earlyandalone's review against another edition
5.0
The best thing about Saunders' nonfiction is the way you feel like he's talking to you, telling you a funny or sad or silly story about that time he went to Nepal, or the time he stalked the Mexican border with a bunch of right-wing vigilantes, or the time he was given a book by a nun that changed his worldview. His thoughts on literature and writing are illuminating and illustrative. I know I gush about Saunders far too much, but he just has a way of depicting our world and the people who live in it that makes us believe in our own humanity.
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
Several really good essays in this book. Something about Saunders really just clicks with me -- for example, upon reading his essay on Barthelme's "The School," I went back to my copy of B's Sixty Stories to revisit and found that it was the only story in that collection I had dog-eared. I didn't love all the essays in this book, but several really worked for me, and the letter from a dog (not precisely an essay) made me cackle when I first read it and cackle again when trying to keep a straight face while reading it aloud to my family later.
tevreads's review against another edition
4.0
The first non-fiction collection published by George Saunders, ‘The Brain-Dead Megaphone’ is of a high-quality you can expect from Saunders. With his deadpan humour and scathing observations, each chapter feels fresh and insightful, delivered in a uniquely Saunders way of open-mindedness and humour. From travelling around Abu Dhabi as a reporter to commenting on the state of consumerism, Saunders has shown once again why he is one of my all-time favourite authors.
dannymason_1's review against another edition
3.0
Found this to be a little uneven, the political essays, journalism and literary criticism were great but the attempts at humour fell flat.
booksaremysuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
I'm officially a George Saunders fan. Can't wait to read more of his work! He's the kind of writer that we should be grateful to have around.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Nate
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1186321__Sbraindead%20megaphone__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1186321__Sbraindead%20megaphone__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=pearl
sternjon's review against another edition
4.0
A modern day Vonnegut -- great stuff. His fiction is off the map brilliant (Pastoralia)
jm_donellan's review against another edition
5.0
Funny, articulate and insightful. The length and breadth of the subject matter in these essays/short pieces is fantastic. Saunders seems to be able to tackle any subject or tone with consumate skill. Right up there with the work of David Foster Wallace, in my opinion.
pinkbasil's review against another edition
5.0
Not all of the essays are 5-star but enough are to make this overall a really good book. In particular his essay about the Mexico/US border and the one about the Tibetan monk are excellent.