How I Got This Way

Book excerpt: Tales 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