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Daily Show (the Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests
Daily Show (the Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests | Chris Smith
The complete, uncensored history of the award-winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as told by its correspondents, writers, and host. For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly redefined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. It launched the careers of some of today's most significant comedians, highlighted the hypocrisies of the powerful, and garnered 23 Emmys. Now the show's behind-the-scenes gags, controversies, and camaraderie will be chronicled by the players themselves, from legendary host Jon Stewart to the star cast members and writers-including Samantha Bee, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Steve Carell, Lewis Black, Jessica Williams, John Hodgman, and Larry Wilmore-plus some of The Daily Show's most prominent guests and adversaries: John and Cindy McCain, Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, and many more. This oral history takes the reader behind the curtain for all the show's highlights, from its origins as Comedy Central's underdog late-night program hosted by Craig Kilborn to Jon Stewart's long reign to Trevor Noah's succession, rising from a scrappy jester in the 24-hour political news cycle to become part of the beating heart of politics-a trusted source for not only comedy but also commentary, with a reputation for calling bullshit and an ability to effect real change in the world. Through years of incisive election coverage, Jon Stewart's emotional monologue in the wake of 9/11, his infamous confrontation on Crossfire, passionate debates with President Obama and Hillary Clinton, feuds with Bill O'Reilly and Fox, the Indecisions, Mess O'Potamia, and provocative takes on Wall Street and racism, The Daily Show has been a cultural touchstone. Now, for the first time, the people behind the show's seminal moments come together to share their memories of the last-minute rewrites, improvisations, pranks, romances, blow-ups, and moments of Zen both on and off the set of one of America's most groundbreaking shows.
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Bookish.Leftist.Auntie
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Pickpick

How I miss Jon Stewart's voice on the national stage! Jon's ability to see through the bullshit and shine the spotlight on it is simply unparalleled. I listened to the audiobook and it was great. It made me want to take the entire journey with Jon and the staff again. I did seek out YouTube for the Crossfire interview and a few other things.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I felt the same way with this one... I miss him and his team so much. 6y
Bookish.Leftist.Auntie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I know! Don't get me wrong I like Trevor Noah but Jon revolutionized political satire. He had such an eye for talent too! That show and cast was once in a lifetime. I wish Jon would do something with HBO or even Netflix or something. We could use his voice these days. 6y
29 likes3 comments
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Lauren_reading
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Pickpick

Really interesting audiobook! Love this show and learning the history and background stories was so fun. #audiobook

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sammisho
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Pickpick

I love The Daily Show. I think Trevor Noah is doing a great job, but I really miss Jon Stewart behind the desk. This book was a really interesting look at behind the scenes and the creation of the show.

MelissaSue81 I miss Jon Stewart so so much. I have this book but never finished it. 6y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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And I am embarrassingly fangirl-ing a bit that the author of a book I reviewed, actually saw and read the review. For some reason it always shocks me that they read those. 🤷‍♀️😂

kammartinez Same here! It always surprises me in a rather pleasant way when they read my reviews. I always hope they enjoyed my fangirlish blathering and that it made their day somehow XD. 7y
58 likes3 comments
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JTRobertson
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Pickpick

This was really enjoyable. Love the Daily Show and it's cast. It was cool learning about the behind the scenes, and revisiting moments I can remember. Definitely covered it all. Very reminiscent of the oral history of SNL.

The narration was interesting in the audiobook, with the various readers doing good imitations of the different personalities involved. Very well done and worth the read. Recommended!

bookdrunkard78 Hey! If you haven't read Born A Crime by Trevor Noah, you really should! @Patrella should have it on audible, but if not, I do! 7y
JTRobertson Yep, I think she does! It's on my list. ☺️ 7y
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mdbstar12
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Pickpick

With an Oral History I think the editor/author/compiler's role becomes a little more apparent than usual, so there were some inserts/asides that irked me. If you're a fan of The Daily Show though these little issues are forgettable and you'll get great insight into the 16 years of this fantastic show.

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Gezemice
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Pickpick

Great book for all those who miss Jon Stewart. His ability to cut through bullsh*t with humor, insight and clarity changed how we look at politics and news media forever.

This book is a collection of small bits of interviews from many contributors of the show, including Jon himself, Colbert, John Oliver, correspondents, guests, foes. Lots of fun and candid moments, but it makes for a choppy read - it took me 3 months, but I enjoyed it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

NovelGirl82 Bahaaa!! I remember that!! I haven't read this yet, but I need to! 7y
cathysaid 😂😂😂😂👏👏👏 7y
Gezemice @NovelGirl82 @cathysaid I so wish he was still on air 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa So glad you enjoyed it too! Also read it in bits and pieces, fits and starts, but I enjoyed every part of it too! 7y
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Gezemice
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Classic Jon Stewart. Cuts through the bull.

I miss him so much. 🙁

NovelGirl82 "He likes the Trump. I like the Putin." Classic. I love John Stewart! I miss watching him so much! 7y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Well lots of comics & fun reads this month, about the only challenge progress was the picture book for one challenge & a few for #MountTBR All the "serious" books, were even fun non-fiction books this month. And for me personally 4 series caught up or completed (tons to go).

#ReadingStats #May2017 #MayStats
#LitsyAtoZ #NonfictionChallenge17 #LitsyReadingChallenge #PopsugarChallenge2017
#ReadHarder2017 #MountTBR #192019 #ReadingChallenge2017

sprainedbrain Awesome!! 7y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

I probably could have zoomed through this book in one day, it's full of great memories, wonderful behind the scenes stories and viewpoints of people looking in from the outside. Instead I drug it out, a chapter a weekend here & there and only when I got close to the end read straight through all in one day. Sadly, I found many points still incredibly poignant and timely today as our current politics seem to be revisiting many of the same issues.

Gezemice I am still reading it... well, letting it sit... because it resonates so much with current news. 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I completely understand, I slow read that one spaced over 2+ months. Read a chapter, which usually resonated more than I wished it would, then let it sit for a week or two and then picked it up again. 7y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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This is about getting the 9/11 responders bill passed to cover their medical expenses... so sad that they made 300 trips over 12 yrs to plead their case in DC, but it still took media attention from comedians to pressure congress to do the right thing and support our country's heroes from a time of national crisis.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa It still amazes me that this had to become a thing, that as they were dying slowly from various cancers , etc that they had to take time to plead with congressmen for something that should have been a given, not an unending battle. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I love this quote..... probably way more than I should. But it's a bit refreshing in this day and age of the "like" button, and everyone aiming for a bunch of "likes" to hear someone say that some things are more important than being "liked", that in fact, they are so important you should talk about them even if it makes some people unlike you very VERY much.

Gezemice I agree, great quote! 8y
SiriGuruDevSingh 😍😍😍👍👍 8y
NovelGirl82 One of the many reasons that I love him! 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I think he nailed it, and we are seeing that now....it's all about if you like him or not.

#Trump

Gezemice So true! 8y
MyNamesParadise Yep Narcissistic Personality Disorder... 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Another one of these aside quotes about conversations at the time, that just seem so topical with today's news stories.

I'm sure when they were putting this book together, they didn't have any idea how some of it would resonate with things in the news today.

Gezemice So good! I need to get back to it - but so many library books... 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I've been falling into that trap a lot lately too. I may have to return some of my library books unread and concentrate on my own for awhile until I make a dent there. I hate to do it, but some I own have been waiting a long time. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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“If comedy is tragedy plus time, I need more fucking time. But I would really settle for less fucking tragedy.” ~ So say we all ?

"I‘m kind of relieved I don‘t have to say anything on TV about tragedies anymore." ~ I never really thought about it that way, but considering the amount of tragedy in those last couple of years, that he had to say something about that night, I bet that was a huge burden to bare, and more than a bit soul crushing. ?

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Funny coming from an official media liaison....and they wondered why people started watching The Daily Show instead of the news news....and why the news media started getting a bad reputation as not serious journalism. 🙄

NovelGirl82 Right?! I actually learned more about govt policy, etc from Stewart than I did from "real news". 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @NovelGirl82 I've been trying to watch the nightly national news now to keep up with everything that's going on in his absence, but there's a lot of fluff in that 30 minutes every night. 8y
NovelGirl82 I watch HLN in the morning. They seem a bit better than most of the others at staying closer to center. They all have an agenda leaning one way or the other, though. They aren't nearly as obvious with theirs as some are. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Jon's just getting ready to start filming his movie Rosewater, about how comedy bits can go so very wrong, and yet can give this very good and sound advice to another comedian "news" host.

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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“If I choose today to tone it down, if I choose today to shut up, tomorrow me and you and all of us will be forced to. And today what‘s considered a luxury will be taken away.”

That reminds me, I need to look for Bassem Youssef's new book.....

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I remember those pieces, the interviews, and the fallout after....who would have ever guessed a joke comedian "spy" would lead to such a devastating conclusion. By the way, I've read the book Maziar Bahari later wrote about his ordeal....and that one's I'd recommend too.

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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"When we promised during the campaign, “Change you can believe in,” it wasn‘t, “Change you can believe in in eighteen months.” It was, “Change you can believe in, but you know what, we‘re gonna have to work for it.”"

*Still relevant today!

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Awwww... back when we were trying to get healthcare passed 8ish years ago. 😢

So surreal reading it in today's context!

Suet624 Sigh. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa If this book wasn't triggering so many sigh moments because of current events, I probably would have breezed through it in days. But as it is I read a section and basically sigh and think for awhile before I pick it up again. Dang you current events for interfering with my great book!!! 8y
BestOfFates I don't think I could emotionally handle this book now! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BestOfFates And isn't that sad, it's so good....and in a parallel universe it would be a fun look back about how crazy things were. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Yep, and we are reaping that now....

Suet624 Yup. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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After reading The Big Short last year, I'd have to agree that that is the crux of problem, and the essence of the last financial meltdown, and since we haven't done anything to fix the underlying problem, it will also be the essence of the next meltdown...and the next...and the next...where the individuals with pensions lose but the big institutions end up making money before it's all said & down, and most likely (like last time) tax payer money.

BestOfFates ☹️ 8y
MyNamesParadise Read Elizabeth Warren's book This Fight is Our Fight. The facts in there are startling and depressing. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MyNamesParadise I believe that! It's another one on my to read list 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Awwww.... I really miss Larry's show!!!! 😢. I still can't believe they canceled it and didn't give it time to grow a bit! I so miss his show and his POV....something that is sourly needed in our dialogue!

Annl I miss his show also. Robin Thede has a new talk show on BET. I am not sure when it starts. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Annl I will definitely look for that one! 8y
Owlizabeth @Annl ooooh thanks for the hot tip!! Love Robin Thede! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Owlizabeth and @Annl My thoughts exactly, after Larry she was my favorite corespondent! Love her! 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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That may be the most romantic meeting ever! Hahaha, and in the most unlikely of places! 😂😂

How John Oliver meet his future wife...talk about a 'meet cute'

Riveted_Reader_Melissa And just think, if he had gotten arrested, he'd now be eligible to be deported, even retroactively after his citizenship. 🤔 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Classy lady! And completely understands the thick skin you have to have to be in politics. 👍

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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No hard feeling from the Writer's Strike even now, right.....sheesh, just a bit touchy there. But I have to say this makes me think even better of Jon Stewart.

ScrappyMags 💗💗 8y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag Some shows didn't come back after the writers strike 😭- but - it's important to strike for your rights especially brave when so much is on the line (I hadn't considered that some people might not have enough to cover rent and other basic living expenses) 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @thegirlwiththelibrarybag My guess is that's why some didn't come back, they found jobs in other industries just to live. And yes, it's completely necessary.... I think that's why Jon advancing them out of his own pocket was a special kind of friend, he didn't need to do it, but it was huge. (edited) 8y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Riveted_Reader_Melissa, I meant the whole show not just the writers (but yes, they would have had to - savings only go so far and it was a dragged out affair. I always thought that Bionic Woman and Pushing Up Daisies were writers strike fatalities? 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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And that is when I first heard the name Mike Pence, soon to be a future Vice President of the United States. Oh the memories! Who would have thought...seriously, who would have guessed from this early blip on the national radar. Certainly not the writer of this book published last year I bet, LOL

CocoReads I doubt Mike Pence has ever been to a normal Hoosier outdoor market. I can't stand him. Yep, disgruntled Hoosier here--🙋 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @CocoReads Well apparently he thinks they all have helicopters and humvees? LOL. I just remember this quote being the first time his name stuck in my political consciousness. And I can imagine disgruntled, isn't it interesting how governors with poor records sudden end up in national offices, it's happened a few times. 8y
CocoReads Yep. And the things I've heard about him before he entered public office. He's not a good person. 😡 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @CocoReads Good people so very rarely make it in politics, which is truly such a sad commentary on our democracy. 8y
CocoReads So true and so sad. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I love these little candid bits from others outside the show.

Gezemice Yeah I thought that was cute, too. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I still feel like too many news stories just "leave it there" and don't follow up. ☹️

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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"It's got to mean more than this." ?

This is probably one of the biggest culture shocks for foreigners with America (well this and portion sizes), and it's so much a part of our culture that we don't even see how odd it is to most of the world.

Suet624 I think it's incredibly odd. I lived in the south in the past and would cringe/flee when I saw a gun in a truck. 8y
LeahBergen I'm from Canada and the first time I saw someone "open carrying" was at a bookstore in Arizona. I almost dropped dead from shock and found it SO scary! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Suet624 @LeahBergen Yep! When I was overseas years ago I had a very interesting conversation with the locals about this, and it was the first time I really realized how odd it was, because none of them had guns or had ever seen one...not even their average police officers carried one. And even for myself, who grew up here, it's gotten odd even for me. I live in the country, my grandfather, father, brother, uncles and cousins all went hunting.. 8y
See All 8 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...but their shotgun for hunting season was locked up in a gun cabinet and you only saw it during hunting season. This open carry, handgun wearing makes me nervous when I see it too, and I see it slowly and slowly more often. 8y
TrishB It freaks me out when the police have them at the airport! Not sure I could cope with people just carrying them around 'normally'. 8y
kgriffith I just read this in his voice and it cracked me up. 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GlitterFemme That's the best part about this book, all the sections from past correspondents I automatically read in their voice! 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Still funny! And it certainly explains a lot!

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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#TBRTuesday What I'm reading now, and what's up next on my exponentially multiplying piles. Fingers crossed I can get through some of these yet this month. 👍

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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His name was Ari Fleischer...and his name will probably be remembered by me, just like his current incarnation, Sean Spicer, for much longer than I'm comfortable devoting brain cells to this information.... 🙄

Gezemice You mean, Madame Ghostbuster? 8y
Gezemice I just got to this part, too. Good stuff. 8y
40 likes3 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Sad sad, and so telling of our inbreed prejudices...you only get called to read for the stereotyped role.

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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That's sounds like a great motto! 👏🤜🤛👍

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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These beginning stories of people joining the crew are so touching and funny. And props to JK Rowling!

Suet624 Love that. 8y
Gezemice Oh my god! So cool! You are way ahead of me, now I can't wait to catch up. 😊 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice Not far ahead at all... about page 180, 190 8y
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Gezemice I could not sleep last night, so Iam up to page 152 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice Yep, you are right behind me.....I better read more tonight! 😱 8y
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I won't go much further - library holds came in 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I completely understand, that's why I've kept putting this one down too...I own it so it always has to wait for the library holds. 8y
40 likes7 comments
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Gezemice
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This was a joke in 2000 - little did we know that Stephen Colbert was a prophet.

I picked this book up randomly from my husband's bedside table (I got it for him for Christmas, but he only read 6 pages). It was not on my immediate TBR, and the format is a bit hard to follow, but now I am hooked.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa See! It's easy to get hooked for a chapter or too and then with the format put it down for awhile again. Very interesting though, I'm definitely enjoying it....and scared by the relevance....and missing Jon Stewart even more. 8y
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Me too! In today's real-life polotics comedy show, his voice is so much needed. The voice of reason. Jon Oliver is great, but only once a week. 🙁 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I don't get HBO, so I watch Samantha Bee's show, though sadly also only once a week. 😕 8y
Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa We should watch that. There are often clips of Jon Oliver you can find online, too. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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These were my reading possibilities I posted in the beginning of March, so how did I make out? ..... eeh.

Not my best reading month.

Hopefully April will be better. :-/

Cinfhen You had a lot to choose from 😂 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Cinfhen I did, lots of goals....and then I went and read a bunch of things from Hoopla, Overdrive, or the Library instead. It's really not helping me with my to be read pile. 8y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Some of these early stories about finding their niche, getting their groove are so interesting. LOL

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Oh the memories these endpapers bring back.... I still miss Jon Stewart.

Bette Oh yeah, miss him so much. 8y
51 likes1 comment
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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#TBRTuesdays. I'll probably finish up Coretta Scott King's tonight (very good). And then I think I'm gonna take a break from the serious non-fiction for a bit and play some literary hooky, ie read just for fun, and catch-up on some of the series I enjoy. Sadly I could probably do that for the next month and still not catch up with all those series, LOL!

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BeveragesAndBooks
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Trying to up my NF intake. After the PhD, I dropped dramatically and it's time to start ratcheting back up. This is a good one to warm back up with. 😁

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hcmarks
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The stories in this book are hilarious.

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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

A fun walk down memory lane!

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Leigh0906
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The Daily Show oral history is perfect for a #bookface! #riotgrams

LittlePixels 😂😂 8y
15 likes1 comment
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teresareads
Pickpick

I'm calling this a pick because I really enjoyed it, but I'd only recommend it for people who watched the show a lot. The oral history format means there aren't many explanations of what's happening.

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Leigh0906
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My #library #bookhaul was fabulous. I'm super excited to read The Daily Show (The Book) and Behold the Dreamers!