Reviews for The Infiltrator: My Undercover Exploits in Right-Wing America

The average rating for The Infiltrator: My Undercover Exploits in Right-Wing America based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-10-04 00:00:00 Guernina Hamza Comedian Harmon Leon is back with his gonzo style of "infiltration" journalism. Although the cover promises exploits among the right-wingers, several of the stories take place among such cultural institutions as e-mail scammers and reality TV shows. The time-share chapter, in which Leon and a friend play a Vegas-crazed married couple, had me laughing so hard I almost choked on my lunch. That's the good part. The bad part is that Leon's work could still use polish. Although his work has improved since the rapid-fire typos of Republican Like Me, I still think ol' Harmon could use a better editor. Of most interest to me personally was the chapter titled "Save the Cute Animals." As an animal protection advocate, I often cringe when mainstream humorists look at our movement, as let's face it, some groups don't make us look too great. I prepared for the worst when Leon introduced the chapter with "we've got to examine ourselves…in order to point out why the Right calls us 'moonbats' or, even worse, 'the Loony left.'" However, Leon's mindset by the end of the chapter was improved, or as least improved as it could have been when the author's whole point is to poke fun at his subjects. The author makes the usual criticisms ("cute" animals get all the attention; some forms of cruelty are protested while others are ignored, etc.). However, he attends each protest geared up to encounter some paint-throwing, law-breaking militants, and each time he is "let down" when the activists turn out to be peaceful. After participating in a foie gras protest, Leon concludes, "Though I was disappointed that sinks weren't clogged with cement or that cars weren't vandalized, the kindness and organization of the protestors won me over." I felt so proud that so many of my fellow animal advocates realize that the only way toward a humane world is to act peacefully and respectfully, and are defying the crude stereotypes the opposition so loves to toss around. Note: Veg*ns who shun PETA's ads as sexist will be rolling their eyes at this 'suggestion for a better protest': "Hire those naked, hot supermodels."

Review # 2 was written on 2009-02-24 00:00:00 Mary Hamlin This was one of the funniest books I have ever read. i have loaned it to friends and they have all agreed. It is a collection of short stories so it is very easy to read and it does a great job at making fun of just how ridiculous some people in American society are.