Customer Reviews

Stupography

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When did nightly news become mostly teasers, with a two-line explanation? When did Janet Jackson's Superbowl display become more immoral than public lying? Or lying to the public? (The good book says, "Thou shalt not lie" but mentions nothing about nudity)

Leave it to the intelligence and wit of John Skipp to bring up the "Dumb that dare not speak its name". Skipp describes `Stupography' as "media that actually makes you dumber the longer you look at it", and boy, are we surrounded by this very thing more than ever today.

Many people, like me, have completely tuned out their TV's because of this wave of 'Stupography', and have lost hope in the ability of the American people to overcome the mind-numbing placidity shoveled over us by media, politicians, and greedy corporations. It's enough to make one give up on humans and look to the cockroach to next rule the world.

But Skipp tackles these important issues without ever losing his sense of humor, his hope, his ambitions, or his integrity, which makes this one of the most refreshing books I have read to date. Skipp's personality positively bursts from the pages, a friend you would want to have over to your home, to sit and talk and watch some silly movie with.

From 'Prickly vs Gooey' philosophy, to an amazingly witty diatribe of the new TCM movie, to comparing D&D alignments to political parties, to spam emails that offer up enhancements you didn't know you needed, to "egregious violations of the soul in the name of oil and greed and power", to chaos and complacency, Skipp is absolutely unafraid to boldly step forward and stand by his opinions. At times it may remind you of a Dennis Miller rant, without the cynicism and with more good-natured humor.

'Stupography' is an amazingly enjoyable break from being too serious about your non-fiction, and yet doesn't use a light message to wake us all up to the truth. Your day, and your life, is filled with Stupography. Let Skipp show you how to thin the weeds out, so that you can enjoy life to its fullest without worrying about the Jones's next door or the bimbo on TV or that ad in your newspaper. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

In a world gone mad, thank god (or whatever) for John Skipp. Already a legend for his fiction (THE BRIDGE, among others, with Craig Spector, and the solo modern classic, CONSCIENCE), he explodes onto the frontlines of our culture wars with his first non-fiction book, STUPOGRAPHY, a combo analysis/critique of "media that actually makes you DUMBER, the longer you look at it." Tackling everything from the Bush administration and the war in Iraq to venal Hollywood remakes of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and DAWN OF THE DEAD, Skipp's laser-sharp eye for detail & nuance, his passionate & compassionate voice, and his finely-honed skills as a storyteller, make each essay (which originally appeared in his "Hard Way" column on his website www.johnskipp.com) both a challenge and a treat. Skipp looks at where we are, dares to imagine where we might go, and does it all in his one-of-a-kind mix of the sacred and the profane. Imagine if Hunter S. Thompson weren't a maniac; imagine if Jim Goad were a nice guy and actually liked people; imagine if Michael Moore played fair. Actually, stop imagining, because Skipp is a complete original, and get this book now. STUPOGRAPHY is a big one, no question: In my estimation, it's primed to become one of the primary and essential socio-political, spiritual, & creative survival tools for all thinking beings in this young millennium.

I bought this from the author himself and was glad to find that this book lived up to how inspiring and witty as its author is.
Filled with essays that range from the political to the social, this captures the intelligence of the author wonderfully and opens the readers eyes to so many different visions and ideas that it's hard to keep it all in your head.
I cannot recommed it highly enough. If you were a fan of his horror stories or are just looking for a new insight into the world at large, brother, this book's for you.

chris r.
author of BACK FROM NOTHING