Fresh Lies

by James Lileks

Fresh Lies - guaranteed free of any Washington insight, and full of laughs. Take it straight from a nervous man continually taking the pulse of the cultural zeitgeist, as he charges the halls of eternity in "Final Exit: The Marketing Campaign." Hang on for the ride as he deconstructs everything from animated spokescreatures to rap ("Turn That Racket DOWN"), coffee to disarmament ("Those Pesky Nukes"). Journey into the twilight land of hope, cynicism, and conspicuous cellular phone usage on the campaign trail. Take your hat off to the great American pastime ("Swing and a Myth"), American cars ("Lament of the Crash Dummies"), and America's most tragic cultural icon ("The Life and Times of Wile E. Coyote"). And quiver with unabashed delight as Lileks's manic intelligence roves over such subjects as Satanism, genetic engineering, and Thanksgiving turkeys. "One might call Lileks...a young Dave Barry...Lileks makes the grade," says the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press proclaims, "It's time we admit that the only sane reaction to life is a horselaugh, and by that standard, Lileks is a pretty sane guide to the (un)real world we grudgingly inhabit." From fake logs to car alarms, school prayer to swimsuits ("Thongs! For men! Had the laws changed? Had men changed?"), don't miss another word by James Lileks, one of the country's wittiest satiric stars.

Genres: Humor, Essays, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reached for another one of the many historical non fiction works I have been reading spilling off my book table.

I thought, do I really need to relive another battle, another annihilation, another country consumed by the stronger forces led by a superior strategist at 9pm?

I pushed Crassus aside and picked up "Fresh Lies" by author James Lileks.

Lileks is 67 years old born in 1958. He is part of the baby boomer generation. A writer, journalist with a twisted and wired sense of humor.

He published this edition of "Fresh Lies" in 1994. A bit dated, yes it is but so am I.

A little over 60 short written vignettes from "Office Life" to "The Life and Times of Wile E. Coyote."

From start to finish, I was ranging from a chuckle to a full laugh out loud. My dog looked puzzled.
This guy might give your endorphins a boost.

Crassus will be executed tomorrow and Rome can fall at a later date.🦢

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure where I heard about this book but had it on my to read list. Took forever to get from my library so people really like it.

In the same line as Dave Barry or Lewis Grizzard, James writes a newspaper column and this book is a collection of those. Found it very interesting that this book was published in 1994 and a lot of the problems he's writing about are relevant here in 2012/2013.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

All a writer has to do to get five stars out of me is make me laugh out loud, and this book did that. Whatever you think about him, James Lileks can deliver the laughs.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading James Lileks after a long, hard day (or even in the middle of one) is like a refreshing drink of cool water. He's that good, and that good for you. Witty, self-deprecating, erudite, observant, mordantly intelligent and yet painfully aware of what a blessing it is to be alive...this guy is about as close as any modern columnist or humor writer can be to a modern Robert Benchley. I've been following him in columns, book collections, and website for years, and he never disappoints.

If you get a chance to get your hands on a copy of "Fresh Lies", go ahead and spent the rent and insulin money to get it. You'll be glad you did, and your pancreas can hold out a little while longer.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of Lileks’s columns from when he worked in D.C. Damn, that man is funny. It’s very good bedtime reading, because the articles are unconnected. Cuts down on OMCS (one more chapter syndrome).