Tammy Bruce's The Death of Right and Wrong (http://www.amazon.com/Death-Right-Wrong-Exposing-Assault/dp/1400052947)
This leapt out at me when I read the author's description: "Tammy Bruce is an openly gay, pro-choice, gun owning, pro-death penalty, authentic feminist." Interesting. The book is, at many times, depressing. She doesn't pull any punches in her opinions and rightfully so-- it's her book and should reflect what she wants to say. One of the bigger reasons I was drawn to this book is that, as I get older (not that I'm old but you know what I mean), I realize more and more what Bruce discusses in terms of moral relativism-- people in my generation, especially those who went to college, are being taught not to make judgments about, well, anything. That's not right. Making no judgments ever about anyone or anything leaves the door open for truly horrific things to happen. The bit in the book about students in a class being reluctant to judge the Nazis for the atrocities they committed against the Jews not only makes me sick but makes me afraid. How far have we gone when people would be reluctant to condemn Hitler? I thought of walking around London and seeing sign after sign after sign from pro-atheist groups and not a single one from any religion. Now it's totally the right of those groups to buy ad space and say what they want to-- just as it's my right to look at them and wonder, "Why have no theistic groups bought space?" I know I am digressing from the book review but it's part of the basic point. When I went to see The Invention of Lying, I thought I had bought a ticket for a quirky, cute rom-com. I didn't realize I was getting a bait-and-switch of expecting a light comedy and instead receiving what I feel like amounted to atheist proselytizing. I think Ricky Gervais is funny and charming but I did not sign up for two hours of God-bashing disguised as a romantic comedy. No thanks. Returning to Bruce's book, I respect the point she makes that she is a non-Christian who thinks it stinks to see Christian bashing. We seem to be so sensitive and PC about every other religion and no religion at all but if you identify yourself as a Christian, look out. I can't say that I agree with every word on every page of this book but it gave me a lot of good food for thought. It's worth checking out.
Jon Hein's Jump the Shark (http://www.amazon.com/Jump-Shark-When-Good-Things/dp/0525946764/ref=cm_cr_dp_orig_subj)
This was certainly a lighter read than Bruce's book. I loved the JTS website before it was overtaken by TV Guide. Blah. But the concept is still funny to me. And there are many laugh-out-loud moments in the book, not the least of which is "The Dick Switch" on Bewitched. The version I read has not only TV shows but also includes celebrities, politics/politicians, and sports figures. Truthfully, I merely skimmed the sports section as that is not a big point of interest for me. In the politics part, I laughed about the photo of Dukakis in the tank
and the subsequent Bush ad it spawned (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZkoKh_A5pw). You will probably find yourself nodding along in various parts (as I did during the analysis of Roseanne, Frasier [still one of my fave TV shows of all time] and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire). It's a good pleasure read that you can get through quickly. I'd recommend going through it in one dose because after a while, you start to feel like you've had enough JTS banter and that JTS is, well, about to see fins approaching.
More to come (homage to classic Tonight Show intended)
