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Outrageous

A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars

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Outrageous

By: Kliph Nesteroff
Narrated by: Kliph Nesteroff
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From the preeminent historian of modern comedy comes an expansive history of showbiz and the culture wars

There is a common belief that we live in unprecedented times, that people are too sensitive today, that nobody objected to the actions of actors, comedians, and filmmakers in the past. Modern pundits would have us believe that Americans of a previous generation had tougher skin and seldom complained. But does this argument hold up to scrutiny?

In Outrageous, celebrated cultural historian Kliph Nesteroff demonstrates that Americans have been objecting to entertainment for nearly two hundred years, sometimes rationally, often irrationally. Likewise, powerful political interests have sought to circumvent the arts using censorship, legal harassment, and outright propaganda. From Mae West through Johnny Carson, Amos ’n’ Andy through Beavis and Butt-Head, Outrageous chronicles the controversies of American show business and the ongoing attempts to change what we watch, read, and hear.

©2023 Kliph Nesteroff. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Censorship Freedom & Security Politics & Government Comedy Celebrity Entertainment
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Critic reviews

“Outrageous is required reading. An essential book of the social history of the United States—with laughs.”―Steve Martin

“Outrageous is an enlightening and entertaining, detailed, and wide-ranging (and fun!) overview of the never-ending war between censorship and comic voices in showbiz going all the way back into the 1800s. Kliph Nesteroff is an expert unparalleled on the history of comedy, and this couldn’t be a more perfect book for our times. I loved it.”―Bob Odenkirk

“Kliph Nesteroff is the Doris Kearns Goodwin of comedy. Outrageous is thought-provoking and often hilarious. I was only offended eight times.”―Judd Apatow

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All stars
Most relevant
A great history of the culture wars. I enjoyed this book and its look at controversy and comedy through the days of vaudeville to the modern era.

Relevant

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Everyone should read/listen to this book. It provides important context that could, hopefully, give real perspective to everyone on both sides of the culture war which perpetually waged in our society.

Important

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It's a must read, to be aware and educated about how long conservative 'think tank' ideology has existed, and how pervasive and regurgitated it has become.
I hate to recommend it, because it only takes a few chapters to understand the depressing rhetoric that gets used over and over and over throughout the decades of pop culture. I finished the book out of appreciation for the work that went into it, but after awhile, the countless examples of chosen and professed ignorance is tough to bare.
But that's why it's a must read. So that one can be aware and not devolve into the same ignorance.

Hate to say this is a must read

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generally a very good book, but should have been read by a professional. the odd emphasis and high pitched characterization got annoying at times

must read

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A perfectly researched book and much needed reading in these times. A book that doesn’t take side - it seems shows us what has happened all along the way.

In our times

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