How About Never – Is Never Good Enough for You? My Life in Cartoons

Author: Bob Mankoff

 “The New Yorker has published more than 75,000 cartoons since its founding, 95% of them drawn by only a few hundred cartoonists, and Mankoff has been at the center of this talented group of artists for over 30 years.  In How About Never – Is Never Good Enough for You? My Life in Cartoons, Mankoff traces his love for the craft back to his childhood when he started creating funny drawings at age eight years old.  We follow his unlikely stints as a high school basketball star, a draft dodger, and a psychology grad student.”

That is what Jason Liebman of Henry Holt and Company has to say about How About Never – Is Never Good Enough for You? My Life in Cartoons.  What I have to say is this is a book of delights, with the never ending self effacing and manic humor of Bob Mankoff in word and cartoon.  There are many of the best New Yorker cartoonists’ cartoons in the book, also, but my heart is with Mankoff; he is the talent of my heart.

Now I am a pretty serious person usually, so when I start taking myself off the deep end, I grab The New Yorker and check out the cartoons.  And I start laughing.  The New Yorker cartoons are a bit like Mensa – you have to think and you have to analyze to truly appreciate some of the silliness and wit and stark dramatic political comment behind these amazing cartoon art.  Mankoff says, “Anything worth saying is worth saying funny.”  And he has me there and keeps me there.

This compendium of the best of the best is not only full of great cartoons, but Mankoff’s writing style is as funny as his art.  He makes fun of his fellow cartoonists, he makes fun of his life, and he makes fun of luck.

“Amazing, three failed marriages, scores of disastrous relationships, many financial reversals, and countless physical ailments, but through it all I’ve always had good luck parking.”  (You really need to see the cartoon to appreciate this).  However, this is the mantra of Bob Mankoff’s life and times and his affiliation with The New Yorker, as well as his cohorts in crime.

Absolutely wonderful and full of love, laughs and life, this beautiful table coffee size book is a must buy and a must read.

Terrific~!

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale

Overall: 5

Review by Broad “A” – Ava

We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are our own

How About Never–Is Never Good for You?: My Life in Cartoonsis available on Amazon.com and booksellers nationwide

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