Brain Droppings (Paperback)

~ George Carlin (Author) "Here's something I can do without: People ahead of me on the supermarket line who are paying for an inexpensive item by credit card or..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Los Angeles, Five O'Clock News (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

George Carlin's been working the crowd since "the counterculture" became "the over-the-counter culture" around 1967 or so; his new book, Brain Droppings, surfs on three decades of touring-in-support. It's the purest version of book-as-candy that one could imagine, serving up humor in convenient, bite-sized packages. Snack on chewy one-liners like "A meltdown sounds like fun. Like some kind of cheese sandwich." Or: "If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten." Brain Droppings also contains highlights from Carlin's concert repertoire, and that more than makes up for the occasional spray of pointless nihilism. Tell us, George, what exactly were you going for with "Kill your pet" and "Satan is cool"? Quick--hide the paper before Daddy sees it! Still, if you're a fan of this sarcastic semanticist who's given Bad Attitude not necessarily a good name, but at least a comfy bank account, by all means rush out and snag Brain Droppings. Carlin's book melts in your mind, not in your hand. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

When a stand-up comedian writes a book, the audio version enjoys a clear advantage over the printed word. Timing, delivery and vocal expression are as important to humor as the actual joke itself. So it is with this very funny collection of essays, monologues, observations and jokes by 30-year comic veteran Carlin. A one-liner like "I put a dollar in a change machine. Nothing changed," moderately amusing in print, is hilarious in Carlin's bewildered tone. This audio contains "unabridged excerpts," which means that though it does not include everything from the book, the pieces that appear are performed in their entirety. The audio is paced nicely, alternating between long pieces (Carlin as a bureaucratic caveman calling a "staff meeting" to announce a new policy on human sacrifices), short observations and one-liners. Some of Carlin's older routines are included, such as his classic comparison of warlike football and friendly baseball. One note: this audio, like most of Carlin's humor, includes plenty of profanity, so parents may want to be cautious around the kiddies. Based on the 1997 Hyperion hardcover.(May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; later printing edition (April 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786883219
• ISBN-13: 978-0786883219
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (159 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #486,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not His Best., January 5, 2007

By	Steve Guardala "Support The ASPCA. Ignore All... (?????) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Mr. sardonic, George Carlin is a pistol to be sure. His cynical depiction of American society may disturb many people. But, generally I'm not one of them. Few could deny that he is wickedly funny. He gives blistering attacks on the English language, dumb people, hypocracies of society, etc. His two monologues "A Place For My Stuff" & "Baseball & Football," are very entertaining.

However, his type of humor really needs to be seen & heard. It does not translate as well on the printed page. The book also has three flaws. The order the monologes were in did not fit well, the book is rather short, & Mr. Carlin seemed far to bitter. "When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops" was a little better.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Title Says It All, August 1, 2001

By	Jason N. Mical (Bellevue, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Regardless of which Carlin camp you happen to fall into - the love it, hate it, or ambivalent to it camps - there's a little something for everyone in his first book of comedy, Brain Droppings. Those familiar with George's stand-up material probably won't be surprised by what lies between these pages, but for the rest of the world, a little explanation might be necessary.

Carlin is, first and foremost, a linguist, like many comedians (Steve Martin being another notable example). Delightful comedy springs from mastering language, and Carlin wields his Promethean tongue like a nuclear bomb, sparing absolutely nothing. Is he coarse, hateful, and full of venom? Yes. By using words not like swords but an executioner's axe, Carlin dismembers ideas and meanings about politics, religion, history, pop culture, sports, and English itself. His reasoning, it seems, is to throw the reader or listener so far from common meaning that the person is forced to invent - or at least reconsider - beliefs.

Brain Droppings contains many such aphoristic nukes. Some are a few words long, others continue for a few pages. There are some classics from his stand-up in here, notably "Football and Baseball" and "A Place for my Stuff." Unfortunately, this book really does seem like a collection of brain droppings - things that just kind of fell out of Carlin's mind. Good or bad, there they are. If this book has a weak point, it's that it wasn't edited very well, and some of the things in here are just plain silly and dumb. From a man who is so obviously intelligent and humorous, I expected more at times.

Overall, though, does it work? The nuke-'em-silly technique is certainly open to debate. Will people get it? Sometimes. Remember, for every person that got Archie Bunker's satirical character, there were two that thought he represented a true American, and five that couldn't stomach listening to him at all. People will find the same thing in these pages. It's certainly worth a read; if you don't like it, one of your friends definitely will.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Had me Laughing out loud!, April 24, 2000

By	Joe (New York) - See all my reviews

When I started reading it at a bookstore I was laughing so much a woman came up to me and asked what was I reading. Great way to break the ice. After I finished the last page I wondered if George ever read "Fragments" by sociologist/philosopher Jean Baudrillard who also offers a caustic but thought provoking observations about the human race. The only difference is George gives it a funny twist while Baudrillard takes more of a stoical point of view in pointing out our own stupidity. But both are equally keen observers that I sometimes wonder if George and Jean influenced each other as crazy as that might sound. The best books I love are the ones that change the way I see myself and the world and for anyone who enjoyed this book I recommend "Fragments" by Jean Baudrillard as a wonderful supplement to Brain Droppings. However, "Fragments" will take a little longer to absorb than the instant slapstick punchlines in Brain Droppings but its worth it! Read these two books and you'll see everything in the world as a divine comedy.