3.5 stars - A humorous and often highly insightful collection of essays on life in America, presented in the style of "This American Life".

I initially began listening to this book several years ago but then put it aside. However, I recently came across it again on my virtual bookshelf and decided to give it another chance. The stories within it were a bit of a mixed bag for me, much like most short-story collections I've read. Some really captured my interest and engaged me deeply, while others didn't quite have the same impact.

Nevertheless, there is no denying that Sarah Vowell is an extremely talented storyteller and writer. Her ability to bring the various aspects of American life to life through her words is truly remarkable. Even when the stories didn't fully resonate with me, I still found myself impressed by her writing style and the unique perspectives she offered. I'm glad I took the time to revisit this collection and go along for the ride once more.

Overall, while it may not be a perfect collection for everyone, it does offer many enjoyable and thought-provoking moments that are well worth experiencing.

A quirky book recently caught my attention.

At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it. The story seemed to take unexpected turns, and the characters were rather eccentric.

However, as I delved deeper into the pages, I found myself becoming more and more intrigued.

The author's unique writing style added to the charm of the book, making it a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

By the time I reached the end, my feelings about it were all over the place.

On one hand, I was sad to see the story come to an end. On the other hand, I was relieved to have finally finished it.

But overall, I have no regrets about reading this quirky book. It has opened my eyes to a new world of literature and has left a lasting impression on me.

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and engaging read.

I have a great affection for Sarah Vowell. That's why I downloaded this particular item while waiting for a couple of holds to become available. Little did I know that the essays were over 20 years old. However, there is something quite refreshing about listening to the doom and gloom from decades ago and coming to the realization that Vowell's motto holds true - it can indeed get worse! So very much worse!

But on the other hand, our democracy has endured for this long. Maybe, just maybe, we can manage to keep it going. There were certain sections that made me laugh out loud. It's possible that her style and content may not appeal to everyone, but for me, I heartily enjoyed it. Her unique perspective and the way she presents her thoughts and ideas make for an engaging and thought-provoking listen. I look forward to exploring more of her work in the future.

Overall, despite the age of the essays, they still have a relevance and charm that make them worth experiencing. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in politics, history, or just a good read.

Her books have always been renowned for their unique blend of humor, cleverness, and informativeness.

This particular book is no different. It continues to uphold the high standards that she has set with her previous works.

The author's ability to infuse her writing with a sense of wit and charm makes the reading experience not only enjoyable but also intellectually stimulating.

Each page is filled with interesting facts and engaging stories that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Whether you are looking for a light-hearted read or something that will expand your knowledge, this book has it all.

It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good literature and wants to be entertained while learning something new.

So, if you haven't already picked up a copy of this amazing book, what are you waiting for?

Another outstanding work from Sarah Vowell.

I had the pleasure of reading the entire first half of the book during a trans-Atlantic plane flight, which also involved plenty of napping.

Each chapter is concise, self-contained, and highly entertaining, making it the perfect distraction for a long flight.

My absolute favorite chapters were the first one, which focused on Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, and the last one, which delved into Teddy Roosevelt's time in North Dakota. Interestingly, neither Sarah Vowell nor I was aware that TR had not only visited but also lived in ND.

There was another chapter about the Gore/Bush election that was uncannily reflective of the latest election. It was as if she had a premonition of what was to come.

This book is a collection of eclectic, funny, erudite, and thought-provoking essays by a "partly cloudy patriot" (in contrast to Thomas Paine's "sunshine patriot").

It is a person who deeply loves her country and has a strong desire for it to reach its full potential.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, politics, and social commentary.

Sarah Vowell is not a psychic. In her essay collection The Partly Cloudy Patriot, which was published in 2002, some of her observations have been overtaken by reality as the 21st century has had its share of disappointments. For example, her vision of the Internet as the "nerd Israel" now seems ironic. And her assertion about the "Don't Tread on Me" flag being coopted by those with anti-American agendas is also interesting. However, a lot of the book is still relevant and timely. The title essay, in particular, still strikes a chord with readers. Vowell is a patriot who approaches the United States with a sharp tongue, open eyes, and a bleeding heart. She understands why the idea and ideal of "America" are important, even in difficult times. And maybe that's why her words still resonate with me today, twenty years after the book was published. I really should not have waited so long to read more of her work.

Straight up, I am truly not a devotee of Sarah Vowell's infatuation with American exceptionalism and blatant liberal partisanship.

There were segments of this book that made me discard it in abhorrence. Like the part about Sarah and her nerdy politico internet friends going to George W. Bush's first inauguration to "witness" the supposed fact that not every American just stood idly by while the election was stolen. Blah blah blah. Standing on the mall and crying one's eyes out is hardly going to transform the world. Anyway, she claims to have had an epiphany that "this country enslaved people, we got the president we deserved." Uh... I think there are a great many black Americans who are likely not at all impressed with the fact that the United States once permitted slavery and probably also did not vote for George W. Bush. I'm at a loss for words at this point as it's so mind-boggling. Does Sarah Vowell assume that only white people read her books? It's as if she doesn't even attempt to consider any other audience. And I know, I know, when one is on national public radio as frequently as she is, it's reasonable to assume that her audience will be mostly white people. But still!

Then there was her piece about how obnoxious it is when people compare themselves to Rosa Parks. Because, you know, Rosa Parks was such a unique individual, defying institutionalized racism, a lone freedom fighter in the guise of a weary middle-aged lady just trying to get home after a long day, sparking the civil rights movement with her rebellious refusal to give up her seat on the bus. This is what we've been taught, and this is the bright, shiny, pretty idea that Sarah Vowell clings to with all her might. Never mind that the bus boycotts were premeditated, and Rosa Parks was specifically chosen from among all those already working tirelessly on tedious but well-organized civil rights campaigns to deliberately get on a bus, refuse to give up her seat, and become the face of civil rights. I understand that well-organized activist campaigns that tug at people's heartstrings with good PR aren't as thrilling to the heart of a patriot as the myth of the charismatic individual challenging the system and igniting the hearts of the people. But... the reality of pragmatic political organizing is far more exciting to me personally.

This is my entire gripe with Sarah Vowell. She buys into all the myths of American history. Jefferson can be forgiven for owning (and raping) slaves because he was such an outstanding writer. Lincoln was a rousing orator who wept at the thought of another human being being enslaved. Teddy Roosevelt was a charming, sad nerd. Rosa Parks was just a regular everyday lady with no prior connection to the civil rights movement before her single decision on a bus one day changed everything. American exceptionalism requires these myths to survive, but they're just a load of nonsense. The reality is far more complex, far more muddled. It means looking at one's heroes and acknowledging that they were deeply flawed and conflicted. It means admitting that history is not inevitable, and that the nice guys on white horses aren't going to come galloping in and save you if you wait patiently enough. She actually states at one point that she takes it as a given that people in other parts of the world "hate us for being American." Um... okay, George W. Bush. Seriously, what the fuck? I have never thought that anyone hates Americans just for being Americans. I can understand that maybe they hate the United States because the U.S. is an imperialist superpower whose control of the world has been built on the oppression, extermination, and marginalization of millions upon millions of people.

Whatever. Basically, I loathed this book and I don't understand the people who adore Sarah Vowell. Her worldview is so simplistic. There is a way to engage with the things you love about your life, your surroundings, your political involvement, whatever, without this kind of bullshit partisan hand-on-heart corny nonsense.

Kind of a mixed bag of interesting things I didn't know, boring facts I didn't care about, and snark. Some snark was funny, just like Sarah Vowell is. However, other times, it just seemed to be constant. I'm a fan of sarcasm, but too much back-to-back can be, well, I don't know the right word... irritating? It reminded me of the TV show "Two Broke Girls" that I dislike for the same reason: snark overload.

I do like her passion for history and her ability to parallel and compare the historical mind-set to more contemporary issues and advantages. The fact that I listened to it on audio might have distracted me from her writing, perhaps. Which is strange because she has such an unusual voice that I enjoy listening to.

Overall, it was okay. I'm not sorry I listened to it. It had its moments of interest and entertainment, but also had some aspects that could have been toned down a bit. Still, it was an experience that I'm glad I had, and it made me think about various historical and contemporary topics in a different way.

Well, I have to admit that I was somewhat confused about what this book was really supposed to be about. Was it an exploration of a history nerd's civic pride? Her forays into Americana? A memoir? Random thoughts about cultural miscellanea? Social commentary on the state of government and politics in this country? The answer is yes to all of the above! And this is precisely why I remain unclear as to whether or not I truly enjoyed reading this book.

Sarah Vowell's collection of essays starts off strong with a piece about America's most beloved president, Abe Lincoln, which was truly captivating. Her thoughtful and perceptive writing actually made me question my own civic pride. Or more specifically: where did my civic pride go? I was once like Vowell - a history geek with a penchant for all things civics. I was on the Constitutional Civics debate team in high school, and like her, couldn't wait to turn 18 so I could vote. She reignited my curiosity about turning points in our country. Have I even read the Gettysburg Address? Do I really know the details behind The Civil War? Can I quote Thomas Paine? Do I even remember who Thomas Paine is? The answer is most likely "Probably Not" to all. That Vowell manages to be educational, whimsical, charming, and thought-provoking all at the same time is a remarkable achievement for any writer. And even though I am familiar with her work from NPR's "This American Life", I was still pleasantly surprised.

However, for every essay that makes me analyze our government and our duty as a patriot, she offsets it with a non sequitur essay about Tom Cruise, or working at a map store, or an ode to a deceased football coach, among others. Her shift from topic to topic actually made it difficult for me to fully engage with the book. Again, it became a question of what this book was really about. I guess you could argue that all of these essays have something to say about America in general: our obsession with the all-American boy next door, Tom Cruise, for example, or America's favorite violent pastime, football. But that's not what these essays were about, at least not from the perspective I got from Vowell. What I sensed was that these essays were filler for a book that was supposed to be about her adventures in America as a die-hard patriot, and she lacked enough material to make her case.

Even David Sedaris's books of essays - another "This American Life" alum and perhaps the most celebrated - work best when there is a unifying thread. Without a central theme, Vowell's book feels like a hodgepodge collection of certain essays she couldn't get published elsewhere. I mean, I'm all for variety and not every essay has to be similar in tone to the previous one. However, following up a particularly interesting piece about Gore's presidential campaign and sensational journalism with an essay about her love of pop-a-shot basketball, I found myself scratching my head. It's okay to bring in some comic relief, but even comic relief should have something meaningful to say. And this essay about basketball, as well as a few others on similar fluffy topics, really didn't say much. Its placement in the book easily diminished some of the power behind her viewpoints.

Furthermore, not only do David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell have unique writing styles, they also have unique speaking voices, and many of their pieces are often better understood and appreciated when heard read aloud by the writer. Anyone familiar with Vowell from the radio or interviews will know that she has a strong lisp and a higher-pitched voice than most. And I don't mean to be sexist, but you are almost completely taken aback that such brilliant and hilarious commentary can come from such a voice. Several of the pieces in "Partly Cloudy Patriot" I think I would have enjoyed more if I had actually heard her speaking them aloud. Her writing tends to lend itself to aural storytelling, and in the case of "Underground Lunchroom" and "The Strenuous Life" (essays from the book), some of the charm is lost because they don't have her quirky voice to accompany them.

What I do love about Sarah Vowell and reading her books or listening to her on the radio is that she is a fantastic observer. She sees the world from a true citizen's point of view - caught in the eternal conflict of loving her country and being dissatisfied with her place in it as a citizen. I absolutely adore the following quotes that best reveal who she is, her world view, and what makes her writing so engaging when she's on point:
"I'm a sucker for Puritan New England and the Civil War. Because those two subjects feature the central tension of American life, the conflict between freedom and community, between individual will and the public good...I'm two parts loner and one part joiner, so I feel at home delving into the epic struggles for togetherness."
"The most remarkable thing about the Mounties was their mandate: one law. One law for everyone, Indian or white. The United States makes a big to-do about all men being created equal, but we're still working out the kinks of turning that idea into actual policy."
"Walking in New York is a battle of the wills, a balance of aggression and kindness. I'm not saying it's always easy. The occasional 'Watch where you're going, bitch' can, I admit, put a damper on one's day. But I believe all the choreography has made me a better person. The other day, in the subway at 5:30, I was crammed in with my sweaty, crabby fellow citizens, and I kept whispering under my breath 'we the people, we the people'...reminding myself that we're all in this together and they had as much right - exactly as much right - as I to be in the muggy underground on their way to wherever..."

So why ultimately only 2 stars instead of 3? When I finished the book and then proceeded to read the copyright information (as I always do for some reason when I'm done with a book), I discovered that 11 out of 19 essays had been previously published elsewhere. Considering that I already had trouble following the logic of the book based on its disjointed theme, I felt this was almost lazy book marketing at its worst. Also, taking into account that it's not a long book anyway, 11 essays means over a third of the book is not new material. This really bothered me, especially since almost half of these 11 previously published essays - including pieces about New German cinema, shooting hoops, Thanksgiving with her family, Tom Cruise, and dead football coach Tom Landry - really had no business being in the book in the first place.
Recently I saw an interview with Sarah Vowell on The Daily Show, talking about the posthumous release of deceased essayist David Rakoff's latest novel. She was absolutely sharp, funny, and her jabs and zingers even threw well-seasoned comedian John Oliver for a loop. I wish the same energy, vibe, and humor had been applied to this book. Granted, "Partly Cloudy Patriot" is over 10 years old, so she has probably had plenty of time to refine her humor, and I hope, write much more focused books.

This collection of Vowell's essays, while perhaps not aging exceedingly well overall, does have two notable exceptions.

The first exception is the closing essay. In it, Vowell offers a fascinating musing on Teddy Roosevelt, North Dakota, and the lasting legacy of a truly badass American president. It delves into the unique character and impact of Roosevelt, painting a vivid picture of his significance.

The second exception is a piece from Al Gore's campaign trail. Here, Gore stops at a New Hampshire school to address their fears about school shooters. However, he is unjustly excoriated by the media, who choose to mis-hear a single word in his speech. What is truly terrifying is how applicable this is to today, a full eighteen years later. It serves as a stark reminder of the power of the media and the importance of accurate reporting in a society where such issues continue to be relevant and pressing.

Overall, while the collection may have its flaws, these two essays stand out as particularly engaging and thought-provoking pieces that offer valuable insights into different aspects of American history and politics.

I just completely got stuck in the middle of a long essay about the 200 presidential election.

It's really frustrating. I had been working on it for quite some time, but suddenly, I found myself at a loss for words.

I don't know what to write next or how to continue developing my ideas.

The topic seemed so vast and complex, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of information.

Oh, well. Maybe I just need to take a break and come back to it with a fresh mind.

I hope that when I return, I'll be able to find the inspiration and clarity I need to finish this essay.

Until then, I'll just have to wait and see.

In the midst of an overwhelming amount of academic reading, I was in desperate need of a break! Ever since I read 'Take The Cannoli', I have been a huge fan of Ms. Vowell's remarkable wit. This book has truly lived up to my expectations and rewarded my loyalty. Her relationship with the history of the U.S. is both personal and free from excessive sentimentality, and her writing is delightfully funny without being overly irreverent.

Two of my favorite passages so far are as follows. Just the other day, while waiting for the post office to open in my neighborhood Starbucks, I was savoring a delicious chocolately caffe mocha. It suddenly dawned on me that drinking a mocha is like gulping down the entire history of the New World. From the Spanish exportation of Aztec cacao to the Dutch invention of the chemical process for making cocoa, and all the way to the capitalist empire of Hershey, PA, and the lifestyle marketing of Seattle's Starbucks, the modern mocha is a complex and bittersweet concoction of imperialism, genocide, invention, and consumerism, served with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

And another passage that caught my attention is this. There is something aesthetically pleasing about trading one engraving - an old map - for another - American money. What could be more perfect than someone paying for that book with all the Cherokees with a big fat roll of twenty-dollar bills, exchanging the graven images of Andrew Jackson, Mr. Trail of Tears himself, for the tribe he sought to destroy?

So, although Ms. Vowell may have outgrown existentialism and might scoff at my plans to watch Bergman's films on the big screen this weekend, her words are filled with a kind of wry observation of the world that even an art snob like me can thoroughly enjoy. ;)