Customer Reviews

Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of History of the United States.

5 star:		(46)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pulitzer Prize winning humor columnist Dave Barry set out to write a American history book that would be accessible to lay people. How did he accomplish this? For one thing, there are no dates to memorize, unlike the ones that menaced us in school. Or rather there is a single date (Oct. 8) for all important events, so chosen because it's his son's birthday.

Another way, this book is different is that it has left out the dull parts of history. Therefore, the reader is spared having to wade through tedious facts and figures that seem interchangeable and impossible to remember or care about. No, this book is bona fide funny. True to his promise, Barry adroitly gives us our history minus the really boring parts. He begins by explaining how America was "very different...no roads, no cities, no shopping malls, no Honda dealerships." He then progresses to Columbus's voyage with the three ships: the Ninja, the Pina Colada, and the Heidy Ho III. He is succinct when his narrative threatens to veer into dullness. For example, he sums up the "Decline of Spain," by saying "On Oct. 8, 1565, Spain declined." Presidential foibles, oddball interpretations of laws and amendments, amusing chapter headings (Deep International Doo Doo, The Seventies: A Relieved Nation Learns That It Does Not Actually Need a President, a running joke at the expense of Richard Nixon, plus creative use of quote marks make this a hilarious read.

And as a bonus, he does not forget to mention the many important contributions made by women and minorities. Well, sort of.

I bought this book years ago before a plane trip to Boston. I was glad I was on a prop plane that was very noisy, because I was laughing out loud and no one could hear me. This book is an absolute riot, even if you don't know American history well (although it's definitely funnier if you do). I used to have a large collection of Dave Barry's books and stopped collecting after his "Dave Barry Does Japan" flop, but this is easily the funniest of all of his books (and one of the books I kept). HIGHLY recommend.

For sheer gut busting laughs, this is the funniest book I've read. You do need some knowledge of American history to appreciate a lot of the satire, but it's a riot on any level. "Science Made Stupid" (not by Dave Barry) comes in a close second.

Dave Barry's "Dave Barry Slept Here" is a hilarious pseudo/satire-history of the United States. Anyone familiar with Dave Barry's wit from his columns will immediately recognize the same wit unleashed on so much of our history that we have heard, if not necessarily really learned, throughout our lives.

Dave Barry writes like a high-school student - intentionally, of course. He attributes great advances to "technology," isn't interested in the Smoot-Hawley Tariff so he skips it because it sounds boring, and decides that every important event in American history happened on October 8th so that he doesn't have to remember any more dates (even the Fourth of July happened on October 8th, 1776). And he ends every chapter with hilarious "discussion questions" that are just as funny as the text.

I've read and re-read this hilarious book, and it's great to just pick up and start reading in the middle whenever you need a good chuckle. Anyone who likes Dave Barry, enjoys American history, or is interested in what three-word sentence you can rearrange the letters in "Spiro Agnew" to spell (hint: the first word is "grow") should read this book and enjoy!

Although American history is not a book, everyone and anyone who fancies themself a buff on the subject should take the time to read Dave Barry's tome, which quite possibly remains the funniest book he has written to date. Barry's aim is to eliminate the "boring method" of eternally droning textbooks and replace it with a simplified system, in which every critical event occurs on October 8. (He arrived at this date after "considering many important factors, such as: (a) it is our son's birthday.") Although he confines his most piercing commentary to important leaders and key events, he is quick to point out from time to time that "many women and minorities were also making important contributions." Some of his running jokes fall flat after a while - after all, one can only laugh at the Hawley-Smoot Tariff so many times - but Barry has more than his fare share of payday moments; especially memorable are his thoughts on the Bill of Rights, the Great Depression, and the 1950's. In true textbook fashion, Barry tops off the package with an array of outrageous footnotes and discussion questions (one example: "Did you ever seee 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes?' Explain.") Overall, this book is truly wonderful, one that you'll certainly pull out whenever you need a good belly laugh.

I love American History and the more you know about it, the funnier this book is. Dave Barry's at his finest in this book and it's a must have for any Dave Barry fan or U.S. History buff. I read this book when I was taking AP US History in high school and laughed my head off. If you love history you'll appreciate it. If you think that it's the most painfully boring subject ever, this book making fun it will help you endure it. Either way, it's a can't miss gift idea (at least in my experience). Dave Barry's book should be used as an American History book. And I'm not making this up. His riffs on the American Revolution and the Civil War are classic. This book is the best of Dave Barry!

This book is definitely funny, if not as funny as "Dave Barry Is Not Making This Up", "Dave Barry Talks Back", or "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need".

This book takes a bizzarro look at American history. To quote Dave in the introduction,

"...(a) major part of the problem is the system used to teach history in our schools, a system known technically, among professional educators, as the Boring Method. You were probably taught via this method, which features textbooks that drone on eternally as follows:

EARLY EXPLORATIONS

The region was first explored by the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Rigeur (1534-1579), who in 1541 was commissioned by King Charles "Chuck" IV of England (1512-1583) under the terms of the Treaty of Weems (1544) as authorized by Pope Bilious XIV (1511-1598) to end the Nine Years, Three Months, and the Better Part of a Week War (May 4, 1534-August 8, 1543, at about 1:30 PM), under which France (1243-present) would cede an area "north of the 17th parallel, west of the 163rd longitude, and convenient to shopping" to England in exchange for those lands originally conquered by Denmark during the Reign of Large Unattractive Feathered Hats (1387-1396) and subsequently granted to Italy under the Treaty of...

and so on."

You think THIS is funny? This is just the INTRODUCTION. He hasn't even warmed up yet.

Typical Dave Barry, neither his best nor his worst, which is a good bit funnier than most people at their best.

This book served as my introduction to Dave Barry, and he must have written few better to begin with. Who doesn't love a good mockery of history textbooks? First Barry hits you with his turns of phrase: "Still, the English were undaunted. 'Who the hell needs daunts?' was the English motto in those days." Then he nails you with metaphorical mixups: "So Teddy Roosevelt came barging back and formed a new party, which was called the Bull Moose party so as to evoke the inspirational image of an enormous animal eating ferns and pooping all over the landscape." As if we weren't already laughing enough, he gives us deadly discussion questions:

1. In the song "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain When She Comes," why do they announce so cheerfully that they intend to "kill the old red rooster when she comes"? Is it some kind of ritual thing?
2. Is "Big Apple" a stupid nickname, or what?
3. Do you think "Checkers" is a good name for a dog? What about "Booger"? Explain.

I found that reading Dave Barry rewarded me with many long laughs, and rewarded me hard and fast. I must note that he sometimes used certain humorous techniques too often in this book, leading to annoyance and frustration. But this was really quite rare, and I generally experienced pure, unmitigated merriment. If you are a fan of both American History and humor, I'm sure you will find similar pleasure in this chuckle of a book.

Beavis and Butthead might "do" America, but Dave Barry definitely knows how to "do" American history... and you trust all three of them at about the same level! Never before could president's like Pierce or Polk (who?) or even incident's like the Civil War be exposed for their comedic value in such an honest and sincere and dedicated and (excuse me while I hurl my nachos) accurate way. Guaranteed to help any child receive an "A" in United States History (that is, if your child's school insanely chooses to use Dave's heinous assault on our proud heritage as a textbook... which, come to think of it, would probably be an improvement in our public school system), this book also guarantees the reader of any age a intensely pleasurable read. And as President Lincoln said on that famous October 8th night at the theatre (you'll understand if you read the book), "I'm not afraid... John Wilkes Booth couldn't hit the broadside of a-"

Dave Barry Slept Here is the most hillarious interpretation of American History I have ever read. The simple way he distorts facts, and comically labels major figures from the past like King George III are great. Probably one of the most enjoyable books that I have ever read. For anyone who knows a lot about American History, this is the difinitive book to read. I do think that if you do not know that much about American History, you will still find the book amusing, but not nearly as humorous as I.