Louis Menand calls "The Manchurian Candidate" "tony pulp," an echo of Time magazine's book critic, who in 1959 said it could qualify as one of the Ten Best Bad Books. "Condon distributes his sour, malicious humor with such vigor and impartiality that the novel is certain to be read and enjoyed," the critic wrote.

I think there's something to be said for regularly revisiting the topic of brainwashing, even in such an exaggerated form as Mr. Condon's. Today, persuasive language is shoveled into our ears and eyes every minute we're awake. Ray Shaw didn't know he was brainwashed. He just knew what he wanted.