Review of Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons
-
Kanika Tandon
- Posts: 562
- Joined: 12 Sep 2021, 20:55
- Currently Reading: Of winners and losers
- Bookshelf Size: 163
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kanika-tandon.html
- Latest Review: The Unfakeable Code® by Tony Jeton Selimi
Review of Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons
[Following is a volunteer review of "Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons" by Arthur Hartz.]
Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons is a satirical take on American society's age-old obsession with the concept of winning and losing. Written by Arthur Hartz, the book is a candid and thought-provoking collection of cartoons, commentary, and aphorisms.
It is a short book divided into nine chapters that begin with a discussion on winners followed by losers. The first four chapters encapsulate the winner's story, such as what makes a winner and their instant acceptance in social circles. The following four chapters are all about losers and their apparent lack of socially-approved characteristics that throw them on the lowest level of the communal totem pole. The last chapter showcases the true meaning of winning. The book wraps up with a reflective commentary by Elena Whitcombe.
I loved the brutal honesty of the author as he deftly used humor, sarcasm, and irony to comment on the American ideological divide. The winners are admired and put on a pedestal that are based on the parameters such as physical beauty, success, charming aura, intelligence, and other such winning attributes. They are not only accepted but emulated as role models. At the same time, losers are the ones who are subjected to a similar criterion and shunned by society if they fail to pass them. They are often ridiculed based on their height, weight, beauty, personality, social status, etc. The author has smartly highlighted this stark comparison between the two using aphorisms and quotes. Moreover, the brilliant monochrome illustrations by three incredibly talented artists bring credibility to the author's attempt to confront the cliched mindset of American society when it comes to winning and losing.
There are some fantastic quotes spattered throughout the book that had me laughing at the statement's irony. "We are great because we must be number one. We are miserable because we must be number one.” The quote reflects the two sides of winning. On one side, greatness is attributed to being number one. On the other hand, being on top also makes us miserable. I couldn't help but snicker at an indirect jibe at the infamous former US president, where he is seen strutting through a golf course with a smirk on his face, oblivious to the havoc he has left behind him. This particular scenario is a testimony to the winner's obvious mindlessness and deliberate ignorance of others' misery. I also agree with the commentator when she laments about how people she respected were considered failures in the eyes of the system. In comparison, people she least admired emerged victorious, which is regrettably the reality of present societal norms. Also, the author earns my appreciation as he beautifully articulates how children face constant criticism from their parents and are often made to feel like a loser.
Professional editing is evident as I did not find any grammatical errors. Furthermore, there are only two instances of major and minor profanities in the entire book. My only issue was the misogynistic attitude towards females represented in some of the featured cartoons. In the author's opinion, every woman is a gold-digger. I couldn't decipher whether it's a deliberate inclusion or the author simply presents a particular thought process of so-called winners. Therefore, I would like to give the author the benefit of doubt. Apart from this minor issue, I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is an amazing compilation of caricatures and epigraphs. And on that note, the book deserves a perfect score of 4 out of 4 stars.
I would recommend this book to readers who are cartoon fanatics like me and who appreciate satirical humor. The book will also appeal to people who lament the human's ironic and twisted take on winning and losing.
******
Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons is a satirical take on American society's age-old obsession with the concept of winning and losing. Written by Arthur Hartz, the book is a candid and thought-provoking collection of cartoons, commentary, and aphorisms.
It is a short book divided into nine chapters that begin with a discussion on winners followed by losers. The first four chapters encapsulate the winner's story, such as what makes a winner and their instant acceptance in social circles. The following four chapters are all about losers and their apparent lack of socially-approved characteristics that throw them on the lowest level of the communal totem pole. The last chapter showcases the true meaning of winning. The book wraps up with a reflective commentary by Elena Whitcombe.
I loved the brutal honesty of the author as he deftly used humor, sarcasm, and irony to comment on the American ideological divide. The winners are admired and put on a pedestal that are based on the parameters such as physical beauty, success, charming aura, intelligence, and other such winning attributes. They are not only accepted but emulated as role models. At the same time, losers are the ones who are subjected to a similar criterion and shunned by society if they fail to pass them. They are often ridiculed based on their height, weight, beauty, personality, social status, etc. The author has smartly highlighted this stark comparison between the two using aphorisms and quotes. Moreover, the brilliant monochrome illustrations by three incredibly talented artists bring credibility to the author's attempt to confront the cliched mindset of American society when it comes to winning and losing.
There are some fantastic quotes spattered throughout the book that had me laughing at the statement's irony. "We are great because we must be number one. We are miserable because we must be number one.” The quote reflects the two sides of winning. On one side, greatness is attributed to being number one. On the other hand, being on top also makes us miserable. I couldn't help but snicker at an indirect jibe at the infamous former US president, where he is seen strutting through a golf course with a smirk on his face, oblivious to the havoc he has left behind him. This particular scenario is a testimony to the winner's obvious mindlessness and deliberate ignorance of others' misery. I also agree with the commentator when she laments about how people she respected were considered failures in the eyes of the system. In comparison, people she least admired emerged victorious, which is regrettably the reality of present societal norms. Also, the author earns my appreciation as he beautifully articulates how children face constant criticism from their parents and are often made to feel like a loser.
Professional editing is evident as I did not find any grammatical errors. Furthermore, there are only two instances of major and minor profanities in the entire book. My only issue was the misogynistic attitude towards females represented in some of the featured cartoons. In the author's opinion, every woman is a gold-digger. I couldn't decipher whether it's a deliberate inclusion or the author simply presents a particular thought process of so-called winners. Therefore, I would like to give the author the benefit of doubt. Apart from this minor issue, I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is an amazing compilation of caricatures and epigraphs. And on that note, the book deserves a perfect score of 4 out of 4 stars.
I would recommend this book to readers who are cartoon fanatics like me and who appreciate satirical humor. The book will also appeal to people who lament the human's ironic and twisted take on winning and losing.
******
Winners and Losers in Words and Cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Unfakeable Code® by Tony Jeton Selimi
