The Smartest Book in the World
A Lexicon of Literacy, A Rancorous Reportage, A Concise Curriculum of Cool
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4.5 • 2 Ratings
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
From the bold, beloved comic and podcast star Greg Proops comes a “terrifically random appreciation of cultural touchstones” (Publishers Weekly) that is electrifying, thought-provoking, and unrelenting, full of rapid-fire references, historical name-checking, Satchel Paige bon mots, and genuine wisdom.
Greg Proops is an internationally renowned comedian, best known for starring on the hit improv-comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and for his popular award-winning podcast, “The Smartest Man in the World,” which Rolling Stone called “some of the boldest comedy on the podcasting frontier right now.” But Proops is also a fountain of historical knowledge, a wealth of pop culture trivia, and a generally charming know-it-all.
The Smartest Book in the World is a rollicking reference guide to the most essential areas of knowledge in Proops’s universe, from history’s juiciest tales and curious backstories to the movies you must see and the albums you must hear. Full of eclectic and humorous knowledge, it is a concentrated collection and comic cultural dictionary of the essential Proops topics including poetry, proper punctuation, and Satchel Paige, all delivered with his signature style, making the full Proops experience complete.
So if you’re stuck wondering why Alexander was so Great (well, he did conquer the world), which cinema bombshell would be the best shortstop (Hedy Lamarr, of course), what great work of art would be the best to steal (not that you would), or the finest way to prepare vodka-flavored vodka (add vodka), don’t fret, pumpkin butter—The Smartest Book in the World has what you need right now.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Perhaps best known for his stint on the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway, comedian and podcaster Proops's compendium of trivia, passionate essays, lists, and observations might not be the smartest book, but it's certainly an entertaining one. Readers may be distracted by his quirks "woman" is always spelled with a capital W, and Proops lists numerous reasons why, such as "Old Women raise the world and know everything" and "war is menstruation envy" and his deep, abiding love for baseball, which is both the subject of a lengthy essay and a common metaphor throughout the book for discussing Roman emperors, the British monarchy, bombshell beauties, and U.S. presidents, among other random subjects. Rather than offer a linear examination of a particular topic, Proops jumps around, citing the brilliance of poets Baudelaire, Sappho, Basho, and Blake in addition to T. Rex's Electric Warrior album and Alfred Hitchcock's film Lifeboat. Arguments could be made that some subjects, such as punk (he lists only the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks, the Clash's London Calling, and the Ramones' Rocket to Russia), don't receive the attention they deserve, but what Proops lacks in breadth he more than makes up for in enthusiasm. It's a terrifically random appreciation of cultural touchstones that's sure to inspire readers to look further.
Customer Reviews
An excellent collection of history, politics and baseball.
It's based around what Greg talks about on his podcast 'The smartest man in the world'. There is a lot on politics and it's written in his funny and erudite style.