I guess I rate humour as my preferred way to read social commentary. Political satire is usually the best way of chopping politicians down to size, and writers of the standard of Ben Elton and Tom Sharpe have left a legacy of the 20th century viewed through satirical literature which I believe outclasses most of their competitors.
I wonder if it's the most under-rated form of literature.
I see great weight given to philosophical heavyweights which I wouldn't use as toilet paper, while satire is dismissed as lightweight. In really good satire, the message is obvious, coming with a short, powerful left hook. Maybe some people like to have it wrapped in multiple layers? A good satirist is more akin to a surgeon than a writer, needing sublime timing and precision to achieve the result, and there are a hell of a lot more triers than winners.
I'd hope that the growth and participation in internet forums has shown just how hard it is to get sarcasm across in written English, so maybe it's time we devoted more time to those writers who can make you laugh and cry in the space of two paragraphs.