Customer Reviews

Imperial Caddy: The Rise of Dan Quayle in America and the Decline and Fall of Practically Everything Else

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

 

 

This book about Dan Quayle is not really about Dan Quayle. It is about the politcal life of the United States. The author just uses Dan Quayle as the pirism which he looks thru at the world of politcs and life in. It takes a bunch of pop shots at Quayle, but then, you knew that when you picked the book up.

Basically, the conclusion of the book is the the United States and the world can survive bad leadership. It has survived it in the past, and it can darn well surive it in the future.

It is also a very funny book. Which makes you want to read it.

Joe Queenan is a magazine journalist and this becomes apparent in his book. Whilst he can be exceptionally funny, he loses steam with each additional chapter. As a three to five chapter monograph this would have been ideal if unmarketable. Queenan is still humourous and readable - I frequently found myself laughing aloud in the most innapropriate locations as I read this. However his other books are better.

Many a year after boy-Quayle has been out of the public eye this book is still a treat. Queenan does a nice little touch of history of the VP while adding nice little bits of humour. In this day and age of stupid people (um, Bush, um, Ashcroft, um, Powell...scary) this book helps you laugh a bit at these fools that lead the nation. Plus maybe question it a bit. Enjoy!

As surprising as it may be, this book quickly moves off Dan Quayle and all his idiosyncracies, and concentrates on a satirical/humourous account of the office of the Vice President. And it is intersting from an academic point of view, but also in the various curiosities that Queenan points out, for eg, that Indiana holds the record for the number of VPs of any US state. I thoroughtly recommend this book, as an introduction to a US political office that has received scant political attention - when it should be just as important - especailly during the election cyncial - as to who is the rtunning mate and what qualifications etc they have should the president no longer able to fulfill their position.

Here Joe takes on a pretty good target..Quayle certainly has his shortcomings, but along the way manages to insult every person in Indiana, and then the midwest....Save your money and your time...