Profiles in Ignorance

How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber

By: Andy Borowitz

Narrated by: Andy Borowitz

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER *WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER *

Andy Borowitz, “one of the funniest people in America” (CBS Sunday Morning), brilliantly “chronicles our embrace of anti-intellectualism” (Walter Isaacson) in American politics, from Ronald Reagan to Dan Quayle, from George W. Bush to Sarah Palin, to its apotheosis in Donald J. Trump.

Andy Borowitz has been called a “Swiftian satirist” (The Wall Street Journal) and “one of the country’s finest satirists” (The New York Times). Millions of fans and New Yorker readers enjoy his satirical news column “The Borowitz Report.” Now, in Profiles in Ignorance, he delivers “a wittily alarming polemic that tracks the evolution of American politics from grounds for gravitas to festival of idiocy” (The New York Times).

Borowitz argues that over the past fifty years, American politicians have grown increasingly allergic to knowledge, and mass media have encouraged the election of ignoramuses by elevating candidates who are better at performing than thinking. Starting with Ronald Reagan’s first campaign for governor of California in 1966 and culminating with the election of Donald J. Trump to the White House, Borowitz shows how, during the age of twenty-four-hour news and social media, the US has elected politicians to positions of great power whose lack of the most basic information is terrifying. In addition to Reagan, Quayle, Bush, Palin, and Trump, Borowitz covers a host of congresspersons, senators, and governors who have helped lower the bar over the past five decades.

Profiles in Ignorance aims to make us both laugh and cry: laugh at the idiotic antics of these public figures, and cry at the cataclysms these icons of ignorance have caused. But most importantly, the book delivers a call to action and a cause for optimism: History doesn’t move in a straight line, and we can change course if we act now.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Andy Borowitz. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Andy Borowitz, writer, humorist, actor, and creator of the often bitingly satirical “Borowitz Report,” which skewers contemporary politics and politicians at every turn, has in his new audiobook set his sights on the rise of ignorance in American politics. In a sharp turn from John F. Kennedy's classic PROFILES IN COURAGE, which highlighted bravery and integrity in politics, Borowitz's PROFILES IN IGNORANCE features a cavalcade of politicians who, Borowitz argues, are sorely lacking in the knowledge necessary to govern. Borowitz’s narration enables him to inject a measure of sarcasm and irony into the material. His convincing parodies of the vocal cadences of various featured politicians add a further humorous touch."—AudioFile Magazine

Well researched and insightful.

Discussion of political issues that is knowledgeable, based on facts, and insightful. What we have expected from American humorists such as Will Rogers and Mort Sahl.

Much More To This Book Than Expected

Funny. Witty. Brilliant. At times shocking. Serious and Important. Incredibly well researched. And an excellent reading.

A Masterpiece in Political Analysis

Andy Borowitz offers an astute analysis of US political descent into intellectual and moral abyss, starting with the Reagan era and culminating with today. His talent for wit, irony, and humor shines, as he lays bare the ignorance of political candidates and office holders, which are overwhelmingly found in the Republican Party. The stages of ignorance are a prescient and urgent warning to get our sh*t together to preserve democracy and the Republic.

Loved it!

Thank you, Andy, for keeping us sane, and even laughing, during the dark years of 45's reign and the pandemic. Also, thanks for reminding us we are not powerless.

Well worth listening to.

This book help me see how our “leadership” has become progressively worse. It was fascinating to listen as I heard about many events and politicians I’ve lived through in my 72 years.

Great All Around But dreadfully frightening

It’s oh so funny in organization and deliverance, however the facts are dreadfully frightening! The facts about most of those covered is alarming to say the least! However what that says about education in the United States of American is appalling, frightening and ludicrous! America is so large that ome citizens will never in their lives experience traveling outside its borders to understand the vastness and smallness of their own country! Nor will they be able to grasp or comprehend what that actually means to them individually and collectively to themselves, their families, their neighbors and coworkers and how that impedes their understanding of what they perceive is happening, verses what they think they know, what the facts tell, that their aren’t any alternate facts and how they are led to misconstrue what is going on while they are spoon fed “f as CT’s” by FOX News❣️. Nor more than likely they will never know how purposefully and willingly they drink the coo aid & feel great, patriotic while they are clueless about the utter nonsense & drivel they want to be factual but has actually no basis or purpose other than dividing them from reality, depriving them of their Constitutional rights including exercising their right of self governing as many in power laugh at their gullibility. So sad.

Loved it

Sometimes hard to believe, but apparently well documented. The author had an amazing wit and was very entertaining. If you have the slightest conservative leanings, I wouldn’t even crack the cover. Book metaphor aside, get the audible version, it was a hoot.

The best book I've ever listened to or read

My G*d what a book. AB is one of the geniuses of our time. I don't know what else to say except I'd like to rate it a 10. The last chapter is quite the cherry.

The best book

great book very funny and makes you think what the hell going on in there head's 😳

Outstanding

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot. I highly recommend it. It’s very, very easy to listen to, injecting humor into a topic that is quite worrisome, but it does far more than that: it paints a picture of how we got here and concludes with absolutely sound advice for the path going forward.