Way Off the Road: Discovering the Peculiar Charms of Small Town America

I have never laughed so hard in my life - Bill Geist is a genius. I used half a box of tissue because I was laughing so hard all afternoon as I read this book that tears were pouring down my face and the print was blurry. As wonderful as the entire book was, my very favorite chapter was the first, "Standstill Parade" - I wanted to share the humor and realized that I would be incapable of reading that chapter to anyone without bursting into gales of laughter which would have spoiled for them. It occurred to me that married couples would drive each other crazy first by cackling and roaring with laughter during the entire time they read the book and then by wanting to share the humor with each other and trying to read while being unable to control their laughter. I've been going through a very grim period lately and friends recommended this book. I'm now going to read Bill's other books - sure worked better than antidepressants. Wait until you read about the "road kill stew" - the watermelon champion, the ride in a vintage plane with a man who had had five heart attacks to deliver papers to outlying ranches. You'll read about "Mike, the Headless Chicken" - reminded me of when my father decapitated a chicken destined for the stew pot and it flew over the roof of the house before expiring - well Mike took a lot longer to expire - long enough to become famous. I won't give any more away - you have to read it yourself. I promise you "Way Off the Road" is good for whatever ails you.

Excellent book. Hard to put down once you get started. Small town folks can really relate to the stories.

Bill Geist travels the US and writes about small town America with gentle humor and fascinating facts. Some of his chapters are hilarious, some more gentle but all present a facet of the US most of us never see and might want to after reading this wonderful book.

Ever since seeing him on Sunday Morning, I've really enjoyed Bill Geist's work. His sense of humor is great, and I recently drove across the country and can attest to some of the things he wrote about! Good stuff!

This was my first Geist book, however, if you enjoy the observations of Bill Bryson, you will enjoy this collection!