Don't Mess with Travis: A Novel
Praise forDon't Mess with Travis:"A political novel, but the laughter should cut across party lines. Like all great humor,Don’t Mess With Travispoints to some basic truths — and the targets among contemporary politicians are ample. . . . With this lively and charming debut, readers on both sides of the aisle will hope that Smiley’s novel won’t be his last."--The Dallas Morning News"One of the year’s best, and arguably the most stinging work of political satire since Christopher Buckley’s Boomsday.... A laugh out loud, thrilling ... smart, witty, and supremely relevant election year read that will appeal not only to conservatives, but to anyone who is fed up with the current state of the union. --Breitbart.com“Bob Smiley gives us two things we really need: 1) a funny book about politics and 2) a Texas governor we can all get behind. Ben Travis forever!" --Steve Hely, producer and writer forThe Officeand author ofHow I Became a Famous Novelist"If there were a Nobel Prize for political wit, Bob Smiley’s novelDon’t Mess With Traviswould win it in a landslide. Much needed in this angry political season!"--Steve Forbes  “Some people might say thatDon’t Mess with Travisis a mix of Carl Hiaasen and George Will. But it’s more than just a witty blend of larger-than-life characters and a prescient political narrative: It’s intelligent satire—true on both the human and policy dimensions—that would make a great movie. Bob Smiley is this generation’s Christopher Buckley.”--Ilya Shapiro, The Cato Institute"...the political humor and witty dialogue inDon’t Mess with Travisshould elicit chuckles from readers on both ends of the political spectrum. With shades of ... the novelsAdvise and Consent,Primary Colors, andState of Rebellion, Smiley’s incisive and derisive view of the political process makes this razor-sharp debut novel a timely and entertaining read."--Booklist"In bringing a humane point of view to the pitched election-year conflict between liberals and conservatives, this novel couldn't be timelier. As a bonus, Smiley smoothly mixes in bits of history about Texas politics and culture. A freewheeling political satire that does for politics what Texan Dan Jenkins' antic fictions did for golf and football. Smiley's first novel disproves the notion that conservatives can't be really funny."--Kirkus Reviews"A terrific read for the 2012 campaign season-- a political satire funny for folks on either side of the aisle."--Jeremy Blachman, author ofAnonymous Lawyer"The world of politics is anything but funny these days. That's why Bob Smiley's new book Don't Mess With Travis is so refreshing. If you need an escape and your politics lean to the right, put away theWall Street Journal, crack open an ice cold beer, and prepare to laugh and cheer for a not so unlikely political hero."--Mark Meckler, co-founder of Tea Party Patriots