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Product Description
From Booklist
Published simultaneously with Mere Anarchy (2007), these 40-plus previously published humorous sketches poke fun at Allen's classic targets: New York intellectuals, death, and Mr. Big—he's God, of course. Projecting personas is Allen's main technique across these stories, many of which contain allusions to the 1970s, when most of them were written. You want Studs Terkel? Allen satirizes his Hard Times in "Fine Times." How about Nazi memoirists? Allen gives you the recollections of Hitler's barber. Latin American revolutionaries were on the march, if somewhat ineffectually, in "Viva Vargas!" And if one's laughs come from satirizing such literary forms as the eulogy, commencement speech, or college course catalog, Allen is your parodist as well. Including mockery of collected works via a faux review of the collected laundry lists of the unjustifiably obscure Metterling, Allen perhaps barbs his own volume, which is the third time many of these pieces have seen publication. Nevertheless, it's a treasury of risibility for the Allen audience. Taylor, Gilbert
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Comprising the classic bestsellers Getting Even, Without Feathers, and Side Effects, this definitive collection of comic writings is from a man who needs no Introduction. Really–this book has no Introduction.
The Insanity Defense reveals many sides of Woody Allen as he holds forth on the most human of urges (“Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only for food: frequently there must be a beverage”); reflects on death (“I don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear”); and notes the effect on history wrought by trick chewing gum, the dribble glass, and other novelties. There is also an inspiring story of the futile race to beat Dr. Heimlich to the punch: “The food went down the wrong pipe, and choking occurred. Grasping the mouse firmly by the tail, I snapped it like a small whip, and the morsel of cheese came loose. If we can transfer the procedure to humans, we may have something. Too early to tell.”
All Woody Allen fans will cherish this uproarious treasury–and those who don’t enjoy The Insanity Defense are just plain crazy.
“If you don’t care if you break into helpless whoops of laughter on buses, trains, or wherever you happen to be reading it.”
–Chicago Tribune, on Without Feathers
“Brilliant flights of fancy whose comic detail and inspired silliness are at once dramatic and controlled.”
–The New York Times, on Side Effects
The Insanity Defense reveals many sides of Woody Allen as he holds forth on the most human of urges (“Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only for food: frequently there must be a beverage”); reflects on death (“I don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear”); and notes the effect on history wrought by trick chewing gum, the dribble glass, and other novelties. There is also an inspiring story of the futile race to beat Dr. Heimlich to the punch: “The food went down the wrong pipe, and choking occurred. Grasping the mouse firmly by the tail, I snapped it like a small whip, and the morsel of cheese came loose. If we can transfer the procedure to humans, we may have something. Too early to tell.”
All Woody Allen fans will cherish this uproarious treasury–and those who don’t enjoy The Insanity Defense are just plain crazy.
“If you don’t care if you break into helpless whoops of laughter on buses, trains, or wherever you happen to be reading it.”
–Chicago Tribune, on Without Feathers
“Brilliant flights of fancy whose comic detail and inspired silliness are at once dramatic and controlled.”
–The New York Times, on Side Effects
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful! but not quite 'complete'.,
By Iread Abit (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose (Paperback)
This, like anything Woody Allen has ever written, is hilarious and absolutely genius!It's a compilation of MOST of the shorts from 'Side Effects', 'Without Feathers', and 'Getting Even'. there are 6 shorts missing from this "Complete Prose"..... from SIDE EFFECTS: -Confessions of a Burglar -The Query from WITHOUT FEATHERS -Death ( a play) -God (a play) -Lovborg's Women Considered and from GETTING EVEN -Death Knocks if The Insanity Defense is all you can find, pick it up, it's a great read. but if you can get your hands on the originals, I'd say it's probably worth it. the two plays in 'Without Feathers' are great.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews) 55 of 62 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't buy this book, obtain the originals instead,
By Cyril A. Barnert - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose (Paperback)
I had already read Woody Allen's three previous books of essays ("Getting Even", "Without Feathers", and "Side Effects") and found them hilarious. But there is a serious problem in the subtitle of this book "The Complete Prose", even if the implication is meant to be that it is complete IF TAKEN TOGETHER WITH Woody's other 2007 publication, "Mere Anarchy". Despite its subtitle, "Insanity Defense" is NOT A COMPLETE COMPILATION OF THE FIRST THREE BOOKS, including only 46 of the 51 essays. The missing five (which are also not in "Mere Anarchy") are worthwhile and funny. Don't get me wrong--the 46 essays that are included are very good, but it does rankle me that they misleadingly claimed completeness. I recommend skipping "Insanity Defense" and obtaining the three original volumes via used-book sources, to go along with "Mere Anarchy".
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Worth Whatever They Charge,
By B. Turner - Published on Amazon.com
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This review is from: The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose (Paperback)
I won't go into detail on this, but I defy anyone to read this and not laugh out loud. Do not bring to funerals or divorce proceedings. The topics and styles are so broad as to be nearly exhaustive. There is no stone unturned, but combined with Allen's hilarious, sometimes absurd, style I flew through these books. I've owned each of these individually, but having loaned them out many times I decided it was time to own a complete collection which I could keep for myself. And I still laugh every time I read it.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Brilliant,
By New Hasselhoff - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose (Paperback)
I first read the three collections compiled herein about 20 years ago. Then, as now, I found myself sputtering with convulsive laughter as I made my way through. I literally was afraid to read it around other people because I could not control my reaction. I've read a number of works of humor. Nothing has made me laugh out loud like this. The elegance of his language and the beautiful and profound absurdity is unparalleled. Pure gold.
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