Comments on: Irony Is Dead

By: Mark Connolly

Mark Connolly — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:36:58 +0000

I’d like to see this book reviewed and the author interviewed by Doug Keck at EWTN Bookmark. There would be some useful conversation going on there.

By: Kamilla

Kamilla — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:51:51 +0000

Vintage Tony Esolen!

Someone far more clever than me has called this a post-ironic age. Not only hadn’t they read the book, their staff hadn’t prepared them, either. Honestly, how do you go into an interview based on a book with a title like that and expect a straight interview?

Mike Melendez, the book is a marvelous read. I’ve given two copies to pastors that have a congregation with lots of you families. I highly recommend it.

By: pentamom

pentamom — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:35:08 +0000

Looks like they read a 25 word summary of the book for prep. I suppose it’s unrealistic to suggest that author interviews should only be done by those who’ve read the book, but they should.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:55:26 +0000

The look on the interviewers’ faces was priceless. They obviously didn’t get it at all.

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:35:30 +0000

they were totally unprepared to make a meaningful conversation happen . . Joe Z, How can you say that? Didn't you hear her say, "I actually . . . I was flipping through this"? I think she was about to say she actually looked at the book, or perhaps actually read a few sentences, as opposed to the way she usually deals with books and interviews with the authors.

By: Joe Z

Joe Z — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:56:25 +0000

I’d say that basic interviewing competence is dead. It was so much that they missed the point (that would imply that they actually got to the stage of imagining what his point was) as that they were totally unprepared to make a meaningful conversation happen. Yeesh.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:06:39 +0000

I don’t know. I knew what he meant, but I don’t think he pulled it off well. He fell into it too quickly, and it was the wrong venue for it. Irony/sarcasm works when you have time to develop a rapport or more time to get your point across. I am very excited about the book, but I thought his appearance could have been better.

By: MaryS

MaryS — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:56:19 +0000

The hosts at Fox & Friends (like so many others) were running on auto-pilot: not listening to their guest’s responses… just waiting for him to finish talking so they can ask the next scripted question.

Sad, but true: people on TV aren’t real.

By: Mike Melendez

Mike Melendez — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:41:08 +0000

The confusion is doubly puzzling as the title of the book has the same kind of sarcasm in it. Although, I can imagine the hosts as assuming he was implying “don’t do this” or “things to avoid”. I wonder how the book reads?

By: JQ Tomanek

JQ Tomanek — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:31:12 +0000

I don’t understand. His satire was so obvious to me.