The People's Doonesbury: Notes from Underfoot

by G.B. Trudeau

A third "Doonesbury" anthology offers an entertaining collection of Trudeau's political commentary, social satire, and philosophical wit

Genres: Humor, Comics, Comic Strips, Politics, Cartoon, Fiction, Graphic Novels

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip. In 1970, Trudeau's creation of Doonesbury was syndicated by the newly formed Universal Press Syndicate. Today Doonesbury is syndicated to almost 1,400 newspapers worldwide and is accessible online in association with Slate Magazine at doonesbury.com. In 1975, he became the first comic strip artist to win a Pulitzer, traditionally awarded to editorial-page cartoonists. He was also a Pulitzer finalist in 1990. He was nominated for an Oscar in 1977 in the category of Animated Short Film, for A Doonesbury Special, in collaboration with John Hubley and Faith Hubley. A Doonesbury Special eventually won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Special Prize in 1978. Other awards include the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 1994, and the Reuben Award in 1995. He was made a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993. Wiley Miller, fellow comic-strip artist responsible for Non Sequitur, called Trudeau "far and away the most influential editorial cartoonist in the last 25 years." In addition to his work on Doonesbury, Trudeau has teamed with Elizabeth Swados and written plays, such as Rap Master Ronnie and Doonesbury: A Musical Comedy. In 1988, Trudeau joined forces with director Robert Altman for the HBO miniseries Tanner '88 and the Sundance Channel miniseries sequel Tanner on Tanner in 2004. In 1996, Newsweek and The Washington Post speculated that Trudeau wrote the novel Primary Colors, which was later revealed to have been written by Joe Klein. Trudeau wrote the political sitcom Alpha House, starring John Goodman and Bill Murray. The pilot was produced by Amazon Studios and aired in early 2013. Due to positive response Amazon has picked up Alpha House to develop into a full series.

Reviews

[Sally]

Sure glad the 1980s are over. It reminded me of the hostage crisis, Reagan and John Anderson running for president, and the bribery scandal in Congress. Too much of Duke, first supplying pills to the then Washington Redskins and later parachuting into Iran with bribes. Some of the last part is from "He's Never Heard of You Either."

[Darcy]

Ah, the end of the seventies. I have often said that we could have jumped from 1969 to 1980 without missing a beat. Bell bottoms, disco, ESP, Watergate, Merv Griffin, I could go on. Luckily, I don't have to as Garry Trudeau takes on that chore with this insightful look at the conclusion of a misfiring decade!

This collection sees Phred the Terrorist appointed as the UN Ambassador from Vietnam;, Duke captured by Iranian agents and led to the firing squad; Mike campaigning for Anderson; Rick being introduced to Joanie's daughter, JJ; Mark taking his radio show through issues from "How to be Mellow,: to the Democratic National Convention;, and Zonker, well being Zonker. All in all another worthwhile collection of satire that skewers Henry Kissinger and Gay Talese while making you smile.

These books are tremendous as they provide a reminder of the issues from decades ago while finding the lighter side. As we tend to look at the past through rose colored glasses, it is nice to do so with a smudge in the corner so we don't forget those valuable lessons that history has to teach. And if we get to laugh while doing so? So much the better!

[Nicole Diamond]

If it has one star I liked it a lot
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot
If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing

[Patrick]

I read these strips when they first came out in the 70's. Reading them again approx 50 years later, it is surprising how well they stand the test of time. Some people in the strips I have forgotten who they were, sadly. This is a good reminder of the issues, the culture, the happenings going on at the time.

[Morgan Podraza]

Though I don't particularly like DOONESBURY as a strip, I expected THE PEOPLE'S DOONESBURY to have more of the interview that is advertised in the cover copy: "for the first time in his shadowy career, the author speaks out (see interview!)"

[David]

At least my 6th time through the whole Doonesbury back catalog. Always works for me.

[Karen-Leigh]

Carter presidency. Oil crisis. Disco. The seventies. JJ comes to see her mother Joanie. Joanie in law school. Duke a hostage. Zeke declares him dead and tries to rip off all his stuff. Compilation of books some of which I have and others missing from my collection. Catching up. Having read so many Doonesbury books in succession, I think history repeats itself and no one learns anything. No one delves into background of the sound bites that are repeated endlessly until the dimwitted believe them utterly and quote them as gospel. It is that kind of stupidity that is going to put Trump in the White House and the world will mourn and go through the same recession/depression it goes through damn near every time a greedy, brainless, self absorbed Republican gets in. Why don't people read anymore. The world would be a safer place and politics might be cleaner and clearer.

[Eric]

I remember reading this edition possibly soon after it came out in the very early 1980s, when I was in my last year of junior high or so- my homeroom teacher had a copy she let me look at before school properly started some days :). (Not that we were low on reading material at home or would have avoided this, but that's where I think I remember first seeing it.) I like to think that a daily dose of Trudeau's spirit helped give me a boost...

[David Ward]

The People’s Doonesbury: Notes From Underfoot 1978-1980 by G.B. Trudeau (Holt McDougal 1981)(741.5). Garry Trudeau and the Doonesbury gang survive the Jimmy Carter era. My rating: 7/10, finished 1981.

[Douglas Wilson]

Excellent. Also read in November of 1982