Holidays in Hell: In Which Our Intrepid Reporter Travels to the World's Worst Places and Asks, "What's Funny About Thi (O'Rourke, P. J.) Paperback – June 1, 2000

- in the trouble spots P.J. takes apart in this hilariously irreverent holiday guide to world-class madness. So little has changed. It may still be a reliable read on the best bars and worst toilets in places he visited. If he makes it to the ultimate Hell I'm sure he'll write such a scathingly funny description of what goes on there it will make old horn-head wince.

This book is a very healthy product of a healthy type of thinking. It is a good sign that this country is "in good shape" as long as it can produce intelligent opposition to some weird or unhealthy world and domestic events (for example, "The Simpsons" and "South Park" as well as "Politically Incorrect Guide to..." book series). It is a good sigh of the "society health" when there are native writers like O'Rourke, who can give an objective view (presented wittily and with humor slightly ironical and often with subtle sarcasm) on some present or recently powerful political movements, events and tendencies. I myself from the former Soviet Union, and the article about socialist Poland was probably the most interesting from the point of view that it was almost the same what I saw in Russia. It is not so important how pathetic the picture of everyday life was seen by the American , but the final conclusion a reader should come to (and O'Rourke makes it obvious) - how sick the idea of an artificial social structure based on an approach is, "to take everything away form the haves and then share with everybody" (it is what Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov's character Sharikov said in his "Heart of a Dog").Almost without exceptions the stories in the book cut trough propaganda and bare the truth behind the facades. The "Among the Euro-Weenies", although written some time ago is more and more relevant today.Moreover, O'Rourke dialogues are short, immensely interesting and compressed, giving points difficult not to accept.

Excellent book - tells it like it is with no PC-BS. Exposes the absurd brilliantly. O'Rourke is an excellent and entertaining writer.

Another classic by O'Rourke. With great humor he points out the abysmal record of socialism and how it's created hell for the inhabitants.

This book is absolutely hilarious.I love O'Rourke's writing style and quick wit. Kept me laughing throughout.Very interesting exploits told thru a very witty style. Keeps you laughing and engaged.Kinda sad when I reached the end.

Slows a bit with somewhat of a rant at the end, but it's rightfully the author's perspective and not something I have a right to criticize as he was there and I was not. A very good and enlightening read overall.

Whee! If I were inclined to travel to any of the places the author has gone to; I hope I would have his matchless sense of humor. Humor is the only thing that would get me to venture into Libya, Mali or any other turbulent country. Common sense keeps me home with this very funny and friendly book.

Written in the 80's, it's really interesting to read now in light of what has happened in these countries since. Always hilarious, always insightful.

God love PJ O'Rourke. He is and was a man of his time, the 1990s. His cynicism and black humour carried us laughing all the way from from Thatcher to Trump, not noticing his friends were picking our pockets. The only time I heard him lost for words was when he met the equally brilliant old socialist John Mortimer, who firmly put him in his place. Sorry, yes, the book, it's superbly vivid and honest. One line in the foreword has stayed with me forever: 'hatred and war doesn't come from [insert huge list of race labels] - it comes from the heart of man'.

P.J. O'Rourke, is in my opinion one of those authors, who deserve a disclaimer. If you take things literally, he is likely to offend and mincing words or trying to appear a happy go lucky 'we are all special in our own ways' is clearly not his forte. Most of the time he is over the top, and not just slightly so.At the same time, I found this book very well observed and in many ways not as extreme as some of his other writing (the opening story in the car focused Driving Like Crazy: Thirty Years of Vehicular Hell-bending, Celebrating America the Way It's Supposed To Be -- With an Oil Well in Every Backyard, a Cadillac ... of the Federal Reserve Mowing Our Lawn comes to mind).Sure, if destinations chosen include Lebanon in 1984, El Salvador and Cold War Poland, there is unpleasantness to be expected and his take on things may very well be way beyond the politically correct. The fact that the stories are all from the 1980s will also make this only remotely useful as a tourist guide (even if in some cases the detail and helpfulness of advice would shame a modern day Lonely Planet guide).If, on the other hand, you are looking for a very alternative take on places and events, which would never make it into conventional travel writing, can laugh at things, which are extremely non-PC and find hyperbole appealing, the book is an excellent, funny and insightful way to spend time. Also, if you like Alan Coren (for instance 69 for 1) but always wondered what a Frankie Boyle cover version of him would look like, you will not go far wrong with P.J. O'Rourke. Driving Like Crazy: Thirty Years of Vehicular Hell-bending, Celebrating America the Way It's Supposed To Be -- With an Oil Well in Every Backyard, a Cadillac ... of the Federal Reserve Mowing Our Lawn69 for 1

This is almost thirty years old. I had the paperback as a student. How did that happen!AndWhere did the Belfast section go? That's really what I bought it for. 'Nobody wants to see an Irish girl in a string bikini', 'you shouldn't stack poor people who drink'. I'm quoting from memory from the early nineties.Excellent and terribly disappointing. Buy it unless you're from NI; then you should buy it and complain. We've been cut.

A collection of travel essays. Most are very interesting, insightful and often very funny. Occasionally too ranty but don't let that put you off.

Not for the easily offended - the author appears from the style of writing to be totally insensitive and amoral, but raises a lot of really valid points in an entertaining way. He allows the reader to take the higher moral ground whilst provoking some really deep questions. Still very valid today, the place names may come and go, but the incongruity of the hotspots is constant

Re-edited version that omits the greatest chapter from the original on Northern Ireland. Horrible type face.

Staying in the world's trouble spots seems a damn-fool enterprise, but PJ manages to raise a few laughs whilst describing the violence and squalor. He tries hard to understand the intractable problems facing us across the cultural divide.

As well as bringing to mind previous conflicts, especially in the middle-east, this is a reminder of the contrast between current social mores such as "political correctness" and the way we looked at the rest of the world back then. Typical O'Rourke in many ways, and a good few valid serious points made.

Classic O'Rourke, a fine, amusing and thought-provoking read

excellent

This was one of the funniest and scariest books I have read in a long time - the author is an exceptional writer not to mention very brave to get himself into such situations. A must buy!

P. J. O'Rourke has a quick mind and great observation, but frankly this disappointed me. Had it for a while - not yet finished. Says it all.

This is laugh out loud funny and was a real page turner. At some point, I ducked out of it to read a Brookmyre novel but was straight back into it after that. Is worth the price!

P.J. O'Rourke has a singular clarity of vision and analysis. Witty and perceptive, he creates a thoroughly enjoyable journey through hell.

Funny ,sad . The world was a mess then and still is now . A real window on the state of man and the countries we will probably not visit