# Satire of Media and Business in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

The book lampoons the absurdities of journalism, publishing, and corporate life, showing how greed, incompetence, and vanity drive decision-making in these worlds.

## Where it surfaces

- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi): The hotel staff and management are depicted as more concerned with appearances and avoiding scandal than with the safety of guests, satirizing business priorities.
- [Back to Baltimore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/back-to-baltimore): The chapter satirizes the business side of baseball, including the influence of owners, the naivety of college-educated players, and the absurdity of contracts that include taxi rides.
- [Tour No. 2](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/tour-no-2): Larry's letters satirize the experience of tourism and the business of travel, with humorous observations about the ship and its passengers.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii): Larry's naive and humorous observations about the war and German soldiers satirize the romanticized view of travel and international affairs.
- [Alibi Ike](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/alibi-ike): The narrative satirizes the business of baseball, where a player's value is weighed against his troublesome personality.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i): Ike's behavior satirizes the tendency to over-explain and self-promote, a trait that can be seen in business and media contexts.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii): Ike's constant alibis and the manager's fines satirize the business-like discipline and public image management in professional sports.
- [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv): The club's handling of the taxi fare and the trickery involved satirize the business-like and sometimes petty dealings within professional sports.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): The chapter satirizes the business of baseball, where managers like McGraw use mind games and misinformation to gain an advantage.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi): The exaggerated tales of the James Boys and the mock-serious tone of the guard duty highlight the satirical treatment of baseball's culture and its superstitions.
- [Where Do You Get That Noise?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/where-do-you-get-that-noise): The chapter critiques the commodification of art and the hollow promises of the media landscape.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i): The trade is discussed in a cynical, business-like manner, highlighting the absurdity of player transactions.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii): Carey's attempt to use a newspaper story to provoke a reaction and the subsequent debate satirizes how information is consumed and debated.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii): The exaggerated, pseudo-scientific explanations for hitting performance satirize the way players and fans rationalize success and failure.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv): The characters' discussion satirizes the business of baseball and the absurd logic used to explain its decline.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): The exaggerated tales about golf and the cost of equipment satirize the commercialization of sports and the bravado of athletes.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii): The manipulation and maneuvering within the team, including the use of waivers and trades, satirizes the business-like and often petty nature of professional sports.
- [Good for the Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/good-for-the-soul): The formal, almost legalistic setting of a confession to a baseball writer satirizes the media's role in extracting and sensationalizing personal stories, blending the worlds of sports, confession, and public image.
- [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii): Mr. Grant's naive belief in his team's chances and his rule against drinking are satirized through the narrator's sarcastic remarks.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv): The chapter satirizes business culture through Billy's interactions with his stenographer and the emphasis on appearances.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): The chaotic shopping spree satirizes the commercial frenzy of Christmas and the absurdity of gift-giving.
- [The Holdout](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-holdout): The manager's manipulation of the press to pressure Hagedorn satirizes the relationship between sports, media, and business tactics.
- [Ball-a-Hole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ball-a-hole): The golfers' obsession with their scores and their willingness to cheat mirrors the corrupt practices in business and media, satirizing the pursuit of success at any cost.
- [Gas, Oil and Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/gas-oil-and-air): The opening mocks advertising and correspondence courses, and the garage's shoddy work satirizes business practices.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i): The fake newspaper articles and rule changes highlight how media and management manipulate players for publicity and control.
- [The Clubby Roadster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-clubby-roadster): The narrator's sarcastic commentary on the car's name and the road guide's instructions satirizes the marketing and consumer information of the time, mocking the pretensions of commercial products.
- [II: Starting Gaily](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii-starting-gaily): The father's sports expertise and betting on the White Sox satirize the business of sports.
- [V: My Father’s Idear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v-my-father-s-idear): The father's 'grate idear' is satirized as a foolish shortcut, mocking the overconfidence in one's own judgment.
- [VII: Hudson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii-hudson): The chapter satirizes small-town commerce and the interactions with the local boy and landlady.
- [VIII: Hudson to Yonkers 106.5](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/viii-hudson-to-yonkers-106-5): The father's quips about Rockefeller's estate being named 'Socony' and the reference to umpires and referees as the 'ruling class' satirize business and authority figures.
- [X: N.Y. To Grenitch 500.0](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/x-n-y-to-grenitch-500-0): The father's misunderstanding of 'Boston Post' as a newspaper subscription satirizes media consumption and literal-mindedness.
- [III: Lady Perkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii-lady-perkins): The chapter satirizes the idle rich and their trivial concerns, such as dog diseases and bridge games.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii): The conversation satirizes how the media's portrayal of a boxing match can be manipulated to create interest and a profitable event.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii): The chapter satirizes the media's role in manufacturing hype and the business dealings behind boxing, with Moon planting stories and negotiating financial terms.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v): The chapter satirizes the business of boxing promotion, where deception, showmanship, and financial maneuvering overshadow the sport itself.
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/viii): The narrator satirizes the public's gullibility and the fight promoter's financial success, highlighting the business behind the spectacle.
- [A Caddy's Diary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/a-caddy-s-diary): The chapter satirizes the media's coverage of the scandal and the business-like mentality of the members.
- [The Golden Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-golden-honeymoon): The narrator's speech at the social event and the mention of business conditions satirize small-town boosterism and public speaking.
- [How to Tell a True Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/how-to-tell-a-true-princess): The story satirizes the absurdity of traditional tests and modern 'trials,' mocking the idea of proving worth through ridiculous means.
- [Cinderella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/cinderella): The Prince's 'display ad' and the shoe-fitting canvass satirize commercialized romance and media-driven courtship.
- [Red Riding Hood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/red-riding-hood): The tale satirizes social norms and suburban life, including the absurdity of golf rules and the casual violence of the police dog.
- [Bluebeard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/bluebeard): Bluebeard's occupation as a traveling toothbrush salesman and the mention of Rotary Clubs mock business culture and commercial gimmicks.
- [A Closeup of Domba Splew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/a-closeup-of-domba-splew): The narrator's assignment and the editor's offer mock the commercialization of art and the trivial nature of journalistic pursuits.
- [What of It?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/what-of-it): The chapter satirizes the business side of theater, where a producer arbitrarily changes a play's title, and also mocks the talkative salesman as a type of 'broadcaster'.
- [Mr. and Mrs. Fix-It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/mr-and-mrs-fix-it): The narrator satirizes the boosterism of local organizations and the self-promotion of characters like Tom Stevens, who claims connections to famous figures like Stagg.
- [The Love Nest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-love-nest): The story satirizes the business of image-making, where a powerful man like Lou Gregg curates a perfect public image for the press, which is a complete lie.
- [A Day with Conrad Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/a-day-with-conrad-green): The chapter satirizes the corrupt relationship between media and business. Hawley's blackmail scheme is presented as a standard business practice, and Green's own business dealings are shown to be ruthless and self-serving.
- [Who Dealt?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/who-dealt): The chapter satirizes the publishing industry, where editors may not even read submissions, and success depends on 'pull' rather than merit. The narrator's anecdote about Mr. Hastings and the editor who didn't remember the story underscores this critique.
- [Rhythm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/rhythm): The chapter satirizes the media's superficiality (the 'Harbinger' article) and the business conflicts between artists and producers, as seen in the dispute with Conrad Green.
- [Travelogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/travelogue): The chapter satirizes the pretentiousness of travelers who boast about their experiences, reflecting a critique of social climbing and superficiality.
- [The Jade Necklace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-jade-necklace): The chapter satirizes the film industry's cynical approach to storytelling, where a story's title is twisted to fit a star, and authors are bought off to suppress their names.
- [The Story of a Wonder Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-story-of-a-wonder-man): The chapter satirizes the world of journalism and the business of entertainment, highlighting the absurdities and hypocrisies of the industry.
- [I: The Birth of a Wonder Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/i-the-birth-of-a-wonder-man): The chapter parodies the media's sensationalism and the commercialization of personal events, such as the flood of promotional letters and requests for autographs.
- [II: The Boy Grew Older](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ii-the-boy-grew-older): The absurdity of the Inaugural Ball's location and the impracticality of travel are satirized, mocking the exclusivity and inefficiency of political events.
- [III: Young Man Goes West](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iii-young-man-goes-west): The narrator's absurd journey and the exaggerated events at the ball satirize the sensationalism of media and the business of entertainment.
- [IV: Bright College Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/iv-bright-college-years): The narrator's exaggerated claims of athletic prowess and university offers satirize media hype and the business of college recruitment.
- [V: How Spanish War Ended](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/v-how-spanish-war-ended): The chapter satirizes the chaos and misinformation of war reporting, the pension system, and the impracticalities of early railroad business.
- [VI: How I Threw Big Party for Jane Austen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vi-how-i-threw-big-party-for-jane-austen): The chapter mocks the commercialization of literature and the absurdity of business transactions, such as the narrator's attempt to pay with a bad check.
- [VII: New York's Noon Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/vii-new-york-s-noon-life): The chapter satirizes the hype around inventions and the business of entertainment, with absurd details about the subway and the antics of celebrities.
- [VIII: Football Trick Uncorked](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/viii-football-trick-uncorked): The narrator's trick play and the absurdity of the game highlight satirical elements of sports and competition.
- [IX: Yale, Beaten by Blind Boys](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ix-yale-beaten-by-blind-boys): The Grudge family's wealth and social status are exaggerated, with the father's desperation to marry off his daughter satirizing business-like approaches to personal life.
- [X: A Gay Christmas Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/x-a-gay-christmas-eve): The narrator's witty repartee and the practical jokes highlight a satirical view of social customs.
- [XI: How I Swam the Hudson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xi-how-i-swam-the-hudson): The chapter satirizes the blind faith in authority figures and the absurdity of following advice without question, as seen with the traffic policeman and the shoe lace vendor.
- [XII: I Transfer from Princeton to Medicine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xii-i-transfer-from-princeton-to-medicine): The narrator's satirical take on academic institutions and the medical profession, mocking the absurdity of the curriculum and examinations.
- [My Medical Career](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xiii-my-medical-career): The narrator's medical career is a satirical take on entrepreneurship and the exploitation of customers, from the roadside filling station to the tent surgery in the park.
- [My 2 Big Inventions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xiv-my-2-big-inventions): The chapter mocks the commercialization of inventions and the absurdity of business practices, such as charging a nickel per call and the telephone company's downfall due to women talking.
- [XV: Sport Writer on The Rabies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xv-sport-writer-on-the-rabies): The chapter satirizes tabloid journalism, with absurd assignments like interviewing a one-year-old golf prodigy and the arbitrary weight rule for sport writers.
- [XVI: Star Reporter for The Rabies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xvi-star-reporter-for-the-rabies): The chapter mocks the sensationalism and absurdity of tabloid reporting, as seen in The Rabies' coverage of the Helsh murder.
- [Promoted to Contest Editor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xvii-promoted-to-contest-editor): The contest is a satirical take on circulation-building schemes, with absurd prizes and intentionally impossible answers.
- [XVIII: Halloween in Polyandry Hospital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xviii-halloween-in-polyandry-hospital): The absurd medical diagnosis and hospital procedures satirize the medical profession and institutional practices.
- [XIX: A Soft Job](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xix-a-soft-job): The narrator's absurd and inefficient methods as a ticket agent satirize the bureaucratic and nonsensical rules of corporate employment.
- [Dan Boone's Joke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xx-dan-boone-s-joke): The narrator's autograph collecting satirizes the celebrity culture and the absurd lengths people go to for fame, as well as the business of boxing promotions.
- [XXI: I First Marry in Central Park—Lapland Lady for Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxi-i-first-marry-in-central-park-lapland-lady-for-bride): The wedding is a media circus, with confetti, cowbells, and public spectacle, satirizing the commercialization of personal events.
- [On My Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxii-on-my-honeymoon): The narrator and Hugga run a post office that prioritizes selling dog accessories over postal services, satirizing commercial opportunism and the manipulation of customer needs.
- [XXIII: My Romance Blasted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxiii-my-romance-blasted): The chapter satirizes the press's role in sensationalizing divorce and the business of running a post office for profit.
- [My Divorce Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxiv-my-divorce-trial): The trial is depicted as a media circus, with spectators entertained by the antics of the co-respondents and the absurd testimony, satirizing the public's fascination with celebrity divorces.
- [XXV: Even Judge Ogle Smiled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxv-even-judge-ogle-smiled): The chapter satirizes the legal profession and high society, with the lawyers' banter being compared to a humor magazine and the luncheon featuring a taxi door opener as a speaker.
- [I Revolutionize Theatre Business](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxvi-i-revolutionize-theatre-business): The narrator's absurd scheme to regulate theater costumes satirizes the business of entertainment and public morality.
- [XXVII: A Postmortem Message](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/xxvii-a-postmortem-message): The chapter satirizes the pretensions and social habits of the wealthy literary and theatrical set in Great Neck.
- [Sun Cured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/sun-cured): The story satirizes the business world through Fretts's boastful account of his insurance business running itself, and his superficial approach to work and life.
- [Hurry Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/hurry-kane): The chapter satirizes the business side of baseball, including trades, contracts, and the manipulation of players, as well as the media's role in creating narratives around players like Kane.
- [The Venomous Viper of the Volga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/the-venomous-viper-of-the-volga): Luke Lewis's manipulation of the press and public, and the business of boxing, are satirized through the creation of the Viper and the elimination tournament.
- [Anniversary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/anniversary): Louis's recitation of trivial newspaper statistics satirizes the media's focus on inconsequential facts and the business of daily life.
- [Nora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/nora): The chapter satirizes the business of show business, where artistic integrity is sacrificed for commercial success, as seen in the producers' willingness to change the heroine's nationality and plot to fit their star.
- [Liberty Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/liberty-hall): The fake telegrams from theatrical producers satirize the business of show business and the pressures of the industry.
- [Mr. Frisbie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/mr-frisbie): The reporter's attempt to interview Mr. Frisbie and the narrator's own writing venture satirize the media's fascination with the rich and the difficulty of accessing their private lives.
- [Wedding Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/wedding-day): The wedding is treated as a business transaction, with the bride's pride and the groom's salary as key considerations. The presence of reporters and the focus on public image highlight the commercial nature of celebrity life.
- [Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/dinner): The chapter satirizes the social pretensions and name-dropping of the upper middle class, as Miss Rell boasts about her connections to Lindbergh and Congressman Burleigh, and seeks stock tips from a supposed Wall Street insider.
- [Ex Parte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/ex-parte): The narrator satirizes the 'Early American' fad, mocking the Dwans' pretentiousness and the commercial value placed on old, mismatched items.
- [Contract](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/contract): The story satirizes the pretensions of suburban social life, where bridge becomes a serious business and players act as self-appointed experts, mirroring the competitive and critical nature of the media world.
- [High-Rollers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/high-rollers): The chapter satirizes the business world through Walter's new job at a publicity firm and the casual, enormous gambling debts among wealthy businessmen, highlighting a culture of excess and questionable financial practices.
- [Stop Me—If You’ve Heard This One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/stop-me-if-you-ve-heard-this-one): The chapter satirizes the culture of celebrity and storytelling, where personal experiences are commodified for entertainment.
- [Pity Is Akin—](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/pity-is-akin): The trial and the club's operations satirize the business of entertainment and the legal system's handling of Prohibition.
- [Second-Act Curtain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/second-act-curtain): The exaggerated frustration of the authors, who contemplate violence against the manager, satirizes the business side of theater.
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/endnotes): The endnotes mock journalistic practices, including misquotations and the Associated Press's reporting errors, highlighting the absurdity of media and business conventions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/themes/satire_of_media_and_business
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_62_se/themes