Customer Reviews

Brain Droppings

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Regardless of which Carlin camp you happen to fall into - the love it, hate it, or ambivalent to it camps - there's a little something for everyone in his first book of comedy, Brain Droppings. Those familiar with George's stand-up material probably won't be surprised by what lies between these pages, but for the rest of the world, a little explanation might be necessary.

Carlin is, first and foremost, a linguist, like many comedians (Steve Martin being another notable example). Delightful comedy springs from mastering language, and Carlin wields his Promethean tongue like a nuclear bomb, sparing absolutely nothing. Is he coarse, hateful, and full of venom? Yes. By using words not like swords but an executioner's axe, Carlin dismembers ideas and meanings about politics, religion, history, pop culture, sports, and English itself. His reasoning, it seems, is to throw the reader or listener so far from common meaning that the person is forced to invent - or at least reconsider - beliefs.

Brain Droppings contains many such aphoristic nukes. Some are a few words long, others continue for a few pages. There are some classics from his stand-up in here, notably "Football and Baseball" and "A Place for my Stuff." Unfortunately, this book really does seem like a collection of brain droppings - things that just kind of fell out of Carlin's mind. Good or bad, there they are. If this book has a weak point, it's that it wasn't edited very well, and some of the things in here are just plain silly and dumb. From a man who is so obviously intelligent and humorous, I expected more at times.

Overall, though, does it work? The nuke-'em-silly technique is certainly open to debate. Will people get it? Sometimes. Remember, for every person that got Archie Bunker's satirical character, there were two that thought he represented a true American, and five that couldn't stomach listening to him at all. People will find the same thing in these pages. It's certainly worth a read; if you don't like it, one of your friends definitely will.

When I started reading it at a bookstore I was laughing so much a woman came up to me and asked what was I reading. Great way to break the ice. After I finished the last page I wondered if George ever read "Fragments" by sociologist/philosopher Jean Baudrillard who also offers a caustic but thought provoking observations about the human race. The only difference is George gives it a funny twist while Baudrillard takes more of a stoical point of view in pointing out our own stupidity. But both are equally keen observers that I sometimes wonder if George and Jean influenced each other as crazy as that might sound. The best books I love are the ones that change the way I see myself and the world and for anyone who enjoyed this book I recommend "Fragments" by Jean Baudrillard as a wonderful supplement to Brain Droppings. However, "Fragments" will take a little longer to absorb than the instant slapstick punchlines in Brain Droppings but its worth it! Read these two books and you'll see everything in the world as a divine comedy.

This book, like Naplam and Silly Putty, is a collection of some of the funniest stuff I've ever read. I've read both books and I prefer this one. There was less of his stand-up and more original material (at least it was new to me). You just can't say enough about Carlin, this is probabally the funniest book I've ever read. If your going to read it in public, be prepared to be asked to leave the room or told to stop laughing. Something in the book will make you mad, but it you will laugh at the same time. Buy the book, in fact buy 10 copies and maybe Carlin will write another one.

the only way to read this is to leave behind all expectations and just let it hit you in the gut! as with any comic, you'll find things that aren't so funny and then you'll find things that drop you to your knees. I didn't start laughing until the first chapter! G.C.'s guide to Dining Out and the advice to "Have Fun. Be Difficult." has changed my perspective on how to behave in a restaurant! Then there's the "Handwashing" monologue after which you'll never be able to see a man walk out of a restroom without wondering. I've always loved Carlin's ability to play with words, and make me wonder about why we take ourselves so seriously! So please, don't open this book unless you're prepared to be surprised, offended, disgusted, and ready to laugh and learn from the humor and bitterness of a really great comedian! I rate this an 8 only because Carlin uses too many one-liners (at which he is not very good) and not enough monologue (at which he excels). Enjoy!

Mr.Sardonic, George Carlin is a pistol to be sure. His cynical depiction of American society may disturb many people. But, generally I'm not one of them. Few could deny that he is wickedly funny. He gives blistering attacks on the English language, dumb people, hypocracies of society, etc. His two monologues "A Place For My Stuff" & "Baseball & Football," are very entertaining.

However, his type of humor really needs to be seen & heard. It does not translate as well on the printed page. The book also has three flaws. The order the monologues were in did not fit well, the book is rather short, & Mr. Carlin seemed far to bitter. "When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops" was a little better.

I am surprised when I speak of George Carlin's humor and logic people always say "He has a dirty mouth". FOLKS! LISTEN TO ME AND ESPECIALLY TO GEORGE! He is trying to get a point across with his humor, which is exactly what comedian Lenny Bruce was doing many years ago. If all you see is the cussing, then you miss on an opportunity to think. It's like the old saying "What you see is what you get" ...Braindroppings is hiliarious! I really love his take on religion, politics, and fallacies that many of us seem to believe in. One line he says is "I don't want something that's good for headahces. I want something that's bad for headaches and good for me. As well, I don't want the doctor prescribing me pain pills, I need relief pills"

HE also makes fun of euphisms that many of the liberals like to use. They like conservatives, don't think about what they are doing and as well he thinks the euphisms are a form of lying. He's absolutely right! Calling someone cripple versus "differently abled" is crap, as well it is a vague term.

But, I don't want to spoil it for you. Go ahead and buy this book! It will put a smile on your face and will get you to start thinking.

It helps to be as familiar with Carlin's stage delivery, so that you can more or less "hear" this material in his voice and intonation. But you will laugh, regardless. Only from the brilliant mind of Mr. Carlin will you hear/read such observational gems!!

I gotta wonder if having a sense of perception and observation like his is a blessing or a curse. I guess he is still about as "counterculture" as counterculture can be nowadays, but he is also has an incisive, intelligent mind, make no mistake! And he is politically incorrect not for shock's sake, but because he has his b.s. meter on at all times and isn't afraid to comment on it. Not all of the material translates well to written form, but if you can "hear" it in his voice, it is like having Carlin the Master give a command performance just for you.

This is a great book. George may have what some people consider a 'warped' view of the world, but in my opinion he is right on the money. He really makes me think about how F-ed up most of the people in this world really are. I really like his statement (I can't remember if it is in this book or from his stand-up) "If you believe in God you are good, but if you believe in UFOs you are a Kook. Even though there is more evidence of UFOs than there is of a God." Well it goes something like that. I can't remember the exact quote!!!..... Sorry :(

As a long time George Carlin fan (in the early 1970s I owned George's then new Class Clown album on vinyl, and I saw him live in the 1990s), I couldn't wait to read his first hardcover book, so I went out and bought a brand new copy of Brain Droppings when it was first released in 1997. I wasn't disappointed at all with the book then, and still occasionally read that same copy for a good laugh.

Brain Droppings is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes mildly amusing, collection of George's maverick hippie stand-up comedy routines, peculiar personal opinions and random thoughts on the English language and human behavior. Some of his famous and most popular routines like "A Place For Your Stuff" and "Baseball And Football" are included along with several lists of his favorite redundancies (foreign imports), favorite euphemisms (police clubs = batons), favorite oxymorons (original copy) and people he can do without (anyone who refers to Charles Manson as "Chuck"). It's Carlin, so the languange is definitely R-rated, but not vulgar or unreasonably profane. It's completely off the wall and out of leftfield. He finds humor and absurdity even in the most mundane:

If you ever have chicken at lunch and chicken at dinner, do you ever wonder if the two chickens knew each other?

Poor confetti. It's useful life lasts about two seconds. And it can never be used again.

I think it would be fun to go on "Jeopardy" and never buzz in. Just stand there for half an hour, never talk, and then go home.

Brain Droppings is a carefree and interesting read, and because it's full of one liners, lists and short essays, it's easily readable in bits and pieces from time to time after the first read. It's an amusing and quirky look at life from a great, much loved and widely respected comic genius who's original and unorthodox style inspired millions to think for themselves and laugh at the absurdity of life.

I AM NOT IN COMPLIANCE
George Carlin

I'm a big Carlin fan, and the type of material in this book is exactly why. Ridulously far-fetched essays, zany insights into life, and the only NON-CORNY puns I've ever encountered.

I gave the book 4 stars, not 5, because some jokes seemed a bit weak, and didn't even win a chuckle. I *thought* that maybe Carlin was a little "tired" and worn out on jokes when I first read it, and figured maybe he was running a little low on material, so he watered it down--I was wrong.

His next book, "Napalm and Silly Putty," is MUCH funnier. It gets the five stars, hands down. If you can only buy ONE, buy NAPALM AND SILLY PUTTY.

*IF* you have the cash to spare and you're already a Carlin fan, buy BOTH; you will find exactly what you're looking for: My man Georgie doesn't disappoint.