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 enlarge | Creators: Sarah Vowell, Conan O'brien, Seth Green, Stephen Colbert
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy New: $9.53
You Save: $16.47 (63%)
New (3) Used (2) from $9.53
Rating:  65 reviews
Sales Rank: 979452
Format: Unabridged, Audiobook
Media: Audio Cassette
Edition: unabridged
Number Of Items: 4
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 4 x 1.1
ISBN: 074353347X
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9780743533478
ASIN: 074353347X
Publication Date: October 1, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New; New in shrinkwrap!! Will be shipped promptly!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Partly Cloudy, Always Wonderful November 9, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sarah Vowell is my favorite essayist writing today. Her style is her own - quirky and by turns heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud. The topics in 'Patriot' range all over, unlike my favorite of her books (Assassination Vacation), but this makes it a good introduction to her: you'll probably find at least one piece you agree with.
Witty, uplifting, and educational collection of essays from a proud American citizen October 13, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Sarah Vowell is a patriot. She might be left-leaning in her political views and voting trends, but first and foremost, she's a history buff and a lover of America. Her essay collection focuses on the political and cultural issues surround the end of the Clinton presidency and the first years of George W. Bush's tenure in office. She explores a wide range of topics, but without any anger or vituperation against people on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
The shining star in this collection is her ruminations on presidential libraries. Vowell writes an open letter to President Clinton about the her ideas for his presidential library. She sets out to visit the Kennedy, Eisenhower, Nixon, and Johnson libraries to examine their treatment each man. Johnson directed his curator that no one had managed to save his reputation in the last twenty years, so there was no need to sweep any of his presidential controversies under the rug. Nixon, on the other hand, used his library to present his side of political scandals and the dark side of political witch hunts. Eisenhower's library focuses almost entirely on his military career, while the JFK library shows videos, home videos, and pictures of the cultural icon. Vowell recommends that Clinton celebrate his charisma like JFK, openly address issues like Johnson, and remember that presidential adversaries will seek out scandal wherever they can find it.
Vowell also gives the reader (or listener, if you pick this up in its outstanding, musically accompanied audiobook form) an inside look at a serious media misquote of presidential candidate Al Gore. While speaking at Concord High School, Al Gore told students that about environmental hearings he held on sites like Love Canal. A Washington Post reporter left out a key word and the context of his statement, and soon Gore was lambasted in the media for claiming to discover Love Canal. The students were outraged at this mistrial in the press. Their teacher was dismayed that a formative day for many students was tainted by controversy and late-night television jokes. Vowell, a liberal, explores the issue fully, and is willing to grant the harried report a pass for a small mis-quote during her 20-hour day. Vowell also ponders our propensity to report only on negatives and controversy; no one writes about the powerful and moving statements that get made in speeches and debates.
Other essays include a visit to the underground lunchroom in Carlsbad Caverns, ruminations on Canada's "modestly spectacular" rise to sovereignty from the British, a visit to the theme park that is Salem, MA, explorations of great moments in American history, and personal pieces about family, tourism, outdoorsiness, and Montana. This is a funny, uplifting, and educational collection of essays from a proud American citizen.
Mostly Sunny Writer, Crueler Tomorrow. June 12, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
If I could choose a mind to replace the one I've lost, I'd pick Sarah Vowell's. Vowell is at once witty, silly, and insightful. And as if these fine qualities weren't enough, Vowell is also a really big nerd--well, not a Star Trek nerd or a Dungeons and Dragons nerd or anything super cool, but she's a History/Civics nerd, and that's certainly nothing to stick your nose up at . . . unless, you know, . . . you're trying to keep your taped-together glasses from falling off.
Vowell's nerdiness manifests itself in her desire to spend her vacations going to historical sites where she can gain insights to life in America. I share this passion with her. For instance, I recently had an epiphany at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library. Looking at my own reflection in the actual mirror in which Lincoln looked at his reflection everyday when shaving, I suddenly realized that no matter what trials and tribulations we may have suffered thus far in the twenty-first century, I am much better looking than Old Abe. Life is good.
Vowell's insights may not be as blindingly brilliant as mine, but whether she's extolling Lincoln's humanity, bemoaning the nerdiness that lost Gore the election, or weighing the relative merits of lunchrooms in caves, her essays are interesting and worthwhile and often rolling-in-the-bookstore-aisles hilarious. I give this book a 5 Pocket Protector rating.
What a great book. June 7, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the first work of Vowell's I've read, but I think I'm addicted.
Perhaps it is only because I aspire to be like her that I enjoyed this book so much - she's intelligent, witty, and a self-named "history buff" and "nerd." This series of essays is amazingly thought-provoking, and I loved it thoroughly. Vowell critically and wryly evaluates society with astonishing insight.
Overall, brilliant, brilliant book. I now must go read everything else she's ever written.
 great read, engaging February 26, 2006
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I enjoyed Sarah Vowell's writing style, she portrays her odd interest in our history as normal and amusing, making you think twice about how you originally percieved history.
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