The Braindead Megaphone

A very witty and thoughtful look into our culture, the role media has taken in our society, diversity today, and some reflections on how others view America in George Saunders’ book The Braindead Megaphone.  Saunders, a creative writing faculty member at my old stomping grounds, Syracuse University, includes many short stories and essays he previously published in GQ and the New Yorker.  Saunders is at the top of his game in his first essay that captures the view of media “talking heads” and how they focus on their own liberal and conservative philosophy rather than the truth most of the time.  The news/journalist having lost all touch with reality and become “talking heads” disconnected from the real issues.  His adventures take him to Mexico to interact with some “scary” militant gun-happy immigrant haters, to the young boy in Nepal who created the next Buddha, which turned out to be a hoax (Ram Bahadur Bomjon), where the boy allegedly sat for seven months in a meditative state, and finally to his visit to Dubai and enjoying the “Las Vegas in the desert.” Saunders gives no apologies for the way he experiences the world, mostly through humor and wit, or in some cases utter exasperation (especially the “cult” he met in Texas who attempt to keep the Mexicans out of Texas and crossing the border).  Having traveled to the UAE, I think Saunders captured the reality of what has happened in the country.  Two of my favorite stories are his reflections on American literature, Samuel Clemens’ Huck Finn and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter House Five (both are RA Favorites).  Saunders is spot on with his assessments and insights and provides another perspective, mostly thoughtful, though is not afraid to provide an “out of the box” perspective.  The book reads fast, since it is a series of shorter stories/essays.   He is refreshing in his approach and does make the reader push their thinking.  Great use of language as well.  A keeper!