As its title suggests, "But Seriously ..." offers readers a superb sampling of Steve Allen's articles, personal correspondence, speeches, book excerpts, and forewords written to introduce the work of important writers. Whether Allen is serving up some tongue-in-cheek advice on "How to Attack a Liberal" in which he identifies himself as the liberal and then advises conservatives on how best to confront his beliefs ethically, or is offering his views on Chinese nuclear capability, his razor-sharp insights always cut to the core of the issue. This cornucopia of well-reasoned discussion is filled with good humour, irony, and a deep concern for the human condition. Whether he's offering "Concluding Remarks at the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice", an excerpt from "The Courage of Conviction", or expressing his views on Native Americans, labour relations, the lessons to be learned from Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, or presenting an open letter to Frank Sinatra, Allen's devotion to common sense and serious social involvement carves a path for others to follow.
