for anyone who doesn't already own a collection of Bob & Ray recordings. This is an extensive and representative collection of their humor, at a reasonable price. One could argue whether or not these particular routines are the "very best" - that's always going to be a subjective opinion - but the collection is strong throughout and includes all the familiar classics, such as the Komodo Dragon Expert, the Slow Talkers of America, and Wally Ballou with the Cranberry Man.

The BAD news is for anyone who does already own a significant number of Bob & Ray releases. All but THREE of the 96 tracks have been previously released, sometimes more than once already. And I don't mean in alternate versions, but in these exact, same recordings. To be honest to the consumer, this package should have been entitled "The Very Best of Previously Released Bob & Ray." Unfortunately I now understand why HighBridge Company provided virtually no information about content (either to Amazon or on their own website) prior to the release. The phrase "previously unreleased archival recordings" -- three, count `em THREE, new tracks out of 96! -- in the product description can only be called deceptive.

If you own the collection entitled "A Night of Two Stars: Live at Carnegie Hall," you already have more than 20% of this set. If you also own the "Classic Bob & Ray" releases, you already own 63% of this set.

As for my rating: If you did not grow up listening to Bob & Ray, their humor is perhaps an acquired taste. This collection may well help you acquire it. For those who already love Bob & Ray, it will be a pleasure to listen to these 5 hours. Therefore, for content I would rate the collection a 5, BUT ... for remilking the same cash cow SO shamelessly, it should be no more than a 2. I felt a bit generous in granting a 4.

If you're wondering about the quality of the product, here's my take. The audio quality of the previous CD releases was already high and nothing has been lost in this version. The packaging is sturdy, not overly bulky, & pleasant enough. The enclosed, mildly illustrated booklet has a good essay by Kerrie Mills, clean graphics, and a full track list. When loaded onto an mp3 player, the track titles have only a few bizarre misspellings and only a couple of the tracks are inaccurately titled (how on earth did THAT happen?).

I hope you won't mind my venting once more about the re-release issue. The booklet lists SIX "previously unreleased bonus tracks" ... not at all correct! Track #93 was included in "Vintage Bob & Ray, Vol. 2", and two others were included several months ago on the "Complete Bob & Ray" flash drive collection (you don't want to know how much I paid for that set of 1800+ tracks!). Think about the logic ... "Previously unreleased" means absolutely zilch to anyone who doesn't own previous sets. This enticement is ONLY intended for people, such as me, who DO own other B&R products, and therefore a mere three (or even six) new tracks for 20+ dollars is grossly insulting. Granted I had anticipated the new material certainly wouldn't exceed 30% of the total, but really ... a measly 3%? (And, y'know, there must be so much wonderful, unfamiliar stuff in the vaults that could have been substituted here and there.) I can only assume they wanted to save on production costs.

I met Bob & Ray many years ago and felt they were very kindly, introspective & generous individuals. I don't begrudge Bob Elliott or the heirs of Ray Goulding a penny of my money, but Larry Josephson, the producer of this set, should treat his paying customers better.

Here's my track listing. It was done quickly, so I apologize for any mistakes ...

Disk 1 - "Classics" (taken entirely from "A Night of Two Stars")
1. Reuniting The Whirleys: Frank and Tabbetha
2. Ralph Flinger, Mr. I Know Where They Are: Harlow Freeney, Chester Cogwell, Bessie Farley, Louis Gorby, Otto von Romo
3. Biff Burns In The Sports Room: Low jumping contest
4. Sales Achievement Award
5. The Bob And Ray House Of Toast: Commercial
6. Lucy Luscious Nut Fudge Spotless Kitchen: Percival Proudhome
7. Wally Ballou At The Paperclip Factory
8. Hobby Hut With Neil Clummer: Parnell W. Garr; odd-shaped fruits and vegetables
9. Neil Clummer's Next Appearance: Announcement
10. The Komodo Dragon
11. Wally Ballou Covers A Bannister Sliding Contest
12. Tippy The Wonderdog: To the lumber yard
13. Elmer W. Litzinger, Spy: Mediterranean submarines
14. Mr. Trace, Keener Than Most Persons: The overdose of very fatal poison murder clue
15. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Ralph Crusader; faulty socks
16. Garish Summit: Caldwell Merchfield suddenly appears
17. The Slow Talkers Of America
18. Wally Ballou In Times Square: Ward Smith, cranberry grower
19. The McBeeBee Twins: Ice cream truck
20. Radio Show Outro: Write if you get work, hang by your thumbs

Disk 2 - "Soap Operas"
21. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Bob Tells The Story Of Their 1954 Parody Of The Army-McCarthy Hearings; Commissioner Carstairs Fulminates
22. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Mary Calls Chairman Mush; She Has Some Information
23. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Calvin Hoogavin Takes The Stand And Damages Harry's Case
24. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Harry Takes The Stand; He Makes A Fatal Mistake
25. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Commissioner Carstairs Drops A Bombshell
26. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Harry's Case Seems Lost; The Committee Adjourns
27. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Attorney Surrogate Shows The Committee A Picture
28. Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife: Andre Detour Takes The Stand
29. Chester Hasbrouck Frisbee: Talks With Bob About Future Mary Backstayge Episodes
30. The Lives And Loves Of Linda Lovely: Linda & David Approach The New Year
31. Emergency Ward: Removing A Salad Fork From Patient's Ear
32. One Fella's Family: Roses In The Garden
33. Lawrence Fechtenberger, Interstellar Officer Candidate: Graduation Day
34. Matt Neffer, Boy Spot Welder: Matt's New Invention
35. Wayside Doctor: Dr. David MuHu, Hawaiian Eye, Ear, And Throat Man
36. The Gathering Dusk: Edna Bessinger Receives A Visit From Federal Treasury Agent Lowenbarger

Disk 3 - "Experts & Features"
37. Aunt Penny's Sunlit Kitchen: Mr. And Mrs. Eugene Spatz
38. Squad Car 119: Suspicious Fingerprints
39. Hard Luck Stories: Swiss Trip; Nut Matching Service; Trailer In Street
40. Smelly Dave Visits Bridgeport: Ran Out Of Ice In Iowa
41. Bob & Ray Was There: Hannibal Crosses The Alps
42. Bob & Ray's Gourmet Club: The Edward R. Murrow Sandwich
43. Mary McGoon's Frozen Ginger Ale Salad Recipe
44. Mr. Trace, Keener Than Most Persons: The Case Of The Hiccupping Cast
45. Dining Out With Bob And Ray: Bernie's Pushcart On The Green
46. Martin LeSoeur, Raconteur: Suicidal Man; Foreign Submarine
47. Wing Po, Itinerant Philosopher: Looking For Work On The Frontier
48. Wally Ballou Covers A Kazoo Festival: At The Boca Raton Hotel
49. Dr. Elmer Stapley, The Word Wizard: Why Do Horseback Riders Shout Whoa?
50. Mr. Science: Jimmy Learns About Sunrays
51. Fred Falby, The Do-It-Yourselfer: Fixing Burned-Out Light Bulbs
52. Chatting With Chesney: Panic Attack; Eating Crackers In Bed; Stepping On Cracks In The Sidewalk
53. Wally Ballou: At The Lubec And South Quoddy Airlines
54. Army Amateur Hour: Mouse Trainers; Military Impersonator
55. Charles The Poet: Love Poem After Hospital Stay
56. Dean Archer Armstead: Leaf Identification
57. Views Behind The Views Behind The People Behind The News: Disclaimer
58. Closing The Door Ceremony: Bob & Ray Honor Guard Sign Off

Disk 4 - "Commercials & More"
59. Grub, The Story Of Food: Movie Trailer
60. Groundhog Meat Prices: Public Service Announcement
61. Groundhog Meat Bulletin Correction: Public Service Announcement
62. Additional Supplementary Bulletin: Public Service Announcement
63. Superseding Additional Bulletin Of Correction Of Correction: Public Service Announcement
64. Bob & Ray's Diplomatic Immunity Kit: Commercial
65. Wally Ballou Interviews Bob & Ray: About Their Commercials Business
66. Guardian Maintenance Men: Tim And Jim
67. Chevrolet Dealer Names Names: People Who Haven't Brought Their Car In For Service
68. Kent Lyle Birdley: Appointed GE Spokesman
69. Kent Lyle Birdley: Tongue Depressor Commercial
70. Webley Webster: Lap-Master Napkin Commercial
71. Wally Ballou For Transistor Radios: Computer Expert Matthew E. Pulsifer
72. The Insured: Nationwide Insurance Commercial
73. Underwood Deviled Ham Commercial: Featuring The Devil
74. Piels Beer Commercial #1: Bert Shoots A Gun
75. Anchovy Ironer Commercial
76. Einbinder Flypaper Commercial: Defective Stickum
77. Monongahela Metal Foundry Commercial: Sweepstakes Contest
78. Elephant Protest PSA: Advertising Painted On The Side Of Elephants
79. Coogan's Ballbearings: Wonderful Gifts For Father's Day
80. The Complete Burglary Kit
81. Club Of The Month Club
82. Piels Beer Commercial #2: Studio Tour
83. Grit Commercial: Gets Your Hands Dirty So You Can Look Like A Real Working Man
84. Wally Ballou For Transistor Radios: Elwood "Pops" Hanks
85. Johnson's Backplasters Commercial: Dynamite Truck
86. Bob & Ray's Overstocked Warehouse: Bayonets And Scabbards From The Spanish American War
87. Manufacturer's Outlet: Buy Wool Directly From The Maker
88. Alligator Industries
89. Rudolph And Irma's Dance Studio
90. "I'd Like To Be A Cow In Switzerland" Sung By Mary McGoon (Ray)
91. Ward Stuffer Interviews Angry Playwright, Sir Conrad Snipes
92. Bankruptcy: Beau Brummel Dance Studio
93. Webley Webster's Book Review: The Status Seekers By Vance Packard
94. Padraic Popoff, Marriage Counselor
95. Wally Ballou At The Kentucky Derby
96. Man On Stilts

And here's where you can find the original releases:

A Night of Two Stars: Live at Carnegie Hall - tracks #1-20 from the list above (20 tracks in total)
Classic Bob & Ray, Vol. 1 - tracks #32-34, 37, 43, 59-63, 86-87 (12 total)
Classic Bob & Ray, Vol. 2 - tracks #64-74, 85 (12 total)
Classic Bob & Ray, Vol. 3 - tracks #21-28, 35, 38, 56, 75, 88 (13 total)
Classic Bob & Ray, Vol. 4 - tracks #36, 39, 58 (3 total)
The Best of Bob & Ray, Vol. 1 - tracks #45-47, 57, 76-78, 89 (8 total)
The Best of Bob & Ray, Vol. 2 - tracks #31, 54, 79 (3 total)
The Best of Bob & Ray, Vol. 3 - tracks #52-53, 81 (3 total)
The Best of Bob & Ray, Vol. 4 - tracks #82-83, 90 (3 total)
The Lost Episodes, Vol. 1 - tracks #49-51 (3 total)
The Lost Episodes, Vol. 2 - tracks #70, 84 (2 total)
The Lost Episodes, Vol. 3 - none on this collection
The Lost Episodes, Vol. 4 - track #55 (1 total)
The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5 - none
The Soap Operas, Vol. 1, 3, 4 & 6 - none
The Soap Operas, Vol. 2 - tracks #30, 80 (2 total)
The Soap Operas, Vol. 5 - track #29 (1 total)
Vintage Bob & Ray, Vol. 1 - none
Vintage Bob & Ray, Vol. 2 - tracks #40, 93 (2 total)
Vintage Bob & Ray, Vol. 3 - tracks #41-42, 48 (3 total)
Vintage Bob & Ray, Vol. 4 - track #44 (1 total)
Bob and Ray: Bonus Tracks (available on "The Complete B&R flash drive) - tracks #91, 93, 96 (3 total)
The Wally Ballou Story, Vol. 1 - tracks #7, 48, 56, 71, 84 (5 total)
Bob & Ray on a Platter - none
Bob & Ray: The Two & Only - none
Bob & Ray 1953 NBC Christmas Show - none
Bob & Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular - none

Unique to this collection - tracks #92, 94 & 95

Gentle, Timeless Humor, December 8, 2010
When I was a young girl, hoeing in the hot summer sun with my sisters, I listened to the little transitor radio my parents had given us for Christmas. It was then, over 50 years ago, that I was introduced to the unique humor of Bob and Ray. Even then, I would stop at the end of the row and listen to the 15 minutes of entertainment crafted by these two geniuses. (Their humor gave me brief respite from the heat.) Through the years, I followed their broadcasts, marveling at their ability to take every foible of human beings and gently poke fun at us. Never mean or nasty, certainly never profane, Bob and Ray set high standards for comedians who came after them. Today's comedians need to buy "The Very Best of Bob and Ray" and learn how to be creatively, nicely, humorous. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It’s elementary that any Conan Doyle fan will want this splendid set of Sherlock Holmes mysteries—twelve timeless classics performed as radio theater, linked by violin music interludes.

The great Sir John Gielgud stars as the sleuth of Baker Street, with Ralph Richardson as his venerable companion, Dr. Watson, and Orson Welles as the nefarious Professor Moriarty. With three giants of the theater in such colorful roles, it’s no mystery why this collection is so popular.

Includes:

Reviews

AUDIO BOOKS DON'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS, May 27, 2006

An audio book simply doesn't get any better than this. A dream cast brings to life the Sherlock Holmes adventure A Baker Street Dozen. Any one of these stars would be reason enough to stand in line for this audio book, but hearing all three in a full dramatization is absolutely amazing.

The superb John Gielgud stars as the master sleuth himself, Ralph Richardson is impeccable as his erstwhile companion, Dr. Watson. Now, who would be perfect as the evil Professor Moriarty? Orson Welles, of course.

Singling out one of these narrators would be an impossibility, but who has the better part? For this listener it is Orson Welles who imbues his character with so much stealth and evil that we can see the no-good at work.

Some would claim that Moriarty was the first arch villain, the man Holmes described as the "Napoleon of Crime." He did merit that description, and was certainly the Baker Street detective's arch enemy. Also described by Holmes as follows:

"He is a man of good birth and excellent education, endowed by nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty. At the age of twenty-one he wrote A Treatise on the Binomial Theorem, which has had a European vogue. On the strength of it he won the mathematical chair at one of our smaller universities, and had, to all appearances, a most brilliant career before him. "

It's interesting to note how Moriarty has survived the years even to an appearance on Star Trek.

The iconic Sherlock Holmes has also lasted through the decades and lives again in this remarkable audio version of A Baker Street Dozen.

Listen, you will surely enjoy.

- Gail Cooke

"I build rare edifices of deduction", September 3, 2008

This 6-CD set contains fully dramatized radio adaptations of twelve stories from the so-called Sherlock Holmes canon -- four novels and fifty-six stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. First aired by the BBC in 1954, these radio plays feature Sir Henry Richardson as Dr. Watson and the incomparable Sir John Gielgud as Sherlock Holmes, with a sinister reading of Dr. Moriarty by Orson Welles.

There are so many good things about Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen. First, the casting, which was so important in the days of radio drama. Gielgud's Holmes is neither too laconic nor too supercilious, the two main temptations in playing this role. Richardson plays Dr. Watson with humor and intelligence -- and no toadying, even when Holmes is asking him to fetch his violin, a whisky and soda, the tobacco from the Persian slipper...

The production itself is superb, from the scripts adapted by John Kier Cross to the original musical embellishment to the clarion-voiced announcer introducing each episode. This is not an an alternative to reading the stories but an audio theater experience -- and a very successful one.

Finally, the stories themselves are, as always, intriguing. Blackmailers, stalkers, murderers, purloiners, all fall to the power of deduction. From the comfortable menage a deux at 221A Baker Street, Holmes prevails again and again. I never made a systematic reading of "the canon" but now I'd like to do that, after listening to this thoroughly enjoyable set. If you are a Holmes fan or have fond memories of radio dramas, this one's for you.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Classic Stories, Well Adapted and Lovingly Acted, March 3, 2007
Three kinds of customers will appreciate this well-remastered collection: (1) Sherlockians, who love all things Doyle; (2) lovers of classic radio drama; (3) afficionados of two of England's finest actors of the modern stage, Sir John Gielgud (playing Holmes) and Sir Ralph Richardson (Watson). Since both actors also possessed two of the twentieth century's most mellifluous stage voices, these dramatizations are a feast for the ear. If you're at least two of these three customers in one, this reasonably priced set may be an irresistible buy. Get it now, before it goes out of print.

The All-Time BEST Sherlock Holmes Audiobook Stories..., March 7, 2008
I'm 25. I first heard Gielgud and Richardson's "The Speckled Band" back when I was in 6th grade. I found copies of the Baker Street Dozen stories at my local library, and would constantly check them out, over and over again. Around 8 or 9 years ago, I bought my own copies in a cassette boxed set, which have since worn out.

So I was more than thrilled to see this, the Baker Street Dozen stories on CD, and separated into chapters, at that! There are websites that have copies of these stories, but they are in terrible quality, or chopped up. For stories that were first recorded in 1953, they sound like they were recorded yesterday. I have a bunch of old radio broadcasts on CD, ranging from THE SHADOW to MURDER AT MIDNIGHT and THE GREEN HORNET, and their quality ranges from horrible to fair. But THIS, my friends, is British radio at its finest; fully dramatized, with music and sound effects that fit right into the story, characters that come to life, and stories that will keep you listening over and over again.

It seems everyone in America can't look past the Sherlock Holmes ideal with Basil Rathbone and his rendition of the great detective... nobody really bothers to look or listen to other actors' versions of the character. Sir John Gielgud is, in my opinion, the greatest portrayer of Holmes. EVER.

To wrap this up... if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, GET THIS. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. The acting is superb, the quality is astounding for something that's over 50 years old, and the replay value is higher than high, because these stories are timeless. The game is afoot, and you should come along...

Fantastic, June 9, 2007
These great recordings were made for the BBC in 1954 and were first aired in the UK that year and in the US in early 1955. The casting is perfect John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Watson could not be beaten for a radio broadcast, and this probably still holds true to this day 53 years later. Although I think Jeremy Brett would push Gielgud close even without the visual aspect.

The addition of Orson Welles as Prof Moriarty in the story The Final problem is the icing on the cake. That penetrating voice is chilling and truly Holmes/Geilgud meets his match in Welles/Moriarty. Any Sherlock Holmes fan should get these historic recordings - you really don't know what you are missing.

A great tribute to the master detective..., January 9, 2008
I pick this audiobook up recently and have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Gielgud and Richardson were simply amazing in their respective roles as Holmes & Watson, and I believe the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself would have approved.

Worth mentioning is another item I read recently, The Crime Doctor. This book depicts EW Horung's sleuth, Dr. John Dollar, in his exploits in England and throughout Europe.

Both products recieve 5 stars from me.

John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Watson - Superb!, October 6, 2008
The Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen cd-set is an excellent reproduction of the 1954 BBC radio series. The stories are told in a way that is faithful to the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. There are 13 stories on 6 CD's, so the story lengths are ideal for even relatively short car trips.

The programs feature John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson. In a long stage, radio, TV, and film career, Richardson appeared in Long Day's Journey Into Night, Our Man In Havana [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import] and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes to name three. Orson Welles appears in a couple of the stories as Dr. Moriarty.

Gielgud is so good that the listener 'hears' Holmes and not Gielgud. Richardson carries off Watson to perfection portraying him as Doyle intended: Holmes' intelligent companion and assistant.

If you enjoy Doyle, you should check out the superb Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard (New York Review Books Classics) and The White Company.

These audiotapes introduced me to Sherlock Holmes, February 21, 2010
I first listened to this audio book set a while ago. I definitely knew who Sherlock Holmes was but had never read any of the stories or watched an entire movie about him. I always figured that the stories would be boring and hard to follow. These audio books showed me that I was wrong. As I listened to these I fell deeply in love with the Sherlock Holmes concept and then proceeded to read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes novels and stories and I also read "The Lost World" and "White Company" by him. For me, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle became the author for whom everything he laid his pen to turned to gold.

I've seen different presentations in different medias of Sherlock Holmes since I listened to these audio books and this audio show did the best at capturing the spirit of the original novels. John Gielgud does the voice of Sherlock Holmes, Ralph Richardson does the voice of Watson and Orson Welles has a brief appearance as the villain Moriarty. One of the great things about a radio show is that you don't have to cast actors who look like the character, so looks have no influence on who is cast. John Gielgud doesn't look like Sherlock Holmes, but this doesn't matter since it is only his voice that appears in the program.

These audio books are pleasant and calming to listen to and when I turn them on, I feel like I'm in the late 1800s. I highly recommend them and hope others will enjoy them as much as I have.

A Masterpiece of Sherlockian Oral Interpretation, December 6, 2009
If you love Sherlock Holmes as we do, then you'll adore Sir John Gielgud's rendition of him on this audiobook. His voice is perfect for the role of the hero; his sidekick, Watson, is admirably portrayed by Sir Ralph Richardson. The two of them together provide an entertaining & memorable evening's worth of enjoyment! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Hosts and listeners select their favorite stories from the National Public Radio archives, celebrating life, love, hope—and cookies.

Every NPR listener has had at least one “driveway moment” and probably more. You’re so captivated by a story on All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Morning Edition, News & Notes, or another NPR program that you stay in the car to hear it through—even if you've arrived at your own driveway. This eclectic collection gathers all-time favorites, including some suggested by listeners themselves.

Like Scott Simon's tale of his 5-year-old daughter, newly in love with ballet. The story of a scruffy stray cat who wanders into a tough Michigan prison. The recollections of deputies from the U.S. Marshall Service who enforced court-ordered school desegregation. The hilarious account of an in-flight “wardrobe malfunction”—something about an inflatable bra. A man who went to college with $10 and all the hope in the world. A former KKK member who converted to Judiasm.

These literate, intelligent, profoundly touching stories are worth hearing over and over again, and now you don’t have to stay in your car. ... Read more

Reviews

NPR Products Are Great, December 29, 2009
I have enjoyed all of the Driveway Moments CDs and listened to them over and over. I have yet to run across anything from NPR that isn't either educational or insprirational. Things like Driveway Moments are also entertaining. Highly recommended, especially for someone who needs a little good news.

Highly recommend!, August 27, 2010
If you are a fan of NPR, you will love this 2 disc CD. I highly recommend. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The first Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me! collection focused on the best of the “Not My Job” segment of the program. This second collection skims the cream off the entire archive of the show, with selections from “Who’s Carl This Time?” “Lightning Fill in the Blank,” “The Listener Limerick Challenge,” “Not My Job!” and more.

Panelists include author and humorist Roy Blount Jr., author and radio anomaly Tom Bodett, syndicated advice Amy Dickinson (“Ask Amy”), journalist P.J. O’Rourke, Washington Post columnist Roxanne Roberts, Boston Globe writer Charlie Pierce, comedian Paula Poundstone, and television personality Mo Rocca. ... Read more

Reviews

a good taste of a great radio show, February 20, 2009
If you have ever enjoyed this weekly news and current events radio show this is great reminder of how funny and inspired it can be.If you have never listened to the show this cd will make you a fan.I hope they put more of the shows on cd.Peter Sagal is a great host and Paula Poundstone is one of the quickest comic minds in the country. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This anniversary release features highlights from 25 years on the air, including favorite monologues like "Truckstop," "Gospel Birds" and "Pontoon Boat," plus brand-new stories never before available on audio.Also includes a special bonus collection of 25 toe-tapping tunes with down-home music from long-time show regulars, including Butch Thompson, the Powdermilk Biscuit Band, Greg Brown, the Hopeful Gospel Quartet, Robin and Linda Williams, and many more.

Contents:

Truckstop; The Way You Look Tonight; The Trip to Norway; Cowpies; Kristina's Double Date; Won't You be My Ginger?; Gospel Birds; The Living Flag; Green Summertime; A Summer Night; Berena: A Concert Waltz; Nearer My God to Thee; Pontoon Boat; How Long, How Long Blues; Hog Slaughter; Giant Decoys; The Secret Lutherans; Deep Creek; A Rich Full Life; Guys On Ice; Clarence Cleans His Roof; Confessional; Our Team; Turn Your Radio On; Cripple Creek; Blue Train; Oh Sister, Ain't That Hot?; Chapel of Love; Oh Baby; Minneapolis Blues; Back in the City; Mandy Make Up Your Mind; Air Mail Special; Little Red Hen; Walk Over God's Heaven; That's All Right Mama; The Stars & Stripes Forever March; Hula Lou; Jingle Medley; Nashville Pickin'; Cold, Cold Heart; Down the Line; Just Rockin'; Goodnight Baby; Nobody Knows When Your Down & Out; Road to Kingdom Come; Stride by Stride; Let's Have A Party

Reviews

Narrow Slice of the Pie, August 2, 2005
I purchased this 25th anniversary collection with great anticipation and, have to say, I was surprised and disappointed to find that this compendium consists ONLY of Garrison's monologues with a few musical selections thrown in. This collection has none of the short skits, Guy Noir bits, or cast-inclusive pieces of brilliance that punctuate and vary the pacing of the live radio show. Don't get me wrong, Garrison's stories are wonderful in themselves and quite enjoyable, but I feel that a 25th anniversary collection should consist of more than just this one aspect of the show. If, like me, you want a more rounded Prarie Home experience, you'll need to buy some of the other Prarie Home CD releases to suppliment this purchase which, I think, is a shame. This collection should be clearly labelled as monologues & music, not as an overall collection of the show.

Brilliant, June 18, 2002
Garrison Keillor is nothing less than a genius. I listen to his stories while I clean my Northwoods cabins and they take me completely away from the fact that I'm making 33 beds and scrubbing kitchens and bathrooms. They whisk me to the lovely place known as Lake Wobegon and make me laugh out loud. I highly recommend this collection.

Michele Cozzens, Author of I'm Living Your Dream Life and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

Great Entertainment for a Road Trip, August 1, 2005
We listened to this CD set on a recent trip between California and Colorado. The time just flew. Garrison Keillor moves so smoothly from hysterical silliness to poignant truth-telling. He's an absolute master storyteller... we keep thinking he just can't get any better, but he does.

A great show celebrated, May 25, 2001
This collection does a good job of mixing in old classics and newly released stories. Many people prefer only stories, and I can't blame them, but if you appreciate all phases of "A Prarie Home Companion," the n you will enjoy this compilation.

Stellar!, February 2, 2004
Whether heard over the radio or read on the page, Garison Keillor never fails to delight. He's literally a national treasure and his insights, humor, and brilliant storytelling make life a little easier to get through.

Also recommended: A Walk in the Woods and Bark of the Dogwood by Jackson McCrae

More classic genius from Keillor, May 25, 2001
The unique genius of Garrison Keillor is shown to be ever present in this audio collection. This is the latest compilation collection in the "A Prairie Home Companion" series. The only way not to consider purchasing this is if you only wish to have a series of stories instead of the music and other skits, which I think are also splendid.

[Old] News from Lake Wobegon, March 4, 2008
The title is a little misleading, as A Prairie Home Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection is essentially a collection of Garrison Keillor's closing "News from Lake Wobegon" monologues from over the years. And for a supposedly representative collection, there are only about fifteen of them with a good quarter of the time taken up with musical interludes (which are not my favorite part of the show).

But, even given that, A Prairie Home Companion: 25th Anniversary Collection is an excellent collection. Keillor's humor has obviously matured over time and this is a "time capsule" with which to revisit those older days. Although I would have liked a few of the funny commercials and some Guy Noir episodes sprinkled in for good measure, I really enjoyed listening to Keillor's soothing baritone tell about the ostensibly fictional but so real-feeling people of "my hometown."

Now you don't have to wait for Saturday evening (or Sunday afternoon) to enjoy A Prairie Home Companion. Just pop this in whenever you yearn for that homespun feeling and want to revisit the town "where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and the children are above-average."

Always Excellent, always entertaining, December 16, 2002
Garrison Keillor may be the plainest funny man in America, but he's also the funniest man in America.

You can't go wrong with this excellent compilation.

25th Anniversary Collection a Disappointment, November 5, 2006
Make no mistake about it-- the stories were not disappointing at all. What is misleading and lacking is the sense of a radio show. The music and connecting conversations were edited out. A "music only" CD was made in addition to the "story" CD. The "collection" therefore made the sum much less than its parts. Very disappointed in not getting a sample of the best shows.

Purchased as a gift for Christmas, January 16, 2007
Not only did this collection arrive ahead of predicted time (as a Christmas surprise), but the content has been savoured and appreciated so much by the recipient. The dialogue is excellent and the leads to further recommendations by Garrison Keillor were very good - particularly as there are no recordings of his currently available in Australia. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

A collection of essays that provide food for thought on the "Gilmore Girls", June 9, 2007
"Coffee at Luke's: An Unauthorized 'Gilmore Girls' Gabfest" is a Smart Pop series collection of essays put together by Jennifer Crusie, whose introduction points out the utter appropriateness of a bunch of people taking about "Gilmore Girls." As an overview she points out that the show always kept in mind the basic rules for great dialogue: keep it moving, give everybody the best lines, talk up to your audience, and remember that the best dialogue is the stuff you can't hear. For each of these she has choice examples, which will immediately cause you to counter with your own personal favorites, and suddenly you are sitting down and joining the conversation the back cover proposes when it suggests you have some coffee at Luke's.

The first section is entitled, "It All Comes Out in Moron: Personal Relationships." "Whimsy Goes with Everything" by Heather Swain argues that everybody in Stars Hollow is a little eccentric, but that Kirk is something special. "Boys Not Allowed" by Jennifer Armstrong explains why Lorelai had trouble staying engaged long enough to get married, an argument that extends to Rory since the Gilmore Girls are too busy to be messed up by mere mortal men. Stephanie Whiteside focuses on a particular relationship in "When Paris Met Rory," contending that they have one of the most problematical relationships in television history.

The second section, "The Other Relationship: Parenting," focuses more on Lorelia and Emily. In "Mothers, Daughters, and Gilmore Girls," Janine Hiddlestone analyzes the fears, disappointments, and triumphs of being a mother in Stars Hollow, focusing in the end on the reversal of Lorelai and her parents' roles when Rory dropped out of Yale. Stephanie Lehmann focuses on the "The Best-Friend Mom" idea as one of the biggest fantasies and concludes that such an ideal was no longer the case by the end of the sixth season. Charlotte Fullerton's "In Defense of Emily Gilmore" makes the case for Emily as the much maligned but third Gilmore Girl and draws a series of strong parallels between Emily and Lorelai. Miellyn Fitzwater looks at "My Three Dads," analyzing Rory's trio of father figures of Luke, Richard and Christopher in terms of the time, money, and emotional support each provides here. However, her quantitative judgment strikes me as being skewed by the money factor because her conclusion as to who comes out ahead runs counter to by watching the show.

"Second Hamlet to the Right: Stars Hollow" is the third section. Sara Morrison provides "Your Guide to the Real Stars Hollow Business World," providing a harsh dose of reality as to how the town's commerce would do in the real world (sadly Taylor's Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe has a better chance of surviving, much more so than Luke's Diner, which has a three-times better chance of making it than the Dragonfly Inn). My favorite essay is Jill Winters' "Happiness Under Glass: The Truth about Lorelai and Life in Stars Hollow," which makes a strong case for Lorelai's ambivalence towards the town in which she lives (the "Emily Junior" section is especially telling). Stephanie Rowe's "It's Not Luke's Stubble" makes the case for Stars Hollow being quintessential New England in terms of intellectual snobbery, money, history, heritage, and winter.

The next section is called "The Best Things in Life: Food, Books, and Sex," with one essay on each. "Dining with the Gilmores" is Gregory Stevenson's look at how food is the show's third passion behind talking and reading, which ends up seeing the show's secular morality as "The Chewy Moral Center." Maryelizabeth Hart's "Reading, Rory, and Relationships" makes a compelling case for books and writing being shorthand for character and emotional development. Kristen Kidder's examines the way the young women on the show pay for losing their virginity, dealing with what happens to Paris, Rory and Lane in an essay that had to be entitled, "'That's What You Get, Folks, For Makin' Whoopee.'"

The final section, "There's Reality and Then There's Lorelai: 'Gilmore Girls' and the Real World," begins with an interesting idea. Chris McCubbin recasts "Gilmore Girls" as a 1952 screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks and starring Katharine Hepburn as Lorelai and Audrey Hepburn as Rory. The rest of the cast list is equally intriguing (William Holden as Luke, Agnes Moorhead as Emily, Vivian Vance as Sookie). From that starting point McCubbin explores the roots of the show in the fast-talking screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s. Carol Cooper's "'Mama Don't Preach': Class, Culture, and Lorelai Gilmore as Bizarro-World Suffragette" reconsiders Lorelai's choices as being "so inexplicable she must be part of Bizzaro World," and concludes they are more bold than they are bizarre.

The back of the book includes a section of "Coffee at Luke's-isms" that explains veiled references in the essays from "7th Heaven" and "The actor became Alexis Bledel's real boyfriend off the show" to "Wicked Witch of the West" and "William Holden." This is the third completely unauthorized volume in the Smart Pop series that I have read and to date they have all provided food for thought in bite size morsels. So those essays that are not particularly interesting to read do not last long, which trades off against those where you would like to hear more of what the author has to say. Fans of "Gilmore Girls" will not be disappointed checking this out, especially since there are no new episodes to look forward to anymore.

A GREAT GILMORE GIRLS READ!, August 15, 2007
Hi all, as a 35 year old guy - i'll just say it - I ADORE GILMORE GIRLS! Such a great show, witty writing , a cool mom like Lorelai and Stars Hollow - what a town to seek to live in. I found this book here on Amazon, theres not much reference for Gilmore Girls, so this was a welcome addition, great essays and quotes, i highly reccomend it. Now if only someone would do a complete Episode guide covering the entire series that would be perfect.Recomended!!

(Semi-)Scholarly Analysis of Star's Hollow, April 21, 2008
I loved reading the essays, which analyzed everything from Emily (wow, most psychiatrists wouldn't take on that job) to the massive amounts of food consumed on the show. While I disagreed with the point made by a few of the essays, I think that the book points out the many subtleties that make Gilmore Girls a fan classic.
Did you ever notice the significance of Lorelai becoming a maid after leaving home? Emily fires maids every day, doesn't consider them human, and in season 6 calls them criminals who get their children to rob you. She said that to Rory, the child of a former maid. Little gems like that make this book a must-read. Plus, it gives you an excuse to break out the much-watched DVDs again.

GG -You'll be missed..., July 4, 2007
I feel the essays were accurate assessments of the show. They made me realize how many different perspectives could be achieved by different people. But most importantly, the book made realize how the wonderful and innovative the show was for women and how it excelled when it was at it's best!

Wish'n there was a Luke's near me, October 10, 2007
If you love Gilmore Girls, you will enjoy this book. This book reviews some of your favorite Gilmore moments, with perspective and wit from true Gilmore Girls addicts.

If you've lived through and loved a lit crit class...this book's for you, October 10, 2008
I can't put my pencil down. I've been highlighting, boxing, and "starring" every page. I loved the Gilmore Girls, and this collection of essays reminds me why. Most of the essays are fabulous, except the one that suggests "most" teenage girls in Lorelei's position would get an abortion. I'd like that "fact" documented, please.

not as fast paced as the show's dialogue, December 19, 2007
this is a scholastic look at a fantastic show. i miss it :( this should only be read by those very familiar with the show and the backgrounds of all the characters. i own all the dvds (don't judge) and have seen each episode numerous times...so i was able to picture scenes that the authors were talking about...have a cram session if necessary before reading :) these essays do make you look at the show from a new angle.

This book is fantastic!, May 30, 2009
Coffee at Lukes: An Unauthorized Gilmore Girls Gabfest is a PHENOMENAL book. The change of pace from essay to essay, author to author is fantastic. It definately helps me get my "Gilmore Girls-fix" when I can't be watching the show...

I've read this book from cover to cover...many times. I love the essay "Reading, Rory, and Relationships".

This book is amazing. I definately recommend it to any fan of the show! =P

No truly original insights, but fun for the Gilmore lover, December 12, 2008
I bought this book simply because I like the Gilmore Girls. Hence is the only prerequisite for enjoying this book--though I'm afraid it is not necessarily a guarentee. I knew this was to be a collection of essays, but when I got around to reading them they were little more than something I could find in an internet blog. Which is not a bad thing, just not necessarily wonderful. Part of me wonders why one must disect a show as wonderful as the Gilmore Girls, but the essays did bring up the very points that made me like the show so much. Nothing spectacular, this book, but I'm sure many a die-hard fun will enjoy it. ... Read more