Rating: 3 stars

Those who watch the practicing atheist cum pot aficionado’s Real Time on HBO will be familiar with the “New Rules” segment on his often heated—though comically so—political talk show.

These days I’m so disgusted with politics (not that I ever really had a soft spot for it) I can no longer watch the hour of verbal sparring between the usually diverse political punditry; so, I fast- forward to something that has less chance of making me even more annoyed than usual, and every chance of making me laugh: New Rules.

Though this round of New Rules features recycled rules, it also includes a smattering of newer ones—though all are taken from his show... Luckily for me—and I assume many others—Maher doesn’t just focus his rants on politics. He’s happy to comment on common everyday happenings and annoyances such as those bumper stickers proclaiming a child to be the best at whatever school they go to. Mr. Maher believes the other 99% should also have a voice and a bumper sticker regaling their special skills: “My child eats paste at Dwight Elementary” or “My daughter puts out behind the dumpsters at Glendale Jr. High”.

New rules are also instituted for dating, parenting and city agencies—such as admitting that the crosswalk button doesn’t actually do anything—and societal norms: “If an adult goes to a Justin Bieber movie alone, and they’re not a movie critic, they must register as a sex offender.”

Not everybody will find Bill Maher’s commentary funny; however, a sense of humor is required. So, if you’re one of those people who get offended by satirical comedy, I hear Donald Rumsfeld just wrote a memoir.
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Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (May 1, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0452298293