Our Dumb World

By: The Onion

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

To understand the news, the context of world geography and history is essential. That is why The Onion is publishing an audio world atlas: to help us. News that now makes no sense will now make sense; thus a new age of enlightenment. Our Dumb World contains news and historic facts from other nations, historic timelines for countries, and the earth broken down and described (from its molten core to the outermost sphere and the location of heaven), as well as demographic, economic, and other data about each country's people, industries, and habits.

Every country is categorized in a number of ways, including ethnic cleanliness, level of Bono activity, prop comedians per 1,000 live birds, yearly income in wide-screen televisions, the monkeys they got, where it sees itself in five years, average skin color, benefits of invading said country, and most annoying handicrafts. Framed with informative essays and written by the full Onion staff, Our Dumb World is the first original Onion audiobook in eight years: a gut-busting send-up in which no nation escapes unscathed.

©2007 The Onion, Inc (P)2007 Hachette Audio

Exaggerated Fun

From the moment I clicked play, I was hooked and didn't press stop until it was completed. This audio atlas takes a shred of truth about history and the world, stretches it like taffy, adds a generous amount of tongue-in-cheek humor and tops it off with no small amount of "just made it up". Every minute is riviting and entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anybody that comes within hearing/reading distance.

Hysterical in portions

I love pretty much everything The Onion makes including this book, but it has to be read in Portions. Its a great book to come back to every now and then but you get the feeling that they spent the biggest effort at the beginning of the book and maybe not so much at the end of it.
But definitely worth a read!!

Nuggets of humor

As a long time reader of "The Onion" I looked forward to this book and audio book with great anticipation. Like many things you believe will be great before you see them, this falls a bit short. When it's funny, it's oh so funny. I just wish it was funny more of the time.

Truly enjoyable

Great satire, had me laughing out loud. Highly recommended.

Very fun listen, actually found myself wishing I had read it to make it last longer.

Love it!

Seriously, you have to listen to this fantastic voiced stuff! Best three hours ever. Go! Now! Listen!

Look insane laughing out loud in public

Absolutely brilliant. Have had coworkers and people on street ask me what I'm listening to that is making me laugh so hard at times I'm CRYING! The very best of The Onion! Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of world history and/or geography will appreciate the humor regardless of political affiliation, social status, or ethnicity. I have owned this for almost 13 years, and I have never grown bored or tired of listening to it. I just wish they'd come out with a new edition.

Totally Unfunny

What disappointed you about Our Dumb World?

I was expecting at least a couple of laughs. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich was funnier. Apparently a dry delivery of moronic/sophomoric "jokes" is supposed to be funny. For example, when we got to the letter "L" , the narrator repeated the word "lonely" what seemed like forty times. Check, please! I'm outta here!

Crass

There are some funny portions at the start, but it quickly turns tasteless and offensive to most people.

Onion satire is great!

Where does Our Dumb World rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

Very funny to listen to an

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dr. Eustis, noted scholar.

What about the narrator???s performance did you like?

The funny sideways humor.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The section about Russia.

Any additional comments?

Not for children.

Truly laugh-out-loud funny

Granted, it's a little slight to use a full credit on, but if you're in need of some brilliantly written satire, Our Dumb World has it in spades. If you dig theonion.com, you'll appreciate the balance between high-minded wit and juvenile (but intelligently juvenile) low blows.