This Is A Bad Time: A Collection of Cartoons [Hardcover]

Bruce Eric Kaplan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2004

Whenever you hear someone talking about a riotous cartoon in the latest New Yorker, they are almost sure to be talking about one drawn by Bruce Eric Kaplan. Kaplan - or BEK, as he signs his strips - has drawn cartoons for the New Yorker since 1991. Now, the collection THIS IS A BAD TIME captures some of the best work from his 350-plus contributions to the magazine. Kaplan's cartoons cover a variety of topics including God, death, sex, books, movies and relationships, all in the most memorable manner. Whether he is poking fun at high society (two women drinking martinis, and one comments: 'I like his earlier work better, paticularly the ones I said I didn't like at the time') or commenting on our modern anxieties (a young girl asking her mother, 'So did the fair princess ever develop melanoma?') BEK's cartoons end up revealing much about the way we live and talk, while also making us laugh. THIS IS A BAD TIME is a marvellous collection of some of the last decade's most humorous, intelligent and socially conscious entertainment.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kaplan’s newest collection of hilariously wry drawings plunges readers into a black-and-white world drenched with sarcasm, irony and satirical humor: a place where children wisely declare that "your priorities change once you get a new toy," and husbands plaintively tell their wives "Of course I care about how you imagined I thought you perceived I wanted you to feel." Indeed, the jargon of psychotherapy and self-help books is a favorite target of Kaplan’s, and the bluntness with which his stocky characters discuss their hopes, fears, anxieties and dislikes is one of their greatest charms. Kaplan has been a regular contributor to the New Yorker since 1991, and his book should do well—especially if it’s displayed face-out, so his fans can easily spot his signature style.
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About the Author

Bruce Eric Kaplan has contributed more than four hundred cartoons to The New Yorker, many of which were collected in his first book, NO ONE YOU KNOW. He lives in Los Angeles, where he has written for such television shows as SEINFELD and SIX FEET UNDER.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743252187
• ISBN-13: 978-0743252188
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,745,908 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feeling Bad, Depressed, Lonely, Buy this Book, April 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: This Is A Bad Time: A Collection of Cartoons (Hardcover)

BEK Does It Again. You don't have to wait every week to read his cartoons - It's all here in a fantastic new collection of cartoons. I don't know how he does it. You can keep reading and reading them over and over and laugh each time. When your favorite American Idol contestant gets voted off - pick up this book and it will all be okay.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious...., April 11, 2004

By 

Frederoil (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is A Bad Time: A Collection of Cartoons (Hardcover)

You can flip to any page and you will get a laugh or a smile from the cleverness of Bruce Eric Kaplan. Some random quotes from the book:
"My name is Brett and I'll be the person you focus all your misplaced anger on for the evening."
--
"You can't keep comparing yourself to those skinny little aliens you see in movies."
--
"Don't walk away from me while I'm not paying any attention to you."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a GREAT time!, April 16, 2004

By 

Joanna (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Is A Bad Time: A Collection of Cartoons (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful collection of the popular cartoons from The New Yorker. I have this book in my guest room and it always illicits such enthusiastic responses from my guests. If you're like me and always search for the BEK cartoons first thing when The New Yorker arrives, you will really appreciate this collection.