Bruce WatsonJon Stewart: Beyond The Moments Of Zen

I'm a big Jon Stewart fan, but this book really didn't tell me all that much that I didn't already know. It is NOT a full-on biography. The author interviewed nobody in preparing this manuscript -- not Jon Stewart, not any of his family, friends, co-workers, competitors, or enemies. The entire thing is put together from pre-existing newspaper articles and on-line clips. The author cites to YouTube as the source of many of his interview transcripts.Basically the thing is a brief biography of Stewart's personal life, but the author makes quite clear that he hasn't bothered to fill in any gaps in the record. Talking about Stewart's first son, he repeats a couple of facts and concedes this is "all that is known about the boy." He also cites to a media report critical of "The Daily Show"'s coverage of the 2004 Presidential election, and rebuts it with a Stewart quote... from 2003. In that sense, the book is like the report written by a procrastinating 6th-grade student whose research was based solely off the first book grabbed off the library shelf.Also of note is that there is no objectivity at all. It's really just a puff piece. The author credits Jon Stewart with mainstreaming satire, which... no. Saying that Stewart took satire "to its largest audience ever" is completely subjective and unquantifiable. He describes Stewart's evolution as "unstoppable". Talking about Stewart's first post-9/11 show, he says "No one who saw the show live -- or on YouTube -- has been able to keep a dry eye." The book is written from the perspective of an unabashed fan. Anyone who follows "The Daily Show" ( which presumably includes the author of this book) must be aware that Jon Stewart himself would never buy into such a simple, wide-eyed appreciation. For a show that thrives on asking tough questions, this book plays it safe and vanilla.However, "Beyond the Moments of Zen" is useful for a couple of reasons. it does serve as a "greatest hits" catalogue to Stewart's best pieces of satire, comedy, and investigative journalism on "The Daily Show" between roughly 2000 and 2012. Many of the great moments from the show are described here and put in context. I read this book shortly after Stewart announced his retirement, so in that sense, it served as a pretty good walk down memory lane. However, this is by no means the definitive work about "The Daily Show". Hopefully a longer and more detailed and more thoughtful book will come out someday.

And I still miss seeing him on TV. Easy read that follows his career path along with a bit of personal insight.

This is a pleasant and harmless book that serves as an adequate introduction to the outsized cultural phenomenon of Jon Stewart. If you want a quick overview of the arc of Stewart's career, which feels like autobiography by the clever device of frequent quotations, this will serve. A stand-up comedian who became the de facto conscience and voice of an emerging generation, Stewart's impact and influence on our national consciousness can hardly be overstated. Thank God he had no messianic tendencies. We'll spend many years trying to understand what exactly happened during his fifteen year reign as comedic supreme commander and titanic satirical warrior, cowing heads of state, disrupting movers and shakers, and speaking scathing and profane semi-truth to power. Stewart is, more than anything, a patriot of a different stripe. Though on a ceaseless rampage to disrupt the status quo and the illusory world of our factional ideologues, he couldn't have succeeded without caring deeply and profoundly for the future of this country. He loves America. This book sets the stage for more serious inquiry, and is completely suitable for the uninitiated.

I have certainly been curious about the rise of Jon Stewart as a national phenomenon and as a person, and I'm not curious about most in the category of present-day celebrity. This book took me a good part of that way. It was comfortable reading and I enjoyed what I learned. I know it's difficult to get too far into the lives of celebrities who admirably guard that part of them from the public. But I felt that a bit too early in the book, the author resorted to recounting the content of the TV shows rather than what is unquestionably harder - more about the man, his philosophy, and how he actually got from wise-cracking Jersey boy to national guru. Jon Stewart is a remarkable American story. I continue to hope to learn more about him.

Love Jon Stewart and loved the insight into his thought process. I want more Jon Stewart please. . . . !

Any fan of The Daily Show who has a basic understanding of our government and political parties would enjoy this quick-read biographical tribute to the phenomenon known as Jon Stewart. The evolution of his on-point satire is well documented in this bio. I remember watching The Daily Show before Jon, which was entertaining, but lacked something. Jon was a breath of fresh air. I came of age in the 60's, watched draftees, career military, and volunteers fight for....they really couldn't say. Many of us saw the irony, and now Jon is here to remind those of us over 60 who are "distrustful" and disappointed in the political system how to laugh and say, "Now that guy gets it"

This is a must-read for any viewer of The Daily Show. Bruce Watson's concise, insightful profile of Jon Stewart will necessarily enhance your appreciation of the truly idiosyncratic mind that has managed to transform the genre of satire into televisions's most reliable news source. It illuminates Stewart's personal and professional development from a confused adolescent who bombed on his first stand-up gig into a scathing but charming wit whose influence on the nation's psyche is so great that no one of national import can afford to pass up the opportunity to make an appearance on the show, regardless of how intensely he may be skewered. We are also witness to the imaginative legerdemain with which the intricacies of any given Daily Show are woven together. As much as you might already appreciate Jon Stewart, Watson's profile will afford you an even deeper respect for both his mind and his unique personality.

An enjoyable holiday read, documenting Jon Stewart's huge contribution to American political satire and commentary. It was fascinating to read through the recent political history of the USA through the eyes of the Daily Show.Not high brow, just enjoyable

Hope we find another 'Jon Stewart' to speak out against the corruptionrife in governments. Jon persevered and became the spokesman forso many. I am sure this is not the last we hear from Jon.

An interesting read if you're a fan of The Daily Show. Would have been 5 stars if it had been longer and included some photos.

just google Jon Stewart, there's your book.

Well, I should have read more about this one. Definitely not authorized. No real personal insights. No interviews with Jon Stewart. 2 stars for a very few things I learned, a few times I laughed or remembered a good Jon story.