New Rules for a New America

In the last decade there has been a significant rise in the amount of people who pay attention to politics. Whether they religiously follow up on all the speeches and addresses, or switch to the news to simply "keep up", current affairs and issues are in the spotlight. All this attention though, has also given people a view of what America is really like. The backwards society, questionable decisions, and unhinged lives that make up this country are even more apparent as well. But with all these serious issues, someone has to stand up and just crack some jokes to make us all feel better about them right? Of course, and no one does it better than Bill Maher in his bookNew Rules. Maher pokes fun at everyone from Saddam Hussein andall the suits in Washington, to infamous celebrities and the future generations of America, and by using facts side by side with hyperboles, understatements, and (of course) his famous wit,heboldly tells it like it is.New Rulesis a breath of fresh air compared to all the other news sources polluting our minds.[MSOffice1]

First andforemost, this book is not designed for those who get offended easily. Bill Maher sarcasticallystates on his cover "...polite musings froma timid observer". Thatis your first clue at the type of sarcastic person he is. Those who know him will tell you that the last two things he can be are timid and polite. With a history of political stand up and an HBO show "Real Time with Bill Maher", the book is a collection of the New Rules segment off that show. New Rules is alsoMaher's humorous opinion on the current events in society. For the most part, it's a big book of political jokes, and that definitely makes for a good read. The text is arranged with the heading “New Rule” and a witty title above each of the rules. Most rules have a picture or two for added appeal, and emphasize on what exactly he is criticizing. For example, the rule titled “Center Old” is making fun of ‘80s celebrity Debbie Gibson’s appearance, and the controversy that “she posed for Playboy” although she is far too old and “flabby” to do so (31). Above the text is a picture of her in a belly top and mini-skirt, clearly evidence for the argument he is making. The book is also in chapters alphabetically, the first chapter being the letter “A”, the second “B” and so on. This structure further provides a sense that you’re reading a type of rulebook. It’s very different from other political science rhetoric and is, in its own way, comedic.[MSOffice2]

Although the book isn’t like other books, it still provides a lot of interesting facts on many current political issues. Overall, the message Bill Maher is conveying to his audience is that the America we know and love is just as screwed up as it seems. Not only that, but Maher also makes a point to point out things we see as “normal” that are really not. For example, Maher’s new rule, titled “Inky Dinky Don’t”, is his opinion on the newest craze of “tramp-stamps” (tattoos on the lower back of a person’s body). That opinion is very clear: “Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it, it doesn’t make you spiritual. Its right above the crack of your ass and it translates to “Beef with Broccoli.” The last time you did anything spiritual you were praying to God you weren’t pregnant.” (102).[MSOffice3]

As with any book, Maher’s tone is detectable[MSOffice4]. He is a comedian and his wit is what makes the book genius. His rule titled “Bulletin Board” states: “We don’t need a FOX ‘News Alert’ every time something explodes in Iraq. It’s a war – breaking news would be when stuff stops blowing up. Until then, we’ll assume Baghdad is just like Lindsay Lohan – getting bombed daily.” (22). This rule brings up two aspects of American media, the constant reporting of what’s going on in the Middle East, and it’s obsession with celebrities. Maher’s point in this is simply that news is news if we didn’t know it was going on, and he supports this idea with the argument “breaking news would be when stuff stops blowing up.” Just as we’re not surprised when we see in the tabloids that Lohan was out a party, we’re not surprised something blew up in Iraq.[MSOffice5]

Understatements are another tactic Maher puts to good use in this book. “Reign Check” is a newnew rule of Maher’s, near the end of his book, which says: “The next major destructive storm must be called Hurricane George. You earned it, buddy. Congratulations. Your presidency is officially Category 5 disaster” (235).[MSOffice6]Maher uses them to show his passion for the way he feels about things. As one can see by the quote, Maher thinks that George Bush's presidency did more damage than the hurricanes that have been recently hitting the US causing major damage. He takes both points of the news and brings them together to relay his idea.[MSOffice7]

Bill Maher wouldn't be Bill Maher if it wasn't for his wit. And although that is why a lot of people love him, it's also why many people hate him. His book is written to be like one giant collection of witty one liners or "zingers". All of the rules he has in his book have humor behind them, be it dark or cynical. The use of humor in his book appeals to many people. With all the seriousness in the issues he discusses it helps the audience grasp the truth by laughing at it. It's always been said that it's good to laugh at yourself, and Bill Maher's book certainly helps us laugh at ourselves as a whole. His humor is an emotional appeal, and a very effective one.[MSOffice8]

Overall, Maher's book is a refreshing perspective on the current issues in American news and politics.Through the use offacts side by side with hyperboles, understatements, and (of course) his famous wit,[MSOffice9]heboldly tells it like it is, and gets us to laugh about just how crazy our country is. Although in some parts, you feel like he's crossed the line, this book will for sure make you laugh till your sides hurt and tears are rolling down your cheeks.

References:

Maher, Bill. New Rules : Polite Musings from a Timid Observer. New York: Rodale P, Incorporated, 2006[MSOffice10].

[MSOffice1]Good thesis, though the argument of the work could be made more clear.

[MSOffice2]Who do you think he is targeting with this type of setup, and why?

Further, you could elaborate further on this issue of subverting political rhetoric with examples/comparisons.

[MSOffice3]How does this example relate to political issues? You should tell your audience why you chose this quote and how it measures with the book as a whole (what types of people does he criticize? What does that say about his opinion not just on how “normal” things really are not, but how he judges American behavior in general.

[MSOffice4]As with any book?

[MSOffice5]This needs further unpacking: how is he criticizing both viewers and reporters? Do you think he’s directly criticizing his reader, or his reader is supposed to find himself better than all of this?

[MSOffice6]How is this an understatement?

[MSOffice7]How so?

[MSOffice8]Like you said, this humor doesn’t work for everyone. You could discuss that more in-depth considering his target audience. It also seems like he is putting himself above all of these issues but including his reader as part of the problem. How does that work out?

[MSOffice9]You’re not supposed to literally repeat your thesis, but explain to your reader how you managed to prove what you offered in the introduction.

[MSOffice10]Grade = 143 – 20% = 114