Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin Forty Years of Funny Stuff

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Start your review of Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff

Jul 18, 2012 Melki rated it really liked it

"The average shelf life of a book is somewhere between milk and yogurt. Books by Dan Brown and Danielle Steele may have a longer shelf life, but they contain preservatives."
Calvin Trillin

If there is such a thing as "polite sardonicism," Calvin Trillin is its poster boy. He's cranky, cynical, mocking, distainful, and satiric . . . but at the same time, he's such a nice guy about it!

Who else is willing and able to discuss with equal candor and grace, both Chicken a la King and Rod Blagojevich

"The average shelf life of a book is somewhere between milk and yogurt. Books by Dan Brown and Danielle Steele may have a longer shelf life, but they contain preservatives."
Calvin Trillin

If there is such a thing as "polite sardonicism," Calvin Trillin is its poster boy. He's cranky, cynical, mocking, distainful, and satiric . . . but at the same time, he's such a nice guy about it!

Who else is willing and able to discuss with equal candor and grace, both Chicken a la King and Rod Blagojevich? From subjects such as the constitutionality of putting smelly perfume samples in magazines, to one man's abject horror when he first noticed a pull-down diaper changing table - in a men's room, Trillin expounds with the best.

...I occasionally passed signs on the highway in Nova Scotia that said TIDAL BORE, and I assumed they were warning motorists about the presence of someone lurking around there waiting to tell you a whole lot more about tides than you ever wanted to know.
Whenever I saw a TIDAL BORE sign, I jammed my foot on the accelerator. Even after the true meaning was explained to me, I couldn't get over the idea that a living, talking tidal bore was just waiting to tell me at great length about the connection of tides and the phases of the moon. I couldn't get over the idea that another sign down the road might say MILES PER GALLON BORE. Then there would be another sign saying TRIP TO EUROPE BORE, and just off the road, half hidden by a clump of bushes, he'd be there, waiting. What's that in his hand? A carousel full of slides!

Probably my favorite bits concerned a time when Trillin took a job writing a humor column for The Nation, working for "the wily and parsimonious" Victor S. Navasky.
They met for lunch to discuss Trillin's salary.

"We were thinking of something in the high two figures," Navasky said.
"What exactly do you mean by the high two figures?" I said.
"Sixty-five dollars," Navasky said.
"Sixty-five dollars! That sounds like the middle two fingers to me. When I hear 'high two figures,' I start thinking eighty-five, maybe ninety."

Later, Navasky questions Trillin on some of the quotations he is using in his columns.

He says, "Did John Foster Dulles really say, 'You can't fool all of the people all of the time, but you might as well give it your best shot'?" I say, "At these rates, you can't expect real quotes."

Classic!

Last, but not least, the book includes the definitive article on fruitcake.

"Well, now that you mention it," I said, "nobody in the history of the United States has ever bought a fruitcake for himself. People have bought turnips for themselves. People have bought any number of Brussels sprouts for themselves. But no one has ever bought a fruitcake for himself. That does tell you a little something about fruitcakes."

That reminds me, I need to get one for my mother-in-law for Christmas . . .

...more

Apr 26, 2014 Randee rated it really liked it

I adore Calvin Trillin. I started reading him when I was a teenager and he never fails to deliver. I don't think you need to be a midwesterner to find his dry, subtle wit hilarious but it may help. I come from a Swedish Polish background. One year for Christmas, I gave two of my Swedish aunts the book 'Scandanavian Humor and Other Myths.' Not only did they not find it humorous, I don't think they even 'got' the title. I saw not only them in this book but a number of our friends and relatives. Bu I adore Calvin Trillin. I started reading him when I was a teenager and he never fails to deliver. I don't think you need to be a midwesterner to find his dry, subtle wit hilarious but it may help. I come from a Swedish Polish background. One year for Christmas, I gave two of my Swedish aunts the book 'Scandanavian Humor and Other Myths.' Not only did they not find it humorous, I don't think they even 'got' the title. I saw not only them in this book but a number of our friends and relatives. But getting back to Calvin Trillin, no matter how long he has lived in New York and lived a sophisticated life, he maintains a midwestern sensibility. This is a collection of his best essays from the last 40 years and I smiled my way through every one of them. ...more

Mar 05, 2012 Diane rated it liked it

I've been reading Calvin Trillin's funny books for a long time, and his ode to his wife Alice, About Alice, is one of the loveliest books about a marriage that you'll ever read. (Many people give this book as a bridal shower gift, and it's great idea.)

So I looked forward to a compilation of his New Yorker columns, his The Nation humorous political poetry and so much more into one book. Some of his best stuff is here, and I chuckled at such comments as:
"Math was my worst subject. I was never able to convince the mathematics teacher that many of my answers were meant ironically."
I always tell my sons to beware of people who scream the loudest about other's moral weaknesses, that they have something to hide, and a Trillin political poem from 2007 speaks to that reads:
"Once more, for right-wing folks it really rankles
To see who's caught with pants around his ankles.
Who's next? Who knows?
But some would take the view
That sanctimony is often quite a clue."

Trillin, who grew up in the midwest and still has that sensibility, now lives in New York City, and his comic observations about city life are dead on, including this one:
"I live in Greenwich Village, where people from the suburbs come on weekends to test their car alarms."

His funniest stuff includes his attempts to reason logically with his young daughters and his ongoing arguments with a magazine publisher whom Trillin feels doesn't pay him enough for his work. Alice is here as well, and her presence is definitely a welcome addition.

This is a book best read in short chunks, and I read it daily while on the treadmill, which was perfect. Some of the earlier political stuff may feel a bit stale, and younger people may not have a clue as to who some of these people are, but they will know George W. Bush, a frequent comic target for Trillin.

Calvin Trillin is one of smartest, funniest writers around, and this is a terrific compilation for his many, many fans.

...more

Aug 03, 2012 Aleeda rated it really liked it

I can imagine, a hundred years ago or so, that people reading Mark Twain were having the same reaction to his humor that I am having in this century to Calvin Trillin. Calvin Trillin is the reason I sneak off with my partner's current issue of New Yorker.

His essays are brief, witty, self-effacing and revealing about life with his late wife Alice in NYC--their food and travel adventures, or explaining the inexplicable to your child. Mr. Trillin is also a particularly witty poet, his subjects ranging from Mike Huckabee & Michelle Obama to Condoleeza Rice & Bill Clinton. No one is spared. As a native NYer, a foodie and a travel lover, I can empathize with some of the situations he comically describes. He also proves my point that there is no NYer so harsh as a transplant--Calvin Trillin is from MO. He describes his home as "lives in Greenwich Village, where out-of-towners come to test their car alarms on weekends".

This collection is a great all-round intro to Mr. Trillin's writing. If you enjoy food writing, I highly suggest the "Tummy Trilogy" of American Fried, Alice, Let's Eat and Third Helpings.

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I have always been a Trillin fan. He makes me laugh and he makes me think. An essayist par excellence, he is adept at cracking wise, the pointed jibe, the succinct critique of the "zeitgeist," especially the foibles and failings of politicos and media darlings. His food writing is spiced with humor and expresses his deep appreciation of good eating. His writes movingly about family life, and in his novel, Tepper Isn't Going Out, he shows his love for his adopted city of New York. He can dash off I have always been a Trillin fan. He makes me laugh and he makes me think. An essayist par excellence, he is adept at cracking wise, the pointed jibe, the succinct critique of the "zeitgeist," especially the foibles and failings of politicos and media darlings. His food writing is spiced with humor and expresses his deep appreciation of good eating. His writes movingly about family life, and in his novel, Tepper Isn't Going Out, he shows his love for his adopted city of New York. He can dash off a snappy poem on the current state of the election as well as tackle a serious topic with sensitivity. With this collection of works he originally wrote for the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Nation, and his syndicated King Features column, I was very pleased to re-visit some of his best.

(Barbara L., Reader's Services)

...more

Oct 28, 2018 William Leight rated it really liked it

My previous exposure to Calvin Trillin was largely through his food writing, some of which was funny but most of which was just not that interesting to vegetarians, or to anybody who doesn't share Trillin's obsession with Kansas City BBQ. This collection is considerably more wide-ranging and a lot funnier: Trillin reminds me of Robert Benchley, though without the latter's absurdist streak. His political humor tends to date itself rather quickly, unfortunately. Certainly recommended if you're loo My previous exposure to Calvin Trillin was largely through his food writing, some of which was funny but most of which was just not that interesting to vegetarians, or to anybody who doesn't share Trillin's obsession with Kansas City BBQ. This collection is considerably more wide-ranging and a lot funnier: Trillin reminds me of Robert Benchley, though without the latter's absurdist streak. His political humor tends to date itself rather quickly, unfortunately. Certainly recommended if you're looking for a laugh without the investment of a novel. ...more

Dec 13, 2015 Lily rated it liked it

A delight. A real snippet in history, spanning Calvin Trillin's forty year essayist career. He writes about being equal parts Jewish and Midwestern, his David-Brooks-like outsider take on the politics of the whatever decade he's in, and some very sweet musings on his wife. His poems and couplets really reminded me of Dad's style whenever he is called to make a speech and goes the whimsical route. A delight. A real snippet in history, spanning Calvin Trillin's forty year essayist career. He writes about being equal parts Jewish and Midwestern, his David-Brooks-like outsider take on the politics of the whatever decade he's in, and some very sweet musings on his wife. His poems and couplets really reminded me of Dad's style whenever he is called to make a speech and goes the whimsical route. ...more

Apr 13, 2014 Steve Peifer rated it really liked it

Trillin is the king of the opening line. I think the funniest opening line of all time is 'The greatest restaurants in the world are, of course, in Kansas City.' If you don't find that funny, skip this book. I actually like some of his other books better, but once we lost Mike Royko, Trillin is the best we have. He is worth your time. Trillin is the king of the opening line. I think the funniest opening line of all time is 'The greatest restaurants in the world are, of course, in Kansas City.' If you don't find that funny, skip this book. I actually like some of his other books better, but once we lost Mike Royko, Trillin is the best we have. He is worth your time. ...more

Nov 10, 2015 Alvin rated it liked it

Trillin writes like a kind of a liberal, foodie, Yiddishe James Thurber. Sweet and silly, with a subterranean moral agenda. Mostly it works, but sometimes a certain midwestern corniness goes a little too far and gets in the way. Full disclosure: I skipped about a third of the book, including all the poetry.

Jul 20, 2018 Robert rated it really liked it

I don't know what struck me, but I started reading this Calvin Trillin - and laughed so loud and so often that I had to keep reading. He is, of course a brillian columnist, with a lot of serious and thoughtful stuff out there (and a few novels as well). But....I had somehow missed how FUNNY he is. If you want a break from this craziness with Trump, you could do worse than read this. I don't know what struck me, but I started reading this Calvin Trillin - and laughed so loud and so often that I had to keep reading. He is, of course a brillian columnist, with a lot of serious and thoughtful stuff out there (and a few novels as well). But....I had somehow missed how FUNNY he is. If you want a break from this craziness with Trump, you could do worse than read this. ...more

I'm super done with charmingly mediocre white men. I'm super done with charmingly mediocre white men. ...more

Vacillating between funny and trivial

Nov 01, 2011 Laurie Gold rated it really liked it

My grade is somewhere between a B and B+, but I rounded up because I'm such a Calvin Trillin fangirl. Here's the start of my review for Amazon:

"Calvin Trillin is a wonderfully funny storyteller, whether or not his stories are true or fictional. He's a quintessential New Yorker, but his appeal is universal, if more than a little ethnic. I'd read previously many of the essays included in this new compilation, but re-reading them was just as funny the second time around. The essays, some of which are more than thirty years old, remain funny today; many that were written in the Reagan era could have been written last week. The included essays are short enough and filled with enough gems of humor that they simply cry out to be read aloud, and in this instance my husband was the happy recipient."

If you'd like to read the full review, click here.

...more

Feb 19, 2012 Caro rated it really liked it

In a stellar collection, three pieces stand out. The Alice Tax states simply that "After a certain level of income, the government would simply take everything...The ruling principle of the Alice Tax is the concept of enoughness." After all, after you make $10 million, how many more millions do you really need? Alice is also the recipient of Iran, meaning that her loving husband excused her from keeping up with the news from there - he would shoulder the burden. (In return, she gave him Cyprus, In a stellar collection, three pieces stand out. The Alice Tax states simply that "After a certain level of income, the government would simply take everything...The ruling principle of the Alice Tax is the concept of enoughness." After all, after you make $10 million, how many more millions do you really need? Alice is also the recipient of Iran, meaning that her loving husband excused her from keeping up with the news from there - he would shoulder the burden. (In return, she gave him Cyprus, which was a more generous present in the 1970s than it would be now.) Finally, in a light collection, he jabs in the knife from time to time, notably in his poem about Roman Polanski's arrest and the outcry from some celebrities about the unfairness of it all: "How can these people get so riled?/ He only raped a single child." There will never be enough of Calvin Trillin. ...more

Oct 07, 2012 Suzie rated it really liked it

I love these kind of books: pithy, energetic essays that last 1.5-2 pages. Calvin Trillin is clever and insightful, but disappointingly, resorts to crude language to get a laugh. He certainly doesn't need to, his ideas are charming enough, and his command of the language is such that he can certainly convey his ideas with originality and clean language. Having said that, for the most part, the language is limited; not in every essay or even every other essay. However, it is enough that it stood I love these kind of books: pithy, energetic essays that last 1.5-2 pages. Calvin Trillin is clever and insightful, but disappointingly, resorts to crude language to get a laugh. He certainly doesn't need to, his ideas are charming enough, and his command of the language is such that he can certainly convey his ideas with originality and clean language. Having said that, for the most part, the language is limited; not in every essay or even every other essay. However, it is enough that it stood out to me. My favorite part was his dedication. It says: "My wife , Alice, appears as a character in many of these pieces. Before her death, in 2001, even the pieces that didn't mention her were written in the hope of making her giggle. This book is dedicated to her memory." I love a man who loves his wife whole-heartedly and lets it be known. ...more

Sep 18, 2011 Gina rated it it was ok

I read a really good review of it once, so added it to the reading list. I may have been swayed by the reviewer acting like Trillin was well known, but I had never heard of him.

That's probably because a lot of Trillin's writing was for The New Yorker, and whenever I attempt to read it I get annoyed quickly and stop. He is less pretentious than a lot of it, but if I had read some of his columns earlier I would never have felt a need to read the whole book, and I only stuck with it because I thou

I read a really good review of it once, so added it to the reading list. I may have been swayed by the reviewer acting like Trillin was well known, but I had never heard of him.

One other thing worth noting is that some of the positive reviews focus on his Midwestern humor; I don't find Garrison Keillor that funny either. Maybe it's a coastal thing, because I really prefer Dave Barry.

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The short essays, and essays may not be the proper word for these pieces, at first frustrated me. I like the humor. But the pieces just seemd to get into the subject matter...then end. I am unaware of the space restraints he had to work with but many left me wanting more. Several were many pages in length, others a quick verse. I guess it was a good mixture. The author is older than I and referenced some songs that I do not know, nor my wife. Since the article in mind was written close to the en The short essays, and essays may not be the proper word for these pieces, at first frustrated me. I like the humor. But the pieces just seemd to get into the subject matter...then end. I am unaware of the space restraints he had to work with but many left me wanting more. Several were many pages in length, others a quick verse. I guess it was a good mixture. The author is older than I and referenced some songs that I do not know, nor my wife. Since the article in mind was written close to the end of the century I thought it would be a relevant song. But apparently the author's mind is set back in the fifties as far as dredging up songs to write alternate lyrics to.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable. Not enough to actually share any of the pieces with anyone though. ...more

Sep 24, 2011 Susan rated it really liked it

A big, satisfying collection of pieces from Trillin, probably the best living American humorist, which includes excerpts from at least two of his novels. Of course, you probably should read it an essay a day or something, in snippets, not in big, overswhelming gulps the way I did, but it's enjoyable either way. Trillin warns that he did some rewriting, and it's true that some of the pieces I knew seem tweaked. There's not a lot of his famous restaurant and food writing, and to my taste some of t A big, satisfying collection of pieces from Trillin, probably the best living American humorist, which includes excerpts from at least two of his novels. Of course, you probably should read it an essay a day or something, in snippets, not in big, overswhelming gulps the way I did, but it's enjoyable either way. Trillin warns that he did some rewriting, and it's true that some of the pieces I knew seem tweaked. There's not a lot of his famous restaurant and food writing, and to my taste some of the poems (he's "deadline poet" for the Nation magazine) are weak, but you don't often get this big chunk of Trillin to enjoy, so why cavil? ...more

Jun 23, 2011 Joe rated it liked it

I review "Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin"

There's unbeloved Arlen Specter: "kindly as a rent collector"; Mitt Romney: "quick to shed his moderate regalia," may be "lacking genitalia"; and John Boehner: "Others in the party are insaner."

Trillin's the Garrison Keillor of New York City,
Often urbane, charming, and witty.
He'll make you giggle in a hurry
But the feller's really just from Missouri.

Stop at my Blog and then go to The Star Tribune,

Have Words Will Write 'Em

--Joe

I review "Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin"

There's unbeloved Arlen Specter: "kindly as a rent collector"; Mitt Romney: "quick to shed his moderate regalia," may be "lacking genitalia"; and John Boehner: "Others in the party are insaner."

Trillin's the Garrison Keillor of New York City,
Often urbane, charming, and witty.
He'll make you giggle in a hurry
But the feller's really just from Missouri.

Stop at my Blog and then go to The Star Tribune,

Have Words Will Write 'Em

--Joe

...more

Jul 08, 2012 Wendy rated it did not like it

While I put this on my "read" shelf I didn't actually finish it. I picked up this title after watching Calvin on some talk show hocking the book. Sorry to say, I just didn't get it. Maybe he is better in person?

Also while I am from the Midwest, I often wonder if there is a difference between true urban mid westerners and those of us that actually had to travel several miles to the nearest Walmart. I just didn't connect as I thought I would on that plane.

I have to admit though this is NOT a com

I have to admit though this is NOT a commentary of his work elsewhere in other publications. I just didn't like this book.

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Since I enjoy pithiness in 2-page doses, this is the perfect book to keep in the bathroom. Calvin Trillin is a dry humorist for The New Yorker, and this collection is very representative of the genre. If you like little tales of what upper middle class white New York in the 80's was like for transplants to Greenwich Village from the Midwest, then maybe you'll want to keep this tome in your powder room as well. Since I enjoy pithiness in 2-page doses, this is the perfect book to keep in the bathroom. Calvin Trillin is a dry humorist for The New Yorker, and this collection is very representative of the genre. If you like little tales of what upper middle class white New York in the 80's was like for transplants to Greenwich Village from the Midwest, then maybe you'll want to keep this tome in your powder room as well. ...more

Calvin Trillin is a very funny writer. I enjoy his wry sense of humor. I am most familiar with his food writing, so this is my first exposure to his non-food writing. This book compiles pieces from the 80s to recent. Some of these pieces did not stand the test of time - I am sure they were funny at the time, but my political awareness in the early 80s is not what it is now. I did enjoy some of his political poems.

Aug 13, 2012 Neil rated it it was amazing

I love Calvin Trillin's humor, satirical but self-deprecating, able to cut through the stupidity of the world without getting preachy. I'd highly recommend this to anyone over thirty. Younger people might find some of his subject matter a little dated, but there's enough "humor" out there aimed at them. For those of us who have been around long enough to know that we don't know anything, this is spot on. I love Calvin Trillin's humor, satirical but self-deprecating, able to cut through the stupidity of the world without getting preachy. I'd highly recommend this to anyone over thirty. Younger people might find some of his subject matter a little dated, but there's enough "humor" out there aimed at them. For those of us who have been around long enough to know that we don't know anything, this is spot on. ...more

Jan 13, 2014 Bayneeta rated it really liked it

I adore Calvin Trillin. Most of this I'd read before. His food/travelogue pieces never fail to entertain. I'm slightly less enamored of his political poems, but then, I'm while I share his political views, I'm really not very political. I've been picking this up and putting it down and going on to other things for a couple of years now. Probably the best way to read this--in bits and pieces. Probably should be a 5, because I do love the man. I adore Calvin Trillin. Most of this I'd read before. His food/travelogue pieces never fail to entertain. I'm slightly less enamored of his political poems, but then, I'm while I share his political views, I'm really not very political. I've been picking this up and putting it down and going on to other things for a couple of years now. Probably the best way to read this--in bits and pieces. Probably should be a 5, because I do love the man. ...more

I did get some laughs out of this book, especially from some of the essays toward the end. But there were some I simply had to skip -- they seemed dated or just not relevant to my funny bone. I highly recommend "Basic Economics", "The Saudis and Their Oil Rigs", "Letters to the Solid Waste Commissioner", "Iran for Christmas", and "The Fruitcake Theory". And lots of others, but a reader needs to be selective. Trillin's a clever writer, that's for sure. I did get some laughs out of this book, especially from some of the essays toward the end. But there were some I simply had to skip -- they seemed dated or just not relevant to my funny bone. I highly recommend "Basic Economics", "The Saudis and Their Oil Rigs", "Letters to the Solid Waste Commissioner", "Iran for Christmas", and "The Fruitcake Theory". And lots of others, but a reader needs to be selective. Trillin's a clever writer, that's for sure. ...more

Oct 21, 2017 Slappy rated it really liked it

Collection of delightful Calvin Trillin columns, spanning (surprise) 40 years. I think that collections like this are sometimes best enjoyed by dipping in and out when time allows, rather than reading straight through. I enjoy all CT writings, and this book is no different. a brilliant writer.

Sep 26, 2011 M rated it liked it

Not laugh out loud hilarious, but I kept feeling little bubbles of amusement fizzing up from my gut. What more could you ask? The chapter with poems about politicians is priceless.

Oct 02, 2011 Gail rated it really liked it

Such a lovely funny old fashioned man. I want to be his friend.

Oct 19, 2011 Bridget rated it really liked it

I quiet liked this. I'm glad I haven't read any of his stuff before because it seemed like recycled stuff. It was great stuff. So I might be missing a piece, but it was still great. I quiet liked this. I'm glad I haven't read any of his stuff before because it seemed like recycled stuff. It was great stuff. So I might be missing a piece, but it was still great. ...more

Oct 20, 2011 Kathy rated it liked it

A few lines made me smile, but overall it was not a good book to read straight through.

Calvin (Bud) Marshall Trillin is an American journalist, humorist, and novelist. He is best known for his humorous writings about food and eating, but he has also written much serious journalism, comic verse, and several books of fiction.

Trillin attended public schools in Kansas City and went on to Yale University, where he served as chairman of the Yale Daily News and became a member of Scroll an

Trillin attended public schools in Kansas City and went on to Yale University, where he served as chairman of the Yale Daily News and became a member of Scroll and Key before graduating in 1957; he later served as a trustee of the university. After a stint in the U.S. Army, he worked as a reporter for Time magazine before joining the staff of The New Yorker in 1963. His reporting for The New Yorker on the racial integration of the University of Georgia was published in his first book, An Education in Georgia. He wrote the magazine's "U.S. Journal" series from 1967 to 1982, covering local events both serious and quirky throughout the United States.

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Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin Forty Years of Funny Stuff

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