Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway

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Overview

Understanding the urgent need for a deeply thoughtful, balanced book to explain our national political process, Dave Barry has not even come close. Though he himself has covered many campaigns, run for president several times, and run for cover at the rainy inauguration of George W. Bush (the man will spare nothing for his art), Barry has instead outdone himself.
Below the Beltway includes Barry's stirring account of how the United States was born, including his version of a properly written Declaration (When in the course of human events it behooves us, the people, not to ask "What can our country do for us, anyway?" but rather whether we have anything to fear except fear itself) and a revised Constitution (Section II: The House of Representatives shall be composed of people who own at least two dark suits and have not been indicted recently).
Dave also cracks the income-tax code and explains the growth(s) of government, congressional hearing difficulties, and the persistent rumors of the influence of capital in the Capitol. Among other civic contributions, his tour of Washington D.C. should end school class trips forever.

Selected Reviews

AVOID THIS BOOK

by Scott T
  • Book Rating: 0/5

Not his best work

by Todd
  • Book Rating: 3/5

More...

Read All 8

Reviews (8)

AVOID THIS BOOK

Written by Scott T on August 14th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 0/5

I couldn't even finsih the second disc. I've enjoyed other Barry books, but this one was just terrible. To say it' s not his best work is a gross understatement.

Not his best work

Written by Todd on July 4th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 3/5

As a big fan of Dave Barry, this book left me unimpressed. There were definitely some funny moments but no where near as many laugh out loud moments as I've grown to expect from his work. The book never really draws you in or keeps you interested and I found my mind wandering and having to concentrate to pay attention to the subject matter.

Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway

Written by Raven Okeefe on May 29th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 2/5

remember this name: Dick Hill. as much as i LOVE Dave Barry's deranged, goofy writing, i just flat couldn't listen to all of this book, because the narrator, Dick Hill, is jus atrocious! he reads like a high school sophomore doing his first attempt at "interpretive elocution." it's as though he feels you might not get it, so he has to give you constant verbal elbow-jabs to the ribs when a funny line is upon you (which is constantly): GET IT????? GET IT????? at first it was just annoying, but after awhile it drove me nuts. i sent the CDs back and found the book in a used book store. and it IS up to Dave's usual demented standard, by the way. if you enjoy his writing, read this one, DON'T listen to it!!!

Great Fun

Written by Anonymous on January 14th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Now I know which author inserted the great humor in Peter and the Star Catchers - I think I will become a Dave Barry fan. Same Genre as Jon Stewart but much more enjoyable presentation

not worth the time

Written by Anonymous on December 27th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 1/5

Very juvenile. . .

I am not making this up; Dave Barry is Hilarious!!

Written by Anonymous from Racine, WI on October 6th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Dave always makes me laugh. This one has A LOT of truth in it; some of the elements made me mad at America, but overall, he's the greatest. You will have a hard time NOT laughing it up!!

Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway

Written by Anonymous on September 7th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 5/5

This was a selection I made for my husband and me; but actually my 12 year old enjoyed it as much as we did. It is laugh out loud funny!

Funny, but Strained

Written by Mitch Goodrich on June 23rd, 2005

  • Book Rating: 3/5

Dave Barry's column is great, but book-length may be too much. There were several laugh-out-loud moments, but in general the humor started to seem strained early on. That might be partially because the narrator seemed to be trying REALLY HARD to convey the humor. One especially bright spot on the final disc, though: his parady of the 2000 election coverage had me laughing so hard I nearly drove off the road.

Selected Reviews

AVOID THIS BOOK

by Scott T
  • Book Rating: 0/5

Not his best work

by Todd
  • Book Rating: 3/5

More...

Read All 8

Author Details

Author Details

Barry, Dave

"Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Miami Herald, and the author of many bestsellers, including Dave Barry's Greatest Hits, Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys, and Dave Barry Turns 50, not to mention the trail-blazing first chapter to Naked Came the Manatee. He lives in Miami."