The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audiobook)

A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction

By: The Writers of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart

Narrated by: Jon Stewart

Length: 3 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Jon Stewart, host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show, and his coterie of patriots deliver a hilarious look at American government.

Termed a "political king-maker" by Newsweek, and "the Dan Rather of infotainment" by Vanity Fair, Jon Stewart, along with the writers of The Daily Show, combines his riotous wit and razor-sharp insight in this hilarious book.

American-style democracy is the world's most beloved form of government, which explains why so many other nations are eager for us to impose it on them. But what is American democracy?

In America (The Audiobook), Jon Stewart and The Daily Show writing staff offer their insights into our unique system of government, dissecting its institutions, explaining its history and processes, and exploring the reasons why concepts like "one man, one vote", "government by the people", and "every vote counts" have become such popular urban myths.

Among the topics:

Ancient Rome: The First Republicans

The Founding Fathers: Young, Gifted, and White

The President: King of Democracy

The Supreme Court: 18 Legs, Four Tits, One Mission

Running for Office: What Are You Thinking?

The Media: Can It Be Stopped?

The Future of Democracy: The Constitutional Robocracy and You!

This program contains explicit language.

(P)2004 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Humor, 2005
• Quill Award Winner, Audiobooks, 2005
• Grammy Award Winner, Best Comedy Album, 2005

"Cheeky, irreverent, and playfully ingenuous....This humorous sendup of American politics never fails to entertain, poke fun, and provoke thought." (Publishers Weekly)
"The devil's own comedic handiwork, a side-splitting guide to the abuses and absurdities built into our political processes and institutions....Sustained clever writing and a smart, durable premise....As with Mr. Stewart's priceless anchorman persona and his show's hawk-eyed editing for real news gaffes, there is enough truth here to make America almost as instructive as it is sly." (The New York Times)

Better not to be heard on a plane

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

All my (smart) friends should have this!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was hard not to laugh out loud on the plane.

Any additional comments?

If Stewart writes more...I've got to know.

Taking no contemporary hostages

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, this was total brain candy but it made some really intense satire. I was waiting in line in a government office listening to this on my iPod when I broke out laughing during the

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audiobook)?

I don't want to ruin any of the jokes, so I won't. There were too many. I loved his review of each of the branches of our Government, and the flashbacks to the discussions of our founding fathers.

What about Jon Stewart’s performance did you like?

He's just classic Jon Stewart. I'm glad he narrated it. Ed Helms and Stephen Colbert make cameos. If you their brand of humor, you won't be dissappointed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Or,

Any additional comments?

Just shut up and buy it. You know you want to or you wouldn't be reading this.

How was it? Well done!

It was every bit inane as I'd hoped, especially the part about being "so close to finishing this audiobook I can taste it..." Thanks guys.

Listening is just as good as the read

I have this book at home but really missed Jon Stewart while I was overseas. So I downloaded this book and was very glad I did. He and the rest of the Daily Show case narrarate it. Even though you cannot see all the funny pics and charts the book contains, Stewarts familiar vocal manerisms more than make up for it. I imagine this audiobook will be good by iteself, but you get another experience with the hardback. Buy them both.

Jon Stewart for President!!

How can you listen to the visuals?

I have this book in hardcover, and it is hilarious. If you care at all about the way the USA is run, and have a funny bone in your body, you will love this book. However, so much of the humor of this book are in graphs, tables, illustrations and charts -- i.e. visual communications. I don't own the audible version but I wonder how this would translate verbally?

America the book, the audio book.

Jon Stewart and company at their absolute best ever!! I've listened to this at least 10 times.

Runs hot and cold..but when it's hot...it's hot

Listening to this book, I alternated between fits of side-hurting laughter and periods when it was a little slow. I'd estimate 25% of the time I found it hilarious, 50% amusing and the remainder a bit inane. However the 25% where you are laughing until tears run down your face makes it well worth being patient when they are off a bit. Overall, well worth the purchase price. Just don't listen to this while you are driving, or you might run off the road.

This Ain't Your Father's History Book

Jon Stewart is the smartest voice in American media. If you like the show you'll love this book. It is a "fake" history/civics book (the same way his show is a "fake" news show. He spares no participants and takes no prisoners.
By the way, if you have never seen the show, or if you are from the right side of the political spectrum (and have no sense of humor), "No Fair!" giving this book a bad review. It's not for you. Buy something else.

Funny, despite the content...

Despite his obvious hatred of the country, Jon Stewart and company from the Daily Show deliver an, at times, fall-out-of-the-chair funny examination of American politics. If you can put out of your mind the obvious liberal/socialist bias and anger, the book is quite enjoyable. Not lost on me, was the irony of Stewart's attempt to dispute the allegation that the media is a left-leaning, Republican-hating institution, while delivering left-leaning, Republican-hating diatribe after diatribe.
I gave this three stars solely because of Stewart's ability to make you laugh. There is no question that he and his co-writers are very funny. Lost are opportunities to take what no doubt would have been funny shots at both political parties. Instead, his vicious wit is reserved for conservatives and Republicans.
I recommend listening to the book while trying to block out the normal reaction, which for most Americans would hopefully be to defend our country against this hilarious assault.

Funny and Smart

This is another example of a book that was written for the audio book format. You MUST listen to this one. Jon Stewart and the rest of the Daily Show cast do an awesome job of running though american history and keeping you laughing the whole time. Wether your a Democrat or Republican I am sure you will enjoy listening to this great audio book. It is just extremely smart and funny.