The New York Times’ Janet Maslin — one-time movie critic who now fancies herself a book critic — has taken a look at the new masterpiece, “I Am America, And So Can You,” by My Close Personal Friend Stephen Colbert.

Ms. Maslin — who is not now and never will be My Close Personal Friend — offers some grudging praise, though the review is less-than-a-rave.

Still, she does quote some of the choicest parts, and concedes there is mirth to be found:

Among the funnier sections is the “Higher Education” chapter. It includes what purports to be Mr. Colbert’s college application essay, featuring ripe malapropisms, overuse of a thesaurus (“the apex, pinnacle, acme, vertex, and zenith of my life’s experience”) and the lying claim that his great-great-uncle’s name is on a building at Dartmouth. There are also fake course selections with student annotations, among them “Ethnic Stereotypes and the Humor of Cruelty” (“A professor will tell you a bunch of hilarious jokes, and you’re not allowed to laugh”) and “Dance for Men.” (“Go ahead. Break your mother’s heart.”) Heterosexuality that protests too much is a big part of the official Colbert attitude.

A glossary on science is another high point. (On cloning: “No free labor source is worth all of this trouble.”) And it well suits Mr. Colbert’s opposition to all forms of progress. (The smallpox vaccine “may have saved a few thousand lives, but it also destroyed the magic amulet industry.”)

The “Sex and Dating” chapter also heavily emphasizes science, since Mr. Colbert is in some ways the Tom Lehrer of his day. Mr. Lehrer’s sharp satire and erudite academic stunts, like his classic musical rendition of the Periodic Table, are forerunners of Mr. Colbert’s subversive whiz-kid humor. “I often think back fondly on the memories I haven’t repressed,” the book says in this sneaky spirit.

Ms. Maslin also notes: “The full-monty Colbert television brilliance doesn’t quite make it to the page.”

Of course, we all know what that means: Janet’s just jealous. To judge the book, I’d suggest you buy a copy (or several, if you can carry them home) and see for yourself.