A Political Bestiary: Viable Alternatives, Impressive Mandates, and Other Fables [Hardcover]

Eugene J. McCarthy (Author), James T. Kilpatrick (Author), Jeff MacNelly (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Inc.,US; 1st edition (November 1, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070443955
• ISBN-13: 978-0070443952
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,460,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit dated now, but still very funny!, March 10, 2011

By 

Kathleen M. Rouggly - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Political Bestiary (Paperback)

I think this was published during the Carter Administration or thereabouts. I was a young budgeteer working in DC at the time, where politics is everything. Some of the references to what were then "current events" will be lost on today's audiences, but much of it is timeless, perceptive, and quite clever. MacNelly's illustrations of "Qualms", "Staggering Deficit", "Dilemma" and many others are amazing; just as full of sly commentary as the written descriptions. The "Budgetary Shortfall", a stumbling bird with the plaintive call of "Uh-oh", is etched in my permanent memory.

I think it's time for an updated edition! So many easy targets in today's political lexicon...