Friend in Hospital, please suggest some books for me to bring him.

[against all enemies]

He's in his early 20's, pretty liberal and knows his politics, but today's politics are pretty depressing. But I'm trying to cheer him up so I'm looking for something humorous to buy for him to read. Please help.

[lizziegrace]

1. I may be showing my age

but I really liked Garrison Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat". Not an in-your-face book about politics, but a person's perspective on being a good, decent human being in the face of all this insanity.

Just my 2 cents.

[democracyindanger]

2. The Onion's "Our Dumb Century: 100 Years of Headlines

from America's Finest News Source."

[lizziegrace]

3. I liked that one! n/t

[Sugar Smack]

12. Also, "The Onion's Finest News Reporting" is great!

:rofl: :patriot:

[TrogL]

4. Steven King's 'Gunslinger' series

[book lady]

5. I think any books by Molly Ivins

should put a smile on his face

[MiniMandaRuth]

6. America: A Citiznes Guide To Democracy

by John Stewart... It's great...

[against all enemies]

7. I appreciate all suggestions, am going to bookstore tomorrow

before visiting hours. I forgot to say he really has a keen sense of humor. In a sarcastic way. Thanks again. Please keep them coming.

[miss_american_pie]

8. Not political

but David Sedaris is pretty funny.

[zulchzulu]

9. Here's a few...

Dick by John Nichols (book about Cheney)

Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza

American Theocracy : The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21stCentury by Kevin Phillips

Shooting Star : The Brief Arc of Joe McCarthy by Tom Wicker

Revolutionary Characters : What Made the Founders Different by Gordon Wood

AND....

Real Frank Zappa Book -- by Frank Zappa, Peter Occhiogross

[Sugar Smack]

10. "Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem- it's a novel about

a private investigator that has Tourette's. It's the funniest thing I have ever read, and if your friend hasn't had any surgery that requires "not laughing", this is a great book. I don't laugh that easily, but reading this on my lunch break, I was in tears. I was done. People were staring at me, and I was almost afraid to look back down at the text again for fear of losing it again.

The best part of it is how his friends & colleagues are totally prepared for his outbursts. One plays with him gently by asking him to tell a joke.

[flvegan]

11. Upbeat and uplifting? Almost anything by HH Dalai Lama or

Thich Nhat Hahn. Hell...ever Frank Dyer is a good one. Not really humorous, but could be good for the soul.

[maveric]

13. "The Broker". John Grisham.

Its a real page-turner and a bit intriguing. If he's political he might like this one.

[Xipe Totec]

14. It's Obvious You Won't Survive by Your Wits Alone: A Dilbert Book

It is hilarious.

I keep a copy by my desk, where my boss can see it.

[Sugar Smack]

15. Also: anything by the Good Doctor, Hunter S. Thompson:

"The Proud Highway"
"Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas"
"Songs of the Doomed"
"Fear & Loathing in America"

[bertha katzenengel]

16. If you/he won't think it's too "old" get him _One More Time_ -- it is

Carol Burnett's memoir of her childhood and beginning in show business. It is hilarious, and touching, and just completely entertaining.

Please tell your friend that other "friends" on the internets are with him in thought. :hug:

[DS1]

17. Snowcrash!

[I Have A Dream]

18. Anything by David Sedaris. n/t

[swag]

29. Oh, what you said.

But "Dress Your Family . . . " is rather dark. Well, I guess they all are in spots, and that's why they're so funny and diverting.

So what you said. Excuse my interjection.

[Shine]

33. 100% agreement. He's great.

:hi:

[skyblue]

19. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

It's absurd and the movie wasn't too bad either.

[mdmc]

20. something from the boondocks collection!

:kick:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

21. Bush World by Maureen Dowd.

[CatholicEdHead]

22. Paul Wellstone's book

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081664179X/qid=1141959254/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-0530781-6939944?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. Harry Potter...It'll keep him busy.

:evilgrin:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. "Surely you must be joking, Mr. Feynman." A series of autobiographical

vignettes, a lot of humor and insight, and an easy read. Perfect for this situation.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393316041/qid=1141960321/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-4004447-0988949?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[Floogeldy]

25. Like there is something wrong with "Playboy" magazine?

;)

[doc03]

26. Anything by James Patterson

[swag]

27. David Sedaris - "Barrel Fever"

I had loaned that to a good friend coincidentally the very day she was diagnosed with MS. Even though care and woe were crushing her, she laughed aloud repeatedly on the #10 bus going home while reading the first story "Parade."

[Shine]

32. I love, LOVE David Sedaris! He's is outrageously funny.

:hi: to another fan!

[hobo_baggins]

28. Tropic of Cancer

or calvin and hobbes, your pick..

[havocmom]

30. Carl Hiassen would be the author I would select for humor

with some political points. He creates some extremely interesting characters and takes them on some wild rides. Gets his licks in of the state of American culture too.

Always cheers me up.

[Shine]

31. ANYthing by David Sedaris. That man is hilarious!

LOL funny. :thumbsup:

[against all enemies]

34. Looks like a great list for all of us. We could all use a laugh about now

I hadn't even heard of David Sedaris and his name keeps popping up. If the list keeps growing both my friend and I will have lots of reading to do. Thanks to my DU friends.

[Ohio Joe]

35. OK, keep an open mind here

Mick Foley's "Have A Nice Day" is both an absolutely hilarious and very touching look at his life both inside and outside the wrestling world. You don't need to like or even know anything about wrestling to appreciate the humor. I highly recommend it.

[riona]

36. robert crais

[MissMillie]

37. Jimmy Carter's new book

Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis....

A book about morals from a moral man... go figure.

[noonwitch]

38. Get him a Robin Cook novel....

Just kidding. Get him something he's wanted to read, but hasn't had time for.

[LSK]

39. how about some Al Franken books

[Sequoia]

40. Jitterbug Perfume

The Hunchback of Norte Dame

Food of the Gods

The Secret Knowledge of Water

Not a one of these have anything to do with the other of course.

[Boojatta]

41. The Overcoat and Other Short Stories by Nikolai Gogol

It should really be called "The Overcoat", "The Nose", and Other Short Stories.