What would Bill Hicks say about the second George Bush, the second war in Iraq, American Idol, or erectile dysfunction? In 250 words (or one picture) or less, writers, comedians, musicians, cartoonists, and entrants from Austin's annual Bill Hicks Tribute Rant-Off fulminate about the current political and cultural scene in Hicksian rants. Contributors include cartoonists Jeff Danziger and Martyn Turner; writers Neal Pollack, Robert Newman, and A.L. Kennedy; and Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

Just emerging from underground cult status when he died in 1994, Hicks redefined the boundaries of comedy in the 1980s. His biting social satire about everything from the first President Bush to rock stars who shill for diet Coke made audiences roar and censors cringe. Hicks believed that while ideas evolve, principles remain constant, and that the venues for expressing them change over time. Hicks said he was planting seeds. By providing a forum for those touched by Hicks's ideas to speak out on his behalf, this book waters those seeds. More than just a tribute to Hicks's legend, What Would Bill Hicks Say? is a thought-provoking reflection of the present moment.