Editorial Reviews
Book Description
One hundred of America's favorite writers re-evaluate the overpraised and applaud the unappreciated in this fun and impossible-to-put-down collection of highly opinionated essays.
What began as one of American Heritage's most popular annual features is collected now in this beautifully illustrated, endlessly entertaining book. One hundred inspired, irreverent, illuminating pieces take a fresh look at the people, places and things we take for great-and for granted. Dozens America's most celebrated writers muse on the subjects they know best: Liz Smith on the Most Overrated and Underrated Love Affairs; Art Spiegelman on Comic Strips; Lawrence Block on Fictional Private Eyes, and Christopher Buckley on the most Overrated and Underrated Kennedys, to name just a few. Their wizened analysis, leavened with liberal dollops of humor, is sure to inspire thought and lively conversation, whether you agree or disagree, for example, that Barbara Streisand is the most overrated singer or that the peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich is the most underrated American dish.
From the Back Cover
Is Robert E. Lee getting a free ride? Is Donna Reed the unsung sex symbol of her era? Is it high time someone spoke up for the humble peanut butter and jelly sandwich? And does anyone have the lonely courage to finally call Moby Dick and great crashing bore? There are inflated reputations in every field of American history - and neglected ones, too. In 100 inspired, irreverent, illuminating essays, experts from every field give the overpraised their comeuppance and rescue the unappreciated from obscurity.
Who's Up? Who's Down? What's In? What's Out?
CALEB CARR on Secretaries of Defense DONALD E. WESTLAKE on Criminals GARY GIDDINS on Musicians JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH on Economists MOIRA HODGSON on Regional Foods DAVID OBST on 60s Counterculture Heroes WALTER ISAACSON on Autobiographies STEPHEN BRILL on Trials LAWRENCE BLOCK on Mystery Writers BRUCE MCCALL on Decades RICHARD BROOKHISHER on Presidents AUTHUR SCHLESINGER, JR. on National Turning Points CHRISTOPHER BUCKLEY on Kennedy's LAURA HILLENBRAND on Racehorses DALE DEGROFF on Cocktails JOHN LUKACS on Ideas DOUGLAS BRINKLEY on Environmental Programs GARY CROSS on Toys PAT WILLARD on Pies JAN MORRIS on Cities
Overrated/Underrated,Editors of American Heritage Magazine,Editors of American Heritage Magazine,Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers,1579121632,Civilization,Form - Essays,Humor,Miscellanea,Popular Culture - General,Popular culture,United States,Humor / Essays
Book Details:
Recommended Books