Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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115 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good insights, but ..., May 15, 2008
I bought this book after reading the exerpt in Rolling Stone about the author's undercover immersion into the Hagee fundamentalist cult. I laughed myself sick and ordered it immediately.
Unfortunately, like most movie trailers, and exerpts published in periodicals, that chapter was the highlight of the book. I kept waiting for more of that sustained humor and bitting wit, but no other chapter came close. Thus, I was somewhat disappointed.
That said, Taibbi gives a good inside understanding of the inner workings of congress, the corruption that has become inherent in our system. His exposee on the 911 conspiracy theorist crazies, and cynical perspective of the Christian Zionist nut jobs and their pathetic flock is revealing and entertaining. Finally, he proffers how these desperate people and divergent groups of the far left and far right are actually a manifestation of American's disgust with, and powerlessness against, the deception and derangement that has become government.
I don't regret buying it, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd wait a few months and get it used at a deep discount.
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101 of 117 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truth ... stranger than reality, May 6, 2008
Got this book Monday, May 5th. Finished it once ... going back again. Matt reveals the absurdity that has this country by the throat. As a former church pastor, the narrative on Matt's adventure with John Hagee's nut bunch was point-on. This book is laugh-out-loud funny but what it reveals is very sad. This book should be required reading in every freshman high school and college civics/polysci course. It's interesting and ironic that Matt Taibbi, Don Imus, Bill Maher, and a very few others may save us from ourselves yet. Thanks guys ... from our kids ... and theirs.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Infiltration!, June 15, 2008
Matt Taibbi's new book, "The Great Derangement", finds him traveling near and far to investigate behind-the-scenes looks at religion, Congress and more. His conversational style makes this a breezy and often fun read, but it is sometimes maddeningly uneven. Geared to an under thirty-five crowd, Taibbi scores well when he's most passionate about political figures such as George Bush and Mitt Romney, for instance. Always appearing where least expected, he's kind of America's "Where's Waldo".
The first half of the book is clearly more readable than the second...and much more fun. His chapter entitled "The Longest Three Days of My Life", in which he goes underground to turn religious fundamentalism on its head, is terrific. Spewing up demons is not part of most people's lives, but here, the author unveils a laugh-a-minute approach to cleansing the soul. When Taibbi uncovers the preposterous nature of the actions of this church, it's the northeast vs. Texas and Texas doesn't stand a chance! Had there been more chapters like this one, the book would have held together better. "The Great Derangement" shows promise, but Taibbi could have delivered more.
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