Reads, Chortles, & Smirks

Timothy Noah of Slate, curious about the fuss over "Eats, Shoots, & Leaves," bought a copy. He learned little and decided the popularity was American smugness;

Truss wants you to read her book not to learn the rules of punctuation but to join her in bewailing, as you review these rules, the sorry ignorance of those who don't know them. It's to feel superior, and smug, and, well, almost … English. This last doesn't explain its success in England, but don't underestimate its appeal in America. Truss' book should be titled Reads, Chortles, & Smirks. Rather than read it, I recommend you pick up a book about something you don't know much about. Everyone is ignorant about something.