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Self-help more like self-mockery
A tongue-in-cheek guide is funniest in small doses.
By Jen A. Miller, Special to the Times
Published December 9, 2007
If you're an avid reader, you might separate types of books by where you read them: books you read on an airplane, books you read on the beach, books you read to your kids before they go to bed. And then there are books you read in your second office, the one that has a sink. Jason Roeder's Oh, the Humanity! is one of those books, best read in small bites over a long time. Roeder takes on a Dale-Carnegie-with-Stephen-Colbert bravado persona to write this mock self-help book. Every time you think he could be offering useful advice, he goes off the deep end. On small talk: "Oh, sure, maybe you think your nimble hands, composure under stress, and encyclopedic knowledge of the human body will help you achieve your dream of becoming a heart surgeon. But if you can't swap Family Guy quotes with a co-worker, just forget it, you valueless nonentity." On product placement: "Celebrities have been known to transparently shill for specific products in interviews as well, making a mockery of the important questions the Extra red-carpet correspondent is asking at the premiere of a movie about computer-animated koalas that say 'fo' shizzle.' " On learning names: "If I meet Corey, the simplest thing to do is retain the word Corey. That way, next time I see him, I just think, 'Corey,' which leads me directly to his name. I'm surprised more books don't recommend this technique." The humor hits about as many times as it misses. If you read the entire book at once, the gems lose their luster. Even the biggest Colbert fans couldn't watch his show for three straight hours without wanting to reach through the screen and smack him; the same is true for Roeder. If you find yourself offended by some of the jokes in Oh, the Humanity! (and there are a few off-color ones), take Roeder's advice to heart: "I'll remind you that you found this book two shelves down from a compilation of Garfield comics." Jen A. Miller, a frequent contributor, blogs about books at bookaweekwithjen.blogspot.com. Oh, the Humanity! By Jason Roeder Tow Books, 169 pages, $12.99
[Last modified December 6, 2007, 15:43:37]
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