My Book Rundown: "The Serious Scale of Sarcasm: More Balanced Than a Drunken High-Heeled Clown On a Tight Rope" (2007)
Ever been on a date where your date pretended to figure skate on the carpet for two hours? Has a friend, date, or loved one ever confessed their love of mannequins to you? Want to know what the top ten post-presidential jobs are for George W. Bush? Ever wonder how Valentine's Day came to be, fictionally speaking? Wonder no more. All these questions will be answered, experiences will be shared, and then some, in The Serious Scale of Sarcasm: More Balanced Than a Drunken High-Heeled Clown on a Tight Rope. Craig Rozniecki, author of Seasons Come, People Grow: A Poetic Journey, goes a very different route in his second book, as he goes from vague, open to interpretation poetry to very blunt and in your face humor and analysis. Rozniecki makes fun of anything from commercials to politicians to celebrities to the Internet(s). All this is talked about and so much more in Rozniecki's second book, The Serious Scale of Sarcasm: More Balanced Than a Drunken High-Heeled Clown on a Tight Rope.
The book can be purchased at the following sites (and others... The ones I've listed are the cheapest I've found, with the first link being a way to view all of the sites where the book is sold):
http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=684&q=Craig+Rozniecki&btnG=Google+Search#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=v5v&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&source=hp&q=%22the+serious+scale+of+sarcasm+more+balanced+than+a+drunken+high+heeled+clown+on+a+tight+rope%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=fce33a84b0764b22&biw=1600&bih=684
Lulu: $12.64
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm-more-balanced-than-a-drunken-high-heeled-clown-on-a-tight-rope/903963
Amazon: $9.60 - $15.80
http://www.amazon.com/Serious-Scale-Sarcasm-Balanced-High-Heeled/dp/1430328029
iTunes: $4.49
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm/id444181441?mt=11
Downloadable version: $2.60
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm-more-balanced-than-a-drunken-high-heeled-clown-on-a-tight-rope/903965?productTrackingContext=search_results%2Fsearch_shelf%2Fcenter%2F2
The book received the following review:
"'6-stars!'
I must say that I've never read a book quite like this one, but that's a good thing in this case.
First off, one has to love the title. It's perhaps one of the longest titles I've ever seen and yet one that I can't forget.
I love how the book opens up, with these random and personal, yet very entertaining stories. From the time he was mistaken as his friend's sister to the time a cop pulled him over in the driveway to a couple of very strange dates, these stories are bound to make some scratch their heads, but will make the majority laugh whole-heartedly.
The book then dives into and out of different topic material, through short stories, sarcastic remarks, and/or footnoted research (the footnotes are rather humorous as well). While I didn't agree with everything he had to say, nothing that he wrote ever angered me at all. Even the portions where I may have disagreed with the author, he used such humor or language, that while I may not have agreed with his view, I enjoyed reading about it.
The best part of the book, in my opinion, is when Rozniecki dissects President Bush's slip-ups at the mic (AKA Bushisms) with his own little wisecracks. This part of the book brought me to tears on a few occasions, it was so funny.
The worst part, in my opinion, is when Rozniecki covers a few topics in the sports-world, but that's only because I know nothing about the topics. I'm sure that won't be the case for others out there.
Overall, the book was a very quick, interesting, and entertaining read. Much of it was very dry and funny and the serious portions of it were very interesting. He has a very fresh and unique way of looking at things. I give it 6-stars! Highly recommended!"
Contents
Introduction - Let Me Start By Saying...
Chapter 1 - Story Time
Carpet + Shoes + Boombox =
Ms. Norman Bates
The Driveway Adventure
Mistaken For a Woman
Crabby Old Men
The Girl Without a Clue
Chapter 2 - Bouncing Around
Born To Be...
What is "normal"?
The Nice Person's Dilemma
The Problem With "Liberal" Teachers
THPIDICBLN Complex
BMI
Narrowing the Scope to Our Own Liking
Nebraska Weather
False Dilemmas
Drama Kings and Queens
Euthanasia Theory
The Last Word
Give and Take
The Art of Exaggeration
Do You Think Like a Serial Killer?
American Arrogance (Ignorance)
The National Smokers' Convention
Nuts, Eh?
Why I'm Not a Bar Lover
The Random Know-It-All
The "Hey" Conversation
What Should Americans Really Fear?
Chapter 3 - Is It Dry in Here or Is It Just Me?
They'll be remembered for...
The Top Ten Things George W. Bush Could Say to Shock the Nation in His State of the Union Address
How to Lose Weight and Fast!
The Top Ten Things Guys Don't Want to Hear On a First Date
The Top Ten Ways President Bush Can Improve His Approval Ratings
They'd be fun to party with, wouldn't they? (Bush and Clinton)
Got E.D.?
Afraid of Being Alone?
The Top Ten Signs A Guy Is Whipped
Wouldn't it be funny if...?
The Top Ten Post-Presidential Jobs For George W. Bush
Chapter 4 - The Most Confusing Word in the English Language (Outside of "Nuculur" and "Subliminable" for some)
Controversial Marriage
Talk Talk Talky
Nice Guys vs. Bad Boys
Dennis Rodman Syndrome (DRS)
When is it considered cheating and when is it not?
Over an Ex?
I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T
Chapter 5 - You've Got Junk (as in mail)
To Blog or Not To Blog
Sympathy Blogs
Online Dating
Online Ambiguity
MySpace, YourSpace, We All Love MySpace (A Little Bit Too Much)
Junk Mail
Chapter 6 - Click It!
"Reality"
American Idol Study
Political Commercials
Survivor Based on Race
Chapter 7 - I Give It Two Eyes Open, A Brain Still Functioning and An Empty Popcorn Bag
Snakes On A Plane, Eh?
World Trade Center, The Movie
Chapter 8 - The Older I Get, The Louder It Gets
Lance Bass Comes Out
Chapter 9 - What's In The Game?
Madden Monopoly
Chapter 10 - Got Curling?
Is Andruw Jones a Future HOF'er?
Michael Vick's Odd Relationship With The Media
Never Have I Heard So Much Hype Based On The Pre-Season
#715
Retaliation in Baseball
D-Wade
Top Ten NFL Quarterbacks
World Series Home-Field Advantage
The Fantasy Sports Effect
College vs. Pro Football
Top Ten Most Exciting NFL Players
Chapter 11 - Adults Say The Darnedest Of Things!
"I am not an -ist!"
Bush Quote Commentary
A Saying I'm Sick Of...
"It was like... Oh my gosh!"
"America Haters"
"Things happen"
"They all sound the same!"
"It's All Mental!"
"A Game of Inches"
An(n)ti Coulter
John Bolton Is No Michael
Some People...
Newt Simply Being Newt
Chapter 12 - Pray For Me
Naming them "God" and "Devil" was quite clever
What kind of a name is Joseph Smith?
Should religion be allowed in school?
Chapter 13 - Read Their Lips, "We're full of...."
Being Liberal-ized
Tookie Williams
Feel Safer Now?
The Ghost of bin Laden
Immigration
Why the Fuss?
It's Now Official! We Speak English!
A Radical Democratic Idea
Was Al-Zarqawi A Myth?
The National Security Excuse
Chapter 14 - Celebrate With Madonna
War on What? Christmas?
Ten Ways to Improve Christmas
Who Invented Hallmark (Valentine's) Day?
References
Acknowledgments
About the Author
The book can be purchased at the following sites (and others... The ones I've listed are the cheapest I've found, with the first link being a way to view all of the sites where the book is sold):
http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1600&bih=684&q=Craig+Rozniecki&btnG=Google+Search#sclient=psy&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=v5v&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&source=hp&q=%22the+serious+scale+of+sarcasm+more+balanced+than+a+drunken+high+heeled+clown+on+a+tight+rope%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=fce33a84b0764b22&biw=1600&bih=684
Lulu: $12.64
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm-more-balanced-than-a-drunken-high-heeled-clown-on-a-tight-rope/903963
Amazon: $9.60 - $15.80
http://www.amazon.com/Serious-Scale-Sarcasm-Balanced-High-Heeled/dp/1430328029
iTunes: $4.49
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm/id444181441?mt=11
Downloadable version: $2.60
http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/the-serious-scale-of-sarcasm-more-balanced-than-a-drunken-high-heeled-clown-on-a-tight-rope/903965?productTrackingContext=search_results%2Fsearch_shelf%2Fcenter%2F2
The book received the following review:
"'6-stars!'
I must say that I've never read a book quite like this one, but that's a good thing in this case.
First off, one has to love the title. It's perhaps one of the longest titles I've ever seen and yet one that I can't forget.
I love how the book opens up, with these random and personal, yet very entertaining stories. From the time he was mistaken as his friend's sister to the time a cop pulled him over in the driveway to a couple of very strange dates, these stories are bound to make some scratch their heads, but will make the majority laugh whole-heartedly.
The book then dives into and out of different topic material, through short stories, sarcastic remarks, and/or footnoted research (the footnotes are rather humorous as well). While I didn't agree with everything he had to say, nothing that he wrote ever angered me at all. Even the portions where I may have disagreed with the author, he used such humor or language, that while I may not have agreed with his view, I enjoyed reading about it.
The best part of the book, in my opinion, is when Rozniecki dissects President Bush's slip-ups at the mic (AKA Bushisms) with his own little wisecracks. This part of the book brought me to tears on a few occasions, it was so funny.
The worst part, in my opinion, is when Rozniecki covers a few topics in the sports-world, but that's only because I know nothing about the topics. I'm sure that won't be the case for others out there.
Overall, the book was a very quick, interesting, and entertaining read. Much of it was very dry and funny and the serious portions of it were very interesting. He has a very fresh and unique way of looking at things. I give it 6-stars! Highly recommended!"
Contents
Introduction - Let Me Start By Saying...
Chapter 1 - Story Time
Carpet + Shoes + Boombox =
Ms. Norman Bates
The Driveway Adventure
Mistaken For a Woman
Crabby Old Men
The Girl Without a Clue
Chapter 2 - Bouncing Around
Born To Be...
What is "normal"?
The Nice Person's Dilemma
The Problem With "Liberal" Teachers
THPIDICBLN Complex
BMI
Narrowing the Scope to Our Own Liking
Nebraska Weather
False Dilemmas
Drama Kings and Queens
Euthanasia Theory
The Last Word
Give and Take
The Art of Exaggeration
Do You Think Like a Serial Killer?
American Arrogance (Ignorance)
The National Smokers' Convention
Nuts, Eh?
Why I'm Not a Bar Lover
The Random Know-It-All
The "Hey" Conversation
What Should Americans Really Fear?
Chapter 3 - Is It Dry in Here or Is It Just Me?
They'll be remembered for...
The Top Ten Things George W. Bush Could Say to Shock the Nation in His State of the Union Address
How to Lose Weight and Fast!
The Top Ten Things Guys Don't Want to Hear On a First Date
The Top Ten Ways President Bush Can Improve His Approval Ratings
They'd be fun to party with, wouldn't they? (Bush and Clinton)
Got E.D.?
Afraid of Being Alone?
The Top Ten Signs A Guy Is Whipped
Wouldn't it be funny if...?
The Top Ten Post-Presidential Jobs For George W. Bush
Chapter 4 - The Most Confusing Word in the English Language (Outside of "Nuculur" and "Subliminable" for some)
Controversial Marriage
Talk Talk Talky
Nice Guys vs. Bad Boys
Dennis Rodman Syndrome (DRS)
When is it considered cheating and when is it not?
Over an Ex?
I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T
Chapter 5 - You've Got Junk (as in mail)
To Blog or Not To Blog
Sympathy Blogs
Online Dating
Online Ambiguity
MySpace, YourSpace, We All Love MySpace (A Little Bit Too Much)
Junk Mail
Chapter 6 - Click It!
"Reality"
American Idol Study
Political Commercials
Survivor Based on Race
Chapter 7 - I Give It Two Eyes Open, A Brain Still Functioning and An Empty Popcorn Bag
Snakes On A Plane, Eh?
World Trade Center, The Movie
Chapter 8 - The Older I Get, The Louder It Gets
Lance Bass Comes Out
Chapter 9 - What's In The Game?
Madden Monopoly
Chapter 10 - Got Curling?
Is Andruw Jones a Future HOF'er?
Michael Vick's Odd Relationship With The Media
Never Have I Heard So Much Hype Based On The Pre-Season
#715
Retaliation in Baseball
D-Wade
Top Ten NFL Quarterbacks
World Series Home-Field Advantage
The Fantasy Sports Effect
College vs. Pro Football
Top Ten Most Exciting NFL Players
Chapter 11 - Adults Say The Darnedest Of Things!
"I am not an -ist!"
Bush Quote Commentary
A Saying I'm Sick Of...
"It was like... Oh my gosh!"
"America Haters"
"Things happen"
"They all sound the same!"
"It's All Mental!"
"A Game of Inches"
An(n)ti Coulter
John Bolton Is No Michael
Some People...
Newt Simply Being Newt
Chapter 12 - Pray For Me
Naming them "God" and "Devil" was quite clever
What kind of a name is Joseph Smith?
Should religion be allowed in school?
Chapter 13 - Read Their Lips, "We're full of...."
Being Liberal-ized
Tookie Williams
Feel Safer Now?
The Ghost of bin Laden
Immigration
Why the Fuss?
It's Now Official! We Speak English!
A Radical Democratic Idea
Was Al-Zarqawi A Myth?
The National Security Excuse
Chapter 14 - Celebrate With Madonna
War on What? Christmas?
Ten Ways to Improve Christmas
Who Invented Hallmark (Valentine's) Day?
References
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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