MAD's Greatest Artists: Dave Berg; Five Decades of "The Lighter Side of…."

Collecting five decades of his work, this substantial volume comprehensively demonstrates the voice, wit, and artistic talent of one of MAD Magazine's star creators. Berg (1920–2002) began his career at MAD in 1957 and several years later created a feature called "The Lighter Side of…," which ran continuously in the publication until his death in 2002 and is a phenomenal series for a few reasons. For one thing, it is an invaluable snapshot of America, the American people, and the country's values over the second half of the 20th century. It takes serious, everyday issues that cause people stress, such as getting promotions at work or winterizing your home, and shows how ridiculous these experiences are from afar. Reading these stories the reader is simultaneously aware of how far society has come over the past decades and also how much the routine of daily events remain the same. As times and trends changed, Berg showed his versatility, dealing with new fads and trends with the humor and candor seen in all his work.