The Clothes Have No Emperor: A Chronicle of the American '80s

by Paul Slansky

A scathingly funny scrapbook of the eighties--loaded with hundreds of outrageous quotes, astounding photographs, bizarre facts, and implausible events. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671673394
• ISBN13: 9780671673390
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Time Capsule into the American 80's

The cover has been crudely taped on backwards, the cover laminate is gone, the pages are dog eared, but my copy still holds together after countless re-readings.Chronological, exhaustive coverage of the gaffes and shocking lies told to the american public that made reagan so memorable (or should have), combined with gems of pop culture, entertainment, crime, and so on. An illustrated, cynical diary of soundbites and factoids. If you were under the general impression that reagan wasn't that bad of a president, you will walk away from this a changed person: he WAS'NT the president! The ascerbic commentary may seem occasionally unfair, (more so if your a republican), but 9 times out of 10 it hits straight on, attacking both democrats and republicans with their own quotes and foolishness. But mostly reagan.

The truth revealed

I've lent this book to countless friends who all regarded former President Ronald Reagan as "a great man." Few of them adhere to that opinion today. It's astonishing to think that anyone so out of touch with reality could have been elected to two terms as President. Slansky's brilliant book combines seemingly unrelated pieces of information into a cohesive whole that reveals, once and for all, the astonishing incompetence of the Reagan administration. As a bonus, Slansky also manages to skewer virtually all aspects of popular culture of the 1980's. Since those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, this book should be required reading for all, lest we get another presidency like Reagan's. My copy has been read so many times that it is literally falling apart. One of the great books of the last fifty years.

Amazing...

As someone who was 8 when the 80's, began, I found this to be a funny, accurate, and sometimes disturbing chronicle of my formative years. (Even though I live in Canada!) Notwithstanding this, I still found the book a great read, and one that I have read through 5 or 6 times. I had forgotten how much craziness in politics, world events, entertainment, and sports took place during that decade. As I said, it provided me with a perfect account of the years that I consider my formative ones-from 8 to 18. However, regardless of age, this book is a must read for anyone who looks back fondly (or not so fondly) on those crazy 80s.

Proof that stupidity is not an invention of the 90's

Pure hilarity... I don't know whether to life or cry when I read this. If one didn't know it was true, one would think it was an absurd satire... Don't for a minute think that the 90's have seen the birth of incredulity and double-talk when it comes to our political leaders... This book sheds light on the late great 80s, the decade that brought you Michael Jackson, spandex, Bankrupt S & Ls and a budget deficit we'll be paying off for the next decade or so. In a lot of ways, this book predicts the rise of Ross Perot. The fact that this book is out of print must surely be the doings of some right wing wackos.. Has anyone seen Murdoch?... It astounds me that you can't buy this book. It should be required reading at all GOP conventions... But anyone, back to work. Gotta go pay off the deficit.