Amazon Review Wank (Other Than Anne Rice)
Via a mouse on wank_report: Now, a book with a title like "Women Who Make the World Worse: and How Their Radical Feminist Assault Is Ruining Our Schools, Families, Military, and Sports" couldn't POSSIBLY spawn wank, could it?

Accusations of Amazon deleting one-star reviews, references to an apparent passage about Sex in the City, and jabs at both the Left and the Right abound. Many of the reviews speak for themselves. Some highlights:

D. Taylor "Closet Reader" (five stars; [the title of the review is the same as the book's title]): Kate hit the nail right on the head. This book was so well researched and written. Fact don't lie and anyone taking execption to this book had better read it first and then check the facts.

Jane Austen (one star; "Don't Waste Your Time or Money"): Kate O'Beirne mananges to write a lengthy book of her opinions, which are supported by nothing but venom. She cites little or no supporting documentation for her misogynistic views. It's unfortunate that a woman who clearly benefited in her career from the work of women before her is so willing to trash those who paved the way. If you believe that women are inferior to men (clearly Ms. O'Beirne, herself excluded, believes this), this is the book for you.

W. Vaughn (five stars, "The Truth is Difficult to Fight"): Kate's got it right. For those of you posting reviews that have NOT actually read the book, might I suggest you do.

Knee-jerk liberal reaction is common when the subject, as so often is (because it's true), the damage that liberals have wrought on this country. Kate O'Beirne is no knee-jerker though. The book is thoroughly researched, impeccably foot-noted, and I'm sure was vetted to Nth degree by the Publisher's lawyers.

If you're interested in facts and not accusations, read the book!

annburns "cuda" (one star, "Just so bad..."): Well, I went out today and read this at Borders. Thought I should at least give it a chance. It was like listening to your conspiracy laden batty aunt for two hours.

I have read the book. It's just tedious. Unlike "The War Against Boys", it provokes nothing but fatigue.

Also, Amazon has deleted a bunch of one star reviews and left all the five star reviews. Be careful. Google might be fighting the good fight but Amazon, yahoo, msn, ... are not. I'm sure this review will be disappeared in a few minutes, so for now - be careful what you buy.

One review in particular gave me pause:

Mark Barbieri (five stars; "Just Say No!"): Speech codes have really helped on our college campuses. We need to spread them from the campuses and around the world. Hate speech like this should be banned! I am a zealous supporter of a woman's right to choose (except, of course, for choosing silicone breast implants, choosing to stay at home with their children, or choosing their children's school), but this is one choice we MUST protect them from. Buy (or steal) all of the copies of this book and burn them! No more lies! Destroy the haters!

Finally, what huge wank is truly complete without outright sarcasm?

T.J. Brown (five stars; "Awesome Book that I have not read!"): Hey everyone! I have not read this book! That's OK, because this apparently is not a requirement to review a book. I do know that Kate O'Beirne is a brilliant conservative ideologue, and that even if one doesn't agree with her, O'Beirne's arguments give one food for thought.

I might buy this book, but I might not. I actually have a stack of other books on my nightstand. I just finished reading The Chicago Bears and Super Bowl XX: The Rise and Self-Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History by John Mullin. It's a fun, easy read on the cultural phenomenon that was the 1985 Chicago Bears. I'd recommend that to anyone in a second.

I'd guess that if you're conservative, or if you like provocative and well-researched arguments, you'd like O'Beirne's book. But, honestly I don't know what the book's about. It could be about the 1964 Phillies for all I know. You can't judge a book by its cover, right?

But don't you think it's a little strange that Amazon will let anyone review a book, even if said person did not buy the book from Amazon? So, yeah, I'd say this review is as helpful as any of the others on this page!

And that's just a sample-- there's plenty more where that came from!