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December 12, 2003
Review (book): Book of Dumb
The one phrase that can be absolutely guaranteed to set my teeth on edge is "People are dumb". Not only is it inaccurate (people are, on average, average), but it generally reveals that a misanthropy born from the utterer's own sense of inadequacy. Basically, this phrase means "do not trust me"...
And yet I like John Scalzi's work. Quite a bit. That doesn't mean that I will start the Cult of John and start reading Money online or anything, but it does mean that when I see a book with his name on it, I'll pick it up...
Mr. Scalzi has written a new book the Book of Dumb. He has a tough line to walk: He must show actual human beings being stupid without condemning the entire race. And he manages to succeed...
It's all about tone. Where another writer might take a world weary tone and literarily sigh while asking-between-the-lines "what can you do?" Mr. Scalzi takes a different tone. He seems to like pointing out "Wow, can you believe they did this?" While occasionally laying out what seems to be a plausible though process which may have lead the person in that direction. While the reader is not thinking "that could be me", we are left with quite a bit more sympathy than we might otherwise have been...
Other times Mr. Scalzi will just let things stand without such narrative. One of my favorite entries was (I don't have the book in front of me) "Dumbest diplomatic moves of all time". This would be the famous Zimmerman Telegraph. Mr. Scalzi lets Prussian Pride answer for itself on that one...
Ultimately the book fulfils its criterion as part of the Uncle John line; I can read it on break or in the restroom. Which also makes it a good stocking stuffer, though perhaps not a main present. I've hand sold a couple of these books already, and haven't had one returned yet...
Rating: 4 goldfish swallowed out of 5 goldfish swallowed. This book nicely avoids saying nasty things about humanity while it does pick apart certain things humans have done. Unfortunately, owing to its structure, it is not something that can really kill an afternoon.
Posted by Andrew at December 12, 2003 10:04 AM
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