Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
235th out of 5,105 books
—
14,160 voters
Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot
by
Al Franken
Rush Limbaugh claims his talent is on loan. With this book, Franken demonstrates that he owns. The frankly Democratic author's shtick reminds us how much of a free ride conservatives have gotten in the mainstream media. For instance, he really drives home the weirdness of the conservatives' preachiness about "family values" in light of Newt Gingrich's and Bob Dole's first...more
313 pages
Published
2004
by Penguin
(first published 1996)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
I think that this was Al Franken's first political book, written before he turned into a politician himself. I remember reading it at the gym,on the stair machine and laughing so hard that I almost fell off ... How tragic is it that 14 years after this book was published Rush Limbaugh is still being a big fat idiot, and people still actually listen to him.
Ironically, just as I was finishing Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot, I happened upon an essay by Limbaugh's niece, Julie Limbaugh, about the ups and downs of being second cousin to a man who makes a living by (in his own words) making half the people in America hate him. She calls her cousin's long-playing farce a "self-aware self-parody," a "caricature"--in other words, a phony act (which, not incidentally, has made him a millionaire many times over).
In this book, Al Franken, who has no fear...more
In this book, Al Franken, who has no fear...more
Feb 28, 2009
asteroidbuckle
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Franken fans, liberals
Shelves:
funny-satirical,
politics
Of the three Al Franken books I've read, this one is my least favorite. It's also one of his earlier books, before Lies and The Truth, so maybe he just hadn't hit his stride yet, politcal satire-wise.
Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations has a great title, mostly because it's to TRUE. How it differs from his other books that I've read is that it is a series of independent essays compiled into a collection. And while I enjoy his sharp wit and scathing humor most of the time, som...more
Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations has a great title, mostly because it's to TRUE. How it differs from his other books that I've read is that it is a series of independent essays compiled into a collection. And while I enjoy his sharp wit and scathing humor most of the time, som...more
I picked up the audio to this book. I am disgusted to say that it starts out NOT with Al Franken's work but some right-wing reviewer named Jean Kirkpatrick who goes on about her own credentials (geo-political etc) and "why oh why!! *sob cry moan*"
was she made to review this book instead of what was given to P.J. O'Rourke. My suggestion is that obviously she doesn't know anything at all (especially about political comedy - satirical or otherwise - or her professed area of expertise. WHICH IS the...more
was she made to review this book instead of what was given to P.J. O'Rourke. My suggestion is that obviously she doesn't know anything at all (especially about political comedy - satirical or otherwise - or her professed area of expertise. WHICH IS the...more
1 like
·
like
· see review
Read this in college at a time when I was trying to stay friends with someone who was listening to Rush Limbaugh and talking to me about it. It was really hard to have a conversation like that. When I sampled his radio program to see what I could say in answer to it, I noticed that Limbaugh would state some pretty obscure facts and to refute his arguments you would have to chase around figuring out if he made it up or just took it out of context or if he had a point - which like anyone, he somet...more
As a dyed-in-the wool New York liberal, how could I NOT read this book and love it :-) Seriously, though, folks, Senator Franken is an astute observer of the hypocritical who maintains a terrific ability to make a valid point while couching it in humor. If O'Reilly or Limbaugh actually read that, no, I don't think he'd win over any converts, but I know he'd get Rush to laugh and get O'Reilly to at least chuckle until he started "spinning" like a top.
Reading this book more than ten years after most of the politicians mentioned in it have been relevant does not do it any favors in the mind of the reader, and had I picked it up hot off the press, it might have garnered itself one more star. But I did enjoy it and found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, though I could never forget that this is liberal porn of the worst kind. This is clearly a book written for other liberals and not intended to convince conservatives or undecideds...more
Aug 12, 2007
Belinda
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
frustrated liberals aching for comic relief
I read it the *day* it came out in hardback, and just LOVED it. Franken is brilliant, and has a crack team of ivy-league researchers to do his bidding, which doesn't hurt.
He used to be a funny guy. Now you only find it funny if you have an anger management problem and love the polemics of Karl Rove.
Read this years ago when I was still examining my political beliefs. I think this is actually a decent book in terms of writing I read it almost fifteen years ago and I still remember a good chunk of the book. I think his slobbering over Clinton was a little excessive (frequently pointing out that Clinton was the smartest president since Kennedy and even though I was an Independent at the time it still drove me crazy). Overall, this was a funny book, it is also no different then the very person...more
I'm so glad I didn't know who Al Franken was when I first started reading this book. It might have dissuaded me from ever reading it! Franken's honest disdain for the ultra-right is refreshing, and just as timely now that the ultra-right is trampling all over women's rights as it was fifteen years ago when written. (Most of the liberal type jokes center around Clinton's presidency.) I very much enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to anyone who's disgusted with the far-right taking over and...more
Terrific book! All the information in is has been thoroughly fact-checked and confirmed by several sources. Among the interesting facts I learned about Rush:
- He received welfare for a large portion of his adult life.
- This "American patriot" got a 4F deferment from the Vietnam war because of hair on his ass.
- He didn't register to vote until he was 35.
- A champion of "family values" he has been married and divorced three times.
This book, sadly, came out before the Limbaugh drug scandals.
I'll en...more
- He received welfare for a large portion of his adult life.
- This "American patriot" got a 4F deferment from the Vietnam war because of hair on his ass.
- He didn't register to vote until he was 35.
- A champion of "family values" he has been married and divorced three times.
This book, sadly, came out before the Limbaugh drug scandals.
I'll en...more
Don't let the title fool you, this book is very short on personal insults. Rather, Franken the commedian introduces us to Al Franken the logician who demolishes all of Rush Limbaugh's prize arguments by going after his...math? By the time Franken is done, Limbaugh doesn't have a leg to stand on. Quite frankly, it is this part of Franken that is on display and makes reading this book quite a revealation. I was so rapped up in it's arguments and logic that I coudn't put it down.
4 likes
·
like
· see review
Funny and pithy. I enjoyed the book, a quick reader, and believe most of its conclusions, based on the evidence presented. Some material is still confusing to me, however, because the grammar at times left me uncertain as to the meanings of many passages. It's evident that Franken's style was still evolving at this point. He had published a Stuart Smalley (SNL) book before this, but I think this was his first political satire. The two later ones I've read (Lies & the Lying Liars Who Tell The...more
Al Franken pointed out 15 years ago that Rush Limbaugh was not aligned with his message. This book is a classic because this revelation still holds true today. I would give it a 5-star but I told my kids they weren't allowed to call anyone an Idiot. I have to walk my talk and therefore must deduct a star. (The author in me loves the audacious title - Like a flat smack in the face with a piece of fat wet noodle. Delicious. But please don't tell my kids).
Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrator: Al Franken
Length: 2 hours and 48 min. (abridged)
Grammy Award Winner, Best Spoken Word Comedy Album, 1996
Publisher's Summary
Fed up with the Republican Right? Then you'll love Al Franken's scathingly hilarious look at America's largest talk show host and his conservative cronies. Hear this Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live writer's thoughts on exploding Medicare costs ("Why not shoot the elderly into space?"), feminism ("Limbaugh was railing about how feminists...more
Narrator: Al Franken
Length: 2 hours and 48 min. (abridged)
Grammy Award Winner, Best Spoken Word Comedy Album, 1996
Publisher's Summary
Fed up with the Republican Right? Then you'll love Al Franken's scathingly hilarious look at America's largest talk show host and his conservative cronies. Hear this Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live writer's thoughts on exploding Medicare costs ("Why not shoot the elderly into space?"), feminism ("Limbaugh was railing about how feminists...more
Very funny stuff. Al Franken was part of the SNL team during the glory days of SNL, when it was actually funny and often featured brilliant political satire. Franken's understanding of politics is astute and his smartass comments are great. Even 13 years after this book was written, it's still hilarious for anybody who lived through the Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations.
And Rush Limbaugh is indeed a big fat idiot.
And Rush Limbaugh is indeed a big fat idiot.
I read this book when it came out and I loved it. Franken's brilliance is the ability to nearly mimic his objects of ridicule. He basically pulled a Rush on Rush and who can be mad at that? Pointing out lies is his Franken's forte. I thought when I first read it that he should run for political office. It's quite amazing to see him in the Senate chamber. I only wish he would have retained his biting wit there, too.
While Limbaugh is an arrogant blowhard who makes millions selling his opinions (if they are that and not just an act/product he sells but does not believe in), Al Franken is actually the idiot. Not as big an idiot as those who elected him, but hes pretty high up on the asinine ignoramus scale.
So no thanks – I’ll pass. Much rather have an unanesthetised colonoscopy – it would be more fun and far more interesting.
So no thanks – I’ll pass. Much rather have an unanesthetised colonoscopy – it would be more fun and far more interesting.
0.5 stars. This is the book that made me wish you could give the 0 star rating. The worst part of this experience is my personal commitment that once I open a book to read it, I will see it through to the end (no matter how INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY PAINFUL that experience might be).
Anyway, not much to say about the body of the book other than it is poorly written, disingenuous and....biggest crime of all...NOT FUNNY.
Anyway, not much to say about the body of the book other than it is poorly written, disingenuous and....biggest crime of all...NOT FUNNY.
4 likes
·
like
· see review
This book treats Limbaugh as a joke, which is true to some extant, but it fails to go into his background in any detail. For example, what makes Limbaugh hate working people so much? Is it strictly to make his capitalist masters happy or does it stem from some developmental problem related to his childhood? Who sponsors his activities? Is he just a bag of hot air or does he actually pose a threat to this country?
As usual one would think someone wanting to sell a book would use some kind of class. I was wrong. Although Rush is an extreme right winger, Al does himself no justice again transforming himself into what he rants on about Rush. In my humble opinion, when trying to promote your view about someone you must ensure you don't bring yourself to an even lower level then the subject you opine about.
This book is really great. I forgot how much Newt Gingrich stuff is in here as well. He's like half of the book. So, if you'd like to brush up on some of Newt's wackness (albeit a few years old...but still factual!!!), check it out. It's also just hilarious, and kind of amazing to read now that Franken is a US Senator, and a very very good one at that. Read.
Works well as a piece of comedic literature, but when he tries to be factual and serious it can get problematic. That is, its hard to tell when he is being funny and when he is being serious at times when he puts facts in with jokes. I can't really tell if he is trying to write the next SNL script or a serious rebuttal to Limbaugh. Hybrids don't work here.
Sep 20, 2012
Victoria
added it
When I first read this book I thought that Al Franken could never run for office after publishing a book with this title. Ha! Maybe it would seem dated to read now (not sure, I read it years ago), but I think the concepts of "fact" and "information" and how we perceive them, and the impact of what is said, still holds true, but is magnified by social media.
Two reasons most of my books get a 4 or 5-star rating: 1) I pick my books carefully; 2) I look for the value while I read. This book falls into the "don't waste your time" category. I read it only because someone dared me to. The fact that the author is a U.S. Senator says a lot about the state of American politics.
Very distorted material and never made me laugh once. Even if you like Franken and hate Rush you'd think it would be revolting to make fun in the title of a book of anyone being overweight. The funny part is Franken is now fatter than Rush. Do you think a book called "Al Frankem is a big Fat Idiot.' would sell?
Dec 28, 2008
Eric_W
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
humor,
current-affairs
Al Franken in his new book, suggests several novel solutions for some of our social problems. To relieve Medicare and NASA budgets he says, "Why not shoot the elderly into space? .. we could learn so much. What is the effect of weightlessness on arthritis?" And for the next Republican ticket he proposes Gingrich and Gramm. "That way the President could write the pornography and the Vice-President could produce it."
Franken also finds it amusing that so many of those castigating Bill Clinton for a...more
Franken also finds it amusing that so many of those castigating Bill Clinton for a...more
Al Franken is funny. Really. Funny. As a primer into the world of political talk show hosts, this may not be the ideal source… but have I mentioned that it’s really stinking funny? Franken’s ability to satirize just about any aspect of (extreme) right-wing personalities, positions, shows, etc. is pretty impressive. However, after a while, some of the mock cut and paste interviews became a bit tedious and I found myself wishing he would return to his standard of self deprecating witty observant....more
Hilarious piece of work; Franken is equal parts political advocate as merry prankster, riffing on Jean Kirkpatrick and Newt Gingrich, saving the brunt of his satirical pen for the titular little man syndrome windbag, himself. A fun read, coupled with the beginnings of Frankens later advocacy career and first glimpse of the driving force behind his own progressive origins.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is an Emmy Award–winning American comedian, writer, progressive political commentator, and, recently, politician. He gained fame as a writer and a performer for Saturday Night Live, eventually writing and appearing in several films. Since then, Franken has become more known for his political commentary, writing numerous bestselling books and hosting a nationally-syndicated...more
More about Al Franken...
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
Apr 11, 2009 04:12pm