Cowboy Logic

Despite the pressures of campaigning for governor of Texas in the upcoming November elections (or perhaps in order to help finance it), Friedman has released a second book for 2006 (he published three in 2005), this one a collection of mostly funny one-liners ranging from crude to sentimental to self-indulgent. Of course, self-indulgent and self-deprecatory are two sides of the same coin for Friedman (""This is the twenty-fourth book that I've churned out-I mean, carefully crafted"") and his abundant Texas charm keeps this book from tedium. Friedman pokes fun at everyone from Jews to Baptists (""They ain't makin' Jews like Jesus anymore,"" ""The only thing wrong with Southern Baptists is that they don't hold 'em under long enough""), hillbillies to politicians (""Only two kinds of people wear cowboy hats: cowboys and assholes,"" ""A fool and his money are soon elected""). No one could accuse Friedman of not covering his bases; axioms such as ""how we react to the hungry, homeless stranger-is indubitably a measure of our own humanity,"" and ""I mostly ride two-legged animals,"" demonstrate his romantic-to-ribald range. The entire spectrum of Friedman fans-Texans and New Yorkers, conservatives and liberals among them-are sure to enjoy this slim, funny volume. B&W cartoons from illustrator Ace Reid provide additional chuckles throughout.