Product Description
Nobody blows smoke like Nick Naylor. He’s a spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies–in other words, a flack for cigarette companies, paid to promote their product on talk and news shows. The problem? He’s so good at his job, so effortlessly unethical, that he’s become a target for both anti-tobacco terrorists and for the FBI. In a country where half the people want to outlaw pleasure and the other want to sell you a disease, what will become of the original Puff Daddy?

Amazon.com Review
"Nick Naylor had been called many things since becoming chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies. But until now no one had actually compared him to Satan." They might as well have, though. "Gucci Goebbels," "yuppie Mephistopheles," and "death merchant" are just a few endearments Naylor has earned himself as the tobacco lobby's premier spin doctor. The hero of Thank You for Smoking does of course have his fans. His arguments against the neo-puritanical antismoking trends of the '90s have made him a repeat guest on Larry King, and the granddaddy of Winston-Salem wants him to be the anointed heir. Still, his newfound notoriety has unleashed a deluge of death threats. Christopher Buckley's satirical gift shines in this hilarious look at the ironies of "personal freedom" and the unbearable smugness of political correctness. Bracing in its cynicism, Thank You for Smoking is a delightful meander off the beaten path of mainstream American ethics. And despite his hypertension-inducing, slander-splattered, morally bankrupt behavior--which leads one Larry King listener to describe him as "lower than whale crap"--you'll find yourself rooting for smoking's mass enabler. --Rebekah Warren

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 108 reviews)

Thank you For Smoking by S. Jones (Georgia)

5 Stars
September 23, 2009
Chris Buckley is the hero of Satire! This is a great read. Love his stuff!!

Sharp Political and Cultural Satire, with Some Weak Spots. by mirasreviews (McLean, VA USA)

4 Stars
July 04, 2009
Christopher Buckley's send-up of Washington lobbyists, politicians, Neo-Puritanism, and self-righteous crusading is side-splitting satire about the life of Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for the fictional Academy of Tobacco Studies, the cigarette industry's big lobby on Capitol Hill. Nick's job is to cast cigarette smoking in a positive light, or at least to obstruct those who would censure tobacco. In short, to save the tobacco industry from its enemies. He's a handsome, fast-talking guy who is a hit in television interviews. But Nick's job is in jeopardy from his disapproving boss. He wants cigarettes back in Hollywood movies. A liberal senator wants to label the packs with a skull and crossbones. A former tobacco spokesman, now dying from cancer, needs to be bribed. And Nick's life is threatened by a caller on Larry King. For starters. Such are the trials of a tobacco lobbyist. Nick Naylor is a Great Manipulator. He's good at what he does. Hilariously good. "Thank You for Smoking" is a politically incorrect peek at Washington power politics. Like all good satire, it is not so much an exaggeration as a distillation of reality. I enjoyed the book, especially the first half. But I think it runs out of steam before the end and becomes over-plotted. Jason Reitman's 2006 film simplified the story, and, I thought at the time, unwisely expanded the role of Nick's son in order to make him more sympathetic. But, in the end, I think the film was more hard-hitting, though necessarily more narrow. They're both very funny, and the book touches on some subjects the film does not. Its biggest flaw may be that we grow fond enough of Nick that we don't want to see him fail or suffer. It has some shortcomings, but Buckley packs a lot of insight and laughs into "Thank You for Smoking".

Not what I expected by J. Buchner

3 Stars
December 31, 2008
Not exaclty what I expected, I was thinking a little bit more humorous muck-raking. (I was hoping for The Jungle...with Jokes!) It was not that. Though the book does gloss over the process that the Special Interests use when developing their stratagies, the book ends up being a contrived office pollitics "thirller" with the main mystery being too easily solved for me, and the loose ends of his life left way to unresolved.

Swift Would Be Proud by Denise Younts

5 Stars
December 30, 2008
Sometimes Buckley is perfect in his writing and "Thank You For Smoking" is one of his works that is a home run in terms of satire. In the world of anti-smoking the protanginist works to make tabacco welcome in his job as PR for the tabacco industry. And of course there are anti-soking elements/factions who do not take too kkindly to what he is trying to do as his job, which of course leads to witty and insightful dialogs and confrontations. Some of the best parts are where the people saddled with the rather unenviable task of promoting smoking, guns and drinking gather together to discuss their repsective jobs and careers - in this day and age of how those elemments are perceived it is the only real sanctuary that they have. Highly recommened for the satire and social commentary, some of the other elements as a pseudo thriller angle do not hold up as well and should not be taken to detract from the rest - that was not really the point of the book to me anyway.

Hilarious ... by Charlie Stella (Fords, New Joisey)

5 Stars
November 10, 2008
Well worth the price of admission ... funny, funny stuff; great satire. NOW, I'll rent the movie ... Books always come first.

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