What is the point of The Best American Nonrequired Reading?

In class, we have discussed why this book is called "Nonrequired." After reading the Conan O'Brien's graduation speech, Part 1 which is a list of various and random things that identify 2007, and a section of part 2 which includes a comic strip. I think that it is considered nonrequired because it isn't a stereotypical novel given to high school or college students. Unlike books like The Giver, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Great Gatsby, this nonrequired reading doesn't attempt to teach kids... on purpose.

What the novel does do, is make a point about today's society, as well as reading a little more interesting. Fifty years ago, it was a totally different society. Band names for example in 1958 were the Diamonds, the Platters, and the Coasters. Today, band names include Viva L'American Death Ray, Pornopop, and Lesbians on Ecstasy. I would think that people would be seen as communists with names like this, if McCarthyism was in 1958... But this book is more fun for kids to read because of the humor. I would imagine that reading Conan O'Brien as opposed to Shakespear, would be a little more interesting for students. Personally, I enjoy reading short stories more than novels, so I really enjoy reading this collection.

Stand-up Comedy... In writing

I really enjoy NBC's late night comedians. I will stay up past 1 am to watch the Tonight Show and Conan. Conan has created his identity as a crazy guy with ADHD who never seems to stop talking. Also, I like to watch the stand-up guys on Comedy Central and other acts. But, I have never read comedy written by a comedian. The story in The Best American Nonrequired Reading, that is simply Conan is giving a graduation speech, made me laugh out loud a lot. At first, I was surprised that I like this because it wasn't necessarily him sitting down and writing jokes, but a speech he gave. It would be like writing his monologue to his show on paper. Especially with regards to Conan, most of his jokes are funny because of his hand motion and body language, so I was doubtful going in to the reading.

I am not going to say that the speech would not have been more funny if it was on TV or if I were at the graduation ceremony, because I think it would. I think stand-up comedians that use body language to their advantage like Conan are extremely funny. When I was reading the book, I felt like I could see Conan dressed in the Harvard colors, with his hat off and hair flopping around, really getting into the speech. When I read the ending about him saying he has no plans and giving out his number, I definitely pictured him saying that so in some sense I wasn't reading, but visualizing.

I would like to find other stand-up comedian that have written some of their material, or who have given a speech that was copied onto a piece of paper. Any suggestions?