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Friend in Hospital, please suggest some books for me to bring him.

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against all enemies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:19 PM
Original message
Friend in Hospital, please suggest some books for me to bring him.
He's in his early 20's, pretty liberal and knows his politics, but today's politics are pretty depressing. But I'm trying to cheer him up so I'm looking for something humorous to buy for him to read. Please help.
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:21 PM
Response to Original message
1. I may be showing my age
but I really liked Garrison Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat". Not an in-your-face book about politics, but a person's perspective on being a good, decent human being in the face of all this insanity.

Just my 2 cents.
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democracyindanger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
2. The Onion's "Our Dumb Century: 100 Years of Headlines
from America's Finest News Source."
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:22 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. I liked that one! n/t
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Sugar Smack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:41 PM
Response to Reply #3
12. Also, "The Onion's Finest News Reporting" is great!
:rofl: :patriot:
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TrogL Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. Steven King's 'Gunslinger' series
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book lady Donating Member (378 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
5. I think any books by Molly Ivins
should put a smile on his face
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MiniMandaRuth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
6. America: A Citiznes Guide To Democracy
by John Stewart... It's great...
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against all enemies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:30 PM
Response to Original message
7. I appreciate all suggestions, am going to bookstore tomorrow
Edited on Thu Mar-09-06 08:32 PM by against all enemies
before visiting hours. I forgot to say he really has a keen sense of humor. In a sarcastic way. Thanks again. Please keep them coming.
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miss_american_pie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:33 PM
Response to Original message
8. Not political
but David Sedaris is pretty funny.
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zulchzulu Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:36 PM
Response to Original message
9. Here's a few...
Edited on Thu Mar-09-06 08:38 PM by zulchzulu
Dick by John Nichols (book about Cheney)

Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza

American Theocracy : The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21stCentury by Kevin Phillips

Shooting Star : The Brief Arc of Joe McCarthy by Tom Wicker

Revolutionary Characters : What Made the Founders Different by Gordon Wood

AND....

Real Frank Zappa Book -- by Frank Zappa, Peter Occhiogross
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Sugar Smack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:39 PM
Response to Original message
10. "Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem- it's a novel about
a private investigator that has Tourette's. It's the funniest thing I have ever read, and if your friend hasn't had any surgery that requires "not laughing", this is a great book. I don't laugh that easily, but reading this on my lunch break, I was in tears. I was done. People were staring at me, and I was almost afraid to look back down at the text again for fear of losing it again.

The best part of it is how his friends & colleagues are totally prepared for his outbursts. One plays with him gently by asking him to tell a joke.
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:40 PM
Response to Original message
11. Upbeat and uplifting? Almost anything by HH Dalai Lama or
Thich Nhat Hahn. Hell...ever Frank Dyer is a good one. Not really humorous, but could be good for the soul.
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maveric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:42 PM
Response to Original message
13. "The Broker". John Grisham.
Its a real page-turner and a bit intriguing. If he's political he might like this one.
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Xipe Totec Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 08:44 PM
Response to Original message
14. It's Obvious You Won't Survive by Your Wits Alone: A Dilbert Book
It is hilarious.

I keep a copy by my desk, where my boss can see it.
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Sugar Smack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:16 PM
Response to Original message
15. Also: anything by the Good Doctor, Hunter S. Thompson:
"The Proud Highway"
"Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas"
"Songs of the Doomed"
"Fear & Loathing in America"
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bertha katzenengel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:25 PM
Response to Original message
16. If you/he won't think it's too "old" get him _One More Time_ -- it is
Carol Burnett's memoir of her childhood and beginning in show business. It is hilarious, and touching, and just completely entertaining.

Please tell your friend that other "friends" on the internets are with him in thought. :hug:
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:26 PM
Response to Original message
17. Snowcrash!
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I Have A Dream Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:46 PM
Response to Original message
18. Anything by David Sedaris. n/t
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swag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:17 AM
Response to Reply #18
29. Oh, what you said.
But "Dress Your Family . . . " is rather dark. Well, I guess they all are in spots, and that's why they're so funny and diverting.

So what you said. Excuse my interjection.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:33 AM
Response to Reply #18
33. 100% agreement. He's great.
:hi:
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skyblue Donating Member (724 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:54 PM
Response to Original message
19. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
It's absurd and the movie wasn't too bad either.
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mdmc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 09:54 PM
Response to Original message
20. something from the boondocks collection!
:kick:
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SCRUBDASHRUB Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 10:01 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Bush World by Maureen Dowd.
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CatholicEdHead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 10:07 PM
Response to Original message
22. Paul Wellstone's book
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081664179X/qid=1141959254/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-0530781-6939944?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
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YellowRubberDuckie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 10:10 PM
Response to Original message
23. Harry Potter...It'll keep him busy.
:evilgrin:
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Mayberry Machiavelli Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
24. "Surely you must be joking, Mr. Feynman." A series of autobiographical
vignettes, a lot of humor and insight, and an easy read. Perfect for this situation.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393316041/qid=1141960321/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4004447-0988949?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
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Floogeldy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Mar-09-06 10:15 PM
Response to Original message
25. Like there is something wrong with "Playboy" magazine?
;)
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doc03 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:01 AM
Response to Original message
26. Anything by James Patterson
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swag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:15 AM
Response to Original message
27. David Sedaris - "Barrel Fever"
I had loaned that to a good friend coincidentally the very day she was diagnosed with MS. Even though care and woe were crushing her, she laughed aloud repeatedly on the #10 bus going home while reading the first story "Parade."
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:33 AM
Response to Reply #27
32. I love, LOVE David Sedaris! He's is outrageously funny.
:hi: to another fan!
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hobo_baggins Donating Member (754 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:16 AM
Response to Original message
28. Tropic of Cancer
or calvin and hobbes, your pick..
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havocmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:29 AM
Response to Original message
30. Carl Hiassen would be the author I would select for humor
with some political points. He creates some extremely interesting characters and takes them on some wild rides. Gets his licks in of the state of American culture too.

Always cheers me up.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:31 AM
Response to Original message
31. ANYthing by David Sedaris. That man is hilarious!
LOL funny. :thumbsup:
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against all enemies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 08:53 AM
Response to Original message
34. Looks like a great list for all of us. We could all use a laugh about now
I hadn't even heard of David Sedaris and his name keeps popping up. If the list keeps growing both my friend and I will have lots of reading to do. Thanks to my DU friends.
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Ohio Joe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 09:07 AM
Response to Original message
35. OK, keep an open mind here
Mick Foley's "Have A Nice Day" is both an absolutely hilarious and very touching look at his life both inside and outside the wrestling world. You don't need to like or even know anything about wrestling to appreciate the humor. I highly recommend it.
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riona Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 10:50 AM
Response to Original message
36. robert crais
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MissMillie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 12:09 PM
Response to Original message
37. Jimmy Carter's new book
Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis....

A book about morals from a moral man... go figure.
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noonwitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 01:29 PM
Response to Original message
38. Get him a Robin Cook novel....
Just kidding. Get him something he's wanted to read, but hasn't had time for.
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LSK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 01:31 PM
Response to Original message
39. how about some Al Franken books
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Sequoia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
40. Jitterbug Perfume
The Hunchback of Norte Dame

Food of the Gods

The Secret Knowledge of Water

Not a one of these have anything to do with the other of course.
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Boojatta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Mar-10-06 01:38 PM
Response to Original message
41. The Overcoat and Other Short Stories by Nikolai Gogol
It should really be called "The Overcoat", "The Nose", and Other Short Stories.
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