But Enough About You: Essays

by Christopher Buckley

An extraordinary wide-ranging collection of essays with “distinctive wordplay and quirky opinions…Christopher Buckley is good company whether you’re looking for two quick pages and a smile, or want to linger” (The New York Times Book Review).Christopher Buckley, like his terrific volume But Enough About You, contains multitudes. Tackling subjects ranging from “How to Teach Your Four-Year-Old to Ski” to “A Short History of the Bug Zapper,” and “The Art of Sacking” to literary friendships with Joseph Heller and Christopher Hitchens, he is at once a humorous storyteller, astute cultural critic, adventurous traveler, and irreverent historian. Reading these essays is the equivalent of being in the company of a tremendously witty and enlightening companion. Praised as “both deeply informed and deeply funny” by The Wall Street Journal, Buckley will have you laughing and reflecting in equal measure. This is a rare combination of big ideas and truly fun writing.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Humor, Writing, Audiobook, Anthologies

466 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Christopher Buckley graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1976. He shipped out in the Merchant Marine and at age 24 became managing editor of Esquire magazine. At age 29, he became chief speechwriter to the Vice President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. Since 1989 he has been founder and editor-in-chief of Forbes Life magazine.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

He is the author of twelve books, most of them national bestsellers. They include: The White House Mess, Wet Work, Thank You For Smoking, God Is My Broker, Little Green Men, No Way To Treat a First Lady, Florence of Arabia, Boomsday and Supreme Courtship.

Mr. Buckley has contributed over 60 comic essays to The New Yorker magazine. His journalism, satire and criticism has been widely published—in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New Republic, Washington Monthly, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Esquire, and other publications. He is the recipient of the 2002 Washington Irving Medal for Literary Excellence. In 2004 he was awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It will be a feast of reason and a flow of soul.”
Christopher Buckley is one of the wittiest writers around. His latest book of essays, “But Enough About You” is a collection of his writings from the mid-nineties to about 2012 or so. Most of the pieces were originally published in various magazines or newspapers.
This text is broken up into nine sections that serve as thematic “chapters” in which he groups his essays. The Preface of the book (hilarious) and the first section (But Enough About You) start the collection off with a bang. Section 2 (But Seriously) is actually a collection of short fictional humor pieces he wrote for various publications. I chuckled…a lot.
Some highlights of the text include his essay “Mr. Lincoln’s Washington” which is a lovely, and at times moving, account of President Lincoln’s last days and his legacy. Eerily enough, he has an essay called “Trump’s Inaugural Speech” written long before the 2016 election and it is prophetic in its tone and satire. (Love or hate Trump, the piece captures him well).
Mr. Buckley also has a very serious side, and his essay “Auschwitz” is sobering. It is almost clinical in its style and is a punch in the gut. Buckley also writes lovingly about his pal Christopher Hitchens in many pieces in the text, and the power of that friendship comes through.
Like all of Mr. Buckley’s writing, “But Enough About You” makes it obvious that its author is witty, erudite, educated and well read. I enjoy his style, some do not, but if you are looking for a nice diversion, I suggest reading a couple of the essays in this collection in between other books. I wish more people read Christopher Buckley. His books are consistently a good time!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened to look up this book because one of you mentioned that he wrote a good essay about some writer or book I like. I think it may have been Glenn Russell in a comment thread about Our Man in Havana? At any rate, I can admit I can be fussy about who it is I read and prefer not to read, maybe like most of us. I knew Buckley to have been a speechwriter for the first president of the US, George Bush whom, sure enough, he writes an essay praising. And writes here, I notice, with admiration about other men I never personally admired such as Henry Kissinger and Ronald Reagan.

I don't want to turn this into a political review, so don't send me your endorsements. But hey, most of my family is Republican and I disagree with them and still love (most of) them. And I do often read people I don't love or agree with on every point. The main reason for my opening this was to read some of the literary reviews, introductions and afterwords about his friends and favorite writers, notably Christopher Hitchens--to whom the book is dedicated and with whom he admits years of drunken conversation and (justifiably, to me) admiring reading; Graham Greene (Our Man in Havana); Gore Vidal, Vonnegut, Bradbury, Heller, P.G. Woodhouse, and so on. All interesting. His basic reviewing/assessing strategy is to praise, not bury, but he always admits the warts in each writer.

Then I stayed to skip around. Buckley has the reputation as being funny, and he is here, in the intro on comedy writing, and in specific essays: "Teaching a Four Year Old to Ski;" "The Nazi of the Quiet Car--" about him, increasingly curmudgeonly as he ages; "How to Break into Movies in Only Twelve Years" (about his film Thank You for Smoking), and a prescient essay predicting, decades in advance, Trump's Inaugural Address, but he proves here to be a fine serious writer, making me want to get tickets to Paris, and he crafts a powerful essay about Auschwitz.

[Steve Peifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were a huge fan of The White House Mess and Thank You For Smoking and been disappointed with the books since then, this is a revelation. The truth is he just isn't as funny as he used to be. The astonishing thing is that he has become a gifted serious writer. Read his essay on Auschwitz and it will stay with you because of it's understated power. The Farewell section is uniformly touching. I think he has outgrown his satire. It's time for him to swing for the fences and write the serious book he was meant to write.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although promoted as a humorous compilation, I do not view this book as a thigh-slapper. The advanced copy that I read, compliments of Simon & Schuster and the Goodreads First Reads program, strikes a nice balance of wit, information, and sophistication yet leaves one melancholic over the loss of so much and so many. On the brighter side, the leading quotes are perfect, the subtler humor is enjoyable, and many articles are enriching.

One aspect that I found particularly irksome was the seemingly endless Yale references. After the third or fourth mention, I found myself reaching for the pitchfork and referring to the book as Views from a Bubble. Upon regaining my composure and repeatedly stroking my science-y, public university ego, I acknowledged Buckley’s virtuosity. He exhibited such skill in so many of his articles that I promptly banished my retitling notion and graciously appreciated the proffered vistas—all except for the cover art. A typewriter, not a laptop, should be there.

All in all, I find this memoir-esque book to be an eclectic mix of elegant narrative and fun nonsense that I consider a priceless piece of Americana.

As I get older, I find that most books have a memory shelf life of about a year. In order to extend their viability, I like to take notes. These jottings do not divulge too many details but rather serve as recollection triggers.

But Enough About You contains articles in which Buckley reflects upon his aging, family, career, and youth. Choosing my favorite piece is difficult. I could identify with Ecru, Brute?, The Nazi of the Quiet Car, and Suburban Crank. If I had to choose amongst them, however, then it would probably be the latter piece. It not only draws some attention to an often-overlooked manifestation of aging but also draws a hearty laugh from the reader.

But Seriously is a collection of humor pieces, many of which stem from reality. While the “History of” articles become a bit monotonous, hold out for Good Night and Good Luck. The commercial, in particular, resounds of Buckley’s dulcet irony. Humor IS in the mind of the beholder, however, so others may interpret the collection differently.

In the Out and About section, Buckley documents a variety of his travel experiences, which greatly enhance the reader’s global perspective. Topics vary, from the persistence of man and magic in Ireland to the persistence of man and beast in the Iditarod to the persistence of man despite man in Auschwitz. Here is where the lengthening of one’s bucket list begins!

Statecraft features stories that relate to political leadership. Included in these essays are reflections about Buckley's personal encounters with Papa Bush and Nixon. There is also an informative piece about Lincoln, and another essay that expands supporting presidential positions. The cabinet suggestions found within this latter piece, The Secretary of History, are quite novel and funny!

Farewells is a chapter that contains articles covering the deaths of memorable literary figures. While including JFK, Jr. is a bit of a stretch, the others have made an indelible imprint upon history. Buckley even addresses Vidal, the family nemesis. I am still scratching my head over Vidal calling the younger Buckley “creepy.” This seems a bit hypocritical coming from a person involved with the production of Caligula. “Brain-dead?” Well, the use of that epithet is a right earned by age. Take heart, young sir, in the knowledge that you caught his attention and in the fact that he could never praise a Buckley.

The collection amassed under Criticism reviews various works and gives supplemental details that may or, as in the case of The Real Animal House, may not kindle reading interest. I was initially hesitant to accept Moby-Dick as one of the five things that one should really know, but now I am tempted to give it a go, eventually.

La Belle France takes the reader on a tour of the imperialistic country that had so many nice and supportive op-eds printed after 9/11. While I have always recognized its beauty and culture, I never felt particularly compelled to visit it. Buckley’s tales, however, are highly persuasive. Perhaps someday I will.

Continuing Educations draws on lessons Buckley learned via experience, as well as provides miscellaneous fictional study aids. Nothing here is remarkable other than the fact that he, too, has experienced a parental role in the college admission drama.

Essays is a collection of informative and observational pieces in which Buckley uses his finely honed wit to press a point. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite collections.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it closer to its publication and/or been more knowledgeable about some of the references. I did enjoy the humor with which the author wrote, and I appreciated the vast topics that he covered.

[Dolly]

Humorous collection of essays.

interesting quotes (page numbers from paperback edition with ISBN13 978-1476749525):

"...how many people in other professions get to break wind in society with impunity?" (p. 11)

"Now I am become Shush, Destroyer of Conversation." (p. 21)

(regarding George H.W. Bush):
"I thought then, and think still, that in a way George H.W. Bush was the real Ronald Reagan. I mean this with no disrespect for Mr. Reagan, whom I admired and loved. But George Bush had gone to war; Mr. Reagan had played war heroes in movies. George Bush was a devoted father; Reagan was perhaps devoted to his children, but in a very different way. This perception of mine jarred as I observed the two of them together up close, for it was Reagan who gave the impression of being the tougher guy. No one would fault his physical courage. After all, he'd insisted on walking into the emergency room with Hinckley's bullet in his lung, and had cracked jokes on the operating table, saying he hoped they were all Republicans. His heroic aura was genuine. Bush's was submerged beneath the genial preppy exterior: the Cowboy and Dink Stover." (pp. 163-164)

and "For a New England Blue Blood, he had the tear ducts of a Sicilian grandmother ." (p. 166)

"Perhaps someday Democrats will be as sunny as Republicans.." (p. ?)

[Lcitera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Buckley's books...they make me laugh...and I be not an easy audience. His essays, written for various sources including the NY TIMES, The DAILY BEAST, and FORBES, address a variety of topics most often written as satire; a few so serious and so well done you can feel his horror as to that which he has observed. My favorite...rewriting MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY in summary, from the point of view of Captain Bligh. I read every word, but easily a book from which one can pick and choose for a fast read...deservedly four stars.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I blame myself - I just got out of a Philip Roth binge and Hoopla suggested I read this; I had no idea who Christopher Buckley was. Well, 450+ pages later I'm through with this book - a collection of Andy Rooney-esque whining, travel essays about drinking a lot, obsessing over the genius of Christopher Hitchens. Lather, rinse, repeat - you'll eventually read the same anecdotes multiple times. This is not a good book for probably anyone that isn't a fan of Christopher Buckley because it's a mess of varied styles of stuff, most of which isn't nearly as insightful or witty as it wants to be.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays vary in type. There is travel writing, light political writing, general humor, criticism literary, introductions to books and various other things. I enjoyed some pieces more than others but overall I enjoyed the book. All the pieces are over 10 years old now but most did not feel dated to me. Some felt more silly than humorous but others may enjoy those more than me.

[Scot · Rating 3 out of 5]

It turns out tat how much I enjoy Buckley is directly proportional to the length of his work. His novels I like; his long essays are usually interesting; his short bits generally fall flat for me.

[Elaine W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love his novels, went back to this old collection after re-reading Christopher Hitchen's Mortality. Am reading them gradually and savoring ... most of them.

[Robert Enzenauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great gift. I will share with my wife. Incredibly funny perspective, told in the way that only Christopher Buckley can describe history and current wevents

[Peter Antonucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This crisp, fun, extremely well-written collection of essays showcases Buckley at his finest.

[lara phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like his novels better, but lots of wit and laughs in these short pieces, too.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven. Some of the essays are clever & witty; many are esoteric, with oblique references to people/things that leave those of us not in his social circle wondering what the heck he's talking about.

[Steven Beningo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays ranged from excellent to very boring.

[Crista · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny. like the essays on other authors, like PG Wodehouse.

[Mark Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Buckley’s most recent book is But Enough About You, a collection of essays he has written for various publications over the last 15 years. Buckley is one of my favorite writers, and I devoured But Enough About You with delight. The pieces collected in But Enough About You are a true grab-bag, running the gamut from humorous to serious. However, the essays collected here work well together, even though they span a decade and a half. As a writer, Buckley is consistently funny, witty, and smart. His prose entertains and informs, as he sprinkles witty bon-mots throughout.

But Enough About You also includes more serious pieces, and for me these were some of the highlights of the book. Buckley’s essay about visiting Auschwitz with his father was quite moving, as was his tribute to his late friend Christopher Hitchens. There is an excellent essay on Buckley’s relationship with President George H.W. Bush. Buckley was a speechwriter for then-Vice President Bush from 1981 until 1983, and his admiration for Bush is clear. Another fascinating personal essay was “Dear Joe,” about Buckley’s correspondence and friendship with Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22. My only criticism of “Dear Joe” is that while Heller’s letters to Buckley are quoted, Buckley’s letters to Heller are not. Buckley may have thought that his letters would not be of interest, but he sells himself short, as his authorial gifts are many.

I was particularly fascinated by Buckley’s 2012 essay on the death of Gore Vidal. Here a little historical backstory is required. Back in 1968, Vidal and William F. Buckley, leading light of the conservative movement and Christopher’s father, squared off in a series of televised debates during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. During one debate, Buckley and Vidal got into a rather heated exchange, with Vidal calling Buckley a “crypto-Nazi,” and Buckley responding in kind by calling Vidal a “queer.” The following year, both men wrote articles for Esquire magazine about the event. Vidal’s article had some rather nasty things to say about Buckley, who ended up suing Vidal and Esquire for libel. Buckley won the case, and with it the eternal enmity of Gore Vidal. While Buckley refrained from criticizing Vidal in print, Vidal never missed a chance to lay into Buckley. In keeping with his cranky nature, Vidal had only nasty things to say upon Buckley’s death in 2008. Adding insult to injury, as was his wont, Vidal also insulted Christopher Buckley, calling him “creepy” and “brain dead.” Christopher Buckley has every right to hate Gore Vidal and say nasty things about him when he died in 2012. But Buckley doesn’t, and instead crafted an intelligent essay that acknowledged both Vidal’s strengths as a writer and his faults as a human being. As a fan of both William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal, I can safely say that while politically I agree much more with Vidal, William F. Buckley was twice the man Gore Vidal was.

Ironically, But Enough About You doesn’t include what might be Christopher Buckley’s most famous, or notorious, short essay, “Sorry Dad, I’m Voting for Obama,” which was published on The Daily Beast website in October, 2008. Buckley hated the title of the piece, and he demanded that the editors change it. (They didn’t.) In the essay, Buckley explained the reasons why he was voting for Barack Obama rather than John McCain in the 2008 election. Buckley’s reasons were quite rational, as he wrote, “Obama has in him…the potential to be a good, perhaps even great leader. He is, it seems clear enough, what the historical moment seems to be calling for.” So as to not unduly antagonize the right wing, Buckley purposely did not publish the piece in the pages of National Review, the magazine his father started, and for whom he had recently begun writing a column for. Nevertheless, the piece caused the right wing to virulently turn against Buckley, and it forced him to resign from National Review. The kerfuffle over Buckley’s piece is a good example of how the Republican party has purged itself of any dissenting voices. In the essay Buckley quotes his father as saying, “You know, I’ve spent my entire life time separating the Right from the kooks.” Well, now it’s the Tea Party and their kooks separating the Right from anyone with half a brain.

If you’re a fan of Christopher Buckley’s satirical novels, you will surely enjoy But Enough About You, and the humor of essays like “The Origin and Development of the Lobster Bib-Volume II: Rome to the Present Era,” and “How to Write Witty E-Mail (Hint: Pretend They’re Telegrams),” a 1998 essay that was the first piece I ever read by Christopher Buckley.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of this book although some of the essays just didn't work for me. I prefer his fiction writing.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays written over a period of about 25 years. While the book says that "many" have been previously published, I think the only new part of the book is the preface. Thus, I wouldn't recommend this book to regular readers of Forbes, FYI, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Daily Beast, as you will probably have encountered most of them before. However, if like this reader, you aren't a regular reader of those publications, this is a good introduction to Buckley's writing.

It's hard to give the book an overall rating as it is, after all, a collection of individual essays. If I were to rate each essay individually, the ratings would range from half a star--just plain awful--to five stars--genuinely excellent. Much to my surprise, it's the comedic writing that, in the aggregate, just isn't worth reading. Of course, senses of humor vary and other readers may enjoy some I disliked. However, part of the problem is that a lot of these just haven't aged well. The travel essays are, in the aggregate, far superior. The insights into the personalities of other writers are also very interesting.

I received an uncorrected proof in a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway. The cover warns me not to quote the proof without checking against the finished book. Since the essays have been previously published, I doubt many changes were made, although the table of contents refers to an index and there isn't one in the proof. It is, of course, possible that some of the essays were deleted from the final and others were added. The proof is divided into a Preface and nine groups of essays. I would encourage other readers to skip around when reading rather than reading the essays as grouped.

These then are one reader's recommendations as to which essays are/are not worth reading by section. I had to think that an essay was worth at least 2 and a half stars in order to put it in the "worth reading" stack.

Preface--excellent; don't skip it.
But Enough About You--read in its entirety.
But Seriously--skip in its entirety.
Out and About--skip "A Short History of the Hotel Alarm Clark;" read the rest.
Statecraft--read in its entirety.
Farewells--read in its entirety.
Criticism--skip "Reviews in Brief: Diana Books" and "Reviews in Brief: New Lincoln Books;" read the rest.
La Belle France--skip "Zagat Survey: The Louvre;" read the rest.
Continuting Education--Skip "Teach Your Four Year Old to Ski" unless you're an "older" dad who belongs to the one percent; "The Debt of Socrates;" "After Saddam: a Briefer;" "The New Japanese SAT;" and "The Higgs boson Particle and You:Q &A." Read the few remaining, although " NASA Astronaut Screening, Revised and Updated" isn't very good either.
Essays--read in its entirety.

One odd result of reading this book is that I ended up disliking Buckley. If there were a "win a dinner with this author" contest, I wouldn't enter. (If I had quit after reading the Preface, I would have.) That doesn't mean I can't appreciate his wit and admire his erudition; I do. However, the bottom line is that this is a collection of personal essays and Buckley comes across as someone who just isn't a very likeable person.

[Claudia Sorsby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many collections, it's a bit uneven, but it gets much, much better after a weak start.

Disclaimer: I don't like travel writing, in general, so any travel essay has a strike against it going in. That said, those are by far the weakest essays in the book (my husband gave up in the midst of them, and he likes both travel writing and Buckley, so really, they're pretty bad). Buckley also mentions a lot of meals, but doesn't describe them, which makes for very dull reading. "Then we went here, and ate this, and then we went there, and ate that," is not interesting. There's some great food writing out there, which can be evocative and fun, but this is not it.

He also has an unfortunate habit of name-dropping, which is even duller (except for the piece on how to do it, which is perversely rather good).

Happily, Buckley hits his stride when he's writing about other writers he knows and admires, though. There were a couple of pieces on Joseph Heller, for example, which worked surprisingly weIl; instead of coming off as repetitious, it provided some depth and and a sense of continuity and connection, which was great. Buckley's affection for him came through clearly, and it seems both understandable and charming. Come to think of it, too, it's not just other writers; he's also quite good when talking about the elder George Bush, whom he clearly admires very much.

There was also an excellent bit on how to write witty email, in which he used a book about the history of telegrams as a launching pad for some genuinely funny work, and a great description of memorable social faux pas in history.

It's interesting; Buckley originally came up as a comic writer, but the straight-up comic pieces often felt a bit strained. He was at his funniest in the essays that grew organically out of broader topics, like the faux pas. Maybe it's a sign of him mellowing/maturing?

[Dan Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been on a essay kick lately and also have been on the road for work, so I got this audio book from the local library. I had never read anything by Christopher Buckley (son of William F. Buckley Jr.) previously so didn't know what to expect. He is a very good craftsman of the English language and is at his best when he is writing a humourous piece, although there are some very good serious entries here too, such as when he recounts a trip he made to Auschwitz. The book is divided into nine sections of several fairly short chapters each (making this a good book for those who get only short snippets of reading time or, if going for the audio option, a 8-12 minute commute one way - not 7 and not 13). My favourite sections were the second and third ones, "But Seriously" and "Out and About". The entries in these chapters had me laughing out loud at times, particularly entries such as We Regret the Error, Your Horoscope, The History of the Hotel Minibar, A Short History of the Hotel Alarm Clock, and Small Aircraft Advisory. (Several pages are available to preview on Amazon.) I also enjoyed some of the essays on writers, particularly those on P.G Wodehouse and Ray Bradbury. Don't give up at the overly long and naval-gazing preface.

All in all, an enjoyable stylistic experience, although one has to put up with a small amount of profanity and a sense of humour which holds very few things sacred. The reader, Bob Walter, does a great job. On the essays about travelling in France, I had to remind myself a couple times that this was not Hemmingway I was listening to, as I'm pretty sure this same reader did the audio version of "A Moveable Feast" that I listened to a few years back. Recommended with reservations - you must have a sense of humour and you must not be freaked out by the way someone who doesn't share your perspective looks at the world.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checked this out of the public library to thumb through because I always admired his dad WFB. Stuffed it in my bag almost as an afterthought on a winter respite to Florida from Trenton. Why carry a hardcover along with the lifetime reading plan on your kindle? As usual the mind numbness induced by the TSA screening process as well as a delay in departure put me in a foul mood and fearful of being in a funk when we met our hosts in the sunshine state. Starting to read in the crowded lounge amidst undecipherable interruptions of instructions from the PA system, the mood begins to change. By the time the wheels left the ground I was embarrassing my wife with bolts of uncontrollable laughter. I'd say that any book that can so quickly cause this reversal in demeanor (still in the "forward" at 100 ft) is one to be recommended highly. So this is a funny book but serious, educational, touching, and iconoclastic too. Also some insight into the experiences that come with a silver spoon pedigree (boarding school at 13, sailing the high seas, riding on Air Force 2 with the head of the CIA and many more).

A three hour delay on the return flight allowed me to finish the book and arrive back in Trenton in good spirits at 1:00 am. Perhaps Frontier Airlines should give these books away in lieu of the perfunctory $30 travel credit.

[Tawney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book compliments of Simon & Schuster through the Goodreads First Reads program.

Christopher Buckley offers up a generous collection of his essays from the past twenty or so years. They cover a wide range of subject matter and many moods: light-hearted, informative, satiric, wistful. It's a bit like the Ed Sullivan Show. Some acts you enjoy, some you yawn through knowing other members of the family adore them. There is always the chance that some delightful turn of phrase or quote or trivia tidbit will show up in any of these pieces. It's not likely that I'd have learned that traveling from the East Coast of the U.S. to Easter Island involves only three time zones. Or that we would all be grumping about some Catch-18 if Leon Uris hadn't written Mila 18 just before Joseph Heller's masterpiece made it into print. (He also labels asparagus a legume - ummm, fact check, please - just to reassure me, you understand.)

Buckley has lived the sort of life that provides plenty of amusing anecdotes about both himself and those he has known. Naturally when he and his friends travel interesting things happen. And he cares deeply about his friends as is clear in the section "Farewell".

This is a well rounded collection from a man who enjoys life and words.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book through the First Reads program.

This book kinda felt like hanging out at a retirement home. Just an older guy telling little stories about his life. Some are just boring and pointless, like the essay about how he repainted his mother's house and couldn't believe how many shades of white there were. That was the entire story. He tried to embellish and make it amusing, so if you're a fan of that writing style- sort of Dave Barry-ish- you might enjoy it. (That being said, I enjoy Dave Barry, and didn't enjoy this.) Some are kinda interesting, like stories about his travels. Many I had to skip, because they were about nothing other than making puns or bad jokes.

The book is basically a collection of articles he's published in various magazines over the years, and should probably be read that way. Take in one essay every once in a while, then put it down. Some were kind of amusing or interesting, and would be enjoyable taken in one at a time. Reading them all back to back, you quickly get sick of puns and lame jokes.

I'd recommend it to the older crowd, or someone who enjoys his articles and wants a collection to leaf through from time to time. Its not awful, but definitely not a must-read.

[Uwe Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really is a great collection of essays. The great thing about But Enough About You is that if one essay is not to your liking, surely the next one will suit you. Buckley has had such a wide range of experiences, in his travels, writing career, political experience, and his circle of friends, that it seems he has no end of interesting anecdotes. His life is more interesting than most, and he writes movingly and brilliantly about it. (And, I would add, humbly. Even though he moves in elite circles, he does not come across as elitist.)

You just have to admire a writer who is as comfortable writing about a visit to Auschwitz or a tribute to Joseph Heller as he is writing about his incompetence as a ski instructor for his 7-year-old son, or a fake questionnaire for vice presidential candidates. Even more, he writes effectively about both. I am in full agreement with the dust jacket: "Reading these essays is the equivalent of being in the company of a tremendously witty and enlightening companion." But Enough About You will have you alternatively laughing, thinking, and wanting to read more of Christopher Buckley.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know the name buckley - I believe I had read some of the 1st gen (father) stuff from years ago so it was with some bit of expectation that I picked up the book from the 2nd generation (son) - hoping for something good. The son served as a speechwriter during the Reagan years so there must be something there I'm thinking.

Some people just have the knack - they put the words together and they just .... work. This is one, that for me, had a collection of essays that just worked. Not all of them - but a good portion. Admittedly I found the author to be a kindred spirit of sorts - well spoken, prone to view life through a comedic/humor lens (ok - the first I try to be, the 2nd I perhaps do too much). Plus he writes of friends for whom P.G. Wodehouse was 'The Master', so he can't be all bad, right?

So he writes of life - how he see's it as it's happening to himself and the people around him. And it's wonderfully described, entertaining, crazy, sad, humorous and occasionally frustrating. Which is probably the point - that's life, innit?

[Akin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suffers the fate of most anthologies, which is to say that it is unevenly paced. Buckley has honed his (slightly) self-deprecating humour well, and some of the pieces are laugh-out loud funny. Others reveal a contemplative depth which shouldn't surprise, but does. I wasn't particularly crazy about some of the 'skit'-style funnies, and (although this is me - I don't like most travel writing) much of the section about France.

I found myself thinking, more than once, that Buckley is a poor man's PJ O'Rourke. This is unkind and (probably) untrue. On reflection, I think it is that Buckley is much nicer and less cynical than O'Rourke. But this means that his humour is less pointed. Never mind, one can't have everything.

Three and a half stars if one must play the star-rating game (as far as one is willing to dip in and out of it, and to abandon pieces that don't work for them immediately.)

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was happy to receive a copy of But Enough About You: Essays in a First Reads giveaway. I'm a huge Christopher Buckley fan and usually enjoy his novels. This collection of essays unfortunately falls short in my opinion. Some of the essays are just too old to have any current relevance and other essays are on obscure topics that are not very interesting. The essays that I enjoyed the most I had previously read, although it was fun to revisit some of them, especially the satirical ones. I think in general if he included less essays and the chosen essays had a shared theme, that might of made for a better collection. It's always fun to read his work though, so I enjoyed some of the stories, but in general I prefer his fiction to his non fiction works.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Christopher Buckley’s books. I love his wry take on the world.

But I never, under any circumstances, want to meet the man.

Odd as it sounds, that might be the best description I can give But Enough About You. This collection of essays is wildly inconsistent. Some are hilarious and reminded me why I think Mr. Buckley might be one of the premiere satirists and essayists of his generation. Others are dull, and still others reminded me that Christopher Buckley was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and, even in his sixties, remains obnoxiously sheltered from reality, a literati Judd Apatow, wealthy and forever trapped in the body of a precocious frat boy.

Am I glad I read But Enough About You? Yes. Do I recommend it? Mixed. Quasi-recommended.