Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)

Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)
G.P. Putnam's & Sons
$22.95, 208 pages

This book is a departure for newspaper funnyman Dave Barry. He has re-invented himself as a social and political commentator. Perhaps Barry has noticed the success of Andy Borowitz and others on these same areas. At times this book reads like the Borowitz daily e-report, carried on more and more "summarized" daily news websites, like Jewish World Review.

Barry is fine form through most of the book. Gone are Barry's bread and butter "booger" and "whack- a- mole" jokes. It was certainly time for him to take a few steps toward more mature comedy.

The book is chronological and Barry treats us to a review of years 1000 to 1999 in a scant 33 pages including four illustrations. By the way, 1000 to 1999 was Y1K, if you wondered. This is even more amazing because Barry takes on the whole world. "In western Europe, the two dominantcultures were the French and the English, who hated each other because of a bitter, centuries-old dispute over the right way to prepare food," Barry writes.

From 2000 to 2006, Barry goes on a political rant against President George W. Bush for 170 pages. The chapter for 2000 is titled "George and Al's Big Chadventure." Barry doesn't just have fun with George and Al; he also pulls some jokes on President and Mrs. Clinton. The jokes are equally funny no matter your political preference.

Once Bush gets in the White House, Barry moves into the political driver's seat for some truly funny moments. He mines all the oddities of the Commander-in-Chief and President in waiting Dick Cheney. One running gag concerns Cheney's shotgun blast to the face of Texan Harry Whittington.

"Local authorities rule the shooting an accident," Barry writes, "noting that if the vice president was going to intentionally shoot anyone it would be Nancy Pelosi." Later, Barry uses "go quail hunting with the vice president" for several other jokes.

Barry uses pop star Michael Jackson for some needed non-political humor. When Jackson was arrested at his Santa Barbara amusement park and home, he was booked on "extreme creepiness, even for California."

In sum, this book represents a new comedic direction for Dave Barry. It is a likable book and excellent "lite" reading during the holidays or on your morning commute.

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Jim Patterson, economist and journalist, is a member of the National Book Critics Circle.