Despatch from Lord Lyons respecting the Reciprocity Treaty Book

I read this book because the author is spoken of very highly by one of my favorite writers, Dave Barry. This book is a collection of newspaper columns written by Buchwald in the 1990s and shortly after 9/11.
I found the post 9/11 work to be fairly engaging, especially the column written immediately after the attacks. Much of the 1990s work, however, is simply OK, in my opinion. I should note that while I did not have any disagreement or issue with the content of the work, the style was not one that I find captivating.
To be exact, while there is humor in the book, it is a bit more gentle than I prefer. I think this is a "me problem", though, not a knock at Mr. Buchwald. Another style element that did not connect with me is his frequent use of setting up fictionalized conversations as a way of expressing his point.
Again, none of those criticisms are directed at Mr. Buchwald, I just did not connect with his writing.