The Trouble with Nowadays: A Curmudgeon Strikes Back

by Cleveland Amory

Book Overview

A Crusty Curmudgeon and Charter Member of The Society to Put Things Back The Way They Were, bestselling author Cleveland Amory offers the last word on everything that has made a shambles out of modern... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877952388
• ISBN13: 9780877952381
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 263 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent! Satire at its finest.

This book is a brilliant, retrospective satire. Written in the late 70's, the book addresses not only many issues of it's day, but issues that have confounded man for centuries..or so Mr. Amory suggests. The book is clearly intended to be read with a light heart and is NOT politically correct, which makes it deliciously devilish and utterly inappropriate in every way possible. HELLO! That's why we love it! In a world overrun by PC-laden drivel, this is a true classic. As Twain stated "Sacred cows make the best hamburgers." Amory tackles subjects now considered (and at the time the book was written) taboo and does so without apology. Any suggestion of racism or light-headedness in this book clearly reflects a reader that JUST DOESN'T GET IT. And that's okay because THEY are the type of people the book pokes fun at--the hypersensitive, touchy-feely, overly-concerned-with offending-others folks and how they've contributed to the decline of civilization. If you love George Carlin or Lenny Bruce then you'll appreciate Cleveland Amory's brand of humor. He speaks of the unthinkable and does so with the same faux arrogance that's made Rush Limbaugh at household name...and a feared/hated one at that. Amory is as witty as Twain..but he takes things a step further where most authors dare not go. Democrats may not appreciate this book one bit as he is highly critical of them...and just about everyone else for that matter. A true Historian, Amory penned the former, historically-based Best Seller "The Proper Bostonians", which readers of this particular book may also enjoy. It's a remarkable commentary on society, as are his follow up works "The Last Resorts" and "Who Killed Society?" In his later years, a kinder, more-gentle Amory emerged which only proved to demonstrate through his charity and devotion to animal welfare, that despite he was a Curmudgeon, he was one with heart. He was the founder and President of "The Fund For Animals". I strongly recommend "The Cat Who Came For Christmas", "The Cat and The Curmudgeon" and "The Best Cat Ever"; these books tell of how a single cat changed his life and documents the amazing charitable works and animal rescues..as well as hilarious tales that will leave you with a tender heart and a delicious smile on your face. They are equally amusing and ensure us that the curmudgeon still lurks within! I've read this book several times and have shared it with quite a few people who have equally enjoyed it. You will laugh aloud...repeatedly. (It would do you well to keep a dictionary handy..lol) Remember, it's SATIRE people!

Trouble with Nowadays--Hilarious satire

I've read this book, or portions of it, several times. And I rarely get through even a paragraph without laughing out loud. It's outrageous, and hilarious. But be forewarned--this is satire, and satire is not for everyone. If you believe in political correctness, this book is NOT for you. (Case in point, chapter 3, "The Servant Problem".) Also, it was written in 1979, so some of the humor relating to mid-20th century politics will be lost on younger readers. Nevertheless, if you've ever had an older relative whose opinions you couldn't abide, but who made you laugh in spite of yourself, this book is for you.

For the inner grouch in us all

This collection of highly-amusing tirades about women, children, government, religion, foreign affairs and other topics will delight the politically-incorrect inner grouch in us all and make us admit that - when our grumpy uncle grumbles over the dinner table, in his letter to the editor or at the podium at City Hall - about the decline of society, he's basically right. Readers who are offended by Amory's caustic wit must be taking themselves and the world way too seriously.

An Invaluable Resource, Thorough, Thoughtful, Accurate

This is a delightful book and an invaluable resource to those many fellows who've looked up oe'r the past 20 years or more and wondered, "Sweet Mother of God, how did the country get into such a complete and chaotic mess!?"Mr. Amory has provided a guidepost, a light in the darkness by which to view the deplorable and entirely putird circumstance that presently passes for our society. And what does Mr. Amory do? Does he whine and snivel like so many truculant school girls or Gauloise ingesting graduate students littering the Etoille in between sopping up endless unemployment script and finding new ways to avoid bathing? No, sir! Mr. Amory maps out not only the How's, Why's, and Wherefore's, he has given us solutions. That's right, solutions to myriad problems and how to set them right again.Now, as the author himself will aver, there are many who will read this volume accidentally and be offended. And right there is one of your problems with nowadays - every man jack with sufficient means to read a Cracker Jax box is reading things not meant for him, or especially her, and running off at the mouth taking offense at every genuine remedy offered them. You'd think most of the country had been struck French!But never mind about that. The point is I don't need to go into this and get agitated anew. Mr. Amory nominated himself to carry the spear and he has carried it well and done the work for us. And well done do, I might add. So, the next time you do something as silly as read the New York Times or watch network news, throw it out, turn it off, and read this marvelous book!IRYHS