Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them

Al Franken

Not heard of the author before, but then not heard of most of his "liars" either (mostly right-wing American crazies) and that doesn't detract from enjoying the book. It's impossible not to read this book (or review it) without comparing Al Franken with Michael Moore. I'm a fan of Michael Moore but the last book of his I read was a mixed bag. Al Franken just seems to be having more fun. To be fair to Moore he is mostly going after less obvious and less entertaining targets.

Top of that list of targets is Fox News, a right-wing American news channel, and there's a brief but enjoyable chapter describing Fox's attempt to sue Franken (their case is laughably feeble and they lose spectacularly). This sort of episode gives the book a cartoon feel ("holy right-wing manipulation and distortion Batman") with our hero always winning through and, indeed, there is an entire chapter in cartoon form. But mostly Franken is sending himself up as much as his enemies.

Buy the updated version (my copy is stamped "With More Lies! And New Lying Liars" on the front) to hear how Franken's victims complained about the first edition because, frankly, it's twice as funny having them run onto his skewer all over again.