Are you a ticked-off Trumper, a peeved progressive or an irritated independent in search of the perfect last-minute Christmas gift? Well, you’re in luck, because my pal Howard G. Peretz has just the book for you!
OK, maybe calling him “my pal” is a stretch. We’ve only met two or three times, and I owe him a sour pickle that I still haven’t delivered on. (My bad, Howie!)
Anyway, Peretz is a Cave Creek resident who retired from the toy business to pursue his passion of becoming a sportswriter. He goes by “The Old-School Sports Junkie” and has published books including “It Ain’t Over ‘Til That Lady Sings” and “Saving Baseball From Itself.”
(That second title, “Saving Baseball From Itself,” had some pretty good suggestions.)
OK, Peretz didn’t really write a book
That said, with all the political drama of the last few years, he felt inspired to write a book about our current president that’s certain to make everyone from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Mitch McConnell crack a smile.
OK, maybe saying he “wrote a book” is overstating it.
Peretz published “Best of Biden” this year to highlight what he sees as the triumph of the man who beat Trump – nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch.
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The book is about 200 blank pages, broken down into chapters that include “Nepotism-Schmepotism,” “Twitter Logic and the Equality Bureaucracy” and “Biden: ‘Nothing is My Fault’.”
Regardless of whether you agree with Peretz’s position, the concept is hilarious.
Without humor, politics is ‘blood sport’
The author’s note is the most prominent section of the book.
OK, maybe “most prominent” is overstating it. It’s prominent mostly because it has larger and bolder typeface than other sections.
The note read, in full: “On the need for political discourse … ‘Best of Biden’ is political satire at best, utilizing humor and exaggeration to make a significant political statement. Without humor, we are left with the chilling words of Aneurin Bevan, (the) controversial figure in post-World War II British politics whom Winston Churchill referred to as the ‘merchant of discourtesy.’ Bevan said: ‘Politics is a blood sport.’ ”
Peretz laid out his inspiration for the title in the dedication.
OK, maybe “inspiration” is overstating it. The book is more of a reboot than a remix.
The dedication reads, in full: “The author was inspired by former Israeli Prime Minister ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu’s ‘Deafening Silence’ speech before the 193-member UN General Assembly on October 1, 2015. Tired of the UN not calling out Iran for advocating the annihilation of My people and My country, ‘Bibi’ used 44 seconds of silence from the podium to shame the audience. The speech (was) delivered at the time the United States and Iran were finalizing a nuclear deal. The blank pages in this publication (are intended as) a powerful equivalent to a moment of silence that seemed like an eternity.”
Sometimes, fewer words is more
The cover art features an unflattering shot of Biden in a suit jacket that’s somehow bigger than the bald spot shining from the back of Uncle Joe’s noggin as he stares at the White House in the background. The graphic includes the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Peretz offers an explanation in the cover note.
OK, for once we’re not overstating things.
The cover note reads: “The phrase ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ is attributed to the Victorian novelist George Eliot and dates to 1860 while the author was writing ‘(The) Mill on the Floss’ – a book that was required reading while the author was in school. (The author’s actual name was Mary Ann Evans. Pen names were commonplace at the time for female writes who were denied the ability wo write under their own name.)”
I spoke to Peretz, who voted for Biden, about “Best of Biden” over the summer, before the president signed the Respect for Marriage Act, the Inflation Reduction Act or the health care plan that extended Obamacare subsidies.
“The problem in the country is in the political area,” Peretz said on the value of satire and why he chose to present the book as he did. “The political discourse doesn’t exist. The left and the right don’t like each other. They don’t talk to each other. We need a lot more humor in our discourse.
“Political satire, which dates to Benjamin Franklin and was made famous by all kinds of people over the years, Will Rogers, (Fred) Morsell, my favorite, John Stewart, The Onion, Babylon Bee, there’s all kinds of people who use satire to make a point. And I think you can make a political point through humor and exaggeration … than by filling a book with lots and lots of words. … You don’t need lots and lots of words to make a point.”
Well said, Mr. Peretz.
“It’s a gag gift … for ten bucks, you can have a laugh,” he said.
Want a copy? Email bestofbiden@gmail.com or visit bestofbiden.net.
Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @SayingMoore.
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