Michael Moore - Downsize This!

I must say, I enjoy satire. These kinds of books are ones that amuse me to no end. My copy of Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations has been used more often than my well-thumbed copy of the AP stylebook (journalists will know what I'm talking about), and that's saying something. In this comedic-but-still-sort-of-serious collection of essays, Michael Moore (previously well known for TV Nation and Roger & Me gives his set of random threats as an unarmed American, "one of the few left in our great nation," he laments. It becomes obvious, as one delves further into the book, that Moore is quite liberal, a friend of the working-class, and does not like Republicans one bit.

This is made obvious through the chapter entitled "I try to commit Bob Dornan" in the first half of the book. It gets better when he tries to have Senator Jesse Helms arrested by the Secret Service for threatening now-former-President Clinton on local television. The premise was that Helms was upset because Clinton didn't serve in the military, planned to cut the Defense budget, and supported gays in the military. On the next page he provides a listing of Secret Service agents to call if people threaten Clinton while you're around.

It's funny, and he makes good points. That's a combination you just can't find in a lot of the political commentary written today. Moore writes about how, "social scientists of the 23rd century will look at the union leaders of today and say, 'Boy, those guys were really #$%&*^! stupid!'", and that politicians continually court the unions during election years and then dump them when in office (Republicans especially). Of course, if you're a die-hard Republican or if you thought Reagan helped the country, you probably won't like this book one bit.

However, if you can look past the offensive nature of the chapter titles and some of the more raunchy jokes, there are some excellent points on American society buried in here. I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for observations about contemporary American living and politics. Democrats and liberals who are not party-affiliated will enjoy Moore's continued abuse of famous republicans like Rush Limbaugh, G. Gordon Liddy, and Ollie North.

In short, this is a book for everyone who read and loved Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations. It is written in a different style from a different author, but has many of the same points. A smart, witty social commentary that strikes home with many, many issues. Don't miss this book just because it never gained a lot of media attention.