The Undocumented Mark Steyn

I am a devoted fan of Mark Steyn. He is my favorite guest host for Rush Limbaugh. I find his humor actually funny with a sharp with and well targeted points. And he has the ability to write insightfully on a wider range of topics than most writers. For example, read his beautiful piece on Stephen Foster in this collection. He is also a writer with enough courage to write what he believes and has faced real personal and financial peril because of the truths he is willing to tell in our dishonest age. This is a collection of his best columns and they are VERY good. The book has seventeen sections of a few to a half dozen articles each. They are not grouped or presented chronologically, but by topic. The first section is on the decadence and weakening of American Liberty and culture. The second is on the ridiculous developments in our values. The third deals with issues of culture clash in Christmas, dating, sexual mores, and guns. The fourth deals with government enforcement of bureaucratic nonsense. The fifth on the way we are militarizing our culture in order to avoid dealing with the true issue we face in terrorism, which is Militant Jihadist Islam. The sixth examines the propaganda of our cultural elite in our universities and the media. Number eight contains columns dealing with the changes and wars after 9/11. Section nine is hilarious stuff examining the way our culture ties itself in knots to accommodate and not offend Muslim sensibilities all the while offending everyone else, but we can’t admit it. Number ten looks at some articles on music and art. Section eleven looks at the changes in the way we are living our private lives to conform to these changing values. Remember, many of these articles are about Canada, Britain, and Europe, too. It is not all about America. Section twelve looks at the issues surround families, children, and sexual identity. Section thirteen presents us with some articles he wrote about show busiess figures. Number fourteen deals with comedic aspects of cultural bullies and their excesses (every color of ribbon has been used so what next?). Section fifteen deals with dying cultures such as the emptiness of the Middle East Muslim cultures after decades of conflict, corruption, and hate. The aging of Japan. And the way the cultures in the Middle East are driving out Jews, Christians, and anyone not for Militant Islam. A largely abandoned Jewish cemetery in Tangiers is the touching symbol of the issue. Chapter sixteen examines those brave enough to fight the decadence and dying of Western Culture. And the last postscript section deals with the author’s columns on topics dear to his own heart. A very worthwhile read. Enjoy! Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI

Steyn is such an incredible writer and thinker. There is something for everyone in this collection. I find the earlier selections particularly interesting as Steyn's views end of being proven by time. Highly recommend for those who like to laugh, remember history and are well versed in current events so that Steyn's satire is understandable. Will not forget his ode to the Perfect XMAS nor his essay describing how to throw away a fluorescent light bulb! His knowledge of music is fantastic.... also loved his music and theatre pieces. Reading Steyn is to keep a perpetual smile on your face.

I always enjoyed hearing Mr. Steyn on the radio. His brand of wit and political satire keep my attention, no matter what the subject matter is. The book is a compilation of past writings in various publications. Some are very good; some are so-so. The basic structure is very similar to Charles Krauthammer's bit hit "Things That Matter." Both men are brilliant in their professions which is probably why liberals and progressives rarely challenge them face to face on a disputed issue.

With four hundred fifteen pages, sixteen sections (plus introduction and postscript), more than eighty columns (The Audacity of Grope, Did the Earth Summit Move for You? My Sahria Amour, A Town with Pity, Only the Clonely), and more puns and turn of a phrase than anyone can count, Mark Steyn continues to delight readers while raising concerns about the direction of America, western civilization, and democracy in this century. The future is not pretty, at least it will be if we continue down our current path, a path that Steyn has aptly described, cataloged and skewered for more than fifteen years. Acknowledging that this is a collection of previously published essays, going back to a Monica Lewinsky column in 1998, there is not really anything much 'new' here. That said, compiling, editing and publishing fifteen years of great writing is a great service to the late-arriving reader as well as the long-term fan. And his opening remarks on culture and politics, discussed recently with Limbaugh, add some fully realized realizations that elections matter less than the dominant culture. The politically correct have won the culture wars and reclaiming any sense of core, constitutional principles is going to be a long, difficult slog. NOTE: The October 20 release date is not accurate. Amazon shipped the book this week; I received my copy Tuesday.

Mr. Steyn is the writer i most enjoy reading these days when it comes to politics, perspective, and when i just need a good dose of fun writing to digest. He raises ideas and issues that many people find distasteful because clear thinking often shatters their closely held delusions. Thanks for making rhinking fun and enjoyable, Mark. Like you, I often fear that Lincoln was prescient when he noted, decades before he became president, that we would (as a nation of free men) live forever, or die by suicide. There is much koolaid being offered these days, and there are far too many Jim Jones'.

funny and thoughtful, great stories and great insights

Tremendous analytical power coupled with wit and style: a great read !

This is just a collection of xenophobic clap-trap. Steyn is neither a scholar, nor a deep thinker. Don't waste your money on this!

Mark is an exceptionally talented observer and writer and these are from his many articles in numerous papers and magazines. Always witty and a great read. Buy it -- you will like it!!!

First class. Shame he no longer writes for the Telegraph or any UK newspaper. The journalists now seem to be young under informed and less educated.