Defending Your Dystopia: Albert Brooks Visits the Near-Future in His First Novel

nytimes.com:

In his feature films, Albert Brooks has traveled across the country (almost eventually) and to the afterlife, so for his first novel, there was only one place left for him to go: the future.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[JAL12]

11:43 PM on 07/20/2010

Albert is hilariously funny. When will someone (are you listening Albert?) put out all his TV appearances, everything from SNL to Carson to Letterman, on a DVD? It would be a million seller for sure. Heck, I'd buy a million copies and give one to all my friends. I don't HAVE a million friends but if I gave everyone this DVD, I sure would have then!

[Noisyguy]

01:38 PM on 07/20/2010

One theory in audio-dynamics regards noise as a simultaneous movement in all directions. The theory being that each individual direction is a cross section of a larger accumulative effect. This theory goes on to state that everything except for nothingness moves as part of the polywave. The way one measures the polywave is by comparing unconnected entities. That is by comparing the polywave (movement) to nothingness (stillness). If clocks indicate not a movement of time, but the metabolism of the person perceiving the clock in motion, then time would be a stationary void located in between the passing of events. And anti-time then as the velocity of metabolism.

[lostnacfgop]

01:52 AM on 07/18/2010

This should be a great read - even if it has a depressing aftertaste, Brooks' eye for satire and the mess we're hurtling toward make fertile ground for another piece of comedic genius. Pre-orders, anyone?

[EnPointe3]

12:08 PM on 07/18/2010

Satire is becoming a lost art. The audience is getting smaller.

[3dtrix]

12:13 PM on 07/18/2010

Not really - it's just getting harder to distinguish between the intentionally satirical and everyday behavior and speech...

[log cabin man]

05:24 PM on 07/19/2010

There's nothing funny about the arthritis those toes of yours are gonna feel someday if you don't come down on to your heels from time. to time. :)))

Lesson in Satire 101: The art of Milk and Cherrios

- Log Cabin Man

[Kmuzu]

09:41 PM on 07/17/2010

Albert Brooks' real name is Albert Einstein and his brother is Super Dave

[KillgoreTrout43]

05:39 PM on 07/17/2010

I like Brooks. He's a realist. Many people can't handle that.

[The Ghoul]

03:39 PM on 07/17/2010

Sounds like another dogged old fashioned mind that fears technology and looks at the young with nothing but contempt.

Just like the people he fought against in the 60's

[KillgoreTrout43]

05:34 PM on 07/17/2010

A little early in your judgement, no?

[3dtrix]

12:08 PM on 07/18/2010

Not even close...

[Ohioan4truth]

11:05 AM on 07/17/2010

_ _
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[Ohioan4truth]

11:04 AM on 07/17/2010

This does not compute.....

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[3dtrix]

12:14 PM on 07/18/2010

I like how you make everything so accessible...

[Ohioan4truth]

02:56 PM on 07/18/2010

This thread will not allow me to "line" them up to make my "robot" face!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...hiccup...waaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

"O O"
= | =
----0----

That one...

_______
(O O)

0

Or this one, either!

[Ohioan4truth]

02:57 PM on 07/18/2010

"A" for effort?

[jws2346]

10:06 AM on 07/17/2010

Great author and film maker. I've only got one complaint, not enough 8" x 10" glossy photo's in the book? (only jivin' aboot the pics)

[Mike McDonough]

09:13 AM on 07/17/2010

"...leading to a nation so hamstrung by entitlements and debt that its only way out are solutions heretofore unthinkable."

Just from this statement I can tell this book is going to be absolutely terrible.

[American In Chicago]

10:25 AM on 07/17/2010

"solutions heretofore unthinkable."

Perhaps backing off a bit on our military dominance overkill and cutting the defense budget?

Perhaps a slight return to higher marginal tax rates for the wealthy elite?

2030? Hell these 'unthinkable' solutions would go a long way towards solving our 2010 problems.

America is a great and powerful country. We will not need to send old people out on ice floes. We can ensure our economic recovery and solve the jobless crisis. We have tremendous resources of wealth, talent and energy in this country. The problem is though, talent and energy need some wealth to get rolling.

Some people are hoarding that wealth. Fortunately they are not doing to good a job of hiding it all. Have a look:

http://www.faireconomy.org/issues/growing_divide?gclid=CKrAntfc8qICFd8B5wodeXDehg

Is Albert Brooks publishing a Novel in support of the Neoliberal agenda? I find it far more likely that the NY Times would mis-represent a novel by Albert Brooks as an argument for debt and entitlement slashing.

The need for immediate deficit reduction is this summer's big lie. And just like '02's Weapons of Mass Destruction, you can expect The New York Times to suspend effective analysis and criticism.

We are facing Friedmanite, Shock Doctrine moves to grab our Social Security Fund, our Public Resources, our Future and our Liberty.

You can expect the Times and the rest of the media establishment to be there to Manufacture Consent once again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_Consent

[ThruSpaceAndTime]

02:50 PM on 07/17/2010

Word (or agreed).


"You can expect the Times and the rest of the media establishment to be there to Manufacture Consent once again."

"They can tell the lie so well that it becomes the truth."

Ralph Ellison only wrote one novel. He covered all subjects in that novel, there was no need for more.

[KillgoreTrout43]

05:37 PM on 07/17/2010

Jeebus, lighten up. Brooks is a comedian. I'm quite sure the book will be highly satirical. And the way we're going, the next 20 years doesn't look all that promising.

[EnPointe3]

12:03 PM on 07/18/2010

You're joking... You judge all books by one statement?

[SangZe]

03:45 PM on 07/16/2010

Vacuous.