Book Repoort 1, "Thank You for Smoking"

For my book report I decided to read the book Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley,Click here for the book's Amazon page. 

The book starts off by introducing the main character, Nick. Nick works for the cigarette companies. His job is to try they to keep the people who hate smoking away from his business. Everyday it seems that he finds new challenges to face.

The book is written through a narrator who, so far, is not revealed. The book starts out by setting the scene of where Nick works. Buckley talks about how his receptionist smokes more than even Nick does and can't make it through a sentence without coughing. A couple pages in Nicks boss Budd Rohrabacker, referred to as BR, Calls Nick into a meeting to discuss his position in the company. He asks Nick if he thinks he's earning his 105,000 dollar salary. Nick of course says yes and BR asks him about his newest plan to tackle the anti-smoking hysteria. Nick suggests to just come out and admit that smoking is bad for you. He then says that along with that they should say that in moderation smoking isn't much worse for you than say dairy products are for some people. I my opinion this would be a valid approach but BR rebuts by saying that it was the "stupidest idea I've ever heard." It seems to me that they have hit a roadblock and BR is searching for a miracle to get rid of the problem and Nick is just looking at it in a practical sense. 

Buckely then writes about a scene involving the MOD squad. The MOD squad is made up of the chief executives from tobacco, alcohol, and firearms industries. The MOD squad meets about once a week for lunch. Buckley says that the MOD squad even invites other spokespeople to lunch with them to promote camaraderie. Buckley then goes on to name these organizations and I found it very interesting just how misleading the names were. For example, The Society for the Humane Treatment of Calves represents the veal industry. The name makes it seem like they are the "good guys" but they are the ones who slaughter the calves.

The best part of the book comes next. Nick agrees to show up on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about the tobacco industry and defend it. BR gives Nick the okay to do so but then also says that he needs to come up with a new plan to combat the anti-smoking hysteria. 

A few days later Nick is called into BR's office to share his new great idea. Nick's idea is to show more smoking in movies. He says that when smoking was in its most popular time, everybody in movies smoked. And since smoking ads are banned basically everywhere, Nick says this is the way to go. He wants to bring back the appeal that smoking used to have.

Immediately BR replies with, "I think we need to rethink your position here." Nick knows what this means. He knows that this means he is fired. However, BR still wants Nick to show his face on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about underage smoking. 

When Nick gets there he talks a little to Oprah backstage and tries to get on her good side. Nick takes the stage and is seated next to a young bald boy. Nick asks what his deal is and is told that he has lung cancer from underage smoking. Nick tries to leave but it is too late and the show has already started, and he knows he get up and walk out on live television. Nick is immediately berated with anti-smoking talk and has to defend himself and the smoking industry.

So far I find the book very interesting. I myself am a smoker, which is how i picked the book, and I think its very interesting how misleading the cigarette industry tries to be. I also think its interesting how much hatred is felt towards them. It bothers me that people try to blame them for causing cancer and emphysema and other diseases. It's obvious that smoking is bad for you! Duh! If I developed cancer tomorrow I wouldn't blame the tobacco industry, I'd blame myself for being stupid.