Being There
 

Being There

by Jerzy N. Kosinski


A modern classic now available from Grove Press, Being There is one of the most popular and significant works from a writer of international stature. It is the story of Chauncey Gardiner - Chance, an enigmatic but distinguished man who emerges from nowhere to become an heir to the throne of a Wall Street tycoon, a presidential policy adviser, and a media icon. Truly "a man without... (read more)

Top tags: fictionhumorsatirecontemporary fictionfable (all tags)

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Daniel O
  • Rated 5 stars

Just finished reading this. A probing look into how mass media effects culture, and how people can be so easily deceived by what the media presents to us. If the media praises someone, and if that person knows the right things to say (or, in Chance's case, has no idea what he/she says), people will still eat it up and throw you into a position of authority. I wish I could say that this is a far fetched idea, but in reality it is an all too common occurrence in media and politics. I would...

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  • Rated 4.15534 stars
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  • Rated 0 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    anandhalve, a lot of a lot of things work that way:) but i do agree that whatever there is to alternative medicine/ new age religions, thereis a ton of crap for each ounce of gold, but dont get me started on religion:)

    the simple is deep, the deep is simple, now i must go water my garden...if you know what i mean!!!!

    posted Saturday, October 27 2007
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    great movie, but an even better book, and to think he wrote it BEFORE GWB was elected!

    posted Friday, October 26 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
  • jbarranco

    jbarranco said:

    I read this book a long time ago; but, it is a read that will always stay with me, just as if I had finished it yesterday. A true classic.

    posted Friday, October 26 2007
  • uplandpoet

    uplandpoet said:

    an inspired book, pretty good movie, too, but this is one of those books i try to get everyone i know to read. Brilliant

    posted Wednesday, August 8 2007
  • Bloom Radio

    bloom radio said:

    it's been a while since I read it, but isn't Chauncy kind of a sweet, innocent character? there's nothing sweet or innocent about w.

    the cluelessness, though, i grant you. they have that in common.

    posted Tuesday, June 12 2007
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