First published 2001
George Carlin turns his comedic lens on the bewildering aspects of contemporary existence. The comedian poses questions that expose society's illogical conventions. Why announce spy satellites on television if they're supposed to be secret? What makes sewage "raw" when nobody cooks it? He delivers sharp observations about human nature and social customs. Most people with low self-esteem have earned it, he notes. Death row inmates get final meals from the same people planning to execute them. Carlin examines children without sentiment, pointing out that many aren't particularly cute and some smell bad. He compiles lists including embarrassing songs, hostility scoreboards, and people he could live without. The book combines philosophical musings with practical observations about daily irritations. Carlin refuses to avoid difficult topics, instead confronting life's uncomfortable realities with characteristic wit and irreverence.
Genres: essays, humor, non-fiction, comedy
Vibes: irreverent, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: irreverent-humor, social-critique
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · Hyperion