Uneven like most anthologies. Sad reminder that the US is still bogged in mistaken operations in the Middle East. ( )

julia sweeney excellent on atheism ( )

Very much enjoyed the addition of the shorter pieces and lists as the first part of the anthology; this was pretty much the most interesting part of the book for me (if they did a whole volume just of that stuff, I'd be more than happy to read it). The 2005 Iraqi constitution (published here in full) does make for surprisingly good reading, and Kurt Vonnegut's "Here Is a Lesson in Creative Writing" and David Foster Wallace's Kenyon Commencement speech are also well worth a read. ( )

As I was reading the last few stories, I actually started to like them....but upon reading that a "one star" is "didn't like it" and "two stars" is "it was ok", I have no choice but to render a 1 star.

This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST that can come out of any nonrequired reading, boy am I glad I had a LOT of required reading in 2006. Holy crap! I can't believe there are people out there, and then an editor and publishing company, that said, "YES! THESE STORIES ARE THE BEST!"

Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?

With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.

The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.

I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.

With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.

As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.

With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.

Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO. ( )

As I was reading the last few stories, I actually started to like them....but upon reading that a "one star" is "didn't like it" and "two stars" is "it was ok", I have no choice but to render a 1 star.

This book was pathetic. The title: Best American Nonrequired Reading in 2006. If this is the BEST that can come out of any nonrequired reading, boy am I glad I had a LOT of required reading in 2006. Holy crap! I can't believe there are people out there, and then an editor and publishing company, that said, "YES! THESE STORIES ARE THE BEST!"

Was 2006 a terrible year? Did NO ONE give good speeches or write stories with PLOTS?

With the exception of--at most--4 stories, I found EVERYTHING in this book difficult and pointless to read. There were stories, where, after I read it, I thought to myself, what was the plot? What was the reason? And, being a person who prides themselves in being able to decipher difficult texts, I feel it is the fault of the authors, not me.

The only thing that kept me going with this book was knowing that I couldn't write a review of how terrible it was if I didn't finish it.

I am glad that I finished it, because they put two of the best stories in here, at the back. One was about a woman who read the Bible, and it lead to her disbelief in God (IRONY!). And another about a man who is so unhappy with his life, he finds a decapitated head and befriends it.

With all this, if I had read the Introduction first (which I didn't, I read it around page 280 when I wasn't sure I could continue), I would have been even MORE angry. The introduction by Matt Groening was SPECTACULAR. But, had I read that and figured that it set a course for the rest of the book, I would ahve been SORELY mistaken, and more angered.

As is, I can see why it was $1.00 at Half Price Books.

With the exception of the Intro and a few stories, this isn't even worth considering as literature.

Oh, and I didn't read the 25 pages of the Iraqi constitution. HELL NO. ( )