The Buzz...About Books

Thursday August 6 marks the final episode of The Daily Show hosted by Jon Stewart. The second host of the franchise, Stewart has hosted since January 1999. In 2013, he took a sabbatical to direct the movie Rosewater about Maziar Baheri, an Iranian journalist imprisoned following his appearance on The Daily Show.

I am a big fan of Stewart but lately have sensed that his growing frustration with the American government has made it increasingly hard for him to see the lighter side. While I am sad to see him go, I think it's time. 

The Daily Show has had some wonderful correspondents during the Jon Stewart era. They've been great on the show and they're also great in print:

I'd Rather We Got Casinos, and Other Black Thoughts by Larry Wilmore
The Daily Show's former Senior Black Correspondent shares his perspective on race in America in this collection of essays. 

I Know I am but What are You? by Samantha Bee
• Audiobook
• eBook
Toronto native Samantha Bee was The Daily Show's longest serving regular correspondent. In this book she writes about her unconventional childhood, crazy teen years and her transition to adulthood.

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black
• Audiobook
• Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)
His Back in Black segments gave him an opportunity to rant about whatever was getting on his nerves. In this book, he takes aim at Christmas–his least favourite holiday.

No Land's Man by Aasif Mandvi
• eBook
I loved this book by Senior Middle East Correspondent Mandvi. Born in India, his family moved to England when he was a baby. In this memoir, he discusses his English childhood, including a stint at boarding school, his teenage years in Florida and the difficulty in finding acting roles that are not terrorists.

Suck it, Wonder Woman: the Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek by Olivia Munn
A collection of humorous essays from the Daily Show's former Senior Asian Correspondent.

That is All by John Hodgman
• eAudiobook
The Daily Show's Resident Expert shares random made-up facts in the third book of his Complete World Knowledge trilogy.

This is a Book by Demetri Martin
A book of creative writing from former Senior Youth Correspondent, Martin.

Jon Stewart plans to move to a farm in New Jersey which will house a sanctuary for farm animals.