Books: It's The Stupidity, Stupid

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Got Zippergate burnout? Then read--in fact, buy--this brisk, witty, cheerfully dour screed by Shearer, the radio host (Le Show), protean voice (The Simpsons) and hidden national treasure of political common sense. Analyzing the hatred some people have for Clinton, Shearer ladles blame and caustic wit on the President, his G.O.P. posse and the moralizing TV newsies with their "hideously bad acting." It's a smart challenge to lazy thinking. Along with another acerb little volume, Gore Vidal's The American Presidency, it can be taken as an ideal chaser to the recent binge of Monicaholism. Hemlock, anyone?

--By Richard Corliss