Pundits, poets, and wits : an omnibus of American newspaper columns /

This is a book with a large common denominator of interest: it has something for everybody. It consists of representative samples of the writings of over 70 American newspaper columnists. Along with the familiar names--Thomas Paine, H.L. Mencken, Dorothy Thompson, Langston Hughes, George Will, Erma Bombeck--are a number of lesser-known writers who have rarely, if ever, been included in an anthology before. The arrangement is chronological, and as we turn the pages, we see how far and in how many directions the newspaper column has traveled since it was naturalized in the 1700s. Not the least interesting part of the collection is the editor's introduction and biocritical notes. The book has no serious rival and is an indispensable single source for the study of newspaper column writing in America. --A.J. Anderson, Graduate Sch. of Library & Information Science, Simmons Coll., Boston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

YA-- From Benjamin Franklin to Mark Twain, from sportswriter Jim Murray to Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman, Pundits provides a diverse and irreverent ride through American opinion and thought. This anthology of dozens of newspaper columns is an unending delight of wit and sarcasm from the left and right, a compendium of informed writing on affairs of high moment and trivia from the budding of the Republic until now. Meyer guides readers through subjects from southern accents, to the murder of John F. Kennedy, to voting rights and yesterday's baseball double-header. The words dance delightfully, perhaps best teaching strong-headed readers that there is often merit to the other side of an issue. It is lovely, tireless writing for tireless reading. --Margaret Carnes, R. E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.