Lewis Grizzard Books

What can one say about Lewis Grizzard. I wasn't born in 1962, but grew up in the South. I can't get enough of Grizzards stories and humor. He gives insights into the Southern way of life like no one else can. He will be dearly missed and nothing that I can say in this small space would do him justice. I am not old enough to have lived through all the things he writes about, but they make me laugh and think about where my family comes from (he even got me to try fried green tomatoes that I had refuse to try at my mother insistence). I laugh and send each copy of his books home to my Mamma. I have bough three more of his works and can't wait to get started.

All Yankees should read this book so you know what we think of you. All Confederates should read this book for a good laugh at them Yankees :) Seriously, this book is excellent, and its got some stuff in it that you might not want your kids to read...these days maybe you don't care. They'll hear it anyway. But this book is so funny and you will love it. One of his best.

Lewis had a way to make us all laugh,... and think. He was truly a son of the south. From his boyhood tails of exploits with Waymon C. Wannamaker and Kathy Sue Loudermilk to his stirring praise of Ronald Reagan's courage after being shot by Hinkley; Lewis relates feelings shared by all. I'm sure he is under a large Magnolia tree above, sittin' with his mom, dad, Daddy Bunn, Grandma Willie and good old Catfish, drinkin' iced tea, eatin' bar-b-que and laughing with us all

It is truly sad that as he reached the apex of his book writing career (in this book), Lewis Grizzard left us. This book was released in October of 1992, and Lewis died in March 1994. He wrote one more book about the hospital stay that nearly killed him a year later. But Lewis Grizzard went out at his creative peak.

Most of Grizzard's previous works had been collections of his four times per week column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. There were a few exceptions, like "Elvis Is Dead And I Don't Feel So Good Myself" (highly recommended), but most were collations of previous material. he made a few exceptions as his career progressed. In 1988, he wrote "Don't Bend Over In The Garden Granny, You Know Them Taters Got Eyes," a book about sex. The next year, he wrote one about golf. In 1990, it was a book written to his late mother (she died in 1989) and his biography, "If I Ever Get Back To Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet To The Ground."

After another collection of columns release, Grizzard wrote this book that primarily expounded upon his political views. For those who are unaware, he was an unabashed right-wing, trickle down, conservative. But it wasn't that simple.

He wrote about his politics in the context of trying to get a date in the newspaper want ads. He realized at this point that he was among the most politically incorrect persons in America. He also pointed out that any time he praised something about Southern culture, he was ripped as a racist. He correctly noted (for the time frame) that the New York Times and Washington Post have too much public influence. That has since changed, of course, with Al Gore inventing the Internet for the rest of us.

He roars through his views like tax breaks for the rich, get people off welfare, and he really didn't care how hard people had it because he pointed out that charity still begins at home. He did NOT advocate a return to the back of the bus mentality in the pre-civil rights 60s, praising many blacks while pointing out that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are political opportunists who could really care less about helping out anyone.

One of the highlights of the book was his logical review of Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing." He caps it off by noting, after the pizza place is burned down, 'Did these guys ever stop to think, "Hey, where are we gonna get pizza tomorrow?"' He also had fun with Michael Dukakis, the feminists, and even mused about the Atlanta Braves losing the 1991 World Series was proof that life wasn't fair.

For those who have not read it, he did reveal that there are two issues on which he does not have a right-wing conservative view: abortion (he was reluctantly pro-choice) and gun control (he favored it). And it wasn't revealed until his next book but, yes, Grizzard was a Dittohead.

What does LG mean when he references 1962? It goes back to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He notes that in 1962, he was 16 and slept well, had a pretty girlfriend and all was normal. Arnold Palmer and Sandy Koufax were in their primes. But as the preface says, in 1963 somebody shot the President. Then the Beatles came. And all hell broke loose.

This book is, in fact, a sequel to the aforementioned "Elvis Is Dead And I Don't Feel So Good Myself," written in 1984. Although this book stands fine on its own, the previous book does serve to illuminate a few of his musings.

Enjoy the finest hour of a fine writer.

...but after some years spent living in Slidell, Louisiana, I'm thankful to see a commentator of intelligence and piercing insight blow through the baloney and tell it like it is. This is the closest we're likely to get to an autobiography of Grizzard's early years, and I'm glad to have it in my hands, because it allows us to see what kind of mind produced the stuff the late great man wrote.

this book is one of the beat books in the world. it will make you happy and sad. if you naver read any of his work before read this one it is a good intro to lewis's work

The work of a true humorist. From writing to his dog to his wife to his own short life, Lewis Grizzard is my hero and my role model. I have read almost all of this great man's books, and I believe in everything this man wrote. I was very sad when he died, for it meant that there would be no more books of this kind of quailty from one of the leading authors in America. This particular book was Grizzard's life story, but he managed to tell it in a funny, new way. I generally stay away from autobiographies and biographies, but since this one was written by Lewis himself, I gave it a try. It proved to be as funny as all his other books and really touched me. This book was just as funny as his other works and I was not disappointed by it's quality or content. I suggest that anyone who likes either humor or autobiographies (this book is versatile) should pick up this book from your nearest library and start reading

I went out and bought this book b/c I'd listened to the abridged recorded version. This made me laugh and cry. It truely pulled me out of a "Why are we here and why do we bother?" kind of funk. I'm not sure I got the answers, but the answers didn't seem to matter after all. His presence is missed deeply in my life.

Only Lewis Grizzard could make me laugh and cry at the same time and about what? His own near death experience. His unusual humor will be sorely missed. This book is almost as good as what I think was his greatest - My Daddy was a Pistol and I'm a Son-of-a-Gun. I will miss the talents of this great writer.

The work of a true humorist. From writing to his dog to his wife to his own short life, Lewis Grizzard is my hero and my role model. I have read almost all of this great man's books, and I believe in everything this man wrote. I was very sad when he died, for it meant that there would be no more books of this kind of quailty from one of the leading authors in America. This particular book was Grizzard's life story, but he managed to tell it in a funny, new way. I generally stay away from autobiographies and biographies, but since this one was written by Lewis himself, I gave it a try. It proved to be as funny as all his other books and really touched me. This book was just as funny as his other works and I was not disappointed by it's quality or content. I suggest that anyone who likes either humor or autobiographies (this book is versatile) should pick up this book from your nearest library and start reading

Ahh...who couldn't like Grizzard? Except if you're a Yankee ;P Wish he was still around to write more. It's the only book of his I read (and won't be the last, I assure you) and I already miss him.

Never get tired of this book. Funny, enlightening and very eye opening at times...

I read this book almost a million times and I always find something different to laugh at. It should become a classic someday in the world of comedy books.

The first several collections of Lewis Grizzard were culled from articles unapologetically written with a distinct Southern Flavor, which perhaps limited his audience. This collection, just as insightful as those previous, comes at a time when Lewis seems more at ease with his place and age and has little to offend anyone while offering his usual portion of fun.

Lewis Grizzard was, like his friend Weyman C. Wannamaker, a Great American. His writing celebrated his Southern Heritage and is full of stories about faithful dogs, good country music and women who looked so good they'd make a preacher break out in a sweat. Lewis loved his momma, his country and his culture, and he wrote about the things he loved in a way that if you didn't love them too, at least you could understand why he did. He is missed.

Lewis, if you can read this wherever you're at.....know that we miss your columns. Thank you for leaving us the legacy of your books!

This book, makes you truely proud to be a southerner. And it makes you proud to be a man. Lewis says what's on his mind. You may not always agree. Some may find in funny, and some will find it obnoxious. I agreed with every one of his views and all I have to say is, that it's about time someone said some of this!!! A truley touching and humorous book.

Lewis Grizzard writes about his memories of his daddy in this sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious book. This is what got me started reading Grizzard's books, and made me a loyal fan. You can't help but like it.

With this work Grizzard departs from his usual mileu of homespun humor and examines the special relationship between fathers and sons. In doing so, the author takes the reader on a bittersweet trip through his father's life to include his military experiences during the Korean War, return to the United States as a combat hero, declining success in the business world, divorce, and finally his early death brought about by alcoholism. The story operates on two levels first by examining Grizzard's relationship with his father and, of greater importance to the reader, in unraveling the intricate interaction between all fathers and sons. On this second level, the work reveals that sons see their fathers as heros regardless of their circumstances. The author makes his best point in the early pages of the work in a discussion of, of all things, the various degrees of intoxication. First there are belligerent drunks, followed by rowdy drunks, followed by the "crank up the Enola Gay" drunks. In describing the most inebrieated level, Grizzard coins the phrase "crying about your daddy drunk", a point at which pent up emotions surge from that special place in the male psyche where men hide their most painful wounds. Any man who has lost a father can relate to this final level. I would recommend this work to two groups of readers--men who have suffered through the death of a father as well as those who wish to understand the depression and post traumatic shock of combat. Grizzard provides more insight to these readers than the best researched psychology book on the shelf. A powerful work with an eternal message, it is a shame that this work is no longer in print.

Lewis Grizzard was, like his friend Weyman C. Wannamaker, a Great American. His writing celebrated his Southern Heritage and is full of stories about faithful dogs, good country music and women who looked so good they'd make a preacher break out in a sweat. He often accompanied his beloved Georgia Bulldog football team, and reporting from New Orleans at the 1980 Sugar Bowl he wrote that he had just experienced a turtle soup that was so good it couldn't have been any better if you had known the turtle personally. He was to the written word what Jerry Clower was to the spoken, and I don't think it's a coincidence that when Lewis branched off into stand-up comedy in his later years that his style seemed most reminiscent of the Big Man from Mississippi. Lewis loved his momma, loved his country and loved his culture, and he wrote about the things he loved in a way that if you didn't love them too, at least you could understand why he did. He is missed.

It is truly refreshing to read a book about Southerners by a Southerner who laughs with us not at us. He joins us in laughing at the Yankees! This is a short and sweet compilation of some of Lewis Grizzard's best newspaper columns. One hundred seventy pages of pure, unreconstructed bliss. It touches on his pet peaves and treasured memories, including food, animals and relatives. Truly a gem, I read this great little book in one sitting. Rest in peace, Mr. Grizzard. I hope to see you in Dixie Heaven. Paul Beatty, Adjutant John C. Breckinridge Camp #100 Sons of Confederate Veterans 1-800-MYSOUTH

Lewis Grizzard is to southern humor what Elvis is to rock n roll, a legend that will live in our hearts forever. "Down Home Grizzard" is an excellent read as well as a beautiful memory to the late king of southern humor. The man is just plain funny.

If you've read anything else by Lewis Grizzard, then you owe it to yourself to read this book. (It's called "closure," and you probably need it.) This book is living proof that the good die too young. I'll sure miss this guy (sniff.)

If you can find this title in a used bookstore and are a fan of Lewis, this is worth getting. Shame it is out of print now.

One of lewis's most personal books.Great story of unconditional love for a person who wasnt even near perfect.Anyone with a absent father or loved one will really appreciate the honesty and grit it took to write this book.
One of my all time favorites!!