The Internet is a Playground: Irreverent Correspondences of an Evil Online Genius [Paperback]

David Thorne (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 28, 2011

From the notorious Internet troublemaker who brought the world the explosively popular Next Time I'll Spend the Money on Drugs Instead, in which he attempted to pay his chiropractor with a picture he drew of a spider; "Please Design a Logo for Me. With Pie Charts. For Free," which has been described as one of the most passed-on viral e-mails of all time; and, most recently, the staggeringly popular "Missing Missy", which has appeared everywhere from The Guardian to Jezebel to Andrew Sullivan's The Daily Dish, comes this profoundly funny collection of irreverent Internet mischief and comedy.

Featuring all of Thorne's viral success, including "Missing Missy", The Internet Is a Playground culls together every article and e- mail from Thorne's wildly popular website 27bslash6.com, as well as enough new material, available only in these pages, to keep you laughing-and, indeed, crying-until Thorne's next stroke-of-genius prank. Or hilarious hoax. Or well-publicized almost-stint in jail (really).

"There is usually a fine line between genius and insanity, but in this case it has become very blurred. Some of the funniest and most clever writing I have read in years."--Terrance Fielding, WIRED magazine

"I laughed so hard and uncontrollably I could hardly breathe. Reading this on public transport is not a good idea."--Penthouse magazine

"Brilliantly funny."--Jezebel.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

In the dominion of social networking and electronic communication, David Thorne has become the king of biting sarcasm. --Thane Burnett, editor, Sun Media

I had to look away I was laughing so hard. Hands down the funniest emails I have ever read. --Catherine DiBenedetto, editor, WIRED Magazine Catherine DiBenedetto, WIRED Magazine

Gut wrenching, laugh out loud, gasping for air funny. Absolutely brilliant. --Caroline Shaheed, editor, Cheek Magazine

If the internet had a heart, David Thorne would be it's mitral valve. --Mil Millington, Author, 'Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About'

The most ridiculous, brilliant, stupid and clever nonsense I have ever come across. The articles had me rolling with laughter, crying and incapable of speaking - my co-workers thought I had gone insane. -- Clare Butchard, Hat Trick Productions U.K. --This text refers to the Print on Demand (Paperback) edition.

From the Publisher

What Others Say:

"I laughed so hard and uncontrollably I could hardly breath. Reading this on public transport is not a good idea."
Kate Huchinson, editor, Penthouse magazine

"I had to look away I was laughing so hard. Hands down the funniest emails I have ever read."
Catherine DiBenedetto, editor, WIRED Magazine

"In the dominion of social networking and electronic communication, David Thorne has become the king of biting sarcasm."
Thane Burnett, editor, Sun Media

The most ridiculous, brilliant, stupid and clever nonsense I have ever come across. The articles had me rolling with laughter, crying and incapable of speaking - my co-workers thought I had gone insane."
Clare Butchard, associate producer, Hat Trick Productions UK

"Gut wrenching, laugh out loud, gasping for air funny. Absolutely brilliant."
Caroline Shaheed, editor, Cheek Magazine

"The Dennis the Menace of the internet, Thorne's intricately woven web of internet tomfoolery is guaranteed to leave you red-faced from laughter."
Matt Bachl, ninemsn TV news producer

"The world's leading internet troublemaker. Whenever I see David Thorne's name, I know it's going to be a long day at the office."
Andrew Ramadge, editor, news.com.au

"Thorne's ability to manipulate the websphere with his touch of serious sarcasm has surely earned him the moniker `Lord of the Viral Email'. I've seen grown men reduced to hysterical tears of laughter after reading through just one of his efforts."
Matty Soccio, editor, Marketing magazine

"I am getting your website banned as we speak"
Lucius Thaller, Courier, Kings Transport

Adelaide is full of selfsh, petty, judgmental, cocooned, insular, naive people totally devoid of social consciousness or culture and David Thorne is their spokesperson."
R. Knorr, woman golfer, Seocontents.net --This text refers to the Print on Demand (Paperback) edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (April 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781585428816
• ISBN-13: 978-1585428816
• ASIN: 1585428817
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (207 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Computers & Internet
  • #25 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Parodies

More About the Author

Amongst my qualities, which include reciting prime numbers backwards from 90956, reading to blind children & training seals, embellishment may be at the top.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

342 of 375 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Buy May 11, 2011

By Kaidea

Format:Paperback

This is quite possibly the best telescope I've ever bought. It's cheap, it works well, and it arrived quickly in the mail. My only complaint is it came with some sort of a coaster, or possibly a paper weight, that I'm not sure what to do with. It is a nicely decorated coaster however. Maybe the seven legged spider on the front will work as a warning to other spiders wanting to enter my apartment and make them think twice.

Again tho, excellent telescope. I can't say enough good things about it.

120 of 130 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I want to buy 9 more copies June 2, 2011

By Luke Balagia

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is so good I bought 6 copies and plan to buy several more. One is to read, one is to dip in chocolate and I will put the rest in a pillowcase or large sock and use it as a weapon either against criminals or bank tellers, depending on how well my day goes.

58 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Book you, you booking book April 28, 2011

By Steven Malyj

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Laughed so hard I prolapsed. Amazon, you can expect my itemised bill for hospital treatment and the cleaning of several carpets which were dirtied while dragging myself like a disabled dog the nearest telephone. It will probably arrive by some sort of mail delivery system, I don't know, I'm not really familiar with it all.