Customer Reviews

Uncle John's Presents: The Book of the Dumb (Uncle John Presents)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a sensational collection of tales of stupid people, governments or decisions which span for one or two pages each. This easy to read format makes the book ideal to read as either a few stories at a time or from cover to cover. Dumb movie festival is an excellent inclusion in this collection as well where you get to actually read negative reviews by real publications and not just the positive ones the public relations departments of the film industry put out. I have read many of this genre of books such as The Darwin Awards Trilogy, Ripley's Believe it or Not and other Uncle John's collections and I have no doubt that this is the best of them all. You'll laugh, you'll smile, you'll be glad you bought this masterpiece.

The anecdotes, stories and articles featured in Uncle John's Presents The Book of the Dumb are very, very funny. It's hard for me to believe that so much idiocy exists in the world (well, outside of the men in my family), but writer Scalzi's collection of dumb acts, dumb criminals, dumb movies, and dumb quotes proves that stupidity is everywhere.

The only thing that bothered me was that I felt somewhat stupid for having bought this book, or should I say this half-book. Large type, wide margins, and lavish use of white space makes this book seem far smaller than 312 pages. Perhaps this book would better suit a reader who enjoys reading at a very leisurely pace, say ten pages a day. Those who like to plow through a book might feel disappointed.

I love the bathroom reader series, and the content of this book is mostly up to their usual standards, but I have to agree with the last reviewer. Uses large text, wide margins, and half empty pages to get the page number so high. Could have easily fit into less than 100 pages.

Funny, but not worth it for the money.

If you've ever done anything stupid, take heart...Book of the Dumb will make you feel much better about yourself. Within the pages of this book you'll read true stories that will dumbfound you. Letterman should add Stupid Human Tricks to his show and bring some of these characters on to tell their tales...if they are not too ashamed or embarrassed, but they're probably too dumb to notice that we're laughing at them and not with them.
The book is full of the kinds of stories you read out loud to your family and friends and provides hours of laughter and entertainment. A good gift for someone who is down in the dumps, but be careful about giving it to someone in the hospital, they might bust a gut or their stitches laughing.

I have enjoyed this book greatly both times I have read it. The examples of stupidity contained in it made me laugh out loud.

This isn't your usual bathroom reader. Instead of the usual mix of short, medium, and long articles, these are all short -- two pages at most. But those pages are used very effectively. Check out the Dumb Movie Festival entries: each includes a page of plot and a fun fact, then a page of quotes from the critics. There's also the very stupid quiz: can you spot the real stupid story, or will you choose the made-up ringer? And more tips for stupid criminals. A great addition to our bathroom library.

I was hugely disappointed with this Uncle John's offering and will most likely not purchase an "Uncle John Presents" book again.

While some of the happenstances were definitely noteworthy Dumb, most were just interpretations of the author's view of "dumb". I want fact, not commentary. I want to form my own opinion of whether something is dumb or not. I do not want to have some other guy's opinion of what is dumb shoved down my throat.

Although delegated to the bathroom of my house, as are all of the Uncle John's books, no one read past the first few entries.

"Hand me my lighter so I can see if the gas tank is full...."

If that sounds like a good idea to you, there's probably a profile of your finest moments in this volume from Uncle John!

Stupid criminals, stupid movies, stupid comments, stupid quizzes... I think you get the idea. If it's dumb, it's in here, and it's all amazingly funny.

I'd like to tell you this is fiction, but I'm not that dumb -- or optimistic.

Recommended!