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You know those times when you’re watching CNN or MSNBC or whatever while you’re waiting for the next rerun of Law & Order to come on and they mention some crisis in some far-away country that you’ve never really heard of? You know how, at those times, you often wish you had some kind of book that you could reach for to find some clear and concise information about that country?
Yeah? Well, this isn’t that book.
British humorist Craig Robinson’s Atlas, Schmatlas: A Superior Atlas of the World looks like a big coffee table book that would have all kinds of information about all kinds of countries—and, in a way, it does. But, mostly, it’s just good for some laughs.
Illustrated with hand-drawn maps, lots of tiny, pixely images of famous people, and other silly stuff, Atlas Schmatlas will teach you all kinds of valuable information about the world you live in. For instance, if you have a nut allergy, you’ll learn that you probably shouldn’t bother planning a vacation to The Gambia. You’ll also learn that Austria is shaped like a chicken drumstick. You’ll learn some other valuable information, too, like…well, I can’t remember anything else off the top of my head. But at least the maps are informative.
Mostly, though, you’ll read a lot of stories about some French explorers named Pierre and Jacques, some British explorers named Peter and James, and Christopher Columbus and his mate, Rodrigo. Some of it is based in fact, and some of it is just totally and completely made up. Sometimes, you might even be able to tell the difference.
Atlas, Schmatlas is politically incorrect, completely irreverent, often crude, and sometimes rather offensive—much like a Judd Apatow movie. Sometimes, Robinson takes his stories a bit too far, to the point that they’re not all that funny anymore. But, more often than not, his random observations and silly stories will have you laughing out loud (so it’s best not to read it while you’re drinking milk).
For world travelers with a twisted sense of humor, Atlas, Schmatlas is a fun coffee table book to pick up and peruse from time to time. Just remember to put it away when your grandma comes over for a visit—because it might make her reconsider your inheritance.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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