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New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer
Bill Maher is on the forefront of the new wave of comedians who have begun to influence and shape political debate through their comedy. He is best known not just for being funny, but for advocating truth over sensitivity and taking on the political establishment.
Maher first came to national attention as the host of the hit ABC-TV program Politically Incorrect , where he offered a combustible mixture of irreverence and acerbic humor that helped him to garner a loyal following, as well as a reputation for being a controversial bad boy.
Bill Maher's popular new HBO television show, Real Time , has put Maher more front and center than ever before. Partic-ularly one regular segment on the show, entitled "New Rules," has been a hit with his ever-growing legion of fans. It is the part of the show during which Maher takes serious aim, bringing all of his intelligence, incisiveness, wit, and his signature exasperation to bear on topics ranging from cell phones ("I don't need my cell phone to take pictures or access the Internet. I just need it to make a phone call. From everywhere! Not just the places it likes!") to fast food ("No McDonald's in hospitals. I'm not kidding!) to the conservative agenda ("Stop claiming it's an agenda. It's not an agenda. It's a random collection of laws that your corporate donors paid you to pass.")
His new book, the first since his bestselling When You Ride ALONE You Ride with bin Laden , brings these brilliantly conceived riffs and rants to the written page. Appropriately titled New Rules , the book will collect some of the best of the rules derived from previously written material and will also contain substantial new material, including some longer form "editorials"--of course with a twist and bite that only Bill Maher can deliver.
Maher first came to national attention as the host of the hit ABC-TV program Politically Incorrect , where he offered a combustible mixture of irreverence and acerbic humor that helped him to garner a loyal following, as well as a reputation for being a controversial bad boy.
Bill Maher's popular new HBO television show, Real Time , has put Maher more front and center than ever before. Partic-ularly one regular segment on the show, entitled "New Rules," has been a hit with his ever-growing legion of fans. It is the part of the show during which Maher takes serious aim, bringing all of his intelligence, incisiveness, wit, and his signature exasperation to bear on topics ranging from cell phones ("I don't need my cell phone to take pictures or access the Internet. I just need it to make a phone call. From everywhere! Not just the places it likes!") to fast food ("No McDonald's in hospitals. I'm not kidding!) to the conservative agenda ("Stop claiming it's an agenda. It's not an agenda. It's a random collection of laws that your corporate donors paid you to pass.")
His new book, the first since his bestselling When You Ride ALONE You Ride with bin Laden , brings these brilliantly conceived riffs and rants to the written page. Appropriately titled New Rules , the book will collect some of the best of the rules derived from previously written material and will also contain substantial new material, including some longer form "editorials"--of course with a twist and bite that only Bill Maher can deliver.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2005
88 people are currently reading
1785 people want to read
About the author
Bill Maher
20 books465 followersWilliam Maher, Jr., is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He hosted the late-night television talk show Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central and ABC, and is currently the host of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. On June 1, 2006, he also began hosting an Internet-exclusive talk show on Amazon.com entitled Amazon Fishbowl.
Maher is known for his political satire and sociopolitical commentary. His commentaries target a wide swath of topics, from the right-wing to the left-wing, bureaucracies of many kinds, religion, political correctness, Hollywood, the mass media, and persons in positions of high political and social power, among many others. He supports the legalization of cannabis and gay marriage and serves on the board of PETA. Maher is number 38 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups of all time.
Maher is known for his political satire and sociopolitical commentary. His commentaries target a wide swath of topics, from the right-wing to the left-wing, bureaucracies of many kinds, religion, political correctness, Hollywood, the mass media, and persons in positions of high political and social power, among many others. He supports the legalization of cannabis and gay marriage and serves on the board of PETA. Maher is number 38 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups of all time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
November 20, 2020
Can't help but compare this with one of my favorite comedy books ever, the late great Joan Rivers' "I Hate Everyone... Starting with Me." (Bill Maher wouldn't mind.) But whereas that one was pointed inward (being all rants by a true & discerning DIVA), Maher's is pretty much the script of several New Rules segs of his HBO program. But without the voice, its just a transcript--of course, full of disdain on National concerns. His solutions are more comic than hypothetically real. It lacks that inwardness which makes Rivers soooO much more compelling a comedian (R.I.P.).
December 7, 2022
I like Bill Maher. He can be a bit obnoxious, but he’s smart and funny. His “new rules” work much better when he’s delivering them. It’s just not the same to read them.
This book was written in 2005. Bill Maher’s material is always topical—what’s going on in the world today stuff. Thus, the material is dated. . . lots of Bush, the Gulf War, Lacey Peterson, etc. (It’s interesting that Trump was making the cut even back then). There was a bit about people complaining about having to pay more than $2 for a gallon of gas (ha!!). It was interesting to reach back to 2005 to remember what was going on in the world back them.
I’d rather watch his show though.
This book was written in 2005. Bill Maher’s material is always topical—what’s going on in the world today stuff. Thus, the material is dated. . . lots of Bush, the Gulf War, Lacey Peterson, etc. (It’s interesting that Trump was making the cut even back then). There was a bit about people complaining about having to pay more than $2 for a gallon of gas (ha!!). It was interesting to reach back to 2005 to remember what was going on in the world back them.
I’d rather watch his show though.
January 14, 2008
I did not realize just how close my mindset is to his. When I read this book, I felt as though he pulled information out of my brain to write it! I often laughed heartily while reading it. It was very validating for me to read a book by someone with the same values as me, and realize that I am not alone in my thoughts.
February 24, 2014
3.5 but I'll round it to 4
Here are some Maher-isms you'll find in this book:
"Enough with the "For Dummies" series. The last straw was this week when I saw NASCAR for Dummies. Let me save you the $12.99. It's rednecks drinking beer and watching other rednecks turn left."
"No puppet fucking. The movie Team America: World Police features graphic sex scenes between marionettes. If I had any interest in wooden sex with strings attached, I'd get married."
"No paying kids to tattle. A high school in Georgia says it will pay kids up to $100 to rat out friends who steal, cheat, or drink. Just like the Bible says. Because it's never too early to look into your own heart and ask yourself: What would Judas do?"
"There is no such thing as "flavored water". There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket--water, but without the watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water."
"Stop whining about gas prices. Gas costs a lot because we have to find it, bribe or kill the people who live on top of it, extract it, refine it, ship it, and pump it. You'll pay $2 a gallon and you'll like it because you know what the alternative is: riding on the bus with poor people."
"Transvestites are gay. I know what you're going to say: "Bill, not all transvestites are gay." Yes, they are. Studies show...aw, screw studies. Yes, they are."
"Stop waxing your pussy. Now, I am not talking about "regularly scheduled maintenance." I am talking about the women who make the thing as bald as Bruce Willis's head. It is supposed to have some hair on it. It's a pussy, not Dr. Evil's cat."
See? Bill Maher is not a known giver of fucks. He tells it like it is and he makes fun of everybody (mostly people in politics) but as you can see from the above quotes, he does go over the boundaries from time to time. He is who he is and that's the way he like it. I believe he does support things like gay marriage and legalizing of weed (he smokes a ton of it based on one quote from this book). He does occasionally make fun of it but it is supposed to be in good nature way, although some people might see it otherwise.
BOOK LAYOUT: Basically, this book has two quotes such as the ones above on each page with a small picture put right between each quote to take up space and to relate to either the top quote or the bottom one. That is how most of this book is. It is called New Rules because he tells us to stop doing such and such and he tells us why like he does in quotes above. There are "Chapters" and each chapter is a letter in the alphabet. His rules deal with things beginning with that letter.
Some things are outdated but I overall enjoyed the book. Read it in 2 days but an avid reader could read it in one day easily since this book has TONS of pictures. Gave me quite a few laughs too.
Here are some Maher-isms you'll find in this book:
"Enough with the "For Dummies" series. The last straw was this week when I saw NASCAR for Dummies. Let me save you the $12.99. It's rednecks drinking beer and watching other rednecks turn left."
"No puppet fucking. The movie Team America: World Police features graphic sex scenes between marionettes. If I had any interest in wooden sex with strings attached, I'd get married."
"No paying kids to tattle. A high school in Georgia says it will pay kids up to $100 to rat out friends who steal, cheat, or drink. Just like the Bible says. Because it's never too early to look into your own heart and ask yourself: What would Judas do?"
"There is no such thing as "flavored water". There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket--water, but without the watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water."
"Stop whining about gas prices. Gas costs a lot because we have to find it, bribe or kill the people who live on top of it, extract it, refine it, ship it, and pump it. You'll pay $2 a gallon and you'll like it because you know what the alternative is: riding on the bus with poor people."
"Transvestites are gay. I know what you're going to say: "Bill, not all transvestites are gay." Yes, they are. Studies show...aw, screw studies. Yes, they are."
"Stop waxing your pussy. Now, I am not talking about "regularly scheduled maintenance." I am talking about the women who make the thing as bald as Bruce Willis's head. It is supposed to have some hair on it. It's a pussy, not Dr. Evil's cat."
See? Bill Maher is not a known giver of fucks. He tells it like it is and he makes fun of everybody (mostly people in politics) but as you can see from the above quotes, he does go over the boundaries from time to time. He is who he is and that's the way he like it. I believe he does support things like gay marriage and legalizing of weed (he smokes a ton of it based on one quote from this book). He does occasionally make fun of it but it is supposed to be in good nature way, although some people might see it otherwise.
BOOK LAYOUT: Basically, this book has two quotes such as the ones above on each page with a small picture put right between each quote to take up space and to relate to either the top quote or the bottom one. That is how most of this book is. It is called New Rules because he tells us to stop doing such and such and he tells us why like he does in quotes above. There are "Chapters" and each chapter is a letter in the alphabet. His rules deal with things beginning with that letter.
Some things are outdated but I overall enjoyed the book. Read it in 2 days but an avid reader could read it in one day easily since this book has TONS of pictures. Gave me quite a few laughs too.
May 6, 2009
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a Bill Maher fan, so read on at your own risk. This book, really just a collection of New Rules bits from the show (I think), is funny, profane and insightful, just like its author. It's a great "turn your brain off and enjoy" book with some incredibly funny observations interspersed with several shockingly cogent and piercingly insightful commentaries on contemporary life. This being said, because it's just a series of snippets, I can't say that I would be motivated to buy and read a sequel to this volume as, ultimately, the net effect is like that of cotton candy at the fair - great at the time but not of sufficient significance to make you want it consistently. I guess that I'll just watch his Real Time show more as that's an even easier way to get additional New Rules....
So, this is a fun and worthy effort, though its lack of unifying theme detracts from its impact. Given his gift for observation and humorous exposition, I wanted (but did not get) more, which, unfortunately, diminished its significance for me. I would really welcome a more developed and extended take from the author, though I am also quite sensitive to the reality that the line between social observer/critic and blowhard is a thin one easily transgressed. Still, I hope Maher takes the shot - he's got very a interesting perspective and withering wit, generally a good combination.
So, this is a fun and worthy effort, though its lack of unifying theme detracts from its impact. Given his gift for observation and humorous exposition, I wanted (but did not get) more, which, unfortunately, diminished its significance for me. I would really welcome a more developed and extended take from the author, though I am also quite sensitive to the reality that the line between social observer/critic and blowhard is a thin one easily transgressed. Still, I hope Maher takes the shot - he's got very a interesting perspective and withering wit, generally a good combination.
November 6, 2011
I like Bill Maher. I like his humor and I like his politics. So I was looking forward to reading something by him. The humor in this book did not disappoint me but it had a problem a lot of these books by comedians has. It reads like excerpts from his stand-up routine. For that, it deserves at least three stars but I was hoping for something a little more substantial than a collection of one liners.
May 11, 2014
The very first book that consists of the political and social ramblings of the comedian Bill Maher. It is brilliantly funny and quite an enjoyable read.
It is also obvious that the book as written during the Bush administration. Therefore one must be aware of all the events that took place during that particular period.
It is a must read for those interested in political satirist humor.
It is also obvious that the book as written during the Bush administration. Therefore one must be aware of all the events that took place during that particular period.
It is a must read for those interested in political satirist humor.
May 30, 2010
Really funny, but not for the easily offended. Bill Maher does not discriminate. He makes fun of everyone. The material is a little out of date, but still entertaining. He has a good statement on the issue of gay marriage. Progress is being made, but really, why is this an issue?
But at least the Right isn't hypocritical on this issue; they really believe that homosexuality is an "abomination" and a dysfunction that's "curable." They also believe that if a gay man just devotes his life to Jesus, he'll stop being gay -- because that theory worked out so well with the Catholic priests.
But the greater shame in this story goes to the Democrats. They don't believe homosexuality is an abomination, and therefore their refusal to endorse gay marriage is hypocrisy. Their position doesn't come from the Bible; it's ripped right from the latest poll, which says most Americans are against gay marriage.
Well, you know what? Sometimes "most Americans" are wrong. Where's the Democrat who will stand up and go beyond the half measure of "civil union" and "hate the sin, love the sinner" and say loud and clear, "There is no sin--it's not an abomination"?
No on can control how Cupid aims his arrows, and the ones who pretend they can usually turn out to be the biggest freaks of all.
October 26, 2007
As usual - on audio book. Bill reads this and I can just imagine him sitting there on his talk show spouting his words of wisdom. Funny wisdom too.
It does get repetitive with the "new rules" being stated each time he changes topics; however, it does help keep the subjects separate. Some items are dated (and it is funny hearing him and perhaps how close he became to reality when he "predicts" what might happen).
Some laugh out loud moments, others to snicker at, and some to ponder...
Pretty good and entertaining book.
It does get repetitive with the "new rules" being stated each time he changes topics; however, it does help keep the subjects separate. Some items are dated (and it is funny hearing him and perhaps how close he became to reality when he "predicts" what might happen).
Some laugh out loud moments, others to snicker at, and some to ponder...
Pretty good and entertaining book.
July 21, 2009
Boring, even though the audio book was read by the author.
February 8, 2014
This collection of short monologues and jokes from Bill Maher's HBO series would obviously be much better in their original format, delivered before a live audience by Maher himself. This book is often very funny, but I can't deny that a major component is missing. The jokes just aren't as funny on the printed page. However, Maher's humor is also about ideas and those shine through. I've been a fan of his since his days on Comedy Central and find him to be one of the finest political humorists of our time.
April 2, 2012
Timid, my...anyway, no, never timid. No punches pulled. While I don't agree with everything Bill Maher has to say I nevertheless applaud him for saying it. Always witty, always irreverent, and always searching for meaning in a sometimes meaning-challenged world.
May 31, 2009
Comic insights tempered w/ alot of political musings.
January 23, 2021
I was desperate for an audiobook and the pickings at the library bookstore were slim. It was only when I struck out on all the other things I was hoping to find that I figured I would try this. I used to watch Bill Maher's show in the last few Obama years and the first Trump one. But I stopped because I found some of his stuff offensive and then he claimed to be a feminist. It was actually the toxic masculinity that turned me off the most, so when he said you should not challenge him because he was woke and liberal and a feminist, I gave up. Occasionally I see one of his comments on recent events and agree with him and wonder if I should try again. This has answered that question: No.
Maher is biting and bitter and angry and crude, but I accepted all of that. I did not agree with it when his show was cancelled on ABC after 9/11 because he was right. The actions of the terrorists were deplorable and horrific, but they were not cowardly. Willingness to die for what you believe in is not cowardice, and the fact that he admitted that about America's enemies pissed off average Americans, even the liberals. However, what should piss of the liberals where we (I consider myself a liberal) emphasize the dignity of human beings is Maher's classism, his anti-religious prejudice (you don't have to agree with someone's religion to respect them, any more than I have to agree with the fact that he is a raging pothead to respect his right to smoke marijuana), his fat-shaming, and most of all his reduction of woment to sexual objects first and foremost. For all that he rages against religious conservatives, whether Christian or Muslim, oppressing/repressing women by not letting us express ourselves sexually or choose our own clothing, any time he mentions a woman in this collection of musings that doesn't address repression, it is to do with sexual performance or fantasies, or dismissing them entirely because he does not wish to have sex with them or -- WORSE -- they would not wish to have sex with him. For all that he claims to respect women, he just believes in a woman's right to be sexually available to him and her obligation to be sexually attractive to him. Sadly, he is not alone.
The only semi-redeeming moment for me in the whole audio collection was when the snippet on Donald Trump's hair/combover was immediately followed by him wishing that the US could have a colorful sexual-scandal laden buffoon of a president. At least now I know who really is to blame for the last 4 years.
Maher is biting and bitter and angry and crude, but I accepted all of that. I did not agree with it when his show was cancelled on ABC after 9/11 because he was right. The actions of the terrorists were deplorable and horrific, but they were not cowardly. Willingness to die for what you believe in is not cowardice, and the fact that he admitted that about America's enemies pissed off average Americans, even the liberals. However, what should piss of the liberals where we (I consider myself a liberal) emphasize the dignity of human beings is Maher's classism, his anti-religious prejudice (you don't have to agree with someone's religion to respect them, any more than I have to agree with the fact that he is a raging pothead to respect his right to smoke marijuana), his fat-shaming, and most of all his reduction of woment to sexual objects first and foremost. For all that he rages against religious conservatives, whether Christian or Muslim, oppressing/repressing women by not letting us express ourselves sexually or choose our own clothing, any time he mentions a woman in this collection of musings that doesn't address repression, it is to do with sexual performance or fantasies, or dismissing them entirely because he does not wish to have sex with them or -- WORSE -- they would not wish to have sex with him. For all that he claims to respect women, he just believes in a woman's right to be sexually available to him and her obligation to be sexually attractive to him. Sadly, he is not alone.
The only semi-redeeming moment for me in the whole audio collection was when the snippet on Donald Trump's hair/combover was immediately followed by him wishing that the US could have a colorful sexual-scandal laden buffoon of a president. At least now I know who really is to blame for the last 4 years.
April 21, 2017
A laff riot. Don't miss this one.
February 18, 2024
I enjoyed Bill’s new rules and it was a fun read even if some are outdated. It does show how much society has fallen since this book was published.
December 7, 2024
I’ll be honest, I read this book because it is short and I have five books to finish by the end of the year to hit my goal 50. As far as the book is concerned, I enjoyed it, but it’s a lot of new rules in a row. I enjoy it more weekly and small doses on his show.
July 5, 2025
New Rules – Polite Musings From A Timid Observer by Bill Maher, author of I’m Swiss http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/02/i... and some other comedies, host of a popular show on HBO
7 out of 10
I used to be a fan of the show Real Time, looking back at the note on the above opus, I said ‘it is outstanding’, but things are different now, either because I am changing (we all do, such a cliché) and becoming more mature (which appears to be an euphemism for older) or the comedian is getting more annoying
There are excellent points to what the smart host has to say, the latest takes on the higher education, no less than The Ivy League, calling Harvard and the rest ‘the expensive universities’, they are not elite anymore, in Maher’s view and he is right, up to a point, which used to mean not really, in an interpretation
Scoop http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/07/s... is one of the stupendous comedies of the divine (albeit pompous, snobbish in real life, apparently) Evelyn Waugh, in which we have a journalist going to cover a conflict in Africa, by mistake, and back home, we have Lord Copper
The latter is the owner of The Daily Beast, the journal that had dispatched Boot to the war, and when the Lord asks a question, the answer from his editor (or maybe he had another role within the paper) is either ‘definetely Lord Copper’, which means it is a sure thing, or ‘up to a point Lord Copper’ that was given for a lie
When Maher refers to the recent enormities that have come out of – I think it is Harvard and some other such prestigious institutions – he is spot on, from what I gather, students and maybe some staff have sigend petitions or the like, to support the Palestinians (which is ok) but they went to extremes
Now, to draw a line and say ‘do not take the trouble to get a degree, enroll in universities’ is already an exaggeration, and wrong…yes, we get that the man is joking, and this is satire, hyperbole emphasizes aspects that are deeply flawed, but there is more in the show that irritates me, over the past months
Or maybe it is more than months, I am not sure when the situation has changed dramatically, from a favorite show, hosted by a talented performer, this has become something I still watch (mea culpa) but it gets really annoying and offensive at times – when saying this, I realize that I add a little bit of argument to the man
He is attacked by right and left, and ergo he maintains that this is proof he is so damn balanced and open, centrist and clever – I used to think that but not so much anymore, I mean, alright, invite the punk from Florida, to have a discussion, but the manner in which he preached those things and his attachments…degoulasse
There is clearly an arrogance there, indeed, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, so it makes sense that with fame -so much money, for what used to be good humor, but increasingly, it looks like it is for the work produced by his writers, he wanted to break the strike by the way, and putting on more and more airs, looking pretentious, and self-absorbed, self-righteous, an ass hole in short – he misbehaves
Let me just give this example from Harvard: the most popular course there is of Positive Psychology, where one in five students enrolled, an furthermore, they have the lectures available on line, where you can watch the fabulous Tal Ben-Shahar http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/c... explaining the importance of positivity, telling stories, using passages from movies and books
Indeed, it seems so stupid for Bill Maher to attack some people that do not deserve his wrath, there is so much more on the other side, and yes, he does mock Trump, the latter had taken the comedian to court, asking for damages, because Maher said this is an orange fellow and his father was an orangutan, or something like that
We could also see the argument for criticizing ‘your side’, let us say the democrats, in order to make them better, to prompt them to win elections, and the host keeps saying that, only the feeling I have is he is not sincere, the hypothesis I work with is that the man got too rich, powerful, successful and thus he entered a downfall
The decay set in, he sympathizes with the rich (mind you, I am not poor, all things considered, we belong to the upper middle class here, if not more than that) embraces the vile Musk (and others, like gruesome De Santis)and belongs ‘up to a point’ to the other camp, however much he denies that, playing the balanced sage
On a more ineffable level, there is something (much more, an increasing part maybe) about Maher that is really unlikable, he feels he is so much better than others, and when he mocks the stupidity of various targets, it is often amusing, but that does not make him the philosopher king, he is really quite average
The thing to know would be how much he adds to the show, and what percentage is the work of the writers, for his take on the world, however correct on many, maybe the vital issues, such as Climate Change, he does take horrendous positions…another was the boast about using his private plane (fuck you BM, by the way, for your display of ‘honesty’, which we can read as ‘he does not really care, he is so god damn special’) for travel, along the lines of ‘he has it, can afford it, even to just brag about it and there you go’…selfish sob
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
7 out of 10
I used to be a fan of the show Real Time, looking back at the note on the above opus, I said ‘it is outstanding’, but things are different now, either because I am changing (we all do, such a cliché) and becoming more mature (which appears to be an euphemism for older) or the comedian is getting more annoying
There are excellent points to what the smart host has to say, the latest takes on the higher education, no less than The Ivy League, calling Harvard and the rest ‘the expensive universities’, they are not elite anymore, in Maher’s view and he is right, up to a point, which used to mean not really, in an interpretation
Scoop http://realini.blogspot.com/2018/07/s... is one of the stupendous comedies of the divine (albeit pompous, snobbish in real life, apparently) Evelyn Waugh, in which we have a journalist going to cover a conflict in Africa, by mistake, and back home, we have Lord Copper
The latter is the owner of The Daily Beast, the journal that had dispatched Boot to the war, and when the Lord asks a question, the answer from his editor (or maybe he had another role within the paper) is either ‘definetely Lord Copper’, which means it is a sure thing, or ‘up to a point Lord Copper’ that was given for a lie
When Maher refers to the recent enormities that have come out of – I think it is Harvard and some other such prestigious institutions – he is spot on, from what I gather, students and maybe some staff have sigend petitions or the like, to support the Palestinians (which is ok) but they went to extremes
Now, to draw a line and say ‘do not take the trouble to get a degree, enroll in universities’ is already an exaggeration, and wrong…yes, we get that the man is joking, and this is satire, hyperbole emphasizes aspects that are deeply flawed, but there is more in the show that irritates me, over the past months
Or maybe it is more than months, I am not sure when the situation has changed dramatically, from a favorite show, hosted by a talented performer, this has become something I still watch (mea culpa) but it gets really annoying and offensive at times – when saying this, I realize that I add a little bit of argument to the man
He is attacked by right and left, and ergo he maintains that this is proof he is so damn balanced and open, centrist and clever – I used to think that but not so much anymore, I mean, alright, invite the punk from Florida, to have a discussion, but the manner in which he preached those things and his attachments…degoulasse
There is clearly an arrogance there, indeed, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’, so it makes sense that with fame -so much money, for what used to be good humor, but increasingly, it looks like it is for the work produced by his writers, he wanted to break the strike by the way, and putting on more and more airs, looking pretentious, and self-absorbed, self-righteous, an ass hole in short – he misbehaves
Let me just give this example from Harvard: the most popular course there is of Positive Psychology, where one in five students enrolled, an furthermore, they have the lectures available on line, where you can watch the fabulous Tal Ben-Shahar http://realini.blogspot.com/2016/04/c... explaining the importance of positivity, telling stories, using passages from movies and books
Indeed, it seems so stupid for Bill Maher to attack some people that do not deserve his wrath, there is so much more on the other side, and yes, he does mock Trump, the latter had taken the comedian to court, asking for damages, because Maher said this is an orange fellow and his father was an orangutan, or something like that
We could also see the argument for criticizing ‘your side’, let us say the democrats, in order to make them better, to prompt them to win elections, and the host keeps saying that, only the feeling I have is he is not sincere, the hypothesis I work with is that the man got too rich, powerful, successful and thus he entered a downfall
The decay set in, he sympathizes with the rich (mind you, I am not poor, all things considered, we belong to the upper middle class here, if not more than that) embraces the vile Musk (and others, like gruesome De Santis)and belongs ‘up to a point’ to the other camp, however much he denies that, playing the balanced sage
On a more ineffable level, there is something (much more, an increasing part maybe) about Maher that is really unlikable, he feels he is so much better than others, and when he mocks the stupidity of various targets, it is often amusing, but that does not make him the philosopher king, he is really quite average
The thing to know would be how much he adds to the show, and what percentage is the work of the writers, for his take on the world, however correct on many, maybe the vital issues, such as Climate Change, he does take horrendous positions…another was the boast about using his private plane (fuck you BM, by the way, for your display of ‘honesty’, which we can read as ‘he does not really care, he is so god damn special’) for travel, along the lines of ‘he has it, can afford it, even to just brag about it and there you go’…selfish sob
Now for a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/02/u... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Heritage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
‚parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus’
“From Monty Python - The Meaning of Life...Well, it's nothing very special...Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”
December 11, 2015
Published in 2005, "New Rules" is a collection of monologues, essays, and Maher's new rules for life that satirize popular culture, politics, and our idiotic ways of life. Maher's wit and incisiveness target the key issues of the day including the Bush presidency, the Abu Ghraib scandal, 9/11, the Iraq War, and of course, Britney Spears. Each joke and insightful comment from Maher serves as a keen observation of the issues of the day. Also strewn throughout are commentaries which aim to improve our world that are brilliant and humanistic.
Maher's HBO show "Real Time With Bill Maher" premiered in 2003. This book contains material until 2005. A lot has happened in the last decade. I was in high school when these events happened. Most of the references and events I had completely forgotten about. Why should I still remember Scott Peterson? Other references were so dated that I had to do supplemental research. A funny book at time, but some of the material can be stale.
Here are some highlights:
-"George Buch must stop saying he owes all his success to Laura. George Bush owes all his success to his daddy, his daddy's friends, trust funds, legacy admissions, the National Guard, the Supreme Court, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and AA."
-"Bob Dylan must stop denying he was the voice of a generation. Bob, that's not something you get to decide. It's fate and you were it. If your generation could actually choose a voice, don't you think they'd have picked one better than yours?"
-"The big oil companies must stop running ads telling us how much they're doing for the environment. We get it: You rape the earth, but you cuddle afterwards. If you folks at Shell really are serious about cleaning something up, start with your restrooms."
Maher's HBO show "Real Time With Bill Maher" premiered in 2003. This book contains material until 2005. A lot has happened in the last decade. I was in high school when these events happened. Most of the references and events I had completely forgotten about. Why should I still remember Scott Peterson? Other references were so dated that I had to do supplemental research. A funny book at time, but some of the material can be stale.
Here are some highlights:
-"George Buch must stop saying he owes all his success to Laura. George Bush owes all his success to his daddy, his daddy's friends, trust funds, legacy admissions, the National Guard, the Supreme Court, Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and AA."
-"Bob Dylan must stop denying he was the voice of a generation. Bob, that's not something you get to decide. It's fate and you were it. If your generation could actually choose a voice, don't you think they'd have picked one better than yours?"
-"The big oil companies must stop running ads telling us how much they're doing for the environment. We get it: You rape the earth, but you cuddle afterwards. If you folks at Shell really are serious about cleaning something up, start with your restrooms."
February 7, 2015
I read The New New Rules: A Funny Look At How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass before I read this book. Honestly, I'm glad because this book, while funny, was not as enjoyable as its followup.
This book consists mostly of the shorter New Rules, like you find in the segment of the same name that airs toward the end of Real Time with Bill Maher. There are also essays in this one. Both the essays and the shorter jokes would have probably been more appealing had I read them shortly after the book came up. Since it's been 8 years since the events that inspired the newest jokes in the book, those jokes weren't quite as funny. I'm sure that they would have probably had me rolling over with laughter at the time, though.
Of course, the jokes are mainly about George W. Bush and his administration, but there are also jokes about people of more liberal leanings. And there are jokes that some might feel are inappropriate, but that might make them all-the-more necessary. Maher is unapologetic as he makes quips that most people wouldn't dare to make because he isn't afraid of making them. His brash sense of humor isn't for everyone, so if you don't like the guy and/or is his style going in, then this book probably isn't for you.
This book consists mostly of the shorter New Rules, like you find in the segment of the same name that airs toward the end of Real Time with Bill Maher. There are also essays in this one. Both the essays and the shorter jokes would have probably been more appealing had I read them shortly after the book came up. Since it's been 8 years since the events that inspired the newest jokes in the book, those jokes weren't quite as funny. I'm sure that they would have probably had me rolling over with laughter at the time, though.
Of course, the jokes are mainly about George W. Bush and his administration, but there are also jokes about people of more liberal leanings. And there are jokes that some might feel are inappropriate, but that might make them all-the-more necessary. Maher is unapologetic as he makes quips that most people wouldn't dare to make because he isn't afraid of making them. His brash sense of humor isn't for everyone, so if you don't like the guy and/or is his style going in, then this book probably isn't for you.
October 19, 2009
I love Bill Maher.
I love him enough that, despite its flaws, I still managed to enjoy this book.
It came out a few years ago and is therefore a bit dated, so a lot of the pop culture references are outdated (as is the contention that Democrats can't win elections). But whereas recently, Bill has been a fighter for an honest kind of truth about our society and its problems, here he more complains and kvetches for 200 pages. He's also a little high on the bitter/sexist/intolerant meter. I can understand bitterness after losing the presidential election in 2004, and I'd imagine it'd be worse if you lost your job moderating "Politically Incorrect" on ABC because of a mild terrorism joke. But the rest of it just came across as grating.
That would only bring it down to 4 stars for me, but then came the half-assed jokes with easy punchlines. I'm not sure, maybe this'd be true even with his current amazing monologues (if you were to transcribe them), but he too often went for the easy "take my wife, please" kind of stupid joke more often than I expected, given how smart his observations are.
But recommended for a flip-through, he's usually pretty spot-on on most of his observations. (Except, in my humble opinion, his view on monogamous, respectful behavior.)
I love him enough that, despite its flaws, I still managed to enjoy this book.
It came out a few years ago and is therefore a bit dated, so a lot of the pop culture references are outdated (as is the contention that Democrats can't win elections). But whereas recently, Bill has been a fighter for an honest kind of truth about our society and its problems, here he more complains and kvetches for 200 pages. He's also a little high on the bitter/sexist/intolerant meter. I can understand bitterness after losing the presidential election in 2004, and I'd imagine it'd be worse if you lost your job moderating "Politically Incorrect" on ABC because of a mild terrorism joke. But the rest of it just came across as grating.
That would only bring it down to 4 stars for me, but then came the half-assed jokes with easy punchlines. I'm not sure, maybe this'd be true even with his current amazing monologues (if you were to transcribe them), but he too often went for the easy "take my wife, please" kind of stupid joke more often than I expected, given how smart his observations are.
But recommended for a flip-through, he's usually pretty spot-on on most of his observations. (Except, in my humble opinion, his view on monogamous, respectful behavior.)
June 29, 2014
I like Bill Maher but to me this book was just okay. Some parts were really funny, though mostly laugh in your head funny. But some parts I found offensive/insensitive even for Mr. Maher. His commentary on the Bush administration is still spot on nearly 10 years later. Also loved his comments about bat-shit crazy Coulter. But what bothered me were the rape jokes, mocking of women who suffer miscarriages, and comments on breastfeeding in public (Bill I like you a lot but get over yourself. Babies have to eat too).
For the first time in my life I finished a book in less than an afternoon, which was a pleasant surprise. Despite the sporadic issues, overall the book was okay bordering good.
For the first time in my life I finished a book in less than an afternoon, which was a pleasant surprise. Despite the sporadic issues, overall the book was okay bordering good.
September 10, 2007
Maher is a funny, funny man. Having said that, he frequently makes statements that I totally disagree with or even find rather offensive.
Why is he so very down on kids? Is it an easy but absurd generalization that all parents are suckers who spoil the crap out of their jaded, repellent offspring. Okay, maybe in L.A., but not everywhere. And I sincerely do not want to know what kind of nightmare marrige-from-hell Maher's parents must have had for him to be so utterly horrified by the very idea of matrimony. Yikes.
Why is he so very down on kids? Is it an easy but absurd generalization that all parents are suckers who spoil the crap out of their jaded, repellent offspring. Okay, maybe in L.A., but not everywhere. And I sincerely do not want to know what kind of nightmare marrige-from-hell Maher's parents must have had for him to be so utterly horrified by the very idea of matrimony. Yikes.
March 23, 2016
I like Bill Maher most of the time but a lot of the rants in this book are dated quite quickly. I know I'm reading it years after its publication which is probably why some of the jokes/observations seemed so well-tread, but the book became a bit irrelevant a bit too fast for me.
I like that he speaks his mind so openly but for a man who mocks frat boys so much, it often seems like he embraces the grown-up frat boy mentality pretty whole-heartedly. I upped my rating to a three because his support of gays and lesbians is pretty awesome and pretty well-written.
I like that he speaks his mind so openly but for a man who mocks frat boys so much, it often seems like he embraces the grown-up frat boy mentality pretty whole-heartedly. I upped my rating to a three because his support of gays and lesbians is pretty awesome and pretty well-written.
January 23, 2016
Those familiar with the HBO show Real Time already know about Bill Maher's funny and biting collection of "New Rules". For those who don't of for those who want a written sampling of the material, the text New Rules collects some of Maher's best "New Rules" rants and also includes new material, including a few longer form editorials.
Like most texts collecting funny short-bit stand up material, New Rules is a very fast (too fast) and fun read.
Like most texts collecting funny short-bit stand up material, New Rules is a very fast (too fast) and fun read.
February 26, 2016
Primarily a collection of Bill Maher 1 and 2 and 3 liners with a few longer observations thrown in. No real structure unfortunately. As you make your way through this book, you can hear Bill Maher's voice reading these bits. Especially if you listen to the audio version (which he narrates). If you think those last 2 sentences are funny, you'll probably enjoy this book because that's the structure of much of Maher's humor.
August 7, 2009
I needed something light & funny to read after slowly trudging through some of my other reading material. This took less than a day to get through and had me laughing hysterically at times (the 1st page for sure). I like Bill Maher's sarcastic, dry sense of common sense humor probably because it is exactly like mine.
July 29, 2016
Audio was read by Mahr. It was funny, but just a rehash of the New Rules blurbs from the show. Since I listened to this 9 years after publication, clearly some of the jokes were dated. It was also quite short. This was fine since I borrowed the audio book from the library, but disappointing if money had been exchanged.
July 16, 2014
Originally released in '05, it's still hard to believe Americans had voted for Bush for a second time, in part, due to their opposition to marriage equality. Yet here is Bill reaming on them for being jackasses when it was not popular to say this. This is vintage Maher and is as applicable today as when it came out.
May 10, 2016
Although this book was published in 2005, it's amazing how many of Bill Maher's observations still ring true. Only the names of the politicians and the technology has changed. His skill at pointing out America's hypocrisies and foibles has kept him a household name for years. As Bill says, "Why would you put a McDonald's in a hospital?"
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