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“Driving Like Crazy”, by PJ O’Rourke; a meta-review“Driving Like Crazy” is a collection of vehicle-related essays and articles, written by PJ O’Rourke and was released in South Africa in October 2009. O’Rourke is an American political satirist, journalist and writer. This homage to the glory days of the American automobile includes road trips to places as diverse as Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Islamabad and Calcutta, in vehicles ranging from Buicks and Land Rovers to Harley-Davidsons.
What is it all about?
Spanning his journalism career of 30 years, many of the entries were previously published in publications such as “National Lampoon”, “Esquire”, “Forbes” and “Rolling Stone”. However, O’Rourke has added a twist: Hindsight being 20/20, the author comments on and criticises his own work, including his famed 1979 article, “How to drive fast on drugs while getting your wing-wang squeezed and not spill your drink”.
Throughout the book, O’Rourke laments the rise to power of "The Fun Suckers" – those behind the introduction of pollution controls, safety features and speed limits.
However, O’Rourke himself – now over 60 and a father of three – is seen to struggle with what “The Michigan Review” calls his "urge to succumb to practicality and buy a minivan".
Who is the author?
“Driving Like Crazy” is PJ O’Rourke’s 15th book. Two of his previous books, “Parliament of Whores” and “Give War a Chance”, reached number one on the best-seller list of “The New York Times”.
O’Rourke is a gonzo journalist, libertarian, conservative, anti-leftist and pro-lifer. However, although he still uses a typewriter, he denies being a Luddite.
What do others say?
“Driving Like Crazy” was well received by those who appreciate O’Rourke’s dry wit and deadpan humour – and who do not mind some below-the-belt jokes now and again. The collection is said to bring to life the days when V8s, booze and torque-hungry small-town girls were a key feature of American culture.
However, although intentionally meant to irritate, his right-wing political agenda can be jarring.
Also, his staunch followers have criticised the fact that his age has brought with it a tameness that takes away from the quality of his writing.
“The New York Times”: "Yes, this book is a monument to slash-and-burn living, glorifying old cars whose miles-per-gallon ratings read like shoe sizes and indulgent off-road races conducted in fragile terrain. The thing is, you’ll hardly hear the cries of the rare lizards and cactuses being ground to extinction under O’Rourke’s tires because you’ll be laughing too hard."
“The Independent”: "Most other pieces [in the book] lack the snappiness and cheeky one-liners of his earlier work. Increasingly, they rely for humour on indulging his uninhibited disgust with anything to the left of Ronald Reagan… “Driving Like Crazy” still has a fair amount of poke, but also plenty of drag."
“The Michigan Review”: "You don’t have to be a gear head to enjoy this book, but it might be hard to resist rebuilding your car’s engine – or at least revving it up at a stoplight – after you’ve put it down."
How do I get hold of it?
“Driving Like Crazy” is published in South Africa by Penguin. It is available at Exclusive Books at a recommended retail price of R220.
