Basil is back with another set of opinions this time turning his attention to the topic of Media. Told entirely from Basil the cat’s POV the story lets his personality shine through on every page. He is opinionated, dramatic and endlessly entertaining which makes the narration one of the book’s biggest strengths. . This was such a fun read from beginning to end. The humour is constant and I found myself laughing all the way through as Basil shares his thoughts on media. Overall this was an enjoyable book purrfect for any cat lover looking for a book to read that is full of personality and humour.
A few of my favorite quotes from Basil: “They photograph meals before eating them, holidays while taking them, sunsets instead of watching them, and cats who were perfectly content before the camera appeared.”
“The problem was obvious. My Human believed he was trying to read a newspaper. I believed he had placed a large, slightly warm sheet of paper across a table for my convenience and then become strangely possessive about it.”
“Even your ability to relax can apparently be improved, which seems an unnecessarily stressful approach to relaxation.”
“A bed shaped like an object no cat has ever requested. The human purchases it. The cat sits in the box. Experts remain puzzled by this. I do not. The box arrived first.”
“Morning radio is particularly difficult. There are humans whose profession appears to involve being cheerful before breakfast. I have heard them. They laugh loudly. They congratulate listeners for being awake. They speak at a speed suggesting the building may shortly be evacuated.”
“Then comes the weather. A presenter announces that it is raining. I look toward the window. It is raining. There is satisfaction in independent confirmation. Sometimes the presenter explains what the weather will do later. This seems presumptuous. Humans immediately begin planning around rain that has not yet occurred. They complain in advance. Basil does not complain about weather that has not happened.”
““Oh, Basil likes this one.” No. Basil has declined to relocate. These are not the same thing.”
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this book courtesy of Booksprout for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Basil has informed us about pet preferences (1-2 cats only), and houseguests (none). He finds it to be time to discuss his media preferences. By which he means what he thinks that humans should use as media. Somehow, I don't think that this is someplace that we will agree on. What do you think? Let's find out.
Dislikes: He is a rather snooty cat. And I'm a dog person. Enough said.
Likes: I do prefer magazines and newspapers. There are a few social media sites that I like to use. But I agree with Basil on TikTok. Let's face it. Dogs will be the stars of the social media craze as they are genuine hams that love being in the spotlight.
Conclusion: This is an enlightening book. If you like pet memoirs, especially the humorous variety, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Basil has thoughts about modern media. Unfortunately for humans, he has been paying attention. He has examined television, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Podcasts -- nothing was spared. Basil has watched humans surround themselves with devices designed to tell them things they did not know -- but many of these things they did not NEED to know. As for television, all it did was cause humans to arrange furniture around them, and the situation has worsened. The humans have now put an object in their pocket that demands immediate response. And if that alone wasn't enough, now there are objects attached to the wrist whose principal purpose appears to be informing humans that the device in their pocket would like their attention. It's the first thing humans do when they wake up... they consult a screen. They photograph everything, such as beautiful sunsets, instead of just watching them as they occur! This experience has led Basil to suspect that the problem may not be media itself but may once again actually be humans. And since fairness requires examination, Basil has undertaken a review to share with us.
Already he has questions about his observations, such as: Why do teenagers send photographs to people sitting in the same room with them? Why would anyone watch a video explaining cat behavior when an actual cat is available for consultation? There are many more which will be revealed. By now you have adjusted to the basic tone of the book, and quite often you may find yourself agreeing with Basil's astute observations. The book again reflects Basil's philosophy for perfection. Basil has shared with us his most important observations. Rather than my quoting them all here, it makes more sense for you to keep a copy of the book close by before you try to slip something past him. As he will tell you, it's only for your own good that he intervenes.
Let me introduce you to Basil…Basil is an indoor cat with standards, patience, and selective contempt. He resides in a well-appointed home where silence is preferred, upholstery is sacred, and enthusiasm is viewed with suspicion. Through the Basil Has Thoughts series, he offers calm, cutting assessments of modern life, household disorder, and the many errors humans continue to mistake for charm.
In this latest book in the series, Basil has turned his attention to the media products that his humans have used or participated in. Although Basil can understand the importance of newspapers with a report of facts and potential impacts, he does not approve news that is reported on 24 hour broadcasts where the reports are subject to errors in reporting which have to be reported in additional posts. He also believes that it is not necessary for people to be available via text or email, particularly text which has a tendency to drift away from the original question or comment. When other people are added or a group text is involved, this can be a mushrooming situation.
As you can see above, Basil bases his opinions on keen observations of humans and attention to details. He chooses to share his thoughts in small books that may help other humans benefit from his keen insights. In other words, Basil is a sage and wise being with the wisdom to share his views with those who may benefit from them. I have followed Basil through his other books and each is better than the last. I find the topics he chooses to explore interesting. The books are short, clear writings, humorous, and just the ticket to occupy a break in your day. Recommend to readers of funny cat books, sarcastic views, social media satire, humor, internet, technology, domestic daily life, and anyone who has had a cat devoted to their welfare.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In this instance, Basil is sharing his many thoughts on Media. The third of three books, this one covers the subject of all things media from Basil the cat's point of view. Each chapter is relatively short, and covers such topics as newspapers, radio, television, Facebook, and other current forms of media. Each chapter covers its topic in some detail and discusses why it is bothersome, from Basil's perspective. The book concludes with a lengthy list of how to tell if media has taken over a household. This is a cute and fun read. Basil's attitude and personality come through in a very clear way. For anyone who has ever shared space with a cat, especially a haughty opinionated cat, this will be a delightful read.
I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout. This is an unbiased voluntary review and is entirely my own opinion.
I love these books! I tend to agree with Basil on so many topics, and I'm so glad he was able to put my thoughts and feelings into words. The human world is confusing and unnecessarily complicated, and honestly, I think we'd all be better off if we embraced a more feline outlook on life.
This was such a fun, quick read and exactly what you need when you're looking for a little cuteness boost. Basil's observations, attitude, and general cat-like wisdom are absolutely delightful.
Fun, quick, and full of cat snark. What more could you want?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In comparison to the other Basil books, this one didn't sit quite right with me. Much of it felt forced (celebrity magazine articles) or just didn't make sense (like Basil being able to read about improving a home). There were still a few moments that made me genuinely laugh (purposefully waiting for the perfect time to sit on a newspaper), but overall the random diatribes on radio and television just came off as filler.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Have you ever had thoughts on the media? In this day-and-age, who hasn't? Do you ever wonder that happened to all the other brain cells that your cats are so obviously missing? Yeah, Basil kept them. And he uses them. See, Basil has thoughts. Quite a lot of them, actually; and Basil's thoughts are just as hilariously pompous and cat-centric as anyone might imagine. And so sharp! The best possible gift for your cat-people.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Basil Has Thoughts: On Media is a witty and entertaining look at modern life through the eyes of a very judgmental cat. 🐾 Basil’s observations about social media, smartphones, television, and human behaviour are sarcastic, clever, and surprisingly relatable. I especially enjoyed the dry humour and the way everyday habits are turned into amusing questions. A light, quick read that will definitely make cat lovers and social-media users smile.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was mildly entertaining, though I didn’t enjoy it as much as the author’s previous houseguest title. The observations were interesting but leaned more toward human behavior than feline insight, which made it feel less “cat‑focused” than I expected. Overall, it was a pleasant enough way to spend some time, just not as fun or engaging as the earlier book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I read all three books in this series with a smile on my face since I agree with Basil the Cat’s funny views as he points out the obvious. He shares witty commentary on newspapers, magazines, radio, television, Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, texting, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest & podcasts that made me laugh out loud. I got this funny book as an ARC from Book Sprout & this is my honest review.
"Basil Has Thoughts: On Media" is an incredibly entertaining and hilarious book. I adore this cat—he shares my sense of humor and many of my pet peeves. In short, it’s yet another fantastic addition to this wonderful series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.