Talk:America (The Book)

The full title being rather unwieldy, let's stick with the abbreviated version that everybody knows. I also note that America (The Book) is what is used in the book to refer to itself. Stan 16:31, 16 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I agree. - MattTM | talk 20:52, Nov 16, 2004 (UTC)

I also agree. It's too many words. DolphinCompSci 19:38, 24 December 2005 (UTC)

I disagree, the full title has many subtle linguistic flares not conveyed by a truncated title--Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz 06:24, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

Umm, you spelled your name wrong there Jon... No "u" in "Stewart."  ;-) MyrddinEmrys

-You do know that Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz was Jon Stewart's name before he changed it, right? He didn't spell anything wrong.

I disagree with you. Even the truncated version has some humor to it, and all one must do to find more humor is click the link. Too many words in a headline is not good. Megan 06:47, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree. --Дрakюлa^Talk 14:36, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Dead link

The second link down, to the Reuters story, appears to be 404. Anyone have a good version of the story? Turnstep 22:19, Mar 21, 2005 (UTC)

Sean Penn Letter

The last page of my copy (pre election) includes an "open letter" to Sean Penn. Should this be added to the table of contents?

The 2004 Election Guide Thing

I got the book after the election, but would like to see what's in it. If it's on par with the rest, it'll be hillarious (of course). Does anyone know:

    a. Where could I find it?
    b. If this is even the right place to ask about it?
    c. And, if so, where should I look for it?

If anyone can answer any or all of these questions, please tell me at WAS 04:03, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

The election guide only appears in editions published before the election, IIRC.

What I did was go to a public library and read the last section. Libraries usually have first editions, which would include the election guide. I read the election guide, and while there were a few good bits in there, it was rather forgettable, so I'm not too upset that my copy doesn't have it.--68.58.76.109 (talk) 20:13, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

American Spectator review

Big negative review...can we add a link to a positive one to balance out? Thanos6 06:40, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Public schools

Any chance you might be able to replace "public schools" with something like "state schools"? The british will inevitably be confused as, to us, public schools are actually private fee paying schools for the wealthy rather than actually for the general public (I know, don't ask.....)? --Mcginnly | Natter 22:59, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

On the other hand, in America the terms "state school" and "government school" can have pejorative connotations. Like the saying goes, I guess. Two nations divided by a common language. 71.203.209.0 13:42, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

If you're interested, we call them public schools because, in theory, any child can attend regardless of aptitude - just so long as their parents can afford it. Pretty stupid if you ask me. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.152.211.85 (talk) 03:07, 19 December 2006 (UTC).

"Real Scholar"

I believe that Stanley K. Schultz is a real person and a legitimate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and rly did collaborate on the "Teacher's Edition". This wasn't just Jon Stewart making up a "real scholar" to back his views. Can anybody confirm or refute this? I just think it's important b/c the current article made it seem like that Mr. Schultz was a ficticious person concocted by Jon Stewart. - Angelwings

Dr. Schultz is indeed a "real scholar," as a Google search will show; he is a Professor Emeritus of History of UWM and did indeed collaborate on the "Teacher's Edition." For that matter, he did anything but "back" the views presented in the book. He consistenly refutes them with historical facts, but obviously understands that the book is meant to be satirical. Someone with a little more knowledge of the situation could surely edit the article to reflect this. Oh, and Angelwings, please sign your posts. TysK 23:22, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

I have to ask, though: why? Did The Daily Show seriously receive complaints about factual inaccuracies in the book? Do people really use this as an authoritative text on the American political system? I read through Schultz's commentary and it doesn't seem that helpful (or needed at all). The new introduction, like most of the rest of the book, can't really be trusted. There's a story here that's missing from the article. Brutannica 04:44, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

I believe the purpose of Dr. Schultz's contribution was so that there would be an incentive to purchase the paperback (Teacher's Edition) version of the book, other than naked photos of Roberts and Alito.--Bermy88 (talk) 20:18, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

Controversy

I removed the following, because none of it is cited, or even attributes the claims made. And most of it appears to be wikieditors opinions of one joke in the book Ashmoo (talk) 10:04, 24 July 2009 (UTC):

Some Asian-American organizations criticized the book for a section called the "Color By Numbers Senate" which claimed that every US senator as of 2004 was white. In fact, Asian-Americans Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii were both senators in 2004. In addition, Ben Campbell of Colorado, who is of Native American descent, was a senator until he retired in 2005. Historically, the Senate has had at least one non-white member every session since 1959, when Hiram Fong was elected as one of Hawaii's first two senators.

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Deleted Ed Helms contribution to book

I deleted the contribution to the book by Ed Helms where he basically says to would have some people executed if he was in political power. I deleted because in these times, there are statements like this from extremist groups.

However, I was confusing him with another "Daily Show" contributor who made disturbing, violent comments on the show. However, I explained my edit but do not know how to remove that part of the explanation of the edit. Starlighsky (talk) 19:22, 30 July 2023 (UTC)