More Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour
July 31, 2006
Just about anyone needing a good laugh along with some information will certainly appreciate this second foray (following Why Do Men Have Nipples?) into this clever and crafty duo's wacky world. Leyner (My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist) once again conspires with emergency room physician Goldberg to hilarious effect. In this well-produced, evenly paced investigation, they ask and answer questions such as "Why do women always have to pee?" "Are men better than women at math?" "Can you breastfeed with fake boobs?" and other queries one might hesitate to ask in the doctor's office, unless, of course, one is as loony as these two. Unabashed inquiry is the name of the game. Some listeners may gasp, but all will be entertained and probably learn something. Not just a series of one-liners, this presentation grabs the audience immediately and never lets go. Fans will surely demand more answers to their questions.
August 15, 2006
In this sequel to their best seller Why Do Men Have Nipples?, Leyner and Goldberg answer more questions that might cause average Janes and Joes to scratch their heads. Despite the title, the duo does not focus exclusively on the bedroomareas covered include gender differences, food, animals, and puberty. The authors also debunk popular myths ("Are more babies conceived during a full moon?") and provide information on other odd scenarios ("Why do I sneeze when I pluck my eyebrows?"). Each section begins with an account of the authors' (hopefully fictional) eccentric forays into therapy practice, and Instant Messenger conversations between the two are scattered throughout. These features, combined with the humorous, playful nature of the answers, seem to align this title more with humor than medicine. An entertaining read, although the schlock-doc shtick sometimes wears thin, and occasionally the authors turn to humor when it seems they do not have a straight answer for a question. For public libraries and large collections.Amanda Glasbrenner, Chicago
Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 31, 2006
The sequel to 2005's surprise bestseller Why Do Mean Have Nipples?, the latest from writer-physician duo Leyner and Goldberg is immensely readable and educational, but it's also crude and predictable. Like the first volume, this book is set up in a Q&A format, pursuing wisdom both odd ("Do animals commit suicide?") and impolite ("Why do your eyes water when you poop?"). Unfortunately, the hit-or-miss formula is heavier on the misses this time around; many of the questions read like leftovers or magazine filler ("Can you get herpes from a hot tub?" "Why can we still not cure the common cold?" "Why do your ears pop on an airplane?"), while others serve only to debunk urban legends ("Do copper bracelets help with rheumatism?" "Is it true that you cannot die in a dream?"). The strange, quasi-fictitious chapter introductions return, as do transcripts of instant-message exchanges between Leyner and Goldberg, providing a break from the call-and-response format and serving to broaden the lovable doofus personalities of the writers; they also serve to erode the credibility of the authors, whose writing style-rife with bathroom humor and always searching for a punch line-may put off some readers. Though not for everyone, this should make an ideal gift book for fans of the first volume, or any other wiseacres on your list.