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Pumping Irony: Working Out the Angst of a Lifetime
Like a kvetching Dave Barry, Washington columnist Tony Kornheiser has that rare curmudgeonly gift of looking at a full glass--and seeing it filled with something he doesn't want to drink. This collection of Tony's wide-ranging commentary covers everything from dieting to bread, from gourmet coffee to Bill Clinton to the sporting world.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 5, 2011
Mr. Tony at his best, particularly when describing the differences between the sexes. For example, his take on guys: "This is how your average man spends his weekend: burping in front of the TV, watching anything with a half-time.
"I am convinced that men become obsessed with athletics as a way to avoid having to deal with anything else. If you are talking about sports, you do not have to develop relationships with other people beyond the ability to discuss sports. For example, this is what I know personally about my editor, a man with whom I spend at least ten harrowing hours a week:
"1. He likes the Yankees.
"2. He is willing to endlessly debate whether Wilt Chamberlain could beat Sandy Koufax in the hundred-yard backstroke.
"3. He has a wife. I think."
"I am convinced that men become obsessed with athletics as a way to avoid having to deal with anything else. If you are talking about sports, you do not have to develop relationships with other people beyond the ability to discuss sports. For example, this is what I know personally about my editor, a man with whom I spend at least ten harrowing hours a week:
"1. He likes the Yankees.
"2. He is willing to endlessly debate whether Wilt Chamberlain could beat Sandy Koufax in the hundred-yard backstroke.
"3. He has a wife. I think."
December 31, 2017
Tony Kornheiser is funny. If you are a fan of his show on ESPN "PTI" and his tonykornheiser.com Podcast, then you know this. But if perhaps you are not.... let me tell you as one, it is true. The guy can make you smile, laugh, giggle, or chortle, whatever is best for you.
As a "Little"(his charming name for his fans), I wanted to read his books, but was stopped short by the extortionate prices his books command used. It turns out his recent fame has overwhelmed the meager print runs for his books, largely compilations of his daily humour columns in the Washington Post. I ended up trading two history books for my copy of this one, and feel pretty good about that.
Actually the short format is the saviour here, as if a column if good, one wants more, and if its flagging, one does not have far to read before its done. But the stinky columns are few and the funny ones are many. Even when he's on murky ground, like gender differences, where the age of a piece can really show, Kornheiser's light touch and quick wit keep us away from danger.
A great book for a junior reader as the themes are seldom adult enough to be questioned, and the humour level does not get too high either. There is absolutely no content here for my Military Enthusiast/Modeller/Gamer audience, but they might have a nice larff.
As a "Little"(his charming name for his fans), I wanted to read his books, but was stopped short by the extortionate prices his books command used. It turns out his recent fame has overwhelmed the meager print runs for his books, largely compilations of his daily humour columns in the Washington Post. I ended up trading two history books for my copy of this one, and feel pretty good about that.
Actually the short format is the saviour here, as if a column if good, one wants more, and if its flagging, one does not have far to read before its done. But the stinky columns are few and the funny ones are many. Even when he's on murky ground, like gender differences, where the age of a piece can really show, Kornheiser's light touch and quick wit keep us away from danger.
A great book for a junior reader as the themes are seldom adult enough to be questioned, and the humour level does not get too high either. There is absolutely no content here for my Military Enthusiast/Modeller/Gamer audience, but they might have a nice larff.
February 7, 2019
Published in 1995 so it feels dated at times,particularly when the TV references include "Hill Street Blues" and "thirtysomething." But the comedy shines through- this is like a Zucker brothers production in book form.
Tony on:
Sonny Bono in Congress- "What was it exactly that persuaded Californians to elect a man who makes Tony Danza sound like Sir John Gielgud?"
The U.S. Senate- "Isn't it great that at age ninety-two Strom Thurmond will take over as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee? Thurmond thinks we're still using cannonballs. And Jesse Helms will be in charge of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee? His entire concept of foreign relations is 'killing commies."
University of Nevada-Las Vegas- "...an academic powerhouse whose motto is 'Dealer must hit on sixteen and stand on seventeen."
Dieting- "I'm down to eating one big meal a day. But I'm eating it from eight to midnight."
Tony on:
Sonny Bono in Congress- "What was it exactly that persuaded Californians to elect a man who makes Tony Danza sound like Sir John Gielgud?"
The U.S. Senate- "Isn't it great that at age ninety-two Strom Thurmond will take over as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee? Thurmond thinks we're still using cannonballs. And Jesse Helms will be in charge of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee? His entire concept of foreign relations is 'killing commies."
University of Nevada-Las Vegas- "...an academic powerhouse whose motto is 'Dealer must hit on sixteen and stand on seventeen."
Dieting- "I'm down to eating one big meal a day. But I'm eating it from eight to midnight."
September 26, 2022
Fun book of short articles on all sorts of subjects. Tony is witty and I found myself smiling all the time was reading. No laugh out loud moments, but amusing all the time. He is the king of starting out in one direction and ending up in another. Pretty straight on observations about human nature.
February 28, 2018
La Cheeserie
January 12, 2022
3.5 stars. Funny stuff from the early 1990s takes me back.
October 4, 2022
Stopped p 26
July 30, 2007
Know that I LOVE PTI and that it's my favorite show.
This book blew. It was a collection of columns that did absolutely nothing for me. Maybe it was a generational thing, who knows. If you'd like my copy, I might actually just give it to you (which is signed . . . . but not to me).
This book blew. It was a collection of columns that did absolutely nothing for me. Maybe it was a generational thing, who knows. If you'd like my copy, I might actually just give it to you (which is signed . . . . but not to me).
May 1, 2008
this was kornheiser's first book...i think....because of that some of these are pretty dated...still funny though. i wish he still did his radio show.....or at least i wish that he'd do it on a more regular basis, but the man seems to be even more lazy than i am....
July 20, 2007
Hilarious columns by Tony Kornheiser which appeared in the Washington Post.
August 21, 2007
The title is the best part of the book.
May 11, 2011
What a fun read!
March 30, 2014
Maybe it was funnier 20 years ago, but this style of humor was always a bit outside my ability to grasp.
February 4, 2015
Laugh out loud funny.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews