LOW-HANGING FRUIT

A New York Times bestselling queer social commentator/comedian transforms his personal and political pet peeves into an uproarious act of civic responsibility.

Nothing is sacred in this collection of 24 satirical essays. A self-proclaimed privileged white male “whiner” who believes “there are simply right and wrong ways to do just about everything,” Rainbow satirizes everything from “stupid people” and their total “lack of common sense” to his Chinchilla Silver Persian cat and the Jewish mother he adores and also admits he would like to murder. One of his favorite targets is social media, in particular those with small followings who dare call themselves “content creators.” The author sees their never-ending quest to flood the internet with videos of themselves doing the “unextraordinary” as “influenza” rather than influence. At the same time, he mocks his own dependency in “A Dear John to Social Media." Rainbow writes, “I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me, but I’m losing myself in you.” His most favorite targets, however, are political. With delightfully bold effervescence, Rainbow counters the threat of a renewed MAGA agenda with one he calls FAGA: “Finally America’s Gay Again!” He then lays out plans for restoring American fabulousness, which include dressing all public school children in Bob Mackie–designed sequin uniforms and installing one “bad-bitch drag queen” for every radically conservative justice on the Supreme Court. To help reduce the need for air conditioning in the age of climate change, all Americans “will receive a super-cute Randy Rainbow tank top with matching booty shorts” made from “the most economically efficient nylon clothing China can offer.” Tart, sassy, and hilariously funny from start to finish, Rainbow’s book offers laughter as a tonic for troubled times.

Brazenly funny and sharp.