Thank You for Smoking: A Novel

This novel is a satire telling about the career choice of one Nick Naylor. He "pays the mortgage" by being the chief spokesman for the main tabacco lobby. He justifies the killing of 465,000 people a year by claiming that smoking really is not bad for you and that much of the scientific data cannot be backed up. He becomes a character the reader loves to hate. The story is mainly one of satire towards the political correctness of Washington's finest, but he develops some sort of plot when Nick is kidnapped and covered in nicotine patches. Ironically, the event left him unable to smoke.

I found myself laughing to the good humor of the book, especially in the meetings of the MOD Squad, consisting of Nick and the cheif spokesmen for the alcohol and gun lobbies. Their conversations are highly unorthodox and keep the reader aware of the lobbies in our government. Ultimately, the novel is about making your own choices and taking responsibility for the consequences.

As I stated above, I did see the movie and enjoyed it more than the book. The manipulation and political corruption was much more prevalent and engaging in the movie. However, the book has a much different ending, which I will not spoil. It has made me hate tabacco, their lobbies, and the corruption of the US government even more, feeling I think Christopher Buckley wanted to portray. He is a good satirical author and is very creative in his methods.

There is a reason why it's a bestseller. Hollywood, guns, Oprah, death threats; in short, Thank You for Smoking, covers everything America idealizes in this raucous account of Nick Naylor's profession as chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. Compared to Hitler, satan, Stalin, and other proteges of evil, Nick struggles (with a cigarette constantly at his lips) to beat back the wave of neo-Puritanism sweeping the nation. His hilarious escapades, often underscored with scathing insights by the narrator, lead to a climactic finish. Christopher Buckley, also author of, Little Green Men, has thoroughly researched the hot topic of tobacco and has added all the unexpected twists and jokes of a true craftsman. an enjoyable, intriguing, quick read that might just make you reach for a pack of your favorite cigarettes, even if you don't smoke.

......they will disappoint you after this gem. This is not only a fabulous mystery, it is sinister and hilarious. I've read all the Chris Buckley I can find, but none match up to this masterpiece. As I read it, I marvelled that I could not tell if the author was sympathetic to the soulless characters. Buy two books, because you'll finish this one quickly.

Christopher Buckley makes me laugh out loud with everything he takes on. I will never look at a nicotine patch again without having the vision of Nick Naylor staggering around covered with the poisonous patches. Believe me, after you read "Thank You For Smoking", you will pass it on to someone you want to see have a good time.

I was delighted to discover Christopher Buckley. His satire is dead-on and laugh-out-loud funny. I've enjoyed "Little Green Men" and "Wet Work" just as much.
For anyone who's tired of waiting for Carl Hiaasen's next book, you'll find Mr. Buckley just as entertaining - and more topical.

This book is really funny!! I seriously couldn't stop reading it was so fun! I think I finished it in a day or two (And I am the type who usually gets bored and leaves books unfinished halfway). I love Buckley's satirical humor and clever lines! And even though Nick Naylor may be a "bad person" who's job is selling a product that kills millions, his character is likeable and I sympathize for him and like him.

I totally recommend this book for a humorous, entertaining read!

A comedic novel about a spokesperson for the tobacco industry? At first, this may sound as promising as a novel about a dirt salesperson. But Thank You For Smoking is utterly hilarious, perfectly-pitched comedy. It is swiftly paced, and not easy to put down. It's a great escape to a place you didn't think you'd want to go until you got there.

This book was a light hearted look at the tobacco industry, and the great lengths the industry will go to put a positive spin on their products. The ending was a bit anti climactic, but overall I enjoyed the book. Some sexual content, some language.

This is an entertaining film, worth watching. My main comment is that while called a satire, it serves as a very powerful public relations piece for the tobacco industry. Deep down, I think that tobacco money or influence was a big part of the reason why the film was made. If not, it is an unfortunate coincidence that the film is a strong criticism for anti-smoking activists and a strong justification for what the tobacco industry has done. And even worse, the film implies that the tobacco industry has been tamed by law suits and regulations, while in truth, the economic strength of the industry is greater than ever. While the film indicated that the "bad guys" have been punished, in fact, the industry boomed after the tobacco settlement. And the audience comes to love the man who advocates "trying yourself", "not being told what to do", and "choice" for a product that continues to increase nicotine in cigarettes even as it pretends to warn people of the dangers. As a film, this is very good. As a propaganda piece, it is a real work of art. Watch it and notice how you feel at the end. Who do you like? Who do you ridicule? If the film is done well, those feelings have been crafted by the story. The film is a real success, but I am sorry that this is the success that is sought. This is a film that promotes the tobacco industry.

Both smokers and non-smokers will enjoy this well written novel; Thank You for Smoking offers marvelously witty and satirical insight into the warped political value system of Americans today. Head tobacco spokesman Nick Naylor has the most deplorable job in the country, but he enjoys his work as much as anyone else. We all have to "pay the mortgage". With his incompetent boss, endless public relations assignments, active sex life, and young son, Nick struggles to keep his life in order. But when a non-smoking zealot takes it too far, Nick is forced to take his chances.

Christopher Buckley is a genius, and "Thank You For Smoking" proves it. Buckley's sly skewering of the tobacco industry is long overdue. His witty prose comes fast and furious and won't give the reader a single moment to catch his breath.

A fun romp through the sleazy corridors of influence peddling. Squinting sideways at these shenanigans in Foggy Bottom, one wonders: "Is this our hallowed capitol, or a bazaar in Marrakesh?" William F should be proud.

This book is hilarious! Even though Nick Naylor manages to nail every woman in the book, I'd still do him myself if given the chance. He manages to make the combination of unethical and intelligent into something appealing and sexy.
A must-read!

Not exaclty what I expected, I was thinking a little bit more humorous muck-raking. (I was hoping for The Jungle...with Jokes!) It was not that. Though the book does gloss over the process that the Special Interests use when developing their stratagies, the book ends up being a contrived office pollitics "thirller" with the main mystery being too easily solved for me, and the loose ends of his life left way to unresolved.

Having heard about the book here and there, I finally got my hands on a copy. I started reading it and found bits to read out loud to my husband because they were too funny to keep to myself, and then I just kept reading, and now I have to wait until after dinner to keep going. It is a fun book because it is well written, and you love to hate the main character, while being sympathetic all at the same time. I have already reccommended it to several people

Mr. Buckley has a gem here -- a truly original work with a clever plot, clever dialog, and clever characters. I don't normally enthusiastically recommend books to my friends because tastes vary. However, I have enthusiastically recommended this one, and it has never disappointed. I especially liked the thinly-veiled Mike Ovitz character. This is a laugh-out-loud novel -- Mr. Buckley did his old man proud.

A very witty and highly enjoyable book. Very good if you're a smoker, even better if you're trying to quit. You'll laugh with its funny realism. Buckley's account of the politics and dynamics of the media communications/image management industry is dangerously close to reality. I recommend it wholeheartedly, but be warned: you'll find it very hard to put down!

Only Christopher Buckley could findd the humor in being a corporate PR representative for the tobacco companies. He deftly manages to make the main character both amusing, and even the object of our sympathies as he lands in one outlandish predicament after another. Pick up this book for a good laugh.

This has to be the most intelligent, interesting, funny, and best written fiction I've read. You just can't put it down! It makes you think twice about what you do to "pay the mortgage." Also an insightful look into the business of lobbying. Can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book.

Witty and urbane, Thank You For Smoking never lets up on the satire. I found myself laughing out loud. Geneticists now have proof that cynic eloquence is hereditary. Characters well developed. Plot is fast moving and easily readable. Love at first puff. Darrell Hawkin

As a marketing educator, I found this book entertaining and hilarious. The subject matter could be required reading for business students and particularly marketing professionals. It's nice to see how others may view us from time to time

Sophomoric, bloviating and tedious. The only saving grace being that I got it as a library e-book before I purchased it for my library. I am also wondering why the more expansive reviews are more in the order of a book report than a review. Perhaps the store can publish some "tips" for reviewing books. No need to retell the story. Or is this just my observation?

Reading this book was required for a class that deals with how logic and persuasive techniques can be used in compliance. Based solely on that aspect, Thank You for Smoking delivers. But what it doesn't do is reveal the "secrets" of the tobacco industry as much as it would seem. The pages, even whole chapters are filled with this mindless dialogue which is very irritating to read. Seriously there are pages and pages of which two people talk back and forth over mostly irrelevant topics. I would estimate this comprises nearly half of the book. When the tobacco industry is actually talked about it is interesting and entertaining but for I feel its not worth the effort.

I was unpleasantly surprised by this book.Reading it before I saw the movie, I didn't like it.With a lack of dialogue, it seems that the the story moves slowly, not really going anywheree.One of the only things I did like about it was the subject matter, drawing readers in to something they see regularly in Washington. I wasn't happy with the lack of character interaction, there was definetly alot more telling by Buckley than showing, he needed to let the story just tell itself throught dialogue and character interaction.I was really expecting something better in this book.

There's nothing clever, insightful or entertaining about this novel. It's regurgitated College Republican pabulum that won't appeal to any intelligent person over the age of 22. The characters are two-dimensional cardboard cliches of DC reporters, lobbyists, and politicians along the lines of "Bullworth." Cynical adolescent smarm that will only intrigue those with the most rudimentary knowledge or education regarding politics.