Enriching your geography skills
Have you seen the Onion’s Our Dumb World: Atlas of the Planet Earth?
It is a politically incorrect, spoof atlas of the world. I read a review of it in the beginning of December, and just from the book excerpts in the article, I immediately knew I had to buy it.
In the book, nearly every country is featured on its own page (the
What makes the book so funny is that it is full of exaggerated stereotypes of what Americans think of other nations. The description of Italy really made me laugh:
Italy is known as one of the most racially intolerant nations in the world, where citizens base their opinions of other ethnicities on appearance and stereotypes alone. But then, what more do you expect from a bunch of greasy, filthy womanizers?
And so did that of India (but like I said, it is NOT politically correct):
Mired by rising poverty levels, polluted groundwater that threatens the lives of millions, and a rapidly crumbling infrastructure, the nation of India has every intention of addressing these problems just as soon as it finishes telling Midwesterners how to install Windows XP on their home computer.
I know you have to have a certain sense of humor to enjoy the book, but I really did. I actually bought a copy of it for my brother-in-law for Christmas, but when I couldn’t put it down even before I gave it to him, I knew I would have to buy my own copy as well.
For being a joke book, there is a ton of content. I cannot imagine how long it took the authors to make it all up, or at least discover of all those stereotypes. I am looking forward to buying my own copy soon, and tainting my mind just a little bit more.
I recommend it to anyone with a good sense of humor, especially if you love maps like I do!
Themocracy
That looks hilarious!! What a great gift idea. 🙂
Sounds like a good one! I’ll have to check it out.
must. buy. book.
I’m still cracking up over the excerpts you showed us!
that is hilarious!! i think that just made my list of things to buy!!!!
🙂
lol If I thought my brother would actually read, I’d buy that for him. Maybe I will anyway, I have no other ideas for his next birthday!
Before reading your excerpts, I was hoping it would be just like that. I will put that book on my list.
diane – I think you and E would like it 😉
Lisa – just as long as your son doesn’t try to reference it when he starts to learn geography 😉
Gina (Mannyed) – you can read it on that long train ride home…
CourtneyInControl – it will definitely make you laugh, that’s for sure
Jenniy – it has lots of photos, your brother may like that!
ajooja – I thought of you when I wrote this. The book fits in perfectly with your sense of humor!
I like the comment about Minnesota, “the land of ten-thousand lakes.”
Ooohhhhh! Must buy! Damn you! 😉
Steven – The people of Minnesota started counting and got stuck at 99, so they went to the highest number they had ever heard of – 10,000. I wish I could remember exactly what it said!
kapgar – it is worth it 😉 You won’t be disappointed!