# P.J. O'Rourke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637 "2010-08-08T22:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/1 "2010-08-08T22:31:25Z")
I recently just finished re-reading “Parliment Of Whores” and was struck all over again by what a great book it was—one of the greatest political humor/satire screeds of all time, up there with the best of Hunter S Thompson or George Carlin… Anyone know what he is now up to? What was his take on GWB and Iraq? Any great books from the past few years I should check out? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/2 "2010-08-08T22:36:15Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Anyone know what he is now up to? He shows up frequently on _Real Time With Bill Maher_. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/3 "2010-08-08T23:00:21Z")
I highly recommend [Holidays In Hell](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802137016/pjorouronli-20?dev-t=mason-wrapper%26camp=2025%26link_code=xm2), which is my favorite of his books. P.J. is still writing lots. His web page is [here](http://pjorourkeonline.blogspot.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/4 "2010-08-08T23:02:31Z")
He’s a regular on NPR’s _Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me_ ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/5 "2010-08-09T01:40:37Z")
_Peace Kills_ was pretty funny (“We invaded Iraq because they have bad haircuts”). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/6 "2010-08-09T02:07:46Z")
He consider himself [a Libertarian now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PJ_O%27Rourke) - I think it had something to do with George W. Bush - and is [a fellow at the Cato Institute](http://www.cato.org/people/orourke.html). My favorite book of his is _Republican Party Reptile_. I disagree with him politically, but love reading him. He is the rare member of the Right who is actually funny. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/7 "2010-08-09T15:48:50Z")
I remember laughing a lot reading _Modern Manners_, but it’s full of 80’s references and I’m not sure how well they would age. _All the Trouble in the World_ was good too, but it’s pre-9/11. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/8 "2010-08-09T16:27:36Z")
He always sounds half in the bag on Wait, Wait. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/9 "2010-08-09T16:29:02Z")
His [Bachelor Home Companion](http://www.amazon.com/Bachelor-Home-Companion-Practical-Keeping/dp/0871136864/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2) has tons of useful advice. 😉 And is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/10 "2010-08-09T16:53:57Z")
He recently underwent treatment for anal cancer, and is now apparently cured. His cancer was a much less virulent type than Farrah Fawcett’s. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/11 "2010-08-09T16:59:41Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > He is the rare member of the Right who is actually funny. I think you just unfairly limiting it to _intentionally_ funny members of the right. P.J. himself said so on an episode of _Wait, Wait…_ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/12 "2010-08-09T17:21:03Z")
I loved his early stuff. I was a big fan of his writings when he edited NatLamp. And I loved his books through the end of the 20th century, even though I disagreed with him politically. However, I had the misfortune to read “CEO of the sofa” right after 9/11 and his humor in that book rang quite hollow as a result. And when he later wrote that with Bush and Cheney in office “the grownups were now in charge”, it was just too galling to enjoy him further. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/13 "2010-08-09T17:36:13Z")
He was the managing editor for National Lampoon when that was the funniest magazine on the entire planet. His “Foreigners Around the World” is one of the most politically incorrect and hilarious things I have ever read. Guaranteed offensive to every single member of the human race. Or so it was to me in the mid 1970’s. My taste has probably changed a bit over the course of time, and I believe P.J.'s taste has changed as well. After all, that was a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/14 "2010-08-09T18:35:18Z")
I have met P.J. O’Rourke twice. He’s one of my favorite humorists. He even signe my copy of “Parliment of Whores” with: “Here’s how to drive fast on drugs while getting your wing-wang squeezed and not spill a drop of your drink.” (The greatest title to a short story EVER.) Anyways, his writing isn’t as sharp as it used to be, but in October he is publishing “Don’t Vote, It Just Encourages the Bastards,” which I hope is a return to a Parliment-quality of a book. ---
**Author:** ![tilechick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@tilechick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tilechick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/15 "2010-08-09T18:35:38Z")
P.J.'s most recent book is Driving Like Crazy, which I loved, even though I am not a car nut at any level. Prior to that was P.J. writing about On The Wealth Of Nations by Adam Smith, which was also terrific. He’s got a new book coming out this fall: Don’t Vote, It Just Encourages The Bastards. I have a Google Alert on him and catch many of his TV spots. Hoping to hear him speak when he is promoting Don’t Vote … And I agree, Parliament of Whores is Brilliant. Should be required reading by all voters and politicians. Anne ---
**Author:** ![tilechick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@tilechick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tilechick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/16 "2010-08-09T18:40:07Z")
In reference to a previous comment, P.J. considers himself a small “l” libertarian and would only vote for a Libertarian candidate under special circumstances, ie, the candidate had a chance to win and that the vote wouldn’t help the Democrat candidate (both very unlikely) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/17 "2010-08-09T19:34:07Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > He consider himself [a Libertarian now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PJ_O%27Rourke) - I think it had something to do with George W. Bush - and is [a fellow at the Cato Institute](http://www.cato.org/people/orourke.html). > > My favorite book of his is _Republican Party Reptile_. I disagree with him politically, but love reading him. He is the rare member of the Right who is actually funny. As opposed to zero members of the Left who are funny. Or intelligent. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/18 "2010-08-09T20:23:31Z")
Thanks to all for the info—I have never had cable TV, and Parliment Of Whores is the only O’Rourke book that I have ever read (though I had a subscription to Rolling Stone in the early 1990’s) so I do not know much about his overall body of work… I will head to the used bookstore and see if I can pick up some more of his stuff. Matthew ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/19 "2010-08-10T14:53:03Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > > [@gaffa](#): > > > > He consider himself [a Libertarian now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PJ_O%27Rourke) - I think it had something to do with George W. Bush - and is [a fellow at the Cato Institute](http://www.cato.org/people/orourke.html). > > > > My favorite book of his is _Republican Party Reptile_. I disagree with him politically, but love reading him. He is the rare member of the Right who is actually funny. > > As opposed to zero members of the Left who are funny. Or intelligent. :rolleyes: Depart from me into the everlasting BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637/20 "2010-08-10T15:04:21Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > > [@gaffa](#): > > > > He consider himself [a Libertarian now](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PJ_O%27Rourke) - I think it had something to do with George W. Bush - and is [a fellow at the Cato Institute](http://www.cato.org/people/orourke.html). > > > > My favorite book of his is _Republican Party Reptile_. I disagree with him politically, but love reading him. He is the rare member of the Right who is actually funny. > > As opposed to zero members of the Left who are funny. Or intelligent. What a hateful little reply. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p-j-orourke/549637.md?page=2)