America (The Book)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum, and other writers from The Daily Show |
| Products | Satirical book on American politics and culture |
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction is a 2004 humor publication authored by Jon Stewart alongside other writers from The Daily Show. The book offers a satirical take on American politics and culture, earning several accolades and generating some debate.
In 2006, an updated trade paperback edition called the "Teacher's Edition" was published. This version refreshed information about the Supreme Court of the United States Justices, incorporating the appointments of Samuel Alito and John Roberts. It also included fact-checking contributions from Stanley K. Schultz, professor emeritus of history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Schultz’s notes addressed satirical exaggerations and corrected factual errors present in the original release.
Description
The creation and editorial work of America (The Book) involved Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin, David Javerbaum, and other writers affiliated with The Daily Show. Karlin served as the show's executive producer, while Javerbaum held the position of head writer. The book mimics a U.S. high school civics textbook, complete with study guides, review questions, and classroom activities. It features satirical "Were You Aware?" sidebars and parodies conventional history guides through absurd queries such as: "Would you rather be a king or slave? Why or why not?" The work lampoons the American political system and exaggerates common American stereotypes about global perspectives.
In 2004, contributors to The Daily Show like Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, and Ed Helms provided short articles. Bee’s contributions present a "Canadian viewpoint," whereas Colbert delivers heavily slanted commentary on political figures such as Warren G. Harding, who is frequently ranked among the least effective U.S. presidents.
One spread includes parody campaign stickers referencing political moments, for example: "Lifelong Democrat Retired Palm Beach Jews for Buchanan" (alluding to the 2000 Florida recount), "I cast my five slaves' three votes for James K. Polk", and "Undecided Voters for Candidate." Another page humorously endorses "Humphrey in '68" as a way to avoid the later Watergate scandal associated with Nixon.
Issued shortly before the 2004 United States presidential election, initial printings contained an "Election Guide" that satirized both contenders; this insert was removed in subsequent editions.
Publishers Weekly honored it as "Book of the Year," praising its thorough satire of the political landscape during a highly charged election cycle. The audiobook adaptation earned the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Released in September 2004, the book sustained bestseller status after the election and inspired related projects such as America (The Calendar).
Controversy
Chapter five includes altered photographs depicting heads of then-current U.S. Supreme Court justices superimposed onto elderly nude bodies (Pages 98-99). An adjacent page encourages readers to place cutout robes over each justice to "restore their dignity." Due to concerns that many customers might find these images objectionable, Wal-Mart canceled its order for America (The Book). Some public libraries in Mississippi temporarily removed the book but reinstated it following public backlash.
Cartoonist Bruce Tinsley expressed disapproval over the book’s parody of his comic strip Mallard Fillmore, which appeared alongside six other cartoon parodies attributed to 1998. Tinsley addressed this in his July 5–8, 2005 Fillmore strips, accusing Jon Stewart of misleading readers and insinuating Stewart was a pedophile. In response, Stewart noted in the Teacher's Edition that although the parody was not an authentic Mallard Fillmore strip, it matched its tone of humor.
Table of contents
- Study Guide
- Foreword: by Thomas Jefferson
- Ch. 1: Democracy Before America
- Ch. 2: The Founding of America
- Ch. 3: The President: King of Democracy
- Ch. 4: Congress: Quagmire of Freedom
- Ch. 5: The Judicial Branch: It Rules
- Ch. 6: Campaigns and Elections: America Changes the Sheets
- Ch. 7: The Media: Democracy's Guardian Angels (later renamed "The Media: Democracy's Valiant Vulgarians")
- Ch. 8: The Future of Democracy: Four Score and Seven Years from Now
- Ch. 9: The Rest of the World: International House of Horrors
- Afterword
- Acknowledgments
- Credits
- Election 2004 (a hidden bonus section, excluded from post-election print editions)
Cultural impact
Mexico, lo que todo ciudadano quisiera (no) saber de su patria ("Mexico, what every citizen would [not] want to know about their homeland") was co-written by Denise Dresser and Jorge Volpi, drawing significant inspiration from Stewart’s work. Jon Stewart receives credit for motivating the authors.
Additionally, this book appears as a background prop in a bookstore scene within the film Mr. Woodcock.
See also
- Earth (The Book)
- I Am America (And So Can You!)
- I Am a Pole (And So Can You!)
- America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren't