What do you think?
Rate this book
Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty!
College kids happy to accept food stamps? Men carrying purses and crying at work? Parents hiring branding experts to name their babies? Big government spenders who won't spend their own money on big government?
If you think American culture is getting goofy, you'll enjoy "Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty" by nationally syndicated humor columnist Tom Purcell (www.TomPurcell.com).
In the spirit of Dave Barry — with reverence to past American greats Art Buchwald and Mike Royko — Purcell carves up modern nuttiness with surgical precision.
Comical Sense, a collection of more than 90 of his finest newspaper columns, delivers a hearty dose of much needed humor and horse sense. Sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes poignant and wry, Purcell’s columns are always original and compelling.
Purcell, also the author of “An Apple Core, a Toilet: Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood," is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist distributed nationally to more than 200 newspapers by the Cagle syndicate.
If you think American culture is getting goofy, you'll enjoy "Comical Sense: A Lone Humorist Takes on a World Gone Nutty" by nationally syndicated humor columnist Tom Purcell (www.TomPurcell.com).
In the spirit of Dave Barry — with reverence to past American greats Art Buchwald and Mike Royko — Purcell carves up modern nuttiness with surgical precision.
Comical Sense, a collection of more than 90 of his finest newspaper columns, delivers a hearty dose of much needed humor and horse sense. Sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes poignant and wry, Purcell’s columns are always original and compelling.
Purcell, also the author of “An Apple Core, a Toilet: Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood," is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist distributed nationally to more than 200 newspapers by the Cagle syndicate.
- GenresComedy
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2012
8 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Tom Purcell
7 books7 followersAuthor of a light-hearted book about growing up in the 70s and, coming soon, the Sean McClanahan mystery series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 27, 2022
Sarah Palin would eat this guy for breakfast and belch him back up for lunch.
I read this author's wonderful book about his childhood (MISADVENTURES OF A 1970'S KID) and loved it. I don't think this one compares favorably. Which is odd, because it's a collection of his columns and normally there's nothing I like more than a good columnist.
The writing is fine and certainly all of us share his sense of outrage at many of the silly things that go on today. However, as P.J. O'Rourke says, it's easier to burn down the outhouse than to install indoor plumbing. Most of his columns are simply rants and offer no real insights into how things could be improved. Except that we need to go back to the "good old days" which only look good because they're in the rear view mirror.
But my main complaint is that this book (which is billed as comedy) isn't very funny. I didn't laugh out loud one time. His writing has a dated feel to it which is fine when he's recalling his childhood, but awkward when he's writing about current events. I almost feel that he must have just waked up from a Rip Van Winkle nap.
And who is his intended audience? In the era of the Tea Party revolution, I doubt if a guy whose proud boast is that he "usually votes Republican" has much street cred in the conservative world. Some of the individual columns are good, but as a book it comes up short.
I read this author's wonderful book about his childhood (MISADVENTURES OF A 1970'S KID) and loved it. I don't think this one compares favorably. Which is odd, because it's a collection of his columns and normally there's nothing I like more than a good columnist.
The writing is fine and certainly all of us share his sense of outrage at many of the silly things that go on today. However, as P.J. O'Rourke says, it's easier to burn down the outhouse than to install indoor plumbing. Most of his columns are simply rants and offer no real insights into how things could be improved. Except that we need to go back to the "good old days" which only look good because they're in the rear view mirror.
But my main complaint is that this book (which is billed as comedy) isn't very funny. I didn't laugh out loud one time. His writing has a dated feel to it which is fine when he's recalling his childhood, but awkward when he's writing about current events. I almost feel that he must have just waked up from a Rip Van Winkle nap.
And who is his intended audience? In the era of the Tea Party revolution, I doubt if a guy whose proud boast is that he "usually votes Republican" has much street cred in the conservative world. Some of the individual columns are good, but as a book it comes up short.
March 1, 2013
A refreshing read. The author is conservative and patriotic and humorous. He also makes a big deal about the family. I laughed while reading this book and also was moved by some thoughts conveyed. I am glad I read this book...now I only wish his column was offered in our area!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews