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10th out of 77 books
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Dave Barry Turns Fifty
by
Dave Barry
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist comes a celebration of the aging process. Not just Dave's, but that of the whole Baby Boom Generation--those millions of us who set a standard for whining self-absorption that will never be equaled, and who gave birth to such stunning accomplishments as Saturday Night Live!, the New Age movement, and call waiting. Here Dave pinpoi...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
August 31st 1999
by Ballantine Books
(first published 1998)
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I'm a big fan of Dave Barry -- have been for years -- but I did not think this was his best book. Though, to be fair, I would really give it 2.5 stars if 1/2 points were allowed. It did made me laugh out loud often enough that my husband asked me to read something else since "one of us is trying to get some sleep here."
Basically, I thought the humor in this book was so very specific to Baby Boomers that it would be hard for anyone else to really enjoy it, sort of a "yo...more
Basically, I thought the humor in this book was so very specific to Baby Boomers that it would be hard for anyone else to really enjoy it, sort of a "yo...more
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Includes the brilliant list "25 Things I've Learned in 50 Years", from which I still remember and frequently cite the following:
"#6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
#13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)"
That second one is especially true, and I have often observed its truth in the decade since then. People, take note!
"#6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
#13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)"
That second one is especially true, and I have often observed its truth in the decade since then. People, take note!
Nostalgically funny. Dave Barry's humorous history of America in the 1950's - 1970's is much more entertaining than any textbook! The chapter on sending your kids to college is downright hysterical. A detractor from the humor, though, is Dave's firm opinion on America in Vietnam (how did you really feel about it, Dave?). This book also lost a star for vulgarity (one doesn't need foul language to be funny). Overall, good for typical Dave-style laughs.
This was great for distracting me from a horrible toothache. He has such a funny take on pop culture. Some of the things that I thought had been around forever have only been invented in the last 50 years! Like what? Go read the book.
Actually, unless you are about 60 years old, a lot of this stuff might just be useles trivia. I mean, who cares what shows were on in the 1950s? Is that all this guy did? Watch TV?
Actually, unless you are about 60 years old, a lot of this stuff might just be useles trivia. I mean, who cares what shows were on in the 1950s? Is that all this guy did? Watch TV?
This book starts off absolutely hysterical, but once it gets into the year-by-year breakdown the laughs dry up. It's partly my fault, though; I'm too young to remember most of what Barry is reminiscing about. I'm sure it's far more entertaining for boomers, since the book is aimed at their generation.
I bought this book for my brother as a 50th b-day present. I am going to read it first though... he would want me to- really! B&N didn't have Dave Barry Turns 40, so I'll have to read this first.
Ok, not Dave's best, but there were some laugh outloud moments. It would be especially funny if you were born in 1957 or was he born in 47? Anyway, good, easy, funny book to read in between novels.
Ok, not Dave's best, but there were some laugh outloud moments. It would be especially funny if you were born in 1957 or was he born in 47? Anyway, good, easy, funny book to read in between novels.
One of the little blurbs in the back says "An average of three or four laughs per page." That may be. I know reviewers are lent to hyperbole. I found fewer laughs than that. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in this week. Pay me no mind. No one else does.
Dave Barry is one of America’s bestselling humor columnists. You may want to start with the large print edition of Dave Barry Turns 50, which is a funny look at all the best parts of the aging process.
Most of the book is a timely through the fifties, sixties and seventies. Barry does not really get into many personal issues he has had with age, but still the book is light fair and funny.
Laugh out loud funny. He actually used a couple of the jokes in this book while on tour promoting his new one with Buffalo Bob. OK, you had to read this one to appreciate that line.
Had me laughing a lot. An historical, humorous look at the 50's, 60's and early 70's as well as some jokes about aging, paying for your kids' college, and saving for retirment.
I love all of Dave Barry's books, but this is one of my favorites. Perhaps because I was in my 50s when I read it. It's so funny.
For example, in the first chapter, he talks about ordering from menus. He says "At first I thought... that for some reason, possibly to save ink, the restaurants had started printing their menus in letters the height of bacteria." And "So, for a while I dealt with the situation by ordering off the menus of people sitting at other tables."...more
For example, in the first chapter, he talks about ordering from menus. He says "At first I thought... that for some reason, possibly to save ink, the restaurants had started printing their menus in letters the height of bacteria." And "So, for a while I dealt with the situation by ordering off the menus of people sitting at other tables."...more
Funny guy. This book reminded me of a lot of things (TV shows, products, etc.) from when I was a kid.
A light but entertaining read. I read this in snippets, but had a good laugh with it.
I've borrowed this countless times from the library and am glad to finally have my own copy!
He should have stopped at 40--writing these guides, that is, not aging. May he live to be 200.
Well Shuttlecock. Dave Barry is a funny guy. I laughed out loud.
There were some funny parts. I enjoy Dave Barry, however this did not live up to the other stuff of his that I have read.
Laugh out loud funny, as Mr. Barry always is.
This man is so amazingly funny!
piss your pants funny
This is my kind of humor - around the 13-year-old level!
Humor,commentary
This was a very funny book and a pretty good history lesson to boot. Of course, the poignancy of a book like this is in the eye of the beholder/reader. It is very poignant to someone near the big 5-0 or past the big 5-0. To the younger set, not so affecting.
But, whether your 25 or 50, it's still funny stuff though a tad bit dated, it was written right at the end of the 90's so it still has Bill Clinton and Monica jokes and some references to the upcoming new millennium.
But, whether your 25 or 50, it's still funny stuff though a tad bit dated, it was written right at the end of the 90's so it still has Bill Clinton and Monica jokes and some references to the upcoming new millennium.
Light. Fluff. Not terribly clever, but fun, Barry recounts the years that brought him to fifty, one at a time with an humorous overview of what was happening in the world at the time. What TV shows, fads, political events, etc. He manages to be serious when called for without really breaking the rhythm. If I never read this my life would not have been less, and it's not worth the weight of carrying around to read on the subway, but over breakfast each morning, why not?
i actually learned a lot about baby boomers...but pretty funny book.
For those that are half way to 50; this book was the best history lesson you'll ever get. For those that are 50; Dave Barry seems to have a fantastic grip on the fact that he's becoming wiser. I would imagine that he hasn't changed much since this books debut in '98.
A funny man. Check him out at http://www.miamiherald.com/dave_barry/
What could be more funny than growing old? Loved this one!
Fun read. Gave it to my dad for fathers day...and then read it.
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Dave Barry is a humor columnist. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written a total of 30 books, although virtually none of them contain useful information. Two of his books were u...more
More about Dave Barry...
Dave has also written a total of 30 books, although virtually none of them contain useful information. Two of his books were u...more
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