Do-It-Yourself Constitutional Amendment Kit - Softcover

Nathaniel Whitten is the co-author of Secrets of the SuperOptimist (Vitally Important Books, 2007) which Publisher's Weekly called "Quirky and unique...the self help book of choice for people who don't read self help." Rolling Stone labeled it "Hysterical" while the Huffington Post added: "Highly amusing...secrets we can actually use." He's also the author of the underground sensation Easy Air Guitar, Volume One, the definitive [air guitar] guide, according to the Wall Street Journal. A graduate of New York University (with a political science minor), Whitten has spent the majority of his professional life as an award-winning copywriter, most notably with Chiat/Day, JWT, and his own shop, Weiss, Whitten, Stagliano. Some of his clients have included The Nation, The New York Times, the New York Observer, and The Economist. In addition, Whitten works for causes such as WildAid, Big Brothers, and Adult Literacy Volunteers of Connecticut. He also managed the campaign of Bill Weeden for Manhattan Borough President.

Nathaniel Whitten. Vitally Important (Atlas, dist.), $8.95 paper (96p) ISBN 9780977480722 Like an episode of The Daily Show crossed with an issue of Mother Jones, this charming little book from Whitten (co-author of Vitally Important's similarly-pitched Secrets of the SuperOptimist) is a winning mix of humor and good citizenship. Based on Thomas Jefferson's assertion that "the Constitution should be revised every 20 years," Whitten proposes a double-handful of amendments "intended to instigate discussion... [and] inspire your own suggestions," including: "All candidates for public office... will be required to read at least 20 books determined by a quorum of scholars"; "No more appearances on comedy shows by those running for office"; and a last-word "Fifth Estate" made up of "two people from each of the 50 states chosen at random to serve a four-year term." While some ideas will strike readers as reasonable ("No driver's license shall be issued or renewed unless the person in question has voted in that year's election"), others are sure to rankle ("Fair Tax to be rendered immediately"; "Ralph Nader given consolation prize in exchange for never running again"). Appended copies of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will help readers get a knack for the assignment, while Whitten's edgy, laugh-out-loud text keeps things in perspective. Illustrations. (Oct.) --Publisher's Weekly