Customer Reviews

Bar Mitzvah Disco: The Music May Have Stopped, but the Party's Never Over

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to resist opening this book when considering the cover shot. All serious Bar Mitzvah-goers know that there are many stories, pictures and musings that are simply too important not to share. It's a smart and hilarious book of basically everything Bar Mitzvah. The writers have obviously scoured the earth for the BEST shots of the NOT-SO-BEST of 70's & 80's dress, hair, makeup & shiny new braces. It will definitely make you laugh.

It takes you back to a time of Michael Jackson, Reeboks, hair gel & hours spent in temple.

This is one of the best books I have come across in a long time. The pictures will resonate with everyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s...Jewish or not. Hard to believe we were all so sophisticated and such snazzy dressers! And the book is extremely well put together with texts from people like Sarah Silverman. This book is going to be the gift I give to my friends this holiday season. It is smart, sharp, witty, and very funny and will bring back a lot of fun memories.

(...)The authors tell the story of a generation through collections of Bar and Bat Mitzvah pictures and stories from friends, families, and strangers.

The people who wrote the Foreword are perfect for the job. They've probably played a part in every Bar or Bat Mitzvah since the '70s: The Village People, the group behind "Y.M.C.A." Though short, the Foreword kicks off the book nicely.

Those embarrassed by their Bar or Bat Mitzvah pictures will feel better and maybe even proud after flipping through Bar Mitzvah Disco's hilarious photo album as the book represents "every Jewish teen" who hit puberty in the '70s, '80s, or early '90s.

Anyone wishing to have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah that reflects one of these decades has a great source in this book. If not for inspiration, the reader will get plenty of ideas of "what not to do" in party planning and those famous bar and bat mitzvah photo poses.

Be prepared for poofy dresses, high hair, Benetton, Vuarnet glasses, Day-Glo necklaces, dancing with a crush, boys shorter than girls, boys in fancy suits, sign-in boards, socks, food, giant shoulder pads, DJs, the money machine, lines from '80s songs, and break dancing.

Whether or not you've gone through the Jewish rite of passage, if you've attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah between the '70s and early '90s, expect to flash to the past and laugh as you see the infamous styles from those decades and memorable moments.

The book comes with photos from over 90 bar and bat mitzvahs, commentary from the teens behind the pictures, short essays from celebrities and the unknown, and photos with the famous and infamous including O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, and a few cheesy impersonators. While 90+ sounds like a lot, many pictures come from the same event and more photo variety would enhance the book.

The book ends with an update on some of the brave folks who appeared in the book. These folks work on Will and Grace and The Family Guy do stand up comedy, and hold hot shot positions. They probably begged for the update section to show how successful they are as a way to save face from the embarrassing photos and stories. But seriously, it's good to know what became of those pimply kids with braces.

While reading the book, don't be surprised if you pull out your albums or start dancing to "Y.M.C.A." Children of the '70s, '80s, and '90s - especially those who enjoy VH-1's I Love the '80s series - will appreciate the stories and photos.

This book is awesome - it perfectly captures this bizarre subculture of over-the-top celebrations of puberty among Jews in the 1980s, primarily in the New York metro area. If you are one of the chosen people that celebrated Bar and Bat Mitzvahs during that time, you will laugh until it hurts reading this book.

This book is so much fun. Beyond the great photos that are too campy to be believed, this book is jammed with the reflections of others on their mitzvah experiences. No poignancy here, just a lot of laughs.

Loved the Disco Bar Mitzvah. Great collection of antecdotes and fantastic photographs. Oh Vey, to be 13 again - NO WAY.

Highly recommend this book.

I just received this book for the holidays. I was going to bar/bat mitvahs in the early eighties and throughly enjoyed this book. Then came the photo. I graduated junior high with the entire table!!!

There are no words to describe how happy I am with this book, except to say that reading it was pure enjoyment.

I'm not Jewish, but I got a kick out of this book. I loved looking at the old photos and reading stories about the bar/bat mitzvahs. The stories were great, and anyone can relate to humorous events of parties/celebrations-especially funny when it's a teen's party.

What a funny funny book this is. It's classic. Great concept and well written. It brings back so many memories - both painful and funny and many people can relate. The clothes, the music, the friends and the parties themselves. It's weird enough looking back at your own Bat Mitzvah photos let alone many other peoples Bar/Bat Mitzvah pics. Some of these earlier ones are hillarious but getting into the 80's (the era mine was in) is getting rediculously funny. This is the perfect gift for someone else or yourself. It will have you in stitches reading the stories and looking at the pictures. I love this book.

This book really is a classic. The pictures are great, the essays are great. Even for someone who's never been to a bar or bat mitzvah it does a great job at taking you into the experience. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because a lot of the same people are used in the pictures, it would have been nice to see more of a variety.