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Dumpty #3
A Confederacy of Dumptys: Portraits of American Scoundrels in Verse
The next book in John Lithgow's New York Times bestselling series
Following the success of New York Times bestsellers Dumpty and Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents the third book in his runaway hit series. A Confederacy of Dumptys takes us through a history of twenty-five "American Scoundrels" in this all-new collection of Lithgow's satirical poems and illustrations.
While the Trump Era was rife with corruption and abuse of power, it was nothing new. Through Lithgow's cutting humor, you will read about a rogues' gallery of villains that came before Donald J. Trump, powerful men and women who were corrupt, venal, criminal, adulterous, racist, or just plain disgusting. With dark and lyrical stories from across American history, you will learn about long-forgotten figures and bad actors of today, including the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, the perpetrator of 19th century women's pyramid schemes, and participants in both the Watergate scandal and the Capitol insurrection. Trump and Nixon show up, of course, but also Leona Helmsley, Boss Tweed, Typhoid Mary, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, and many more. Skipping through time, and delivered with classic Lithgow wit and style, A Confederacy of Dumptys is an exuberant reminder of how not to repeat history.
The perfect book for:
• Political satire fans—viewers of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
• American history buffs and trivia enthusiasts—readers of Jon Stewart's America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and Josh Clark's Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things.
• Poetry, art, and illustration aficionados.
Following the success of New York Times bestsellers Dumpty and Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown, award-winning actor, author, and illustrator John Lithgow presents the third book in his runaway hit series. A Confederacy of Dumptys takes us through a history of twenty-five "American Scoundrels" in this all-new collection of Lithgow's satirical poems and illustrations.
While the Trump Era was rife with corruption and abuse of power, it was nothing new. Through Lithgow's cutting humor, you will read about a rogues' gallery of villains that came before Donald J. Trump, powerful men and women who were corrupt, venal, criminal, adulterous, racist, or just plain disgusting. With dark and lyrical stories from across American history, you will learn about long-forgotten figures and bad actors of today, including the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, the perpetrator of 19th century women's pyramid schemes, and participants in both the Watergate scandal and the Capitol insurrection. Trump and Nixon show up, of course, but also Leona Helmsley, Boss Tweed, Typhoid Mary, Newt Gingrich, Ted Cruz, and many more. Skipping through time, and delivered with classic Lithgow wit and style, A Confederacy of Dumptys is an exuberant reminder of how not to repeat history.
The perfect book for:
• Political satire fans—viewers of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
• American history buffs and trivia enthusiasts—readers of Jon Stewart's America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and Josh Clark's Stuff You Should Know: An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things.
• Poetry, art, and illustration aficionados.
104 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2021
118 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
John Lithgow
104 books307 followersJohn Lithgow is a prolific actor with two Tonys, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations to his name. He has starred in the hit TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown, and in beloved films like The World According to Garp, Shrek, and Terms of Endearment. Lithgow has appeared on Broadway twenty-five times and in England with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He is also the bestselling author of nine children’s picture books, and his recordings for kids have landed him four Grammy nominations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
January 9, 2022
If the acting thing doesn’t work out, John Lithgow has a future in poetry and caricature. I’m glad that for his third Dumpty book, he reached back into history. It’s good to be reminded that the US has experienced evil in leadership and politics before, so there’s hope for the future. These poems have a cadence that begs to be read aloud…so I did. Hopefully the cat enjoyed my performance.
March 7, 2025
Wow, just ridiculously good. Not only did Lithgow write all the hilarious yet spot-on poems in this third collection, but he did all the fine-line illustrations and caricatures here as well — quite the modern Renaissance guy; who knew "Emilio Lizardo" had this in him??
Politics aside, the poems themselves are masterly examples of a dying art form; and Lithgow demonstrates an amazing sense of meter and form, as well as an exceptional vocabulary and the ability to rhyme even the most inelegant names — Papadopolous, LaPierre, Gaetz, Cipollone, Parscale, etc…I really just cannot overpraise the writing and humor here, or recommend the book more highly.
The theme of this book differs from Lithgow's previous two volumes, which were written during the (first) Trump presidency, as he takes a step back here and focuses on similar assholes throughout American history. The first half goes back to folks such as Andrew Jackson, George Custer and Nathan Bedford Forrest, but then jumps ahead to the late 20th Century and modern-day jackwads like Spiro Agnew, Roy Cohn, Leona Helmsley and Newt Gingrich; and then finally up through then-present day with takedowns on Dumpty's inner circle, including a brief section of brief but cutting individual limericks, ("Giuliani, a freak among freaks,/tends to blunder whenever he speaks./But his clumsiest mess/Was in front of the press/Just for Men trickled down both his cheeks.")
But his magnum opus here is a final long, exquisite (and exquisitely painful) poem detailing the events of Jan. 6, which includes among its 40+ verses the following (obviously not consecutive):
The night before they'd gathered for a warm-up demonstration
To stoke the glowing embers for the next day's conflagration.
Their cheers were heard for hours on end throughout the dark metropolis
For pardoned felons Roger Stone, Mike Flynn, and Papadopoulus.
—
The multitude was mirthful when he aimed his brash artillery
At Oprah, Stacey Abrams, Hunter Biden, Joe, and Hillary.
But the raucous celebration turned malignant and unpent
When Dumpty voiced his doubts about his own vice president.
—
At the White House, Dumpty reveled in this mutinous typhoon
Like a happy toddler binging on his favorite cartoon.
Throwing fuel upon the fire, he sent out a peevish tweet
Attacking Pence's willingness to certify defeat.
—
The invasion, like a torrent wiping out a DC picnic,
Swept away a Capitol policeman, Brian Sicknick,
Then claimed a second victim at the Speaker's Lobby door;
Ashli Babbitt took a bullet and fell backward to the floor.
—
Straining on past midnight, they ignored the passing hours,
Their heavy lift a peaceful shift of governmental powers.
Across the floor at 10 to 4, at last the vote was called:
Joe Biden, a new president, was finally installed.
Sadly, both the poem and the book end on that day, with no sense yet of what was to follow three years later. And so the final three verses are the hopeful (but in hindsight, obviously deeply-depressing) these:
He dreamed of three combative years, a struggle for survival,
Stirring anger, stoking fears, and smashing every rival.
He dreamed that in the end he would ascend to seventh heaven:
He'd win the White House once again, as POTUS 47?
—
So take a breath and contemplate the sixth of January,
A traumatizing memory impossible to bury;
A wound that left us reeling from a feral public breach,
The catastrophic consequence of one despotic speech.
—
A sunny dream for Dumpty is a nightmare for the rest of us.
The health of our democracy demands the very best of us.
For years our body politic was beaten black and blue:
The cure is making sure that Dumpty's dream does not come true.
So, y'know, #@!$ me. But otherwise, just truly brilliant work here; recommended for sane — and legitimately patriotic — Americans everywhere!
PERSONAL NOTE: I know it's easy to get depressed and angry and even frightened, but I believe it's important to remember what Trump truly is — a clown; a punchline; a pathetic, unloved, pumpkin-faced man-child — and as such, to continue to make absolute fun or him. What he WANTS most is for us to fear and respect him; but what he FEARS most is our mockery, our laughter, our ridicule. So whether it's John Lithgow or John Stewart or Jon Oliver or any of the other late night folks, PLEASE continue to pay attention, keep up, stay involved, and most of all laugh at this truly ridiculous buffoon. It will help keep us sane, while hopefully driving Trumpty Dumpty fucking crazy.
My heart goes out to Lithgow — I can only imagine how he feels now...well, probably a lot like the rest of us. This and the previous two volumes came out annually from 2019-2021, but he then went poetically silent during the COVID and Biden years. All I can say is, "John my friend, I know you just became the new face of Albus Dumbledore...but it's time to pick up your pen again and give us some more of your REAL magic."
Politics aside, the poems themselves are masterly examples of a dying art form; and Lithgow demonstrates an amazing sense of meter and form, as well as an exceptional vocabulary and the ability to rhyme even the most inelegant names — Papadopolous, LaPierre, Gaetz, Cipollone, Parscale, etc…I really just cannot overpraise the writing and humor here, or recommend the book more highly.
The theme of this book differs from Lithgow's previous two volumes, which were written during the (first) Trump presidency, as he takes a step back here and focuses on similar assholes throughout American history. The first half goes back to folks such as Andrew Jackson, George Custer and Nathan Bedford Forrest, but then jumps ahead to the late 20th Century and modern-day jackwads like Spiro Agnew, Roy Cohn, Leona Helmsley and Newt Gingrich; and then finally up through then-present day with takedowns on Dumpty's inner circle, including a brief section of brief but cutting individual limericks, ("Giuliani, a freak among freaks,/tends to blunder whenever he speaks./But his clumsiest mess/Was in front of the press/Just for Men trickled down both his cheeks.")
But his magnum opus here is a final long, exquisite (and exquisitely painful) poem detailing the events of Jan. 6, which includes among its 40+ verses the following (obviously not consecutive):
The night before they'd gathered for a warm-up demonstration
To stoke the glowing embers for the next day's conflagration.
Their cheers were heard for hours on end throughout the dark metropolis
For pardoned felons Roger Stone, Mike Flynn, and Papadopoulus.
—
The multitude was mirthful when he aimed his brash artillery
At Oprah, Stacey Abrams, Hunter Biden, Joe, and Hillary.
But the raucous celebration turned malignant and unpent
When Dumpty voiced his doubts about his own vice president.
—
At the White House, Dumpty reveled in this mutinous typhoon
Like a happy toddler binging on his favorite cartoon.
Throwing fuel upon the fire, he sent out a peevish tweet
Attacking Pence's willingness to certify defeat.
—
The invasion, like a torrent wiping out a DC picnic,
Swept away a Capitol policeman, Brian Sicknick,
Then claimed a second victim at the Speaker's Lobby door;
Ashli Babbitt took a bullet and fell backward to the floor.
—
Straining on past midnight, they ignored the passing hours,
Their heavy lift a peaceful shift of governmental powers.
Across the floor at 10 to 4, at last the vote was called:
Joe Biden, a new president, was finally installed.
Sadly, both the poem and the book end on that day, with no sense yet of what was to follow three years later. And so the final three verses are the hopeful (but in hindsight, obviously deeply-depressing) these:
He dreamed of three combative years, a struggle for survival,
Stirring anger, stoking fears, and smashing every rival.
He dreamed that in the end he would ascend to seventh heaven:
He'd win the White House once again, as POTUS 47?
—
So take a breath and contemplate the sixth of January,
A traumatizing memory impossible to bury;
A wound that left us reeling from a feral public breach,
The catastrophic consequence of one despotic speech.
—
A sunny dream for Dumpty is a nightmare for the rest of us.
The health of our democracy demands the very best of us.
For years our body politic was beaten black and blue:
The cure is making sure that Dumpty's dream does not come true.
So, y'know, #@!$ me. But otherwise, just truly brilliant work here; recommended for sane — and legitimately patriotic — Americans everywhere!
PERSONAL NOTE: I know it's easy to get depressed and angry and even frightened, but I believe it's important to remember what Trump truly is — a clown; a punchline; a pathetic, unloved, pumpkin-faced man-child — and as such, to continue to make absolute fun or him. What he WANTS most is for us to fear and respect him; but what he FEARS most is our mockery, our laughter, our ridicule. So whether it's John Lithgow or John Stewart or Jon Oliver or any of the other late night folks, PLEASE continue to pay attention, keep up, stay involved, and most of all laugh at this truly ridiculous buffoon. It will help keep us sane, while hopefully driving Trumpty Dumpty fucking crazy.
My heart goes out to Lithgow — I can only imagine how he feels now...well, probably a lot like the rest of us. This and the previous two volumes came out annually from 2019-2021, but he then went poetically silent during the COVID and Biden years. All I can say is, "John my friend, I know you just became the new face of Albus Dumbledore...but it's time to pick up your pen again and give us some more of your REAL magic."
January 4, 2022
My husband got me a signed copy of this for Christmas. I love that Lithgow highlights politicians from our nation's past that weren't always familiar to me. I found I had to look up words while reading (I'm always delighted when I learn new words - but since I'm getting older now, I typically look them up several times before they stick in my mind).
A fun and quick read for the beginning of my reading year.
A fun and quick read for the beginning of my reading year.
November 24, 2021
To revisit what I previously wrote for Lithgow’s other two collections, satire is a necessary medium to convey the frustrations and ridiculousnesses of not only the Trump regime of the last four years—continuously seeping into the decade—but the plethora of scathing personalities in American history, from President Jackson to Bernie Madoff—men and women of ill repute whose stories remain ingrained in the national tapestry of its history, while others hang loosely on the threads of obscurity. I highly recommend this book and Lithgow’s other two great collections of witty and refreshing satire.
June 30, 2025
John Lithgow has done it again. This is his third book of satirical poems, but this time Dumpty has to share the stage with other American scoundrels as well. The portraits in verse are funny and and so on point, and the author also illustrated the book.
As well as Dumpty himself, there are verses about politicians and other society tops who doesn't think the law applies to them.
It's really good!
As well as Dumpty himself, there are verses about politicians and other society tops who doesn't think the law applies to them.
It's really good!
April 11, 2022
It is both appalling and strangely reassuring to know that perpetrators of recent U.S. corruption and conspiracy echo villains of our country's political past. With guidance from his wife Prof. Mary Yeager and her colleagues, Lithgow employs his boundless wit to highlight notorious historical figures, among them Col. George Armstrong Custer, President Richard Nixon and his stunningly corrupt VP Spiro T. Agnew, hotel magnate and boss lady from hell Leona Helmsley, and Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, who bilked investors to the tune of $65 billion. Much of this subject matter is less absurd than grim. Also singled out are lesser known or remembered offenders including the violent pro-slavery senator David Atchison from Missouri, "Typhoid Mary" Mallon, who knowingly infected countless 19th century New Yorkers, and Benjamin Tillman, who led a massacre of newly emancipated Black militiamen in South Carolina leading up to the contested 1876 election yet, incredibly, went on to be elected governor in 1890! Gratifyingly for me, 1990s OG GOP Speaker, the hypocritical firebrand Newt Gingrich, is called out for "his politics of hatred [that] have irreparably cleft us."
Lithgow ends by adding to previous Trumpian limerick-y volumes in this series, as he reminds readers of these and other equally cringeworthily absurd enablers and shameless meanies:
Ted Cruz "titan of sleaze"
Alex Jones "a fiendish ability to monetize rank imbecility"
Sidney Powell "replaced fact with outlandish opinion...[then] learned she'd been sued by
Dominion."
Mitch McConnell, for whom "legislation connotes constipation"
Lindsey Graham "browbeaten fawn is anyone's pawn" and...
"Republican Rube Ron DeSantis
Dreams of ruling a bold New Atlantis.
But with Dumpty behind him,
It's best to remind him
What becomes of the male praying mantis."
Sadly, this very clever author continues to have ample material. (I only wish it were all fiction.)
Lithgow ends by adding to previous Trumpian limerick-y volumes in this series, as he reminds readers of these and other equally cringeworthily absurd enablers and shameless meanies:
Ted Cruz "titan of sleaze"
Alex Jones "a fiendish ability to monetize rank imbecility"
Sidney Powell "replaced fact with outlandish opinion...[then] learned she'd been sued by
Dominion."
Mitch McConnell, for whom "legislation connotes constipation"
Lindsey Graham "browbeaten fawn is anyone's pawn" and...
"Republican Rube Ron DeSantis
Dreams of ruling a bold New Atlantis.
But with Dumpty behind him,
It's best to remind him
What becomes of the male praying mantis."
Sadly, this very clever author continues to have ample material. (I only wish it were all fiction.)
December 5, 2021
John Lithgow is a polymath who demonstrates his wit through these books of poetry that scrutinize scoundrels found in our history. This quick read takes aim at some who are well-known (Typhoid Mary) and others whose name means little or nothing (Theodore Bilbo) to most of us.
These ditties
are very witty
full of mirth
while showing their worth.
These ditties
are very witty
full of mirth
while showing their worth.
November 6, 2021
Lithgow is a wonderful actor AND a satirical genius. How can one man be so gifted?
September 3, 2023
it's kinda funny, it's kinda scary, but it has a great message about the idiot people who have run america pre-trump. fuck the government. america was never great.
January 5, 2022
Learned a bit about our nation’s scoundrels in this witty read. I bet the audiobook is fantastic.
March 14, 2025
It is a book of history lessons in the form of satirical poems!
November 8, 2021
John Lithgow is a pretty talented guy who obviously hates Trump, and probably anyone else who would disagree with him. The publisher's blurb includes a line, "...powerful men and women who were corrupt, venal, criminal, adulterous, racist, or just plain disgusting," which I would hold up for Lithgow and others of his ilk and ask them to look first in a mirror to see whether they may speaking of others a bit prematurely. The verse is usually bearable, sometimes funny, and can usually be made to make sense.
October 4, 2022
5/5 stars. Very good. Even though a Trump satirist can basically never run out of material, Lithgow has dived into the history books and pulled out examples of similar bottom feeders to entertain us with. The last stanza of each poem typically ties back to modern day in one way or another, keeping the whole relevant. I enjoyed this and learned a thing or two about the darker side of American history. My favorite couplet was:
“Ken Paxton, Donald Junior and that addle-pated wombat
Rudy Giuliani with his call for ‘trial by combat’”
“Ken Paxton, Donald Junior and that addle-pated wombat
Rudy Giuliani with his call for ‘trial by combat’”
March 27, 2022
John Lithgow is one of the greatest geniuses of our time. No one bother trying to convince me otherwise. A fantastic final installment to a brilliant trilogy of verse. Lithgow makes me excited about poetry again. His work is both comical and crucial, entertaining and enlightening, punny yet poignant. Don’t pass up these books (unless you’re a diehard Trumpkin, in which case I’d be surprised to find you in a library to begin with).
October 15, 2022
Crime
This was the 1st of the 3 books that I have read and I actually really enjoyed it. If you like some poetry and some good humor mix together and I'm not a fan of the last criminal in charge of our country than this is definitely a good read for you.
So when it shunted me to rate and review there was still almost 25% of the book left. It was a run of limericks that made the book even better. Read it till the very end if you have a digital edition before rating.
This was the 1st of the 3 books that I have read and I actually really enjoyed it. If you like some poetry and some good humor mix together and I'm not a fan of the last criminal in charge of our country than this is definitely a good read for you.
So when it shunted me to rate and review there was still almost 25% of the book left. It was a run of limericks that made the book even better. Read it till the very end if you have a digital edition before rating.
December 14, 2021
Recommended by Airmail
This book could be read and reread. It's humorous, with great illustrations and every poem has a bitter bite and important lesson.
This book could be read and reread. It's humorous, with great illustrations and every poem has a bitter bite and important lesson.
August 22, 2025
Ooops. Accidentally confused this book with "Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown" I'm going to assume this book is as good as the above mentioned title.
John Lithgow, like Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, Seth Myers, and Jimmy Kimmel, has helped us laugh, when too many want to SCREAM!
HOW?? How the *&$%^ did a man, with 34 felony CONVICTIONS end up back in the Oval Office?!?! HOW was it ALLOWED ?!?! A person with ONE felony conviction on their record couldn't get a job as a cleaner! The company I work for requires a criminal record check before a person can even be employed. If the tenants find out a felon was hired, my company could be sued for Breach of Trust.
However it happened, those who permitted Donald Trump's name on the ballot for the 2024 election, {especially after January 6th, 2021, which should have landed him in prison! } I mean, how does one instigate a full scale riot; killing law enforcement officers and vandalizing property and NOT get arrested for that crime!?!
The reason FOR the riot was another cause for prison time. Attempting to over-turn the election results. Trump insisted that then-V.P. Mike Pense overturn the election. Mr. Pense wisely chose to obey the law and conscience. Would Trump have covered for Mike, if he'd been caught? It wasn't a risk Mr. Pense was willing to take. After which, Trump instructed the blood-mad crowd to "Hang Mike Pense" . Threat to kill. Even to where V.P. Pense's wife and family had to go into hiding, to keep from being killed. This, so far as I'm aware, is a felony.
These days, Trump's lackeys refer to January 6th as a "peaceful protest" and hesitantly admit that Trump lost the election to Joe Biden. Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's over! GET OVER IT!!!!
Between January 6th and the current attempt to mess with November 2026 mid-terms by redistricting a pivotal state for best election results, I have NO problem believing that November 2024 elections were cooked and the deck was utterly stacked in Trump's favor, as revenge for what he insisted was a steal. Sadly, giving the devil his due, he did it so well that V.P. Kamala Harris, who would have become president otherwise, couldn't tell that there was(very likely) tampering.
Oh, but how blessedly boring and stable life would be with sanity in the Oval Office. Here's to hoping America survives this ....mess to enjoy a period of truly STABLE government!
John Lithgow, like Stephen Colbert, John Stewart, Seth Myers, and Jimmy Kimmel, has helped us laugh, when too many want to SCREAM!
HOW?? How the *&$%^ did a man, with 34 felony CONVICTIONS end up back in the Oval Office?!?! HOW was it ALLOWED ?!?! A person with ONE felony conviction on their record couldn't get a job as a cleaner! The company I work for requires a criminal record check before a person can even be employed. If the tenants find out a felon was hired, my company could be sued for Breach of Trust.
However it happened, those who permitted Donald Trump's name on the ballot for the 2024 election, {especially after January 6th, 2021, which should have landed him in prison! } I mean, how does one instigate a full scale riot; killing law enforcement officers and vandalizing property and NOT get arrested for that crime!?!
The reason FOR the riot was another cause for prison time. Attempting to over-turn the election results. Trump insisted that then-V.P. Mike Pense overturn the election. Mr. Pense wisely chose to obey the law and conscience. Would Trump have covered for Mike, if he'd been caught? It wasn't a risk Mr. Pense was willing to take. After which, Trump instructed the blood-mad crowd to "Hang Mike Pense" . Threat to kill. Even to where V.P. Pense's wife and family had to go into hiding, to keep from being killed. This, so far as I'm aware, is a felony.
These days, Trump's lackeys refer to January 6th as a "peaceful protest" and hesitantly admit that Trump lost the election to Joe Biden. Good grief, Charlie Brown! It's over! GET OVER IT!!!!
Between January 6th and the current attempt to mess with November 2026 mid-terms by redistricting a pivotal state for best election results, I have NO problem believing that November 2024 elections were cooked and the deck was utterly stacked in Trump's favor, as revenge for what he insisted was a steal. Sadly, giving the devil his due, he did it so well that V.P. Kamala Harris, who would have become president otherwise, couldn't tell that there was(very likely) tampering.
Oh, but how blessedly boring and stable life would be with sanity in the Oval Office. Here's to hoping America survives this ....mess to enjoy a period of truly STABLE government!
April 25, 2024
What a funny terrifying, and perceptive book. Written in the form of rhyming poems, Lithgow writes of American scoundrels, mostly of a political nature, or rather the platform they have chosen to do their greedy, so-called empowered "work". For none of them truly do anything that resembles true constructive labor, but rather seek personal aggrandizement. And of course the Dumpty in the title is of course that personage who thinks he belongs as president/dictator of this country, a position he had captured through pillaging the truth, with his great capacity to not tell it. Yes, as we they were called in childhood, Lies. Enjoy this book, sailing through Watergate, pillaging with Spiro, and oh so many others, many still popular today, apparently like themselves who do not read or have any constructive knowledge of equality, democracy or civil rights. Enjoy.
January 24, 2023
Trump satire books seem to have been the 'go to' gift for Christmas this year. We received Trump's ABC board book and my sister leant me all three of the Dumpty books by John Lithgow. Poetry is not my thing, and I don't have "humor" as a shelf. I read quite a bit of the first one, skimmed the second but read almost all of this one, which I thought was the best of the bunch. There's a bit of history here, so I'm sure there could be other books in this series. I enjoyed "Limericks for the Here and Now" best of all: "Ted Cruz, that lardaceous baboon,/Is the Maestro of inopportune." (p.88)
John Lithgow is not only funny (we knew that) but his illustrations are quite clever as well. So, "well done!, Mr. Lithgow! Keep them coming!"
John Lithgow is not only funny (we knew that) but his illustrations are quite clever as well. So, "well done!, Mr. Lithgow! Keep them coming!"
October 29, 2024
The 3rd in the series of caricature poems, John Lithgow chooses to highlight some of history’s worst villains (politicians, hotel magnets, grifters) — a stark reminder that bad guys (or gals) come in all shapes and have committed some of the worst atrocities in our nations’ past. The best part of the book is that in virtually all these stories, these villains end up lonely, in prison, bankrupt and tossed aside in the waste-bin of history. As a healthcare buff, the story of Dr. John Brinkley fascinated me the most — his snake-oil cures and use of radio to hawk his genius reminded me of Dr. Oz’s sleazy behavior! The ending of the book is a perfect long poem describing the events of Jan 6, only as John Lithgow can — in perfect rhyming poetic verse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2021
Clever. Many rapscallions have had their wicked moments in the public eye, even the government!
Poking fun has been a popular comic activity in so many ways through the years. These little verses are a lot like Ogden Nash from the 20s and 30s. There are plenty others too!
In fact the illustrations remind one of those great daily newspaper cartoons in the editorials that we see no more. Just being reminded of times in the past that offered a little release from the frustrations of villains and wicked antics.
The art work plus the incredible use of words help to entertain with tongue in cheek and in turn entertain the reader!
Poking fun has been a popular comic activity in so many ways through the years. These little verses are a lot like Ogden Nash from the 20s and 30s. There are plenty others too!
In fact the illustrations remind one of those great daily newspaper cartoons in the editorials that we see no more. Just being reminded of times in the past that offered a little release from the frustrations of villains and wicked antics.
The art work plus the incredible use of words help to entertain with tongue in cheek and in turn entertain the reader!
December 6, 2021
This is John Lithgow's third book of historical humorous poetry. Having focused on the Trump administration in the first two (Dumpty and Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown) he turned to earlier American villains and scoundrels and accomplices. Again, the poetry comes first and is followed by a brief historical note. The list of subjects is wide ranging, which makes sense given the list of distinguished friends who offered suggestions. The humor is sharp, the poetry includes rhymes that would make Ogden Nash cringe, and the whole fits together nicely. Once again, Lithgow also provided the illustration caricatures.
June 13, 2025
Too many inaccuracies and misrepresentations to list. While certainly witty and occasionally fun, this pack of left-wing folderol takes its cues entirely from progressivist-leaning textbooks. The author, an actor (!) who spouts the lines that other, usually more talented, people write, needs a strong dose of humility. He is not a historian but purveys his blinkered opinions and thinks them facts. The arrogance here is piled knee-deep. Recommended: he needs to read “Lies My Left-wing Teachers Taught Me and That I Swallowed Whole Because I Am Too Lazy and Lacking in Critical Thinking Skills to Read a Variety of Sources That Tell Me a Well-Rounded Story in Pursuit of the Deeper Truth.”
January 5, 2022
The multi-talented John Lithgow, whom I believe penned the drawings also, has gifted us with poignant, witty, and acerbic verses about contemporary as well as historic scoundrels, scallywags, villains, cheats and snake oil salesmen in U.S. history. In this slim volume, he has proved that spare words can convey powerful meaning, while being immensely entertaining. It's obvious that Lithgow researched his characters and events assiduously to produce concise verse, some laugh out loud funny, and others heartwrenchingly, but true.
January 13, 2022
What a fun book about our national embarassments! I've seen Lithgow promoting the two previous books in this series, but they were highly particular to the last presidency's time period. I went ahead and got this one because it covers a wider range of governmental criminals. Lithgow's word choices were great with an expansive vocabulary. And who doesn't love reading history to a Seussian cadence?? Most of these characters I already knew, but still an enjoyable new way to read about them in short verse. The last long poem about January 6 really ended the slim volume strongly, though!
April 3, 2025
Entertaining & educational + poetry--what's not to like? It goes without saying that this is not intended for Trump fans. Of course, this was published shortly after Trump lost the 2020 election, so the parts that celebrate that & look forward to his departure from the scene are more than a little bittersweet in 2025. But most of the poems are about other abominable American figures from all across our history, so if you don't want to be reminded of that one particular abomination, just skip those parts.
July 29, 2025
“Dumpty’s Dream” made me cry reading it now with the retrospective knowledge that the United States citizens didn’t stop his dream from happening. I love this beautiful nation and its divinely-inspired Constitution, so I’m saddened when nationalism and militarism are confused with patriotism. Lithgow’s poetry provides timely reminders and cathartic opportunities. He also demonstrates a keen understanding of history and the English language. For example, “Wonder Boy” is full of insight about the background and character of the person currently in charge.
August 13, 2025
WARNING: NOT FOR TRUMP SUPPORTERS OR ANYONE WEARING A RED MAGA HAT
Released in 2021, the last year of #45's presidency, John Lithgow's 3rd book or political satirical poetry is written with his usual trademark humor and brilliance, including the clever illustrations, this book is as funny, if not funnier, than its predecessors. With the same person re-elected as our current president #47, these book are still as popular as they were when they were initially released. Like the previous books, you can find the audiobook read by John Lithgow on YouTube posted by Google Play Books.
Released in 2021, the last year of #45's presidency, John Lithgow's 3rd book or political satirical poetry is written with his usual trademark humor and brilliance, including the clever illustrations, this book is as funny, if not funnier, than its predecessors. With the same person re-elected as our current president #47, these book are still as popular as they were when they were initially released. Like the previous books, you can find the audiobook read by John Lithgow on YouTube posted by Google Play Books.
November 29, 2021
Most people know the actor; many know he is a poet, caricaturist and writer as well. This book combines those talents while teaching us about scandalous politicians and political activities while making us laugh. It is a concise take on the big picture of corruption over time in the US. This is actually refreshing as it helps you remember that as messed up as we are now, it is possible to overcome similar times.
Poetry, art, humor, history--go for it!
Poetry, art, humor, history--go for it!
April 6, 2022
John Lithgow is brilliant. Twenty-five scoundrels of the past in the USA who have had influence only to use it for evil. Poetry verses are written about Spiro Agnew, Richard Nixon, Bernie Madoff, and of course that last well-known evil, the January 6 Insurrection. Satire and rhyme unite with a quick wit and a recall that "We've been here before." May our country be able to rise again, despite those who would wish otherwise.
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