Coyote V. Acme

I hate to be another person reviewing not the content of the book (which is a solid collection of comic pieces, though some have had short shelf lives), but here we are.The last section of the first piece and the first part of the second piece are missing in the order I purchased. They just run together. And this site makes it impossible to report an issue like this. Plus the publisher F,S&G did not seem to care about this glitch with one of their older titles.So don't buy this on Kindle. You won't get a complete book.

The book's title is also the title of the funniest included passage, which is an absolute gem. The idea of a product liability suit against Acme corporation in which a choice selection of Wile E. Coyote's numerous graphic encounters with faulty products are relayed in dry and verbose legalese that only enhances the humor value is pure genius. With the exception of those unfamiliar with Mr. Coyote or the concept of product liability suits (both common conditions in Japan), I have yet to encounter anyone who hasn't found that particular passage hilarious.Unfortunately, few of the other selections are as interesting or entertaining. Most strike me as an observant eccentric's failed lengthy inside jokes enjoyed by a party of one.Were "Coyote vs. Acme" not included, I'd give this 2 stars, perhaps 1. However, considering the low price of this book (I think I paid pennies for it used), it's certainly worth buying, if only for the title passage.

Ian Frazier is one funny guy. His "Shouts and Murmurs" column in the New Yorker is consistantly humorous. But he hit his stride with "Coyote V. Acme," a laugh-out-loud summation by Wily Coyote's lawyer explaining the physical and emotional grief his client has come to as a consequence of the Acme Company's continued product failures. If you've ever seen a Roadrunner cartoon (and who hasn't?), this story alone is worth the price of the book. But there's more, lots more, in this collection of short stories. It ain't Shakespeare, but then again when did Shakespeare make you laugh this hard? Macbeth doesn't count.

Made it about 10 pages in before I threw this book in the trash. Cannot believe anyone could finish this book

As most of the reviewers note, the title article is the best, and the only one I laughed out loud (for an embarrassingly long time) at, but he takes his creativity to places most people wouldn't and he makes them all pay off in one way or another. This is the 5th book of his I've read, and I will keep buying them as well as enjoying everything he writes for the New Yorker. It is probably more for fans, and you may find some of the others funnier, but don't hold that against this book.

As much as I have loved Frazier's other writing, this is a complete hodgepodge of unrelated essays that make no sense. Yes, the title piece is wonderful, but the others (all of them) are throwaways, the point of which in every case is almost impossible to discern, and are not funny in the least (no, not even a chuckle). Random, scotch-taped together claptrap. Don't waste your money. (My second star is only b/c of the title piece.)

Admire the author’s work, both fiction and reporting. Seller very accommodating.

22 short pieces. Mostly hilarious. A couple of them might have gone right over my head.

Unique insight into the mind of the writer