Good Days and Mad: A Hysterical Tour Behind the Scenes at Mad Magazine

As a child I used to save my paper-route money and buy MAD magazine and share it with my brother (or vise-versa at times). Many, many years later as an adult, I was very interested on how these guys could make this magazine so funny time after time and hear the 'real' stories told from adult to another. Some of the reviews of this book are undeserved and much too harsh in my opinion. The author shares experiences at MAD that left an impression on him and made MAD what it was and what it is. Those events also helped to define the author, his style and how he got to where he is today. This is what the book is about. To suggest the author should have censored stories is ridiculous. That defeats the purpose of the book. Why ask a question if you don't want to know the real answer, but instead some sugar-coated twist of the truth or omission? Ignorance is bliss, and other reviewers seem to punish the author for enlightening them and, by doing so, taking away some of their bliss. If I wanted to read a story like that, I'd of picked up a work of fiction. This story is real and the author is very humble when he shares his perspectives with us. This is not biography of Prince Charles complaining how tough life is with all these servants and money around. It's a tale of a true journey of both discovery and growth told in a humorous fashion in a way only a MAD writer could write it. I don't think the book was written for children, although I could find nothing truly offensive about it. The complaint about an S & M photograph is just ridiculous. Its a picture of a closet with leather chaps and such meant as joke. No one is wearing them. If you can't face reality you have no business buying this book, let along being disappointed by it. For me, I couldn't stop turning the pages. It's funny, it's true and it does what it's author intended for it to do. Answer all those questions I mentioned at the top of this review and why I purchased the book. How anyone could have expected anything different is beyond me. How anyone could suggest 'we don't talk about those things' is just poor advice. Closing your eyes or not talking about something does not change reality. To suggest the authors stories are inappropriate is like telling a professional chef how to cook. If you don't like the food, don't eat there and complain about it, go some where else.

If you approach this book with no real preconceptions, this is an incredible book. It is not an objective portral of MAD Magazine or its founder; it's more like a personal homage from the author to Bill Gaines and the history of MAD. Reading Gaines and reading about how MAD was a lesson in inspiration. Contrasted with the dull banality of everyday life, this book shines out like a technicolor monkey.

I actually don't understand why people only rated 3 stars for this book. It's awesome once you actually READ IT! I think one of you voted 3 stars because you just wanna look at the pictures. I voted 5 stars because I actually READ it. (I'm sorry if you guys HAVE read it and rate it 3 stars) The cover of the book dosen't lie! It IS a hysterical tour behind the scenes. I'll let you in a little bit of detail, since I own the book. The WHOLE staff of MAD always abuse each other. Example: Dick DeBartolo wanted to speak to the founder "William M. Gaines" Then DeBartolo heard over the phone Gaines said "He's a pain in the ass!" There's alot more abusing before Gaines said "He's a pain in the ass!" I don't remember what else he said, but it's FUNNY!So enclosing, THIS BOOK ROCKS!- The MADDEST fan of MAD magazine

The excitement of the word comes with the first sentence and builds to a belly laugh a paragraph. Mr. Debartolo weaves a loving yarn spun from past memories of his association with MAD. The first person approach makes the reader take this ride of hilarity along with the author. I give the book 5 BRAVOS. I want more!