PEACE KILLS America's Fun New Imperialism

P.J. O'Rourke puts the "cur" in "curmudgeon," which is to say that he's dogged in his insistence in the futility of most human efforts. This brilliant encyclopedia of comic irony takes us from Kosovo to Iraq, and finally to Iwo Jima, where in each case we are reminded that the service of higher ideals leaves us with a still imperfect world. Dick Hill's musky reading summons the whisky-tinged professorial presence of the author in conveying the underlying warmth of a disillusioned idealist. Peace kills, but in the meantime we can enjoy the bittersweet music of this human voice. J.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]