Here's a list of recommended political books and humor books looking at the lighter side of politics, including best-sellers by Stephen Colbert, Dave Barry, The Daily Show, The Onion, Bill Maher, and others. You may also be interested in the new books by About.com Political Humor Guide Daniel Kurtzman.
1. I Am America (And So Can You!)
By Stephen Colbert, 2007 – The celebrated host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report speaks truthiness to power in his hilarious debut book. Always controversial and outspoken, Colbert addresses why Hollywood is destroying America by inches, why evolution is a fraud, and why the elderly should be harnessed to millstones. You may not agree with everything he says, but at the very least, you'll understand that your differing opinion is wrong.
3. The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing
By Will Durst, 2008 - With the sacred cows of American politics practically begging for someone to puncture their pomposity, comedian Will Durst hits them in the funniest places. In "The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing," this equal-opportunity offender swats both partisan political piņatas from both sides of the spectrum upside their heads.
4. Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)
By Dave Barry, 2007 - Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry recaps the highlights and lowlights of the tumultuous years just past in this brilliantly funny new book. Covering events such as the 2000 Florida recount, Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq war, and Janet Jackson's exposed nipple, Barry gleefully exposes the absurdities of recent history in an entertaining volume that is sure to earn him a spot alongside Thucydides, Gibbon, Tuchman, and McCullough as one of the world's great historians.
5. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book)
By Jon Stewart and "The Daily Show" Staff, 2004 – Jon Stewart, host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "The Daily Show," and his coterie of patriots deliver a hilarious look at American government -- "a citizen's guide to democracy inaction." Every bit as funny as the show itself, the book offers insights into our unique system of government and explores the reasons why concepts like one man, one vote, government by the people, and every vote counts have become such popular urban myths. (Also available: The Teacher's Edition)
6. Our Dumb Century: 100 Years of Headlines from America's Finest News Source
By Scott Dikkers and the Staff of The Onion, 2007 – Look back and laugh at the dumbest 100 years on record — as reported in high satirical style of "The Onion," America's funniest news source. Features such headlines as "World's Largest Metaphor Hits Ice-Berg," "Kennedy Slain by CIA, Mafia, Castro, LBJ, Teamsters, Freemasons," and "New President Feels Nation's Pain, Breasts."
8. The Best Political Cartoons of the Year: 2008 Edition
Edited by Daryl Cagle and Brian Fairrington, 2007 – The creative minds behind the Professional Cartoonists Index have chosen more than 150 of the best cartoons world wide and compiled them all in this one, humorous and sometimes disturbing look-back at 2007. Covers events including the Iraq surge, Larry Craig's bathroom bust, the 2008 presidential race, loversick diaper astronauts, and more.












