Customer Reviews

Of Thee I Zing

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(36)

 

 

I look forward to the day that none of what Laura describes in her book makes sense...skinny lattes, skinny jeans, high tech strollers with cup holders, parents who let kids express themselves with bad behavior (the type I would have been spanked for if I even thought about stepping out of line back in the day), lack of manners, the inability to distinguish between personal and public information, and our increasingly connected / disconnected youth. When I think about it, my kids were lucky their mid-80's stroller had brakes, and the wheels, as I recall, only went forward or back; I had to pop a wheelie to make a turn or correct course...and my hand was my cup holder.

It's important to step back and laugh at ourselves once in a while...of course I write this on my iPad as I'm considering taking my son's dog (oops, animal companion), who is a semi-permanent house guest (my son living elsewhere), over to PetSmart for a nail trimming, and wondering if I should sign her up for a supervised play date for a few extra bucks...all on my dime. Time to reset my priorities, and just take her for a walk. No mention of boomerang pets in 'Of Thee I Zing'; I guess I'm on the cutting edge of something here....

Life lessons, a snapshot of life in 2011, and an etiquette book wrapped in satire; if you don't find yourself on at least one page, you might want to pass the book to a friend and get their thoughts. Funny and thought provoking to the last page, and well worth a weekend read.

Laura Ingraham's new book 'Of Thee I Zing,' is a light-hearted, humorous romp through the American culture. This is an ideal summer beach book....an amusing commentary about so many unfortunate things we're exposed to in this society, from the ill-mannered to the "muffin topped," from spoiled kids to poorly educated teens, from men donning purses ("murses") to those shrinking airline seats...the list is endless. I found this book great fun; my daughter and I have been reading parts out loud to eachother...it's good to laugh about our culture once in awhile and Laura Ingraham knows how to do it! (If we can't laugh about it all, we'd surely be weeping!)

I had a blast reading Laura's newest book. It is nice to know that you are not alone in the world. I, too, have observed the things that Laura and Raymond write about and have very similar feelings to theirs.
Then I read a chapter that I realized I Zinged myself!(or in other words I am as guilty as them).
This is a fun book to read in these depressing times. Poking fun at the culture (and maybe even yourself) has given me a few giggles. Thanks Laura and Raymond!

Thank you Laura Ingraham for addressing a big issue that is rising in this country concerning the corruption of youth! Great book, must-read!

No subject is off limits, as the author unleashes verbal nuclear warheads towards everything that bothers most of us "old-school" types in today's deteriorating society. Laura's writing style is more like a manifestation of the little voice within us all that rolls its eyes and shakes its head in disgust in every area from the mall to church to the holiday's... which Laura logically explains... includes a list of holidays that had to be created by Hallmark Cards. When I say nothing is too sacrosanct to be protected from Laura's scathing attacks, I mean from drooping pants in the mall to this reaction to BRITNEY SPEARS latest performance: "SPEARS LIP-SYNCED THE LYRICS TO A TRACK AND EXECUTED HER DANCE MOVES WITH ALL THE ELEGANCE OF A STROKE VICTIM ON VALIUM." Her take on current entertainers in general can best be summed up by "THE INGRAHAM RULE OF THUMB: THE MORE DESPERATE AND FLAILING A "SINGER'S" HAND MOTIONS, THE WORSE THE SINGING. I REFER TO THE LADIES WITH THE "RAINING FINGERS WHOSE DIGITS MIRROR THEIR WILD VOCALS AS THEY RUN UP AND DOWN THE SCALES IN A DESPERATE SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT NOTE. ONE HAND LIVES ON THEIR EARPIECE; THE OTHER EXECUTES THE RAIN GESTURE. TIE HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK, AND MARIA CAREY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE ANY SOUND AT ALL-WHICH COULD WELL BE AN IMPROVEMENT."

But don't think for a minute that even 20% of the book is about entertainers. The author sprays her denigrating (but almost always accurate) venom in every direction that mankind currently exists. From "devotees" dressed up in movie character garb and camping out in line to get into opening night... to people not knowing the difference between "THERE" and "THEIR"... to the almost communistic practice of every kid on every team getting a trophy regardless of performance... and her bull's-eye summarizing analogy, "UNLESS YOU ARE DEPLOYED BY THE U.S. MILITARY, YOU SHOULD NOT RECEIVE A MEDAL FOR JUST SHOWING UP." Amen! Right-On sister!.

If you're a diehard Seinfeld fan, you'll crack up when I explain to you why I mentioned him in my title. Though the author never mentions Seinfeld in anyway... if you're a devotee like my son and I are... consider the following similarities: Early on Laura writes: "WHY DON'T WE CREATE A NATIONAL PACT, WHERE WE EITHER WEAR NAME TAGS OR PROMISE TO DIVULGE OUR FULL NAMES AT THE START OF ANY CONVERSATION?" Remember the episode where Elaine recommends that to the Mayor of New York? And what about the classic Seinfeld episode about *RE-GIFTING* ? Laura goes ballistic on that very subject. Another "SEINFELDIAN" link are the lengths Laura goes to about germs everywhere... on planes... in church... literally everywhere... and that is one point I think she went on ad nauseum. Remember the Seinfeld episodes regarding the tooth brush in the toilet and the "germa-phobe" episode?

There are numerous laugh out loud moments... and there is so much ugly truth... that everyone may not appreciate parts that may be like looking in a mirror. You may lose your appetite reading about the author's distaste for *MUFFIN TOPS* because they're not the type of *MUFFIN TOPS* that Elaine Benes went into business to sell. Other than over emphasizing the uncouth-unsanitary-germ-ridden-world that seems to stalk the author everywhere she goes, and her somewhat stale dating advice this is a thoroughly enjoyable humorous book.

Once again Laura shows her insights into life in America and does it in such a way that she clearly makes her point time after time but does not denegrate those who she speaks about. It's a wonderful satire and to miss this obvious style is amazing. To me see gave a snapshot of America as it is today as opposed to our generation. I anxiously await her next effort.

Took book with me when I went to restaurants and probably merited a couple
paragraphs in the paperback edition for guffawing in public while eating
pancakes. Just finished the book and do wonder if our culture is doomed. Good for
Laura to observe and laugh instead of wailing!

I've been a fan of Laura Ingraham but I'd have to say she missed the mark with this book. She comes across as a New York City-Washington DC elitist/snob. While reading the book I felt like a fly on the wall listening in on conversations at a liberal DC cocktail party. Many of the people she was trying to mock are the fat, bald, unwashed, poorly dressed yahoos that live in flyover land. The ones that send their kids off to fight our wars. The ones that send conservative politicians to Washington. Maybe those people sleeping in airports when their flight has been cancelled don't have an extra $ 150 bucks to check into a hotel near the airport. Maybe those poor souls eating at the food court in the Mall can't afford a $ 200 meal at a posh New York resturaunt. Maybe those people stuffed into Disney World saved up for two years so they could take their kids on a once in a lifetime vacation. Makes me wonder if both the democratic and republican elites in Washington don't all get their jollies off by making fun of the so called boobs who are not involved in their inner circles. Are we all being played for suckers from both sides?

This was a good book. I had a very hard time putting it down. She mentioned many things that are plaguing this country and was very entertaining about it. However in some parts it just seemed like she wanted to complain and whine about various ways that she's been annoyed or inconvenienced. This book is not worth the cover price however if you find it cheap I recommend it.

great satire and a fun read. be ready to laugh at yourself and all of us. And -- what we need to do to stop the craziness going on in our society and cultural decline!! Sad but true.