{"product_id":"9780743243803","title":"The Partly Cloudy Patriot","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThe Partly Cloudy Patriot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Sarah Vowell\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom public radio \u003ci\u003eThis American Life\u003c\/i\u003e contributor and self-described “history nerd” Sarah Vowell comes a collection of humorous and personal essays investigating American history, pop culture and \u003ci\u003eBuffy the Vampire Slayer\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell travels through the American past and in doing so ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Salem or Gettysburg? Why do people always inappropriately compare themselves to Rosa Parks? Why is a bad life in sunny California so much worse than a bad life anywhere else? What is it about the Zen of foul shots? And, in the title piece, why must doubt and internal arguments haunt the sleepless nights of the true patriot?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHer essays confront a wide range of subjects, themes, icons, and historical moments: Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton; Canadian Mounties and German filmmakers; Tom Cruise and \u003ci\u003eBuffy the Vampire Slayer\u003c\/i\u003e; twins and nerds; the Gettysburg Address, the State of the Union, and George W. Bush's inauguration. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe result is a teeming and engrossing book, capturing Vowell's memorable wit and her keen social commentary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHartford Courant\u003c\/i\u003e [Vowell's] collection of essays explores patriotism and other aspects of contemporary life from the refreshingly contrarian view of a thoughtfully disaffected, wryly outspoken and deeply passionate citizen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e Even though her pieces make us laugh about every fourth line, we feel as if there's something more significant at work....A writer of fierce observational powers who wears her intelligence and wit as comfortably as an old pair of pajamas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e Droll, intelligent, and persuasive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9780743243803\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40591945171150,"sku":"9780743243803","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/O_a3cebf3e-9e53-46e3-9ac2-5cf4c905d27c.jpg?v=1646774950","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9780743243803","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}