I Took a Lickin' and Kept on Tickin': And Now I Believe in Miracles

by Lewis Grizzard

Leave 'em laughing. That's the classic credo of the funnyman. And that's just what Georgia's favorite son -- and one of America's best-loved humorists -- has done right here. Whether he's taking pointed potshots at blood-stealing orderlies, guffawing in the face of mortality, or talking poignantly about family, friends, and lovers, Lewis Grizzard makes his exit with neither a bang nor a whimper, but a poke in the ribs, a slap on the back, and a promise that his irresistible sense of humor and humanity will always keep on tickin'.
"Imagine Andy Rooney with a Georgia accent . . . and a sense of humor." -- The Houston Post
"A natural-born storyteller with a deft hand for reducing everyday occurrences into uproarious nuggets of prose." -- The Orlando Sentinel


From the Paperback edition.

Genres: Humor

268 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

American writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the American South. Although he spent his early career as a newspaper sports writer and editor, becoming the sports editor of the Atlanta Journal at age 23, he is much better known for his humorous newspaper columns in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a popular stand-up comedian & lecturer.

Grizzard also published a total of twenty-five books, including collections of his columns (e.g. Chili Dawgs Always Bark at Night), expanded versions of his stand-up comedy routines (I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962), and the autobiographical If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground. Although much of his comedy discussed the South and Grizzard’s personal and professional lives, it was also a commentary on issues prevalent throughout America, including relationships between men and women (e.g. If Love Were Oil, I'd Be About a Quart Low), politics, and health, especially heart health.

He made us laugh and think at the same time. Indeed, during his lifetime, Lewis Grizzard heard himself described as "this generation's Mark Twain," "one of the foremost humorists in the country" and "a Faulkner for plain folks" by the national press. What he was, without a doubt, was a masterful storyteller, stand-up comedian, syndicated columnist and best selling author.

Lewis Grizzard Museum: http://newnan.com/lg/

New Georgia Encyclopedia entry:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/ng...

Reviews

[Nancee]

Got free from Melinda H. Part of her moving sale.
This is the first book I have read by him. I was a bit startled by how medical (serious heart operations) it was .. but it was for sure never boring.
As a fellow Rush Limbaugh fan I liked his coined term limbaughectomies.
Of course I did a bit of internet research on him. Sadly he died a year after receiving his mechanical heart. That was his fourth (heart surgery ?)I assume. This was his last book .. typed by himself.
I was touched by his including his publishers life story towards the end of the book.
I would not hesitate to read another book by him .. though he came across as crass sometimes.
He is very straightforward and loved being Southern
born and bred :).

[Sandi Hutcheson]

The redeeming quality of Lewis Grizzard that made readers overlook his meanness and be able to laugh at his foibles was his humanity. The man felt deeply, and it was in how he made it clear what he loved that people connected with him. The great loves of Lewis Grizzard’s life, and probably in this exact order of ascending importance, were Gucci loafers, barbeque, golf, the South, writing, University of Georgia football, his dog Catfish, and his mother. He was just as vociferous in naming what he hated -- television evangelists, Yankees who acted superior to Southerners, unsweetened iced tea, most vegetables, Georgia Tech, and flying. Both lists were things his readers could relate to. When he wrote about what he disliked, people laughed. When he talked about his loves, they cried. And when he found a way to combine the two, readers were left misty-eyed while belly laughing.

[Michael Harris]

A Friends of the HHI Library find. An amusing and quick read by Grizzard of his heart health history and his last valve replacement where he was dead and then survived. Pokes fun at the medical system and yet gives credit to those that saved his life. It is also a story of friends and the importance of them to survive.

[Kathryn]

The second book Lewis wrote about his heart ailment. It's a bittersweet read when you consider he died a few months after the first publication. RIP.

[Samantha]

The inane ramblings of a xenophobic, misogynistic, homophobic old man. In this book he describes himself creeping on young girls and hitting/cursing at a nurse. All of these bigotries present themselves outside of the humor, which was few and far between. A very boring book unless you like reading about people being selfish and feeling sorry for themselves. At first I thought that the humor might just be dated and people were more horrible 30 years ago. But nah, people are still horrible today and I'm sure Grizzard is just as horrible now as he was in 1993.

[Jane Harper]

When I was young, I thought Lewis was really funny and I still do. As a retired medical professional, I found this story of his heart valve replacements very funny, as well as poignant. However, now that I am older and wiser, there are a few things that I found offensive. But I realize this was written over 30 years ago. If you can overlook a couple of things, the book is really funny.

[Staci]

this brought me back to my childhood

What a great book! I remember reading his columns as a child. lying in the floor at my grandmothers house reading the paper. The smell of breakfast cooking… Bacon and eggs cooked in the bacon grease. Thank you Lord for a great memory.w

[Tom Robinson]

Good, but language is coarse, at times.

[Nancy]

This author has a pithy sense of humor and has taken a serious topic and made light of it. He has had 3 heart valve replacement surgeries and the third one almost killed him. After the first two he kept smoking and drinking and had a “devil may care” attitude. Looks like he might have finally gotten the message after the third. I just didn’t care for the flippancy, but the details of the surgeries were interesting.

[Karen-Leigh]

Leave 'em laughing. That's the classic credo of the funnyman. And that's just what Georgia's favorite son -- and one of America's best-loved humorists -- has done right here. Whether he's taking pointed potshots at blood-stealing orderlies, guffawing in the face of mortality, or talking poignantly about family, friends, and lovers, Lewis Grizzard makes his exit with neither a bang nor a whimper, but a poke in the ribs, a slap on the back, and a promise that his irresistible sense of humor and humanity will always keep on tickin'.
"Imagine Andy Rooney with a Georgia accent . . . and a sense of humor." -- The Houston Post
"A natural-born storyteller with a deft hand for reducing everyday occurrences into uproarious nuggets of prose." -- The Orlando Sentinel

[William]

It had a few laughs at the beginning, but then went on and on about the author's operation. I dislike hearing about others complain about their ailments, and this egotistical writer is quite the complainer. It also had religious & over-the-top conservative overtones which were not welcome to me -- particularly from such a self centered jack ass.

[Patricia]

Well, he didn't. Keep on tickin', that is. Mr. Grizzard, "an American by birth...a Southerner by the grace of God," and a very funny man, died in March, 1994. What happened before his too-early death is told here. Funnier before he died, one imagines.

[Kim Francis]

Good read for anyone having to go through an extended illness or surgery. He incorporates humor into his own personal experiences with heart disease.

[Marty]

Another great read by Lewis. This came after one heart surgery. Such a wonderful man taken from us way too soon.

[Melissa Mc Lees]

I felt bad about how Lewis Grizzard felt when he did not feel good. I am sure glad that there is medical help when people need the help.

[Ronald]

read SOMETIME in 2001

[Tammy Downing]

I have enjoyed every book he's written but this one takes the cake. Lewis describes in humorous detail his heart surgeries. The final surgery is the best. He is a very funny writer.