Tried to start reading Moore's "Dude Where's My Country"....

[vi5]

I probably made the mistake of starting it after I finished Al Franken's book because that one was so funny and in parts heartwarming (The Wellstone stuff...the bits about his parents) that it was more of a book that made me feel more happy about being a liberal as much as it did anger at the right.

But after just getting through the first two chapters of the book(Moore's book), I don't know that I'm going to continue on because it kind of made me realize after all these years how my wife and family feel. They pretty much agree with me on most issues. However, that has never stopped me from going on loud tirades to them about political issues or news stories that annoy me and I feel strongly about. Their response is almost always "O.K. we agree with you. Why are you yelling at us?!?!"

That's kind of the impression I got from the first portion of Moore's book that I read. The whole thing had a very demanding, very lecturing tone. Which would be great if it were directed at the right and at Bush (who will never read this). But it's not, it's directed at me the reader. I can sympathize with the righteous indignation but I'm not sure I could handle it for a whole book worth of time. As my family say "O.K. I agree with you Mike. Please stop yelling."

Does it get better? A little more lighthearted or humorous? Maybe I'll wait until the Franken book is a little more faded from my memory.

[displacedtexan]

1. Me, too!

Big mistake reading Franken first!
Besides, I didn't find anything new in Moore's new book.
I donated to the bookstore at church, and they sold it for $15 the same day.
I laughed out loud on the commuter train while reading th Franken book!

[vi5]

2. I like Moore and respect him...

But like I said, I want to be made to feel equal parts good about being a liberal just as much as I want to vent anger at the conservatives. I thought Franken's book did that perfectly.

[non sociopath skin]

6. Seems reasonable, Texan.

Mike's books are for the moment rather than great literature. I enjoy the Guardian columnists but I throw the paper out every day after I've read it.

The Skin

[utopian]

3. I read Moore after Franken too

The main difference is that Franken is a more talented writer than Moore, but Moore made some excellent observations.

[felonious thunk]

4. It gets better

Later chapters are written by "God" and there's a chapter that's a letter Mike wrote thanking Bush for his tax cut. Moore can be a bit preachy, and I always take him with a grain of salt, but he surprised me with some of the points he's made.

[non sociopath skin]

5. I read it in two sittings.

"Dude" made me laugh and it made me angry - a rare combination. I tend to think of Mike as a good op-ed columnist whose columns are book-length. I suspect he'd be the first to admit that he isn't the worlds greatest stylist but boy do we need him!

The Skin

[Demonaut]

7. Franken is definatly a better writer

Moore is good but did anyone notice God called on both of them to write these books, The Lord works in mysterious ways.........