Check it out

If you’re bogged down by ballot measures and confused by candidates, it

may be time for a little levity, with social satire from Newport

libraries.

You can read about the dramatic rise and dizzying fall of Al Franken,

author of “I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like

Me,” in “Why Not Me,” a riotous sendup of presidential politics in which

the 44th presidential wannabe makes his way to the nation’s highest

office by focusing relentlessly on ATM fees. Not much in the ritual of

American campaigning goes unscathed in this farcical account of our

election process.

Equally unsparing in its political skewering is “If the Gods Had Meant Us

to Vote They’d Have Given Us Candidates,” by equal opportunity muckraker

Jim Hightower. Based on the premise that Washington’s worst nightmare is

an informed citizenry, this laugh-out-loud political commentary

ultimately urges us to reclaim the reins of our democratic destiny.

In her “Greetings from the Lincoln Bedroom,” syndicated columnist Arianna

Huffington gives readers a sidesplitting account of a fictional stay at

the Clinton White House, during which she gets her soundest advice from

Socks, the First Cat. While she again pokes fun at the American political

scene in her newest diatribe, subversively titled “How to Overthrow the

Government,” she also provides a list of serious self-help remedies --

from family volunteerism to writing letters to Congress.

“Stick with your friends” is the simple message of “Stickin’: The Case

for Loyalty,” by political strategist Jim Carville. In addition to an

amusing take on Washington turncoats, the colorful Ragin’ Cajun offers

thoughts on loyalty toward family, friends, religion, political parties

and even brands in this treatise about a principle he finds sadly lacking

in contemporary times.

You can look at the last 100 years like you’ve never seen them before in

“Our Dumb Century,” a collection of faux journalism from “The Onion,” the

Madison, Wis.-based newspaper that prides itself on misinforming half a

million readers a week with hilarious social spoofs.

For a sure-fire antidote to stuffed-shirt reporting, don’t miss this

National Lampoon-style perspective on the march of history from 1900 to

the present.

If your whole existence is just too serious and you’d like to revisit

simpler times, check out “How to Live a Sitcom Life,” a tongue-in-cheek

guidebook to achieving your desired lifestyle using television

personalities as role models. Filled with helpful hints for such domestic

issues as choosing a car, buying clothes and caring for a pet, this new

volume is served up with razor sharp wit by self-professed TV junkie Mark

Bennett, who manages to find savvy solutions for dozens of everyday

dilemmas in classic sitcom scenarios.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

June Pilsitz.