Give War a Chance by PJ O'Rourke
I was loaned a copy of this by an otherwise uninspiring and slightly twatty English teacher at the tender age of 12. In a whisker under 300 pages it changed my outlook on life completely.

Essentially O'Rourke (he turned up in some BA adds years ago but otherwise does not appear a great deal in Europe) in Rightish wing journo. The book is a collection of articles written in the period from the fall of the Berlin Wall through to Gulf War 1. The subject matter is secondary to the life lessons I gleaned from it.

Don't take anything seriously. A disaster is a disaster whether you put on a serious face or not. O'Rourke in this very tome notes that "Earnestness is stupidity sent to college." There is humour in any situation and as you are most likely boned anyway you might as well laugh at it.

That contrary to the enormous propaganda machine aimed at schools at the time (and probably to this day), it did seem to be possible to mix a little drug use with being a relatively respected member of society. I actually failed in this balance myself but it doesn't mean I assume you will too.

That sharp, well written prose is a magnificent thing. I love literature (save DH Lawrence who was and remains a twat) but I maintain the last paragraph of this book, describing flying over a Bedouin village at 8 feet in a Hercules is one of the finest committed to print.

And finally that nothing changes. The book is nearly 20 years old, yet the cast of Bush's, Ortega's, dour Russians, "special" relationship touting PM's and people who believe that in caring more that you do that the focus of their care will somehow get better, is virtually identical.

Length? A long flight or train journey ought to see you most of the way through.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Thu 15 May 2008, 16:54, 8 replies)

I like O"Rourke
He's like the antidote to... who's that beardy fat guy who hates Bush? Read both of them and you pretty much understand America.
(frankspencer, Thu 15 May 2008, 16:57, closed)

O'Rourke
subtitled "one mans struggle against tyranny, injustice and alcohol free beer"
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Thu 15 May 2008, 16:57, closed)

My list of books to read is growing at an alarming rate - i'll have to look at O'Rouke's stuff again
I read 'All the Trouble in the World' a long time ago which certainly changed my outlook on the world (it should be a compulsory read for every Geography student, scrap that every student.).

Not only does it open your eyes to the world around you but i recall one pant wettingly funny moment involving Tiger-Balm being rubbed in his eyes.

Those BA ads were a piss take though.
(i anglepoise, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:57, closed)

Consider
Holidays in Hell, too.

to paraphrase his view of France ".. sure, you can drink small cups of coffee sat outside on the pavement in Paris, but why this is somehow more civilised than sitting inside drinking large glasses of whisky I still can't fathom"
(loutre I've said too much, been too unkind, Thu 15 May 2008, 17:59, closed)

i like his essay
on driving pickups!

Also the i think "how to get your wing wang squeezed while driving and not spill your cocktail" or something!
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 15 May 2008, 18:40, closed)

I own all of them as far as I know
But GWAC is the one that actually changed my outlook on life and is the work of his I would encourage others to read.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Thu 15 May 2008, 21:39, closed)

D.H. Lawrence
I hated D.H. Lawrence's writings. Reading his stuff made me feel ill.
(aeon chicken Like the Millenium Falcon, only slower and noisier, Fri 16 May 2008, 0:24, closed)

...
I have a love-hate thing with PJ o'R. Politically, he's the wrong colour for me. But - dammit - he's fabulously witty, erudite and articulate.

Bastard.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 19 May 2008, 12:10, closed)