The Only Bush I Trust Is My Own

by Periel Aschenbrand

A founder of the Body as Billboard political t-shirt company shares no-holds-barred thoughts about the Bush administration, sex, popular culture, her friendships with people from all walks of life, and some of the ways to inspire the youth of America. Original.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir

197 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2005

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book simply because based on the title, I figured it would be funny.

I was right.

Beyond that, the writing is rather poor – a lot of Valley Girl speak, like, you know what I mean? It seems more like the publisher took her personal diary, fixed any mis-spellings but left the bad writing style.

It would also seem that the main purpose of the book is to promote this t-shirt business the author fell into because she put the title of this book on a t-shirt that she personally silk-screened. Several boutique owners asked to her to make the shirts for their shops and she did that, as well as setting up a web page to sell them. She also whines that a customer complained that she didn’t carry plus-size t-shirts on her website, so she purchased 50 of them, but only sold three (one to the women who wanted a shirt and two others.) Apparently, the idea that she could have just printed the shirts up as they were ordered didn’t occur to her. Plus, that’s a risk you take in a business – you might have excess inventory.

But it was funny. (And it didn’t take long to read.)

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biting criticism, but hypocritical and pretentious. I liked her views and I agreed with many of them, but was distracted and disheartened by the obvious contradictions in the book. Aschenbrand is addicted to high-end fashion and designer purses which both objectify women in their advertising, yet wants to speak out against the objectification of women and uses objectification to make that stance? Also for someone who believes in sexual equality, she certainly makes a lot of racial comments. An interesting read as one is going through it, but at the end thinks "so the point of that was what?"

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a great deal from this book and that could've been my downfall. The description sounds great- politics, feminism, and humor as told by a tough American woman. Awesome! Instead it was a story of why Aschenbrand deserves everyone's love and envy and had little substance to offer. The author is an ego maniacal stick figure who prides herself on her feminism and then talks about nothing else but how beautiful she is, why she's so inventive, and how everyone should worship her. The political sentiments are few and far between and offer little food for thought. The book did make me laugh from time to time, especially the part where she gets in her uncle's face menstruation, but in general it came off as a spoiled, self-absorbed woman's story of why she deserved attention and her attempt to garner glory off the one cool thing she did (create some t-shirts). So, maybe I'm too uptight, but this book annoyed and disappointed me.

[Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this nothing of a book, I loved, what do you want?
I bought it like in 2005 like right after the Election you know, when I thought maybe it's like more interesting to buy books on Bush than like do someting stupid like you know suicide or ask asylum like in Canada, I would speak French in the morning and English at night.
But I only read it like now, in like 2 hours, which is probably how long it took to write it, that's not a nice thing to say, this lovely Jewish girl who loves her Mom but won't get married, did you know her Mom was a virgin at like 23 when she got married, not even went down on anybody, girl or boy, but Dad was a good teacher...TMI, 511!
Well you got the point: stream-of-consciousness-city. If you hate that, you're not gonna like this book. But if you've ever been best friends with and in love with someone at the same time, this book will stick to your heart.
And she loved Jerry Orbach.

[Misti · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really the cover that sold me. And, I remember when those shirts came out. I didn't find the writing that interesting but it was an alright read. She's pretty funny.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just one thing:

What was the point of this book?

[Charli · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like overhearing a conversation in a restaurant and you keep listening because it's amusing, but it won't change your life and you won't be sad when it's over.

[Nora Bongorno · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the majority of the book. I thought she made a lot of good points, while still making me laugh. It felt like I was gossiping with a friend. It was written in an unconventional way, which took a second to get used to, but I feel like it’s important to read things that aren’t written in perfect novel formatting.
When I got to the end of the book, I was very surprised. She started talking about Arab people in a heavily derogatory tone. I thought this was a feminist book, and for the most part it was, but I can’t get over that bit. It was racist, flat out. Big no no.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book so many times. Periel is the type of author who speaks to us in different ways. Your age helps determine what you get out of this book. I first read this when I was 16. I read it again when I was 20. I read it again when I was 25. And now I read it while I am 31. Books that you can grow with are rare but she accomplished this beautifully.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

T-shirts and other garments with messages political, corporate, religious, or a combination of all three take center stage in this mockumentary-like memoir.

[Dennis P Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

5.

[Jason Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

More 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 stars. An often funny, occasionally infuriating scatalogical diversion.

[Elon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb sold the book as "making politics sexy", but all I got from this was a lot of "I was like" and "she was like", mockery of fat people and "funny" racism in most directions.

[Ivan Labayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

clearly this book has feminist tones one that is honest and out-and-out and personal personal but also does not shy away from 'big' 'political' issues the title itself i belatedly figured is a reference to the then president of america

i should blabber elsewhere how its heart and grit i find a bit lacking but only ideologically which is both the most and least important thing in art and lit

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quotes:

Why are most fraternity guys assholes? Because they're groomed to behave like rapists, that's why.

Once every month, the lining of my uterus falls out, sometimes in chunks, and if you don't like it, too fucking bad. My mother was like, "Peri, please, do you have to use such language?" But I was on such a tirade I didn't care. Can you imagine the audacity of trying to make it seem like getting your period is something unmentionable?

I think we should put our tits to better use - it's prime advertising space being wasted on vapid slogans like "Princess." Instead of turning us into a bunch of apathetic morons, T-shirts should say things like: "On any given day in the richest country in the world, there are 600,000 homeless people," or "By 2020, 100 million people in Africa will have died of AIDS." We should reject renting out bodies as billboard space for odious companies and use them instead to our advantage, to advertise for shit that matters.

The very thing that makes organized religion so insidious is that *fundamentally* it is crucial that you *don't* think critically about the tenets of said religion.

[Bethany Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had fun with this book. I've never really read a book classified as Humor before. I liked her rants and what she said about the Mormon religion cracked me up. I lived in a suburb of Salt Lake City so I know about the religion from that and my extended family. I have heard some people speak negatively about the author in general. I get the vibe from some people that maybe they took her writing in a different way then I did. I feel Periel Aschenbrand was a no nonsense kind of person. She has flaws, she talks about them. She's not afraid to speak her mind. I think that we should all try to be a little more out there and not worry so much about what society will think about our opinions. We should question the things that are considered "taboo" and try to find out why people feel that way. Decide for ourselves if it's really something to be ashamed of. I'm talking about the scene in the bookstore for those of you who have or have not read it.
Now it is time to pass this book off to my mom. She needs to read this.

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting thoughts, some humor. A very quick, easy read. That said, I thought there was quite a bit of hypocrisy throughout. For instance, the fashion victim bit. She rejects wearing corporate America but falls prey to high end fashion left and right like it's any better. I found her joyfully smoking cigarettes to be hypocritical, too. Overall.. she strikes me as someone who has been remarkably spoiled and fortunate in life. Her outlooks and opinions reflect that. And her t-shirts that are supposed to be changing the world? They're fifty dollars a piece..... lol. ... It seems like she's doing some good things, and has a lot of potential and opportunity. Great for her. I hope to see her mature some and be a little less ego consumed.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I picked this book up while I was on vacation for a night's read back at the hotel because it looked bittersweet and well written. It is both those things, but it's also depressing as anything: the ending hit me out of nowhere even though I have some understanding of the psychological damage caused by child abuse, and I felt a bit manipulated by the writer's deliberate presentation of a point of view where all the characters back up the narrator's perspective to create reality where there's only defensive fantasy. Worth reading, but don't expect to come out of it happy.

[Linda Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It was funny and colloquial and politically disturbing. It's like talking to a really blunt and somewhat crude friend with a lot of informed opinions but one that doesn't necessarily stick to a political theme. She makes funny jokes and manages to talk about her different roles in life without spending too much time on one or the other. I really liked it.

[Tarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This politically driven journey of one outspoken young woman is at times not very sophisticated - language wise - but the overall message is powerful and is one that has held true for some. The author also has a clothing line, Body by Billboard, that donates all the proceeds to the Aids council... I recommend "The Only Bush I Trust Is My Own" white tank ;)

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I pretty much agree with what others have said that gave this book 1 or 2 stars. I would also like to mention that throughout the book she calls herself a writer but this abomination is the only thing I could find that shes published. Periel you are not a unique snowflake, you are the same decaying matter as everyone else.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I was enthralled with Periel Aschenbrand. She is irreverent, thought-provoking and good for the soul. If you have issues with sex and swearing, you won't make it through this read. If you are open-minded, you'll absolutely enjoy this romp.

[Chelsea Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazingly hysterical and real. I want to be Periel and wish I could speak with such honesty. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a little bit of crude humor and is no longer a mormon. ;)

[Melanie Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the title but... it was nothing like what I expected. I remember not really liking it but now that I'm a little older and have experienced my life, mostly owning my own business, I'd like to re-read it and see if I get more out of it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome. I have never laughed so much from a book! Yes, it's self-centric and at times the content is quite trivial but even then, Aschenbrand is witty and simply hysterical. I appreciate this book to get my mind off the seriousness of life.

[cj · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and engaging.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised. This book was really funny, and a pretty good read.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it, I loved it and I still don't really know what it was about. She's funny and snarky and writes with a stream of consciousness style that is totally absorbing.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as funny as one would hope...more of a anecdote-laden memoir of the slogan t-shirt making business.

[Abby Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a shirt that said that during the last election, but the rest of the USA didn't listen to me.

Title rocks, book... not so much.