Cover art of various editions, including the one I own (fair use)

(10) P.J. O’ROURKE –

THE BACHELOR’S HOME COMPANION (1987)

“Bachelors know all about parties. In fact, a good bachelor is a living, breathing party all by himself. At least that is what my girlfriend said when she found the gin bottles under the couch. I believe her exact words were, “You’re a disgusting, drunken mess.” And that’s a good description of a party, if it’s done right.”

I’ve decided to commemorate P. J. O’Rourke passing away on 15 February 2022 with special mention in my Top 10 Literature, at least until I catch up with all his books. It’s what he would have wanted. Actually, what I think he would have wanted was a raucous, raunchy wake, but it’s the next best thing.

Seriously, though, I enjoyed P. J. O’Rourke as the leading American political humorist and satirist of our time, typically from a self-described “libertarian conservative” perspective – which largely translates as mocking everything and everyone, including himself.

My favorite remains this book that (mostly) steered clear of political humor – as well as my introduction to him. It was a gift for my own bachelor pad and has since become my bible of housekeeping.

Spoiler alert – you do not want this book to be your bible of housekeeping, as funny as it is.