The Truth (with Jokes)

By: Al Franken

Narrated by: Al Franken

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Al Franken's landmark best seller, Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them...a Fair and Balanced Look at the Right, was praised as a "bitterly funny assault" ( The New York Times) that sounded "with the moral clarity of an angel's trumpet" (Associated Press). Now, this master of political humor strikes again with a powerful and provocative message for all Americans. Al reveals the alarming story of how:

Bush (barely) beat Kerry with his campaign of "fear, smear, and queers", and then claimed a nonexistent mandate

Republicans decided that Terri Schiavo would make "a great political issue"

Conservatives sought to undermine Social Security by using a strategy borrowed from...Vladimir Lenin

Tom DeLay is just an absolute horror show

This is truly a book for everyone. If you were a Bush voter, Al wants to set aside partisan bitterness and talk about the better future Americans can build together for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. (Generations beyond that will have to fend for themselves.) But first, Al must show you how Republican leaders are, at this very moment, betraying your trust and quite possibly lighting a Cuban cigar with a burning American flag or a Bible.

If you're a liberal, this book is for you as well. Maybe even for you most of all. You will find evidence for what you already believe: that Al Franken is among America's finest prose stylists, and that the depravity of the Bush administration is only outmatched by the rot at the heart of the Republican Congress.

And finally, if you are a member of a future generation who has found this book in a pile of radioactive rubble, Al apologizes. Not because he didn't do his best to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons from rogue nations to non-state actors taking refuge in so-called "failed" states, but because his countrymen evidently failed to listen.

In any case, enjoy the book.

©2005 Al Franken (P)2005 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Franken and his research team return to what they do best: detailing allegations and accusations being spread by right-wing pundits and then debunking them point-by-point." ( Publishers Weekly)

The Truth Hurts!

I love my Senator and I l think his work is amazing for it's painful truth. I am always a big fan of the author narrating his own works, and this is no exception - Al is a terrific author and truly passionate when he reads his work. The only problem is, the truth hurts! It can get a bit depressing after a while so you may want to listen to it in small parts. Like "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" the reality of the work can be depressing, so pace yourself. But don't let my word of caution fool you - this is a must-listen, for anyone wondering "what the heck happened during those years?"

Great take on the Bush years & funny.

A no nonsense book about the horrendous lies the Bush administration told and kept on believing until the very end... even when everyone else knew it was all bulls**t. Oh and it's funny!

Al Franken the Genius?

Great listen. I truly enjoy Al's books and especially his narrations. I'd like to know when he developed the last chapter. Prescient?

truth

It had been a while since I had listen to Truth, it still holds up. Franken hits his jokes perfectly. I'd love to hear him read and write more political books

Are you nostalgic for 2004?

I love Al, but this book is dated. Unless you're the type who enjoys last week's newspaper, I can't recommend it.

Thanks for recommending this dated book Audible!

I didn't realize I wanted to spend 8 hours listening to a dated retelling of the 2004 election, but apparently Audible thought I did. Thanks for the recommendation! It was great rehashing recent politics and hearing jokes about obscure political figures I'd forgotten about or perhaps had never heard in the first place. I stopped listening after about an hour.

As Always, Franken is a Delight

I would recommend this to anyone, but it does bring back unpleasant memories of the Iraq War. Still, worth reading. I enjoyed his Senate book more.

The truth IS a joke

Can’t tell when he’s telling the truth or a complex joke. Frustrating, huh? Thought so.

Classic Franken

Classic Al Franken writing: a huge amount of stinging truth about about corrupt elected and appointed government officials and their oligarchs; and a large helping of political parody and pure Franken humor -- also stinging to those who are the target subjects.
He resigned from the Senate only days before Donald Trump was sworn in as president, and Franken published this book long before Trump ever entered politics, so Trump does not appear in this book; however, Franken's writing is chillingly prescient about the futures of politics, president, Republican party, and the author himself.
I rate this book a Must Read, and would be first to order a multi-volume 2022 or 2024 edition!

Al's pipe dream

I did enjoy most of this book but I have to say the end his predictions for the future just a little off. it is funny the grandkids are named Barack and Hillary too bad Al Franken couldn't see his own political demise. I hope he keeps biting and one way or another