Different Dances

by Shel Silverstein

Startling, irreverent and provocative, the incomparable creator of poems and fables for children turns his eye and pen upon the social calamities and absurdities of the adult world.

a modern
ballet
where
lovers are ground
to hamburger
wives are turned into chairs
TV sets eat people
flowers grow from
children's heads
God is uncovered—and
re-covered
and men are hung
by the instrument
of their desire

Shel Silverstein, (1930-1999) the bestselling author of The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It, has created yet another collection that is both outrageously funny and deeply profound.

Note: For a complete list of the stories included, see the FAQ section below.

Genres: Poetry, Humor, Art, Fiction, Childrens, Comics, Graphic Novels

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Shel Silverstein was the author-artist of many beloved books of prose and poetry. He was a cartoonist, playwright, poet, performer, recording artist, and Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated songwriter.

Shel Silverstein will perhaps always be best loved for his extraordinary books. Shel’s books are now published in more than 47 different languages. The last book that was published before his death in 1999 was Falling Up

Reviews

[Pouria · Rating 4 out of 5]

دنیای دیوانه دیوانه (Different Dances) / شل سیلور استاین/ انتشارات کتاب پنجره/ 128 صفحه/ چاپ سوم زمستان 1381/ تاریخ اتمام کتاب: چهارشنبه 29 فروردین 96
عمو شلبی عزیز و دوست داشتنی من. هر کتابش را که می خوانم علاقه ام به کارهایش بیشتر می شود. این کتاب مجموعه ای از تصویرگری های اوست. در توصیفشان می توانم بگویم ساده، زیبا و پرمحتوایند. هر کدام داستانی برای خود دارند و در عین کوتاه بودن، پر از حرفند. تصویرگری ها سیاه سفید هستند و خوراکِ رنگ کردن :)

پوریا روشنی

[Maziar MHK · Rating 4 out of 5]

وقتی نمیخواهی حرف بزنی اما ناب ترین حرف های دنیا رو در کتابی 200صفحه ای میزنی که کلا 20 کلمه توش نیست

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ask four random people who Shel Silverstein is, one will say, "You mean the Paint Store?", one will say "I LOVE 'Where The Wild Things Are'" and unzip her hoodie to reveal a P.B. and J stained t-shirt emblazoned with its ubiquitous cover image, One will praise "Where the Sidewalk Ends", and one will say,"No way-'A Light in the Attic' kicked 'Sidewalk's' ass".
All of them will be dipshits.
Because you don't know Shel Silverstein until you've read his "adult" book,"Different Dances". I will refrain from playing the role of spoiler, but Suffice it to say that all the things you imagined the scrawly naked protagonists of his childrens books would do while the book was closed (C'mon you miserable brown rice prudes, you know you did) get done. Vividly. All the pleasant, quirky, uplifting twists his more familiar works take are inverted on themselves, As if he were saying, "I knew you ungrateful bastards were gonna grow up into a wretched bunch of accountants anyway, so here you go".

[Mag · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was literally just drawings but i’m counting it anyway 😶

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shel Silverstein lives on in these snapshots of humanity that remind the reader how beautiful and painful life can be. Whether it's a woman being impaled on a man's pedestal, a writer spending his entire life being rejected, a woman being rejected for showing her true self, or a single sperm cell trying desperately not to be crushed by the pill, these stories breathe with a life and wit that is sweet and endearing. I cannot say how much I love this book. Read it.

[Afsaneh khajavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب و میذاری جلوت، سکوت میکنی و داستانا رو دونه دونه با چشمت دنبال میکنی و آخر هرکدمشون با خودت میگی، بابا عمو شلبی، تو دیگه کی هستی؟

[Manizheh · Rating 5 out of 5]

از کتابهای شل سیلور خوشم میاد به خصوص دو زبانه هاش

[Kabir · Rating 4 out of 5]

So vulgar…so amusing. I was expecting the same format as his children’s books (poems and illustrations) however the entire thing was driven by illustrations which at first disappointed me but as I actually took it in they were hilarious and carried their own.

[Maryam Samiei · Rating 5 out of 5]

آنقدر دوست داشتم و برام ملموس بود ایده هاش که حد نداشت

[Robin Blankenship · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was some freaky stuff.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entirely brilliant. Subversive, hilarious, filthy, delicious, twisted, disgusting, inspiring, and delightful. How the execrable The Giving Tree could spring from this same pen is beyond me. I suppose even Uncle Shelby had to pay the bills. But this book here is what it's all about, bringing to mind the old Spider Robinson quote - something along the lines of "Funny men make better lovers, they understand pain." I've loved this book forever, and was elated to find a first edition at Powell's the other day. It's just as wonderful as I remember.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original book is a collectors item and I am very glad to own one. Mind blowing art and quick offensive stories. They're great.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Words can't explain how awesome these pithy and profound cartoons are.

[Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently found out that two people I work with have never heard nor read Shel Silverstein. Now I can't stop re-reading, and loving, and discovering new works of his.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

*clutches pearls*

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite book of all time.

[Azimeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

من دارم برای هر کدوم از بخش های کتاب که بصورت تصویر هستن، داستان می نویسم 😀

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Often funny, usually thought provoking, these short sketch stories were a nice change from the rest of his work

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adult only

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's funny seeing that people have marked this book as a children's book. People don't realize that Shel Silverstein, while known for his illustrations and poetry that are loved by children, also wrote for Playboy and had some pretty "adult" work. This book is an example of that. It is his classic style of art and wit, but with material about sex, relationships, working, aging, and raising children- this is NOT a children's book. If you get this book for your child assuming it will be Where The Sidewalk Ends, that's not what you're in for. However, adults and people who grew up loving Silverstein will likely get a kick out of this book.

[The Chosen Poet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fucking understand why he fought his way into making this book publish before coming out with "a light in the attic" now
this shit is raunchy as all Shel's earlier works were and damn to think the creator of "where the sidewalk ends" will give them this beauty to see whether the publishers actually valued him as an artist instead of just "Shel the children book author cash cow"
what a statement! forever my hero!

[Josh Marquart · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG - No wonder this was in the "mature" section at 1/2 Price Books. This is not for kids... at all.

Shel Silverstein brings his incredible talent to bear on social issues, sexuality, and politics. Very few words, more pictures and mini-stories told with pictures. Sometimes funny, other times disturbing, but often very poignant.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so so so so so so so good!

This is an ADULT book with adult content. This book focuses on drawings, there is virtually no poetry.

Very profound, thought provoking, and filled with dark biting humor.

Love, love, love. Shel Silverstein is a genius, he can say more with a few line drawings on a page than others can in volumes of metaphors and similes....

[James Biser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book of cartoons by a genius. Of course, I own copies of Silverstein's books for younger readers, but this volume is full of off-color and sometimes racy humor. It is worth a person's time, if they are in a mood to laugh and continue chuckling through the pages.
Everyone should be warned that this book is not rated G.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not at all what I was expecting it to be. If you enjoy his children books. This is very much the complete opposite and a very adult book. It's very funny, provocative, creative use of imagery and imagination. It's thought provoking and a very quick read. Different Dances is certainly one everyone should be exposed to if you enjoy sexual, political and social humor.

[michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most influential books for a 12 year old blossoming male... clearly shel's most insightful work! (not for kids, but that's what makes it great as a kid)

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few great cartoons, some average, and some weak. A good but not great collection, and certainly not Silverstein's best. Also, the kind of book that can be read cover-to-cover in 40 minutes or so.

[Rene Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a startling and unexpected delight

[Tamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know this wasn’t a kid book. It’s funny and sad at the same time. It’s a little graphic but humorous.

[Vivien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, hilarious, and sometimes profound illustration of life and what it means to be human.