What do you think?
Rate this book
More Napalm and Silly Putty
He's back! In a voice more cantankerous and comically pungent than ever, George Carlin spouts off on everything from British royalty ("A Day in the Life of Henry VIII") to auto racing ("Sports Should Be Fixed") to American politics ("Don't Blame the Leaders").
With his manic mind and motor mouth in high gear, he rants against anyone who tells him to "have a nice day" and skewers the euphemism epidemic ("To be honest, some of this language makes me want to vomit. Well, perhaps 'vomit' is too strong a word. It makes me want to engage in a involuntary personal protein spill"). When Carlin's in a more reflective mood, he reveals, "I couldn't commit suicide if my life depended on it," and ponders the really big questions, like "Is a vegetarian permitted to eat animal crackers?" and "Griddle cakes, pancakes, hotcakes, flapjacks: why are there four names for grilled batter and only one word for love? "What his candid take on "life's little moments" lacks in political correctness, it more than makes up for in gut-busting laughs. He's the guy who dares say what the rest of us hesitate even to think. And he does so in ways that are often raunchy and always riotous.
With his manic mind and motor mouth in high gear, he rants against anyone who tells him to "have a nice day" and skewers the euphemism epidemic ("To be honest, some of this language makes me want to vomit. Well, perhaps 'vomit' is too strong a word. It makes me want to engage in a involuntary personal protein spill"). When Carlin's in a more reflective mood, he reveals, "I couldn't commit suicide if my life depended on it," and ponders the really big questions, like "Is a vegetarian permitted to eat animal crackers?" and "Griddle cakes, pancakes, hotcakes, flapjacks: why are there four names for grilled batter and only one word for love? "What his candid take on "life's little moments" lacks in political correctness, it more than makes up for in gut-busting laughs. He's the guy who dares say what the rest of us hesitate even to think. And he does so in ways that are often raunchy and always riotous.
150 pages, Audio CD
First published April 15, 2002
About the author
George Carlin
64 books2,983 followersGeorge Denis Patrick Carlin was a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, author and philosopher.
Carlin was especially noted for his political and black humor and his observations on language, psychology, and religion along with many taboo subjects. Carlin and his "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, in which a narrow 5-4 decision by the justices affirmed the government's right to regulate Carlin's act on the public airwaves.
Carlin's mid-2000s stand-up routines focused on the flaws in modern-day America. He often took on contemporary political issues in the United States and satirized the excesses of American culture.
A disciple of Lenny Bruce, he placed second on the Comedy Central cable television network list of the 10 greatest stand-up comedians, ahead of Bruce and behind Richard Pryor. He was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show during the three-decade Johnny Carson era, and was also the first person to host Saturday Night Live.
Carlin was especially noted for his political and black humor and his observations on language, psychology, and religion along with many taboo subjects. Carlin and his "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, in which a narrow 5-4 decision by the justices affirmed the government's right to regulate Carlin's act on the public airwaves.
Carlin's mid-2000s stand-up routines focused on the flaws in modern-day America. He often took on contemporary political issues in the United States and satirized the excesses of American culture.
A disciple of Lenny Bruce, he placed second on the Comedy Central cable television network list of the 10 greatest stand-up comedians, ahead of Bruce and behind Richard Pryor. He was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show during the three-decade Johnny Carson era, and was also the first person to host Saturday Night Live.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 24, 2015
This is a hellarious commentary on American life looked at side ways by George Carlin. It covers such topics include driving, golf, religion.
Warning If you are a Christian who is sensitive about his or her religion you may want to stir away from this book.
I recommend this book to any with a sence of humor.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
Warning If you are a Christian who is sensitive about his or her religion you may want to stir away from this book.
I recommend this book to any with a sence of humor.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
October 21, 2016
Good old George Carlin. Some serious laugh out loud moments. Didn't like it as much as the first Napalm & Silly Putty, but still worth a look.
September 27, 2026
(read in Beijing, China)
March 24, 2015
I don't think I need to say this but obviously go for the audiobook as it's narrated by the author. There is no better way to read this content than by letting the author read it to you.
It's great as always but there is so much reused material from his stand up that I can't rate it higher.
However I do recommend this book because if you are a fan you will gladly listen to the same material again and enjoy new material as well. And if this is somehow your first opportunity to listen to George Carlin, well, you're in for a treat.
It's great as always but there is so much reused material from his stand up that I can't rate it higher.
However I do recommend this book because if you are a fan you will gladly listen to the same material again and enjoy new material as well. And if this is somehow your first opportunity to listen to George Carlin, well, you're in for a treat.
February 2, 2015
Most of the book is verbatim from his stand up, but I love his stand up so it was nice to hear it again. He does have a few bits that aren't in previous performances. They're mostly pretty good. It's a very quick listen (two discs) and helped me to break up all the heavy non-fiction intellectual books I've been reading lately.
August 2, 2023
I always thought George Carlin was insightful and pretty funny. This book was a waste of my time. Mr. Carlin, in no context is the word “rape” amusing.
October 27, 2023
More Napalm and Silly Putty by George Carlin
More Napalm and Silly Putty is a collection of essays by comedian and social critic George Carlin. The book was published in 2002, and it covers a wide range of topics, including politics, religion, and the media.
Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect in More Napalm and Silly Putty. He skewers hypocrisy and stupidity wherever he finds them, and he offers a unique and often hilarious perspective on the world around him.
One of the things that makes Carlin so effective is his willingness to offend. He is not afraid to challenge taboos or to speak his mind, even if it means upsetting some people. This can make his work uncomfortable for some readers, but it also makes it more powerful and thought-provoking.
However, Carlin's work is not without its flaws. One issue is that he can be repetitive at times. He often makes the same points over and over again, and this can make his work feel stale and unoriginal.
Another issue is that Carlin's humor can be dark and cynical. He often makes light of serious topics, such as death and violence. This can be alienating to some readers, and it can also make his work seem insensitive.
Overall, More Napalm and Silly Putty is a well-written and thought-provoking book. Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect to challenge the status quo and to offer a unique perspective on the world around him. However, his work can be repetitive and dark at times, and it is not for everyone.
Carlin's essays are often divided into short sections, each of which focuses on a specific topic. He uses a variety of rhetorical devices to make his points, including satire, sarcasm, and hyperbole. He also uses humor to make his work more accessible and engaging.
Carlin's targets often include politicians, religious leaders, and the media. He criticizes hypocrisy, stupidity, and greed wherever he finds them. He is also a vocal critic of the American government and its foreign policy.
Carlin's work is often controversial, but it is also respected by many for its intelligence and wit. He is considered to be one of the most important social critics of his generation.
More Napalm and Silly Putty is a well-written and thought-provoking book. Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect to challenge the status quo and to offer a unique perspective on the world around him. However, his work can be repetitive and dark at times, and it is not for everyone.
More Napalm and Silly Putty is a collection of essays by comedian and social critic George Carlin. The book was published in 2002, and it covers a wide range of topics, including politics, religion, and the media.
Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect in More Napalm and Silly Putty. He skewers hypocrisy and stupidity wherever he finds them, and he offers a unique and often hilarious perspective on the world around him.
One of the things that makes Carlin so effective is his willingness to offend. He is not afraid to challenge taboos or to speak his mind, even if it means upsetting some people. This can make his work uncomfortable for some readers, but it also makes it more powerful and thought-provoking.
However, Carlin's work is not without its flaws. One issue is that he can be repetitive at times. He often makes the same points over and over again, and this can make his work feel stale and unoriginal.
Another issue is that Carlin's humor can be dark and cynical. He often makes light of serious topics, such as death and violence. This can be alienating to some readers, and it can also make his work seem insensitive.
Overall, More Napalm and Silly Putty is a well-written and thought-provoking book. Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect to challenge the status quo and to offer a unique perspective on the world around him. However, his work can be repetitive and dark at times, and it is not for everyone.
Carlin's essays are often divided into short sections, each of which focuses on a specific topic. He uses a variety of rhetorical devices to make his points, including satire, sarcasm, and hyperbole. He also uses humor to make his work more accessible and engaging.
Carlin's targets often include politicians, religious leaders, and the media. He criticizes hypocrisy, stupidity, and greed wherever he finds them. He is also a vocal critic of the American government and its foreign policy.
Carlin's work is often controversial, but it is also respected by many for its intelligence and wit. He is considered to be one of the most important social critics of his generation.
More Napalm and Silly Putty is a well-written and thought-provoking book. Carlin is a master of satire and sarcasm, and he uses these tools to great effect to challenge the status quo and to offer a unique perspective on the world around him. However, his work can be repetitive and dark at times, and it is not for everyone.
August 22, 2024
Not long after Carlin passed I OD'd on Carlin TV specials available on Amazon. I think I overdid it and felt repelled by cringe content that is homophobic, racist, sexist, crass and crude. To me, what is off-putting is compensated for the razor wit of the bulk of the material. He is also a tad self-deprecating and attacks whites, etc. I have similarly conflicted view of comedian Ron "Tater" White. So, recovering from that, I decided to dip my toe into the Carlin bookshelf I had been avoiding, starting with this comic audiobook. Narrated by Carlin, it is basically a performance. Reading it at this time, I would really love to see this bit performed at the DNC convention or a White Dudes for Harris event or something:
“Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they? They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're fucked.”
January 2, 2020
If you need something to take your mind off the stresses of your life, this is perfect. George Carlin does not tell jokes, he makes observations. I do admit that some of his observations go a little too far for me, but most of the time I see the humor in them. My favorite from this book was probably when he talked about being an “ice-box man”. Ice-box man reminds people to shut the door, inspects and disposes of leftovers. He talked about worrying when he finds an empty plate with just a few food stains in the icebox. Did another leftover eat it? He often envisions a mouse in a parka who waits for the light to go out to come out for cold-weather foraging. Leftovers make you feel good twice. First when you put them in “I’m saving food”, and then when you throw them away, “I’m saving my family’s life”.
January 30, 2025
More Napalm and Silly Putty is another collection of Carlin's one-liners, rants and riffs, again focusing on the foibles of language and human nature. This collection feels more polished than some of his other written work, with the laughs hitting harder and less mean-spiritedness masquerading as humor. Many bits here are recycled or re-worked from past books and standup specials. Well worth a read for anyone seeking a laugh and especially for Carlin fans.
December 18, 2017
I feel like all of this was in Napalm & Silly Putty - at least the physical book, since my library doesn't have the audio.
Either way, it was a good way to kill an afternoon with George's genius
Either way, it was a good way to kill an afternoon with George's genius
May 31, 2019
Much like the other two books of his: just seems like he wrote his act out. It doesn't have the same anything as his actual shows do. Another review said he sounds like a bitter old man instead of a bitter old comedian and I have to agree.
Also the antivax rant does not hold up, especially in 2019. Not at all.
Also the antivax rant does not hold up, especially in 2019. Not at all.
June 17, 2021
"I think, therefore I am, I think"
"I don't have a fear of heights, I do however have a fear of falling from heights"
"Ain't it a good feeling, when you read the tabloids and you realize that a lot of famous people are just as fucked up as you are"
"I don't have a fear of heights, I do however have a fear of falling from heights"
"Ain't it a good feeling, when you read the tabloids and you realize that a lot of famous people are just as fucked up as you are"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2022
Unfortunately, I listed to an abridged version, as that's what the library has on offer. Fortunately, it is performed by George Carlin himself. Worth the listen but wish I had access to what was cut out.
May 15, 2017
More cynical, less funny.
August 31, 2017
Classic George Carlin. I'm reminded, though, that one should be in the mood before listening/reading, because it requires concentration to catch all of his quick witticisms.
October 19, 2017
I liked George Carlin, but this book was a bit too much.
August 12, 2020
Carlin is funny and an equal opportunity offender. I appreciate his thought process even though I disagree with many of his premises.
October 31, 2020
Was a bit shorter then the other ones, but Carlin, as always, excelled. Recommended to all.
January 1, 2021
Audiobook. 3.5 stars
June 3, 2021
More classic Carlin. Some bits you may hear on his stand up. Amazing home timeless his jokes are. Very little dated, some future stuff he absolutely nailed. Nostradamus for social commentary
February 1, 2022
His comedy in audiobook format, and read by him. Not all of it aged well, but it is 20 years old so that's expected.
June 12, 2022
A compilation of comedy routines.
July 28, 2023
George Carlin, The Once & Future King Of Comedy.
He was a genius!
Audiobook.
He was a genius!
Audiobook.
Read
August 22, 2023Carlin makes me laugh more than just about anybody else. And perhaps more importantly, he's usually got something to say.
January 10, 2024
I liked the first one better.
January 11, 2024
I can’t get enough George. He’s funny and makes a lot of good points about society.
November 9, 2024
I was more familiar with this batch. It’s fun to listen to his work without the ambiance of a live audience.
April 14, 2025
more genius from an amazing comedian
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews