Thank You for Smoking (novel)

Thank You for Smoking is a novel by Christopher Buckley, first published in 1994, which tells the story of the fictional character Nick Naylor, a tobacco lobbyist during the 1990s.[1]

This article is about the novel. For the film, see Thank You for Smoking.
Thank You for Smoking
First edition
AuthorChristopher Buckley
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreSatire
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
May 17, 1994
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages272 pp
ISBN0-679-43174-8
OCLC29520307
813/.54 20
LC ClassPS3552.U3394 T48 1994

Plot summary

Nick Naylor is the chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, a tobacco industry lobbying firm that promotes the benefits of cigarettes. He utilizes high-profile media events and intentionally provocative rhetoric in order to highlight what his clients view as an unfair crusade against tobacco and nicotine products.

The political satire is heightened by Naylor's informal association with lobbyists from other industries that are subjected to routine vilification in the media, e.g. Polly Bailey, a lobbyist for the alcohol/spirits industry, and Bobby Jay Bliss, who represents the firearms industry. Collectively, they form what is known as the M.O.D. Squad, a reference to the title of a police drama, although in this case, "M.O.D." stands for "Merchants Of Death".

A pivotal point in the plot occurs when Naylor is kidnapped by a clandestine group who attempt to kill him by covering him with nicotine patches. The search for the perpetrators of the crime leads to surprising results.

In this respect, the plot mirrors one of Buckley's other satirical novels, Little Green Men.

Film adaptation

Mel Gibson originally bought the rights to produce a film version of the novel.[2]

A movie based on the novel was released in 2005.[3] While the characters are essentially the same, the plot differs in some significant ways. Most noticeably, Naylor's relationship with his son is given a more prominent role, and the kidnapping conspiracy is downplayed. In addition, the ending is different in both events and tone.

gollark: Anyway, what "doesn't work"?
gollark: *CLOSE YOUR HANDLES*.
gollark: Oh no. An app store. Anyway, ACTUALLY POST YOUR CODE OR NO HELP FOR YOU.
gollark: Look, I can't help, GUIs are outside of my experience, I don't care much, and I have no idea what the rest of your code is doing.
gollark: Well, that's probably the important part.

References
  1. Gelbart, Larry (5 June 1994). "Warning: This Man Is Dangerous to Your Health". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. Witchel, Alex (30 June 1994). "TRYING TO SMOKE WITH Christopher Buckley; More Huffing Than Puffing". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. "Politics Is So Insane Right Now Satirists Can't Keep Up". Wired. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2020.


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