Mere Anarchy

Mere Anarchy is an anthology of essays by Woody Allen. First published on July 5, 2007, by Ebury Press, the book is a collection of 18 tales, 10 of which previously ran in The New Yorker. It was Allen's first collection in 25 years.

Reception
In The New York Times, Janet Maslin wrote that Allen's "writing style [...] remains impervious to the changing world around him", that the older essays "outshine" the newer ones but that the newer ones "hold their own", and that the collection is "nostalgically enjoyable" and "timelessly bright". In the Guardian, Adam Mars-Jones called the essays "perfunctory" and "lazy riffs and lame parodies [that] do more to annoy than entertain", while faulting Allen's use of a "facetious linguistic register" and "comedy names". Publishers Weekly wrote, "While this collection doesn't quite measure up to Allen's Without Feathers (1975), there are pieces here—for instance, the report on Mickey Mouse's testimony at the Michael Eisner/Michael Ovitz trial—that will put a rictus on your kisser." Tasha Robinson of The A.V. Club wrote, "At its best, Mere Anarchy is absurd fun, but even Allen's best at this point is only meant for those familiar with, and predisposed to love, his intensely quirky style."

Contents

 * 1) To Err Is Human; To Float, Divine
 * 2) Tandoori Ransom
 * Sam, You Made the Pants Too Fragrant
 * 1) This Nib for Hire
 * 2) Calisthenics, Poison Ivy, Final Cut
 * 3) Nanny Dearest
 * 4) How Deadly Your Taste Buds, My Sweet
 * 5) Glory Hallelujah, Sold!
 * 6) Caution, Falling Moguls
 * 7) The Rejection
 * 8) Sing, You Sacher Tortes
 * 9) On a Bad Day You Can See Forever
 * 10) Attention Geniuses: Cash Only
 * 11) Strung Out
 * 12) Above The Law, Below the Box Springs
 * 13) Thus Ate Zarathustra
 * 14) Surprise Rocks Disney Trial
 * 15) Pinchuck's Law