How I Got This WayTales of rural Idaho by the New York Times–bestselling author: "There's a smile or guffaw to be had on almost every page . . . entertainment aplenty." — Publishers Weekly From fibbing fishermen to wilderness misadventures to eulogies for a mean dog, this is a charming collection of comic essays and tall tales from the Field & Stream and Outdoor Life writer and "funniest guy in a flannel shirt" ( Kirkus Reviews). Among the many selections is the two-part title essay, in which Patrick McManus delves into the chaotic country boyhood that shaped him into one of the best-loved and bestselling authors of our age. "Gentle, ironic, self-deprecatory wit from the popular western humorist. There's some of Bill Nye here and more still of Mark Twain." — Booklist "The brief selections are of the type one might hear from a droll uncle/grandfather prefaced by the phrase, 'When I was a boy.' They are mainly outdoor adventures, some of which masquerade as hunting trips, and celebrate life. All are laugh-out-loud funny." — School Library Journal "Patrick McManus is a treasure." — The Atlantic |
Contents
| 1 | |
Ethics and What to Do About Them | 33 |
Bambo | 39 |
Get Ready | 46 |
Toe | 52 |
The Bandage | 60 |
The Big Woods | 66 |
Elk Magic | 74 |
Letter from a Kingfisher | 132 |
The Ultimate Bull | 138 |
My Greatest Triumph | 144 |
Another Boring Day | 149 |
The Complete Curmudgeon | 157 |
The Liars Club | 163 |
A Couple Pickles Shy of a Full Barrel | 170 |
Excuse Me While I Get Out of the Way | 177 |
There She Blows | 83 |
Brimstone | 90 |
The Blue Dress | 100 |
Warped Camshaft | 109 |
The 400Pound Pumpkin | 116 |
TennerShoe Blight | 124 |
The Two Masked Raiders | 186 |
Mosquito Bay | 192 |
My Hike with ahem the President | 199 |
Ed in Camp | 206 |
How I Got This Way Part II | 214 |
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Common terms and phrases
ain't asked Bambo bear better Big Earl blue dress boat boots brake Buck bull Buster cabin camping canoe chickens climb coffee couple Crazy Eddie crick deer dewberries door Eddie Eddie's elk hunters ethics Father O'Toole Finley fishing Fizzy Gram guess guys Halloween hand Haverstead head hike hunting Jake Jim Zumbo kids kingfisher knew lake laughed Liars Club look Masked Raiders McManus morning mountains Muldoon never nice night Norman Rockwell Pat McManus Paul Pinto plastic flamingo president pretty probably pumpkin Rancid Retch road scream shot situational ethics Skragg boys slingshot smile sod-cutter stared station wagon steam engine stopped story Strange suddenly supper sure tell Tenners There's thet thing thought toes told trail tree trip Troll truck trying turned universal joint walk What's Whomper Wiley woods woodsman Yeah yelled