By Charlie Leffler
One only needs look inside the dust jacket of Michael Moore’s latest novel to get the gist of his biting sense of humor.
“The government has been seized by a ne’er-do-well rich boy and his elderly henchmen…” the bold proclamation sets the tone for the entirety of “Stupid White Men… and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation.”
Since filming “Roger & Me,” Moore has been the advocate of the common man. “Roger & Me” detailed the devastation caused by the closing of the General Motors plant in Flint Michigan. Through his use of humor intermixed with reality, Moore’s film not only became the highest grossing non-fiction film of all time, but is also being used to in economics classes in Europe. It is the same pungent and whimsical expose that has pushed Moore’s “Stupid White Men” to the top of the New York Times’ Bestseller List.
If ever there was a novel that would serve as the perfect all-around textbook for college students it would have to be “Stupid White Men.” Moore utilizes the same approach that he has displayed in Emmy-winning series TV Nation and previous best seller “Downsize This” to hold the reader’s interest while pointing out important facts that everyone needs to know. Through facts and funnies, the author takes the reader on a wild and wooly trip through all of the disciplines that are taught in college, politics, economics, business, ecology and world problems. All the while, Moore leaves the reader rolling on the floor at the absurdity that modern day America has become. In fact, every student at the University of Louisville should read the book because they laugh in sympathy at the reason why Moore dropped out of college.
The book begins with a rollicking recollection of the 2000 US Presidential election, or as Moore entitles it, the 2000 coop. From there he moves from questioning whether or not President Bush is even literate to the faltering Dow Jones.
The title for the book arises as the answer to the question: Who is to blame for every major problem this country has ever faced? In the chapter Kill Whitey, Moore further explores this dilemma and explains why blacks are still slaves in this day and age.
Likewise, Moore moves on to the nation’s faltering education, ecology and prison systems.
In the chapter, The End of Men, Moore provides scientific proof that indicates Mother Nature is finally come to realize where all of her problems have arisen and is now doing something about it by removing her greatest threat-men.
Unlike other books of this nature that have hit the shelves in recent years, Moore provides documentation to back he audacious statements to prove himself. For instance, want to know where the Bush family got its financial start? The answer is astounding. Could George Bush be hiding a felony earlier in his life? Want to discover why every member of the Bush cabinet is most likely unfit to hold office? Moore breaks down the characters one by one revealing corporate and foreign ties. Fortunately for Kentuckians, the worst that Moore can say about Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao is that she is married to Mitch McConnell. Moore’s blasts are not one-sided, he also takes shots at the democrats. The author explains why Bill Clinton was the best Republican President this nation ever had.
Though, “Stupid White Men” tends to drag somewhat in the middle, overall it is a very educational, humorous and enjoyable read.
