The CEO of the Sofa
by P. J. O'Rourke

New York Times best-selling author P. J. O'Rourke lobbed one-liners on the battlefields of the Gulf War, traded quips with communist rebels in the jungles of the Philippines, and went undercover at the Dome of the Rock Mosque as P. J. of Arabia. Now, in his most challenging adventure, he journeys to the heart of that truly harrowing place- his living room.

Inspired by Oliver Wendell Holmes' classic The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, P.J.'s The CEO of the Sofa follows America's preeminent political humorist through a year on the domestic front as he visits subjects (and watering holes) close to home. Ensconced on the domestic boardroom's throne-but not allowed to put his feet on its cushions-he bravely exposes everything from the dirty secrets of the New Economy to the similar mysteries in the new baby's diapers. After years of foreign travel, P.J. attempts to become a domestic American. He loses a debate with his three-year-old daughter who wants a cell phone. His young assistant shows him how to surf the internet (or, anyway, lay on a beach blanket next to it). And, thanks to his teenage godson, he learns that while Moby may be a Dick, he is not a novel by Herman Melville. He waxes cynical over the election of Hillary Clinton. He waxes nostalgic over learning to drive. He waxes poetic as he adds happy endings for liberals to famous tragedies. Now if he would just wax the kitchen floor. And now and then, P.J. still gets off the couch and embarks on exotic adventures-to the magical land of India, to the U.N. Millennial Summit, to a blind (drunk) wine tasting with Christopher Buckley, and most exotically of all, to a Motel 6 where he has twenty-six channels and a bathroom to himself.

Uproarious and incisive, P. J. hangs the bad guys (and even the laundry) out to dry with his trademark wit and serrated one-liners. His advice to everyone involved in America's drug policy debate: "calm down and have a drink." His take on the decadent '90's: "I saw a pale unhealthy overripeness. I saw flaccidity." (His wife's take: "You saw yourself in the mirror with your clothes off.") In The CEO of the Sofa, P. J. tackles everything and the kitchen sink, fighting evil, injustice, and absurdity with the gloves off and the oven mitts on. For years he has ranted to anyone who will listen- now join America's funniest man as he fearlessly rants to those who won't!

ON THE TRENDY SOCIAL SCIENCES
… Anthropology is just travel writing about places that don't have room service. Sociology is journalism without news. And Psychology is peeking into your sister's diary after your parent's have sent her to rehab.

ON THE ROLE OF THE SENATE:
The founding fathers, in their wisdom, devised a method by which our republic can take 100 of its most prominent numskulls and keep them out of the private sector where they might do actual harm.

ON SIN TODAY:
…Lust, Pride, Sloth, and Gluttony, or, as we call them these days, "getting in touch with your sexuality," "raising your self-esteem," "relaxation therapy," and "being a recovered bulimic."

ON THE RISE OF WOMEN:
Women are successful in the business world because the business world was created by men. Men are babies. And women are… Good With Kids.

ON FATHERHOOD:
A new father is a very big man. He feels like one of those bond moguls of the 1980's. That is, he feels lucky to get out on parole, even if it's only to the garage.

Coming in September from Atlantic Monthly Press
$25 (Canada: $40)
Hardcover; 288 pages
ISBN: 0-87113-825-5