Customer Reviews

Disquiet, Please!: More Humor Writing from The New Yorker

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"The New Yorker" published Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from The New Yorker in 2002. This followup edition is stronger (and funnier) on more recent contributions, but the earlier contributions seem dated and less funny.

Nonetheless, there is real pleasure here, for example "My Dog is Tom Cruise" by Noah Baumbach:

"hahaha! I fetch! Boy, I love to fetch. I am totally fired up when I fetch. And nap. I've got a great dog bed with leopard spots where I can power-nap, man. I've got awesome chew toys, too. I'm passionate about this rubber T-bone with peanut butter hidden in it. Here's the point: do you know there are strays on the street eating out of the Dumpsters behind Chinese restaurants? I'm not making that up. I care about those mutts. But they don't know what the options are"

Or this black comedy piece by Simon Rich:

"FREE-RANGE CHICKENS

"Well, it's another beautiful day in paradise."

"How'd we get so lucky?"

"I don't know and I don't care."

"I think I'll go walk over there for a while. Then I'll walk back over here."

"That sounds like a good time. Maybe I'll do the same."

"Hey, someone refilled the grain bucket!"

"Is it the same stuff as yesterday?"

"I hope so."

"Oh, man, it's the same stuff, all right."

"It's so good."

"I can't stop eating it."

"Hey, you know what would go perfectly with this grain? Water."

"Dude. Look inside the other bucket."

"This . . . is the greatest day of my life."

"Drink up, pal."

"Cheers!"

(Laughs.)

(Laughs.)

"Hey, look, the farmer's coming."

"Huh. Guess it's my turn to go into the thing."

"Cool. See you later, buddy."

"See ya.""

Or his insightful:

DALMATIANS

"Hey, look, the truck's stopping."

"Did they take us to the park this time?"

"No--it's a fire. Another horrible fire."

"What the **** is wrong with these people?"

Noah Baumbach rates his relationships Zagat style:

DESARCINA'S

So what if she thought the movie was "pretentious and contrived" and you felt it was a "masterpiece" and are dying to inform her that "she doesn't know what she's talking about"? Remember, you were looking for a woman who wouldn't "yes" you all the time. And after one bite of chef Leonard Desarcina's "duck manqué" and a sip of the "generous" gin Margaritas you'll start to see that she might have a point.

GORDY'S

Don't be ashamed if you don't know what wine to order with your seared minnow; the "incredibly knowledgeable" waiters will be more than pleased to assist. But if she makes fun of "the way you never make eye contact with people," you might turn "snappish" and end up having your first "serious fight," one where feelings are "hurt."

The Introduction describes other pleasures:

"S. J. Perelman unearths the furious letters of a foreign correspondent in India to the laundry he insists on using in Paris ("Who charges six francs to wash a cummerbund?!"). Woody Allen recalls the "Whore of Mensa," who excites her customers by reading Proust (or, if you want, two girls will explain Noam Chomsky). Steve Martin's pill bottle warns us of side effects ranging from hair that smells of burning tires to teeth receiving radio broadcasts. Andy Borowitz provides his version of theater-lobby notices ("In Act III, there is full frontal nudity, but not involving the actor you would like to see naked"). David Owen's rules for dating his ex-wife start out magnanimous and swiftly disintegrate into sarcasm, self-loathing, and rage."

There was some excellent advice in "Fierce Pajamas" equally applicable to this volume: "You should feel free to dip into this anthology randomly, to read it backward, to give it a home next to the porcelain commode." Or give it to a humor loving friend.

Robert C. Ross 2008

While the essays in the first part of this book by Thurber, Woody Allen and David Owen, to name just a few, were witty, at some point the writing lost some of the humor and began to be labored. Dated pieces from the 1920's lost their effect when the names are no longer in the consciousness today. These older essays reminded me of when I watched an old Milton Berle show and wondered why it had seemed funny fifty years ago. Still,David Owen's 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Ex-Wife brought a grin (and I don't have an ex-wife). I also liked the contemporary Donald Rumsfield Orders Breakfast at Denny's by Frank Gannon. But, about two-thirds of the way through this, I was glad I had got it from the library and not put my money out for this. I finished it as a testament to my determination.

This is a great book. It's very similar to the previous New Yorker humor compilation, "Fierce Pajamas," except that it includes much more material by more contemporary humorists. As much as I love James Thurber and Dorothy Parker, the contemporary humorists resonate more with me. Quite a funny book.

Disquiet, Please! is a collection of humor writing from the New Yorker magazine and was just what we expected! It features humorous essays that have been written by well-known authors and have been published over the years in the New Yorker. The writing covers a huge number of topics and is uniformly excellent, varied, and guaranteed to produce at least a smile, if not outright laughter to the point of tears. We highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good read and plenty of reasons to laugh.

Obviously what you find funny is very subjective, but I found the hit-to-miss ratio here was only about 1 out 4. It's nice and thick though so through law of averages there are some gems.

I bought this book as a gift for my husband...and ultimately, for myself. We both are very happy with the contents and the variety of literary people contributing to this anthology.

Some good, but mostly bad (DUMB) to blah. After 265 pages ** of mostly nothing I started thinking just who are these scribblers writing to or for? Obviously not to me or anyone I have ever known. So they must be writing to themselves or to their tight little club of colleagues. Over the years, while waiting in hospital waiting rooms, I've picked up the New Yorker and have always set it back down in wonder as to how it stayed in business.

I find it stunning that after 84 years that this and 'Fierce Pajamas' is considered the BEST of their lot.

I found very little funny here. Lots a slapstick poorly done, lots of LSD tripping like nonsense but mostly it was pretentious, irrelevant stuff that just went nowhere. LAME

Remember that July '08 Obama cover of theirs? The one showing Barack Obama wearing traditional Muslim clothing, while Michelle is in combat gear, complete with an AK-47 assault rifle slug over her back.

They're in the Oval Office, greeting one another with a "fist bump". In the background an American flag burns in the fireplace, with a portrait of Osama Bin Laden above its mantel.

Well the stories within this book, just like the Obama cover, should have never been published. Poor quality.

** I have now finished. My conclusion? After finishing this collection from the New Yorker I've concluded that this is where authors go to offload thier trash.

Here's an example of the typical piece of humor in this book.

"Ask the Optimist!

Dear Optimist: My husband, who knows very well that I love nothing more than wearing bonnets, recently bought a convertible. He's always doing "passive-aggressive" things like this. Like once, after I had all my teeth pulled, he bought a big box of Cracker Jacks. Another time, when I had very serious burns over ninety percent of my body, he tricked me into getting a hot-oil massage, then tripping me so that I fell into a vat of hydrochloric acid. I've long since forgiven him for these "misunderstandings" but, tell me, is there a way I can be "optimistic" about this "bonnet" situation? 'Mad due to no more bonnets Cleveland, Ohio.

Dear Mad: You can still wear bonnets while in a convertible! You will just need to have more of them to start with! What I recommend? Buy a large number of bonnets, place them in the car, begin driving! When one blows off, put on another from your enormous stockpile! And just think of all the happiness you will create in your wake, as people who cannot afford bonnets scurry after your convertible, collecting your discards! Super! "

I fail to see the humor. This way beyond absurdest with a nasty sickness. Again, this is typical.

I, like another reviewer here, am "glad I had got it from the library and not put my money out for this. "

I expected a book of contemporary writings and didn't realize I was getting writings that date back 50 yrs and more.........

I'll just give it to a book sale...........

The book is well written and smartly done. It was a Christmas gift for my husband, Bryan. Although neither of us has finished it, we both are enjoying the pages we have read.

Dr. Harry Lodge and Chris Crowley have written a fun, accessible book that has serious intent. Not only is the book easy to read, but it provides real tools for change. If we all adhere to Harry's and Crhis' guidance, we have excellent chances of avoiding some serious ailments of old age because we'll maintain our bodies to remain resilient. I keep buying copies of this book for my friends! Buy, read it, then start taking excellent care of yourself using information from this book. A little secret: I personally know Dr. Lodge and he is living proof of the effectiveness of the guidance he provides us in his book because he looks fabulous: trim, energetic, and a wonderful person who looks many years younger than his age! We should all be as physically fit as Dr. Lodge!