The Truth (With Jokes) [Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Al Franken (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2005

Al Franken's landmark bestseller, Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them…a Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, was praised as a "bitterly funny assault" (The New York Times) that rang "with the moral clarity of an angel's trumpet" (Associated Press). Now, this master of political humor strikes again with a powerful and provocative message for all Americans. Because after Lies, comes The Truth…. Al reveals the alarming story of how: · Bush (barely) beat Kerry with his campaign of "fear, smear, and queers," and then claimed a nonexistent mandate · Republicans decided that Terri Schiavo would make "a great political issue" · Conservatives sought to undermine Social Security by using a strategy borrowed from… Vladimir Lenin · Tom DeLay is just an absolute horror show This is truly a book for everyone. If you were a Bush voter, Al wants to set aside partisan bitterness and talk about the better future Americans can build together for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. (Generations beyond that will have to fend for themselves.) But first, Al must show you how Republican leaders are, at this very moment, betraying your trust and quite possibly lighting a Cuban cigar with a burning American flag or Bible. If you're a liberal, this book is for you as well. Maybe even most of all. You will find evidence for what you already believe: that Al Franken is among America's finest prose stylists, and that the depravity of the Bush administration is only outmatched by the rot in the heart of the Republican Congress. And finally, if you are a member of a future generation who has found this book in a pile of radioactive rubble, Al apologizes. Not because he didn't do his best to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons from rogue nations to non-state actors taking refuge in so-called "failed" states. But because his countrymen evidently failed to listen. In any case, enjoy the book.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Nearly a year after the presidential election of 2004, Al Franken is still checking facts, exposing lies, and trying to clear the record as he sees it. Sneering at President Bush's declaration of a mandate after a two-and-a-half percent victory, he deconstructs Bush's 2004 platform of "fear, smear, and queers," and explains how the president has done some flip-flopping of his own. He offers comment on well-known stories, including the Terri Schiavo case, and some more obscure, such as reports of forced prostitution, indentured servitude, and squalid conditions at clothing factories in Saipan (which is part of the American Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). Franken focuses on Tom DeLay's connection to the territory and his efforts to prevent bills from being passed that would have required Saipan to follow U.S. labor laws. Iraq, too, is discussed, from its planning stages to the huge sum of money currently unaccounted for, including $8.8 billion missing from the Coalition Provisional Authority's coffers.

On the home front, Franken covers President Bush's attempt at Social Security reform, explaining how they came up with the projected shortfall figure of $11 trillion. For one thing, they adjusted life expectancy to 150 years, while leaving the retirement age at 67: "That's an eighty-three-year retirement. They're never gonna get to that without stem cell research." He also takes some wickedly funny swipes at Karl Rove, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pundits and hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Tim Russert, and Sean Hannity, and, of course, President Bush. The Truth succeeds in providing ammunition to liberals and others dissatisfied with the current power base in Washington, D.C.--only this time (with jokes). --Shawn Carkonen

An Exclusive Video for The Truth (with jokes) from Al Franken

We try to keep things civil in our customer review section, but Al Franken, who apparently trained at the Saturday Night Live school of conflict mediation, didn't get the message in his exclusive video for his book The Truth (with Jokes): see high bandwidth and low bandwidth versions.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Franken and his research team return to what they do best: detailing allegations and accusations being spread by right-wing pundits and then debunking them point-by-point. While numerous tomes have taken on the administration's creative definition of "facts," few have the massive readership of satirist Franken or his wickedly sly sense of humor. In many ways, the unabridged audio is superior to the bound book because listeners can enjoy Franken's deadpan comedic delivery. Another audio bonus is that rather than Franken reading the text he's about to redress, he provides the actual soundclips so listeners can hear George W. stumble over his words, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh bluster and Zell Miller contradict himself. Franken is such an uncanny mimic that listeners will find it hard to tell which Karl Rove and Dick Cheney sound bites are real and which are Franken's dead-on impersonations. Listeners will find Franken's directness refreshing (he calls Bush an "utterly shameless liar" and says his administration is "fixing the intelligence and facts around the policy."). The penultimate chapter is Franken's stirring call to arms to "throw these guys out in 2006." This is essential listening for those who want ammunition to fight to preserve their human rights.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio; Unabridged edition (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596000600
• ISBN-13: 978-1596000605
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (477 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #544,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Books on CD > Humor

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Franken, October 25, 2005

By 

William S. Harnsberger (Portland, Maine) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Truth (with jokes) (Hardcover)

I spent all morning reading this. If you liked "Lies," you'll love this.

Republicans, of course, will gnash their teeth and trot our their usual vitriol. They hate facts.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humor might be the only way to survive Dubya, November 1, 2005

By 

B. Kemper "Buzz" (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Truth (with jokes) (Hardcover)

Franken's penchant for speaking the truth (and citing his sources in footnotes so that his research is on the table for all to see), is already legendary. Let me be straightforward here: I hate this administration. Bush is the worst president of my lifetime and probably in the history of the United States. The lies, distortions and damage of all kinds that have come out of this presidency are disgusting. I truly can't imagine how anyone other than the CEO of Halliburton could still like the guy. And thanks to Al Franken (and some other humorists like Stephanie Miller), I can get through these eight years without screaming myself hoarse or causing harm to myself and others. Humor is the key, folks, and thankfully this book is brimming with it. Oh yes, and it does contain TRUTH as well!

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blown Away!, November 2, 2005

By 

James A. Harrington (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Truth (with jokes) (Hardcover)

My Amazon ordered copy of The Truth (with Jokes) finally arrived. I just finished reading it in one sitting (it's a rather short book and a quick read). And boy am I depressed, angry and grief stricken... oh wait, I'm optimistic and joyful. Oh hell, I don't know what I'm feeling.

The TRUTH (both the book and um... the literal truth)is disturbing. Thankfully, the last chapter relieves much of my indignation. The sweet and hopefully non-fictional future letter to his grandchildren made me want to cry. If only...

And Al, if you do run for the Senate in 2008, I may just move back to my home state of Minnesota just so I can vote for you.


p.s. Next time, more jokes please... maybe next time we will have more to laugh about.