The Boomer Bible

By R.F. Laird

Book Overview

In the beginning there was the Holy Bible 2 Which was a very good book indeed, but so many things happened since the beginning, 3 That Maybe it was time for another bible, 4 So a punk from Philadelphia wrote a new one, 5 And so it is called The Boomer Bible , 6 So there. 7 And Its Past Testament tells the history of the world, including the Book of Greeks, Book of Brits, Book of Yanks, Book of Russkies, and all the other self-proclaimed Chosen Nations, 8 And people sticking each other with pointed sticks, and acting up, which is called civilization, 9 And also about religion and art and movies and literature, and TV, and so forth, which is why there are also the Books of Pnowlege, 10 Including Psongs, Psayings, and Psomethings, 11 Written just like the other Bible but without any big unpronounceable words, 12 So that you and I might truly understand it, 13 For a change. 14 And Its Present Testament tells about the coming of Harry, and The Way of Harry, 15 Who may be the messiah everybody has been waiting for, 16 Unless he really isn't, 17 Which is hard to say, 18 So there. 19 And there is also The Book of Harrier Brayer together with the Harrier Hymnal, 20 And another Testament too, 21 And Concordance, and a lenticular hand on the cover. 22 And It is not for the faint of heart, 23 Or the easily offended, 24 Or the priggish or the prudish, 25 But who cares, 26 Because neither was Candide, or Swift's A Modest Proposal, or Rabelais, or Lenny Bruce 28 Or all the other satires and satirists who felt the need to warn us when we have gone astray, 29 Which we have, 29 Which you'll know all about, 31 If you read your Boomer Bible , 32 Or there. Over 87,000 copies in print.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563050757
• ISBN13: 9781563050756
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 880 Pages
• Weight: 3.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.1" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Sairical Work

This is a beautiful book. I don't think anyone who's at all regligious will be able to see the humour in it, but I thought it was a riot. There's a little bit of scathing satire for almost everything that's ever happened in the world. And it's well done, and consistent.The book reads just like a bible; you can pick it up and start going from any arbitrary point. Or, you can read a whole book at a time.While it's an impressive work of satire, what kills me is the fact that there's a built-in cross-reference. Some pages have more than 50 cross references to other parts of the book! That must have taken a lot of time... and to show for that effort, I'm surprised the book isn't called "The Boomer Study Bible".This is exactly what satire should be: a mocking, scathing self-criticism.

Life changed

I first came across this book in juvenile detention. I was kept in there for truancy charges, and one boring day I hastened over to a not commonly visited area, the bookshelf. The fact it was thick stood out, any thick book must be important, so I thought at the time, and saw the front cover, not like any other book I'd seen, sat down, and read the introduction, which at the time I almost believed. I went on to read the histories, one of the most offensive, I'd ever read in a long time, full of racial stereotypes that I almost wanted to believe were untrue, but I could not find any evidence against the well established/proven statements. Then came the punk testament,Ways 34.5 We want to be more, not less than the dead. Ways 7.7-8 And they must've known something, More than a lie.Us 1 Are we all alone out here? Are we crazy and hopeless and doomed? We don't think so, And if you don't think so either, You are welcome to come with us.I stayed awake almost the entire night reading it, I resolved to make my life a lot more meaningful, I wrote a note on the inside cover to the next person that picked up the book: and then passed it onto someone who needed it when I was released. I went out and bought it, despite the fact I had no income. (Yes it's that good) I then followed the message of the punks of South Street (Yes, its still that good) and studied classical works, even going back and the Holy Bible normally collected dust at home. This book will change the way you think almost as much as the Holy bible would. But only `If you can manage to live up to it.' (Psayings 5A.45)In closing, this book is a satire, it lifts you up on your toes putting others down, then swiftly kicks your un-guarded rear by putting YOU down. One of the greatest books of all time, you don't have to agree with it or disagree, you don't have to hate or like it, just don't be apathetic towards it.

SomeOfTheMostBeautifulAndImportantWritingInEnglishHerein.

In this gorgeous book, R F Laird accomplishes many miracles, foremost among them an old man is lying on a gurney in a hospital doped up waiting to die and thinking back through his life and questioning his choices, his fate, his disappointments, and at one point his much addled mind grabs hold of first Jesus then Lincoln and makes a glorious amalgam of them in the torque of his heart's strings and the end of his rope and it is as beautiful as any passage written in English. This book was poorly marketed and its literary heights and cerebral depths and perceptual vistas are masked by the cover which is only in the most superficial and banal sense compatible with its content. Buy this book--it is the most important thing you can do if you care about rescuing a book that should never be forgotten from the jaws of potential (likely) obscurity.

Reading this book definitely makes you a better person.

My family picked this up years ago, from a random shelf of a random bookstore. It looked neat. Then we fought over it for years. We never saw another copy, and no one had heard of it. If it weren't for the Wall Street Journal quote on the back, I would have been quite willing to believe the Author's note, which claims the book was never published, and is moved by a secret society. I took it to college, and my brothers screamed. Until they found they could order it from the internet. I never go anywhere without it, and sleep with it near the bed. It makes great protection from the demons of cynicism, hopelessness, and uncaring. This is just about the most effective piece of literature I have ever read. And I read a lot. I guarantee it has something for you.

Best book ever. Laird is a genius

I read the Boomer Bible 5 years ago. At first I thought it was just a humor book. It's sold in the humor section of book stores. The book is indeed hilarious. But it's also a profound and frightening journey into our modern world. Virtually every subject from the beggining of time is touched upon and we learn from Laird's distinctive style of writing just how we got into this modern mess we're in. After reading the censored chapter (where some harrier has crossed out all the lines they don't want you to read-a very clever device), I felt profoundly depressed. I believed I was a harrier and that there was no hope. Laird's satire really hit home. But the punk testament pulled me right out of the myre and gave me new hope. Laird is a genius, the book is hilarious and brilliant. At first you hear of Harry and you are excited and amused by his teachings. You want to believe in the things he believes in. He speaks for you, but slowly you learn that holding on to those beliefs and not questioning them are where we've gone terribly wrong. When I started the book, I was indeed a Harrier, after reading it, I'm a punk with an axe to grind. I've bought at least 15 copies of this book as gifts for friends. I think it's one of the most importants book ever written. It should be read and studied by everyone.