Rationalizations to Live By

By John BoswellAndy BorowitzHenry N. Beard, et al.

Book Overview

A book for everyone who's ever cheated just a little bit at golf (I'm only moving the ball to where it should have landed) or gone to a party instead of visiting a sick friend (If I were in the hospital, I wouldn't want a bunch of people bothering me), Rationalizations to Live By offers dozens of perfect rationalizations for behavior that ranges from the selfish, thoughtless, and irresponsible to the boorish, self-destructive, and un-p.c. A group effort by four of the funniest people writing books today, it evokes both nervous laughter (for what we recognize in ourselves) and happy superiority (because we can't believe anyone could do that). For example: Look how long the French live. All of this shopping is good for the economy. This doesn't really count as sex. I'm earning frequent-flyer miles. Video games are good for my kid's motor skills. Picasso didn't do his best work until he was 70. He'll just spend it on liquor. I only smoke at parties. And, of course, the universal: Everybody does it.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761116362
• ISBN13: 9780761116363
• Release Date: March 2000
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Many of the common "lies" we say to ourselves

On the first page, you learn that "An excuse is a lie we tell others" and "A rationalization is a lie we tell ourselves." That sets the stage for the purpose of this book, namely a sequence of statements that we tell ourselves when something goes wrong. Examples include" *) It's for a good cause. *) My kid is too creative for this school. *) I'm not trying to win a popularity contest. *) I'm not as fat as the other people. *) I'm big boned. My favorite is "I'm fertilizing these bushes." These examples give you a taste of what you will find in this book. I doubt if any will cause you to laugh out loud, but they are very amusing. They are also examples of the many ways we lie to ourselves as we try to get through our days.

My Phlegm

I didn't read it, but if i did, i bet i would have liked it

I'm Only Human

This is one of those exceptional books, universal in scope, that already existed as a Platonic ideal but no one had yet written. Everyone has served up to himself or herself at least one of the rationalizations listed here ("What are the odds of a handicapped person needing this spot while I drop off my video?"). Always a good idea to have a reference volume like this handy--you never know when you'll need more. Very funny and sharp. And the drawings by Roz Chast are a perfect counterpoint to the prose. A perfect gift for every man, woman, and child on the planet. If I tried to improve this review it would just sound less spontaneous and sincere.

Spot on!

Truly an entertaining bit of ephemera. This little book immortalizes while skewering all those rationalizations that we all try to fall back on - like Jeff Goldblum's character says in "The Big Chill," (sorry, a paraphrase only) "Rationalizations are wonderful. I can't get through a day without three or four." And truly a fun gift !