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P. J. O'Rourke

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Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government Paperback – January 7, 2003

by P. J. O'Rourke (Author), Andrew Ferguson (Foreword)

4.4 613 ratings

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Called "an everyman's guide to Washington" (The New York Times), P. J. O'Rourke's savagely funny and national best-seller Parliament of Whores has become a classic in understanding the workings of the American political system. Originally written at the end of the Reagan era, this new edition includes an extensive foreword by the renowned political writer Andrew Ferguson -- showing us that although the names and the players have changed, the game is still the same. Parliament of Whores is an exuberant, broken-field run through the ethical foibles, pork-barrel flimflam, and bureaucratic bullrorfle inside the Beltway that leaves no sacred cow unskewered and no politically correct sensitivities unscorched. "Highly pungent and wickedly accurate observations ... [from a] boisterous, pedal-to-the-floor humorist." -- The New York Times Book Review "Outrageous ... It is insulting, inflammatory, profane, and absolutely great reading." -- The Washington Post Book World "A gonzo civics book ... O'Rourke is like a trophy hunter let loose in an unguarded zoo." -- Chicago Tribune

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Grove Press
Publication date

January 7, 2003
Dimensions

5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0802139701
ISBN-13

978-0802139702
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From the Publisher

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press (January 7, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802139701
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802139702
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #312,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #166 in Political Humor (Books)
- #288 in Journalism Writing Reference (Books)
- #2,639 in Fiction Satire

Customer Reviews:
4.4 613 ratings

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P. J. O'Rourke

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P. J. O’Rourke was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, and attended Miami University and Johns Hopkins. He began writing funny things in 1960s “underground” newspapers, became editor-in-chief of National Lampoon, then spent 20 years reporting for Rolling Stone and The Atlantic Monthly as the world’s only trouble-spot humorist, going to wars, riots, rebellions, and other “Holidays in Hell” in more than 40 countries. He’s written 16 books on subjects as diverse as politics and cars and etiquette and economics. His book about Washington, Parliament of Whores, and his book about international conflict and crisis, Give War a Chance, both reached #1 on the New York Times best-seller list. He is a contributing editor at The Weekly Standard, H. L. Mencken fellow at the Cato Institute, a member of the editorial board of World Affairs and a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait… Wait… Don’t Tell Me. He lives with his family in rural New England, as far away from the things he writes about as he can get.

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4.4 out of 5

613 global ratings

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Mark R. Dick

Required reading for politicians

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

Having read many other books by this author but somehow I missed this one…his best. I’m saddened that PJ passed earlier this year. We have lost a giant. There is an old African saying, “ When an old man dies a library is burnt to the ground”. PJ was much more than a library…and he was not that old. He has left an incredible legacy and I find myself wishing he would have had another 20 years to add to his legacy. At least younger generations will have the opportunity to access his prolific writings he generated for the past 40 plus years. For that I am thankful.

6 people found this helpful

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GDJ

Comic Relief for Those Who are Sick of Both Sides of the Political Aisle

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022

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This is not only an intelligent, laugh-out-loud funny book, it is informative and well researched. Written decades ago, it sadly is as relevant today as it was when originally published in 1991. I highly recommend it if you want a bit of entertainment that educates you on what really goes on behind the scenes in politics. It was an international best seller, and it will help you understand why Washington, D.C. is in such a mess today.

4 people found this helpful

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M. L. Graham

P. J. O'Toole is one of my favorite humorist / commentators

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book contains many of his well known aphorisms and also many of his less well know ones.

One of the well known ones is:
"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators."

This humor is less dense that i had hoped else I would have given the book FIVE stars.

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Mark Hodgins

It’s still true….but worse

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2022

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Switch the names of idiots, then multiply budgets by a nonlinear (greater than 1) factor and we got today. And even more alarmists alarmed about the lack of alarm for an impending doom that was supposed to doom us yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

This is hilarious and a great way to spread the word of how our system actually works. I wish I read this while PJ orourke was alive and got to meet him. Brilliant writing.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Problem was not with shipping or the source.

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2023

Verified Purchase

Nothing wrong with what anything either the shipper or the provider did; they each provided a timely service, with no damage within the time specified. I simply did not like the subject matter after all. As careful as I try to be on books I order based on short synopses, I did not like this one. (My personal preference is a softer touch on the frailties of man or man's constructs.) On to the next one!

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is the first P J. O'Rourke book I have read. I was somewhat familiar with him from tv appearances but didn't know much about him. This is a hilarious and insightful book about the American political process. While he seems an ideological conservative, he has great disdain for both major political parties and is not afraid to step on toes. He is also not afraid to name names. A great and entertaining read even after so many years. I highly recommend it.

6 people found this helpful

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optimist22

Political satire at its best

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2020

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I purchased this book because I was intrigued by the title and because I love political satire, either conservative or liberal. At any given point it was difficult to tell about the author’s leanings, although he identifies as a conservative, because he satirizes all elements of the political spectrum. This book is a little dated, but still very relevant today. As all good satire, it was funny while containing an element of truth. The writing and metaphors were excellent and improved my vocabulary; I found myself looking up several words or phrases. It was not because he was throwing out big words to impress, but rather explaining complex or detailed concepts in one or two words rather than several. I highly recommend this book. If nothing else, it will make you laugh and perhaps view yourself with a little bit of humor.

24 people found this helpful

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Alex O'Donnell

Dated but funny

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022

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I enjoyed reading this. It definitely shows its age with the whole chapter in savings and loans and the Panama incursion, but the message remains relevant.

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Client d'Amazon

Un des plus drôle commentateurs politiques américains.

Reviewed in France on September 29, 2022

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Très bon auteur, peut-être difficile en traduction. Je ne pense pas qu’il soit sorti en français.

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patrick jean hoare

Excellent

Reviewed in Germany on April 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

Took some time to arrive, but I was notified. Product as depicted.

Mr. Robert Kelly

A funny and savage look at government

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2003

Verified Purchase

PJ O'Rourke's examination of how the US government works(or doesn't,) might be over a decade old, but seems as fresh and funny as if it were written yesterday. The fact that it was written during the early years of the adminstration of Bush snr adds much to the up to date feel. Though focusing on the US, much of what O'Rourke says is relevant to governments everywhere.
The truth about how government works is almost as shocking as it is hilarious. An excellent antidote to those who feel that everything in life would be better if we just threw more government at it.

14 people found this helpful

Chris Myers

P. J. O'Rourke, where are you when we need you?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

God, the man could write. Imagine the sort of stuff the P. J. of old would write with today's subject matter. Venezuela, Sanders, Trump, Clintons...

Rock Dueck

didn't enjoy it

Reviewed in Canada on January 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

I had hoped for more but found it very dry

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