In the spirit of his savagely funny and national best-seller Parliament of Whores, Give War a Chance is P. J. O'Rourke's number one New York Times best-selling follow-up. O'Rourke runs hilariously amok by tackling the death of Communism, sanctimonious liberals, and America's perennial bad guy Saddam Hussein in a series of classic dispatches from his coverage of the 1991 Gulf War. Here is our most mordant and unnervingly funny political satirist on: Kuwait City after the Gulf War: "It looked like all the worst rock bands in the world had stayed there at the same time." On Saddam Hussein, O'Rourke muses: "He's got chemical weapons filled with ... chemicals. Maybe he's got The Bomb. And missiles that can reach Riyadh, Tel Aviv, Spokane. Stock up on nonperishable foodstuffs. Grab those Diet Coke cans you were supposed to take to the recycling center and fill them up with home heating oil. Bury the Hummel figurines in the yard. We're all going to die. Details at eleven."
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From the Inside Flap
Now O'Rourke does for the rest of the world--and a few select Americans--what he did for the US government in Parliament of Whores. 2 cassettes.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is insightful, witty, and hilarious. O'Rourke certainly has a biased point of view and glosses over any argument that would say he's wrong (while insulting his opponents, often personally and unfairly), but he makes a strong case for war, capitalism, and freedom.
Some of his comments during the 1991 Gulf War regarding the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims seem out of date given September 11, but are interesting nonetheless. I wouldn't have expected someone in the Gulf at that time to see what was coming.
He does a great job of exposing the evils of communism and extolling the virtues of fighting against tyranny. Enjoy!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The title is brilliant, his humor just right, and I always appreciate a fellow libertarian.
Mostly, his book is common sense. War is often a necessary evil that has produced more peace than anything else. Rich taxpayers and the Marine Corps do more for world peace than the 1% of Ben & Jerry's profits that are set aside for that purpose - but then that's stating the obvious, isn't it?
Plus, always relying on diplomacy is naďve, unrealistic (remember Hitler?). People are inherently evil, not good.
And I never knew that O'Rourke used to be a "long-haired peace creep" back in the 60s, although it makes him more authentic. He's been on the Other Side, so he knows what they believe firsthand, making him an excellent critic, far more knowledgable than people who have been either strict liberals or strict conservatives for their entire lives. A "reliable narrator."
Mostly, his book is common sense. War is often a necessary evil that has produced more peace than anything else. Rich taxpayers and the Marine Corps do more for world peace than the 1% of Ben & Jerry's profits that are set aside for that purpose - but then that's stating the obvious, isn't it?
Plus, always relying on diplomacy is naďve, unrealistic (remember Hitler?). People are inherently evil, not good.
And I never knew that O'Rourke used to be a "long-haired peace creep" back in the 60s, although it makes him more authentic. He's been on the Other Side, so he knows what they believe firsthand, making him an excellent critic, far more knowledgable than people who have been either strict liberals or strict conservatives for their entire lives. A "reliable narrator."
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By D. D Lawson
Format:Paperback
A solid and very funny look at the crazy folks of the 3rd world. I really enjoyed this man's work and his wickly funny observations about this crazy old world of ours.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
It is P.J. O'Rourke
Whether you lean right, or left, O'Rourke has a way with words (often laugh out-loud), and makes his point- whether or not it suits your fancy.
Published 17 days ago by S.L. Coffman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Universally funny and educational
The great thing about O'Rourke is that it doesn't matter what your particular political ideology is; this is just funny, smart, and well researched humor. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ch3w33
4.0 out of 5 stars
very entertaining
I always like P.J. O'Rourke's books. This one isn't his best but is still very good. as with all of his books, I find myself laughing out loud.
Published 6 months ago by Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still relevant (and irreverent)
It is eerie how relevant this book is some 20 years after it was written -- at the breakup of the Soviet Empire. Read more
Published 13 months ago by D. D. LeDu
5.0 out of 5 stars
O'Rourke has Been Compared to H. L. Mencken...
I am normally in the habit of excerpting profound or funny phrases from the books I read; I've only read the first couple chapters of this book and have given up with the excerpts... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lance R. Reichert
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not His Best Work
I didn't even finish this one. Even though I don't agree with PJ politically, I usually find him funny at least. Not this time.
Published on February 27, 2011 by Eric Marsing
5.0 out of 5 stars
shorter review
"Give War a Chance" is a very entertaining book. The book contains a bunch of loose stories about various subjects ranging from communism, to hippies, the 1st Gulf War, how stupid... Read more
Published on November 29, 2006 by Kiran Hill
2.0 out of 5 stars
Give me a break
Typical O'Rourke drivel. Heres how it goes. PJ gets Rolling Stone to pay to send him to Lebanon, Panama (circa Noriega) and some other places where they have lots of guns and bad... Read more
Published on July 29, 2005 by Marc B. Nestor
4.0 out of 5 stars
LENNON SAID "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE," WE "IMAGINED"...
Around 1970, John Lennon, who if he lived in Vietnam would have been head of the Hanoi Communist Central Committee and if he lived in Kabul would not have lived, said "Give... Read more
Published on July 15, 2004 by Steven Travers
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