Buckley's first essay collection since 1997's Wry Martinis samples from 15 years of short nonfiction, including humor, travel writing, and literary appreciations. The author excels in parodies of newspaper corrections, travel tips for small-aircraft passengers, and the comedic dystopia of an imagined inaugural speech from President Donald Trump ("I've directed the Treasury to issue a couple billion extra in hundred-dollar chips. Enjoy yourselves."). However, a brief examination of the financial crisis and a parody of al-Qaeda's news broadcast misfire, as the satire has aged poorly. The collection's highlights include an affectionate portrait of Ray Bradbury, and a sidesplitting reappraisal of the 40th anniversary edition of The Joy of Sex, with Buckley noting that the man featured in the book's illustrations "is no longer hirsute and missing only a peace symbol, looking as if his day job were playing bongos with the Lovin' Spoonful." Buckley's worldview is mostly bemused, but a few unreserved enthusiasms shine through. His introduction to the 50th anniversary edition of Catch-22 celebrates Joseph Heller's gift to the American lexicon and an afterword for a 2013 edition of Moby-Dick captures the flawed complexity of Melville's classic. His eulogy for friend Christopher Hitchens, touching on their shared love of long conversations, P.G. Wodehouse and Oscar Wilde, and epic boozy meals, is all the more moving for being written from the heart. Agent: Amanda Urban, ICM. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* This collection of Buckley's (They Eat Puppies, Don't They?, 2012) essays perfectly showcases and draws upon his many writerly voices. Whether he is humorist, vice-presidential speechwriter, political satirist, novelist, author, editor, essayist, travel writer, critic, or eulogist (sounds like he can't hold a job, doesn't it?), one thing Buckley always is is entertaining. That's at the very least, and these are among his very best efforts. Whether he is waxing sentimental over memories of Thanksgivings past, lamenting the price of cedar nuggets (you have to read it), eulogizing his longtime friend Christopher Hitchens, or practicing the art of name-dropping which he can legitimately do with characteristic aplomb he makes his topic worthy of his reader's complete focus. His thoughts are pithy, trenchant, and perspicacious, and for all that, his essays are seasoned with a light dusting of self-deprecation, the secret to this book's exceptional charm. What's more, these assembled pieces are sublimely addicting. To paraphrase a ubiquitous snack slogan, bet you can't read just one!--Chavez, Donna Copyright 2014 Booklist

Buckley (They Eat Puppies, Don't They?) explains that his favorite writer is Evelyn Waugh and when he's on track his jaunty prose crackles like Waugh's did. Unfortunately, Buckley is often off course in this collection of occasional pieces from the past 25 years. Most were written for magazines-the New York Times magazine, Forbes, The Daily Beast-and they show it. They're short and zappy but eminently forgettable, too-quick takes on subjects that would have benefited from lengthier analysis. The best essays spread out more: for example, an appreciation of George H.W. Bush, another on --P.G. Wodehouse, and a perceptive commentary on Gore Vidal's usually vitriolic genius. The travel essays are all solid, too, including a chilling description of the author's visit to the concentration camp, Auschwitz. But an entry on Joseph Heller, with whom Buckley was friendly and thus hopefully better placed to write something perceptive about, is disappointingly bland. VERDICT Buckley composes well; this book isn't a write-off but there are too many throwaway pieces in it, including several mock multiple-choice quizzes on current topics that aren't even funny. Still, this collection will be enjoyed by essay enthusiasts and fans of the author. [See Prepub Alert, 12/7/13.]-David Keymer, Modesto, CA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.