Review of Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons

Post by **Lorraine De Vos** » 19 Sep 2021, 06:09

[Following is a volunteer review of "Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons" by Arthur Hartz.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons by Arthur Hartz is a compilation of satirical cartoons about the obsession Americans have with being the best at everything.

This book is not just a selection of cartoons for the sake of being funny but requires active intellectual participation. Each cartoon and subsequent saying points at societal expectations and inadequacies. The author is aiming to bring attention to the fact that, as a society, we have become fanatical about winning. Our lack of self-awareness and empathy has brought us to a point where we undervalue people who had no choice in their heritage or genetic make-up, and we overvalue people on the opposite side of the spectrum. Bringing these matters to light through sardonic humor allows for an introspective evaluation for all the right reasons.

Hartz combines the topic of a group of cartoons with a suitable chapter heading for each of them. The black and white cartoons bring forth the simplicity of the problem perfectly. His main topic is that if you are an average-looking person, with average capabilities and an average life in general, society looks down on your achievements. Whereas arbitrary genetic superiority is viewed as an achievement to be admired. Although I doubt this book will inspire any kind of change in the current functionality of the societal hierarchy, I do enjoy the fact that he pokes fun at the situation as a whole.

There is an instance of profanity and underlying sexual innuendo, but it is not overdone. I would recommend this book to readers looking for thought-provoking scrutiny of the expectations our culture has of individuals. If you thought this was just a simple and fun book of cartoons, you were very wrong. It is provocative and stimulating, to say the least. I would not recommend this book to readers younger than sixteen. There is an intellectual level that requires some maturity acquired through age.

I have read other works by this author, and I can satisfactorily say that he does not mince his words. His cartoons bring to mind the old saying of: ‘It’s funny because it’s true”. His books are always impeccably edited and artistically unassailable. I am thoroughly amused and can contentedly award this book a solid rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I hope to read many more of this author’s galvanizing books. I am unquestionably becoming a fan.

******
Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon