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Dave Barry's Greatest Hits
"Mr. Barry is the funniest man in America and we should encourage him. Buy this book."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
What Pultizer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry did for American history in DAVE BARRY SLEPT HERE and for getting older in DAVE BARRY TURNS FORTY, he does for...everything else in America! The rapacious consumer of overpriced real estate, He Man action figures, and homemade beer sounds off on all the things that make life as we know it both ridiculous and sublime.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
What Pultizer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry did for American history in DAVE BARRY SLEPT HERE and for getting older in DAVE BARRY TURNS FORTY, he does for...everything else in America! The rapacious consumer of overpriced real estate, He Man action figures, and homemade beer sounds off on all the things that make life as we know it both ridiculous and sublime.
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
369 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
About the author
Dave Barry
152 books2,240 followersDave Barry is a humor writer. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
January 4, 2022
Why I chose to read this book:
1. Since January can be such a depressing month (with the 3rd Monday designated as Blue Monday - supposedly the saddest day of the year!), most of my reads this month will focus on HUMOR, beginning with this book by my favorite humorist, Dave Barry!
2. Whenever I see one of Barry's books on sale at a secondhand store, I snatch it up and buy it, no "ifs, ands or buts" (unless, of course, I already own it!) Recently, I hit the motherlode when I bought six of his books at my local library's annual book sale - this book was one of them!
3. Barry received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his syndicated column. This book contains some of his best!
Positives:
1. Barry can take the most mundane topic and, through his unique style with words and phrasing, make it side-splitting hilarious! So many of his columns had me giggling or laughing out loud. My favorites were "Daze of Wine and Roses" and "Red, White and Beer", in which tears were streaming down my face, so much so, that I had difficulty finishing the sentences!;
2. as someone with poor eyesight, I could easily empathize with his "Randomly Amongst the Blobs" column;
3. I loved his poignant column, "A Million Words", about his dying father;
4. I could relate to several of his thoughts and comments, especially as a parent, to those columns in which he referenced his young son, Robert; and,
5. I appreciate that he can be so funny without the use of any obscene language!
Warning!
Your sense of "Haha" may be different from mine! Also, please bear in mind that this book was published in 1988, so you may encounter some social gaffes and find that portions are dated.
Recommendation:
To get a sense of Barry's humor (if you're not familiar with it,) I suggest reading his column, "Dave Barry's Year in Review 2021" online. Then, you can make your own judgments. Happy reading!
1. Since January can be such a depressing month (with the 3rd Monday designated as Blue Monday - supposedly the saddest day of the year!), most of my reads this month will focus on HUMOR, beginning with this book by my favorite humorist, Dave Barry!
2. Whenever I see one of Barry's books on sale at a secondhand store, I snatch it up and buy it, no "ifs, ands or buts" (unless, of course, I already own it!) Recently, I hit the motherlode when I bought six of his books at my local library's annual book sale - this book was one of them!
3. Barry received the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his syndicated column. This book contains some of his best!
Positives:
1. Barry can take the most mundane topic and, through his unique style with words and phrasing, make it side-splitting hilarious! So many of his columns had me giggling or laughing out loud. My favorites were "Daze of Wine and Roses" and "Red, White and Beer", in which tears were streaming down my face, so much so, that I had difficulty finishing the sentences!;
2. as someone with poor eyesight, I could easily empathize with his "Randomly Amongst the Blobs" column;
3. I loved his poignant column, "A Million Words", about his dying father;
4. I could relate to several of his thoughts and comments, especially as a parent, to those columns in which he referenced his young son, Robert; and,
5. I appreciate that he can be so funny without the use of any obscene language!
Warning!
Your sense of "Haha" may be different from mine! Also, please bear in mind that this book was published in 1988, so you may encounter some social gaffes and find that portions are dated.
Recommendation:
To get a sense of Barry's humor (if you're not familiar with it,) I suggest reading his column, "Dave Barry's Year in Review 2021" online. Then, you can make your own judgments. Happy reading!
May 3, 2020
Unexpectedly hilarious and non-dated despite the frequent references to Ronald Reagan and other politics and events of the 1980s. I have fond memories of reading Barry’s syndicated column in the Washington Post as a teen. I inherited this from my mother when she was clearing out her house before a move. For three months I kept it as a bedside book and would read one or two short pieces per night. You can see how his humor paved the way for Bill Bryson and David Sedaris – I was particularly reminded of them during essays on income tax returns and learning foreign languages, respectively. Other topics include home ownership, DIY, parenting a young child, travel, college memories, life in Florida, and struggles with technology.
Despite not recognizing many of the specific references, I found his year roundup for 1987 pretty funny – WITH ADDED IRONIC MENTIONS OF JOE BIDEN! Thirty-two-plus years ago, the poor man already had a reputation for doziness. (But come on, anyone or anything is better than Trump at this point.) “September 12—In the ongoing hearings, Senator Joseph Biden pledges to consider the Bork nomination ‘with total objectivity,’ adding, ‘You have that on my honor not only as a senator, but also as the Prince of Wales.’ … October 1—Senator Joseph Biden is forced to withdraw from the Democratic presidential race when it is learned that he is in fact an elderly Norwegian woman.”
Despite not recognizing many of the specific references, I found his year roundup for 1987 pretty funny – WITH ADDED IRONIC MENTIONS OF JOE BIDEN! Thirty-two-plus years ago, the poor man already had a reputation for doziness. (But come on, anyone or anything is better than Trump at this point.) “September 12—In the ongoing hearings, Senator Joseph Biden pledges to consider the Bork nomination ‘with total objectivity,’ adding, ‘You have that on my honor not only as a senator, but also as the Prince of Wales.’ … October 1—Senator Joseph Biden is forced to withdraw from the Democratic presidential race when it is learned that he is in fact an elderly Norwegian woman.”
September 2, 2015
I enjoyed this and I knew I would even before I read it because I've always been a Dave Barry fan. It was such a short read though, I wished it had been longer and contained more of his greatest hits. It was everything I've come to expect from Dave Barry. He is definitely funny. I love the way his mind works and that he is able to translate on to a page.
January 20, 2010
This is one of those timeless humor books that holds up just as well today as it did when it was initially released 15 years ago! Dave Barry's mastery of the written word is at peak performance with this collection of columns. When they stuck the words "GREATEST HITS" on the cover, they were absolutely not lying.
Sure, some of the events and people discussed within these pages may be dated, but if you were alive for those times (or took a history class in school) then you'll still appreciate a fresh and hilarious perspective.
This book contains my all time favorite Barry column titled "Molecular Homicide" which tells the tell of the author having the flu and what happens when he is unable to get out of bed to monitor his young son's activities. This column alone is worth the price of the book. If you enjoy that column then there are plenty more that will tickle your funny bone.
This is a good starting point for anyone getting into Barry for the first time. It's a book that's easy to pick up whenever you have a few minutes and since each column is only 2-3 pages in length you can always come back to it later without having to worry about remembering what you read previously. Though don't be surprised if you find yourself reading some columns numerous times! It's a perfect book to keep in the bathroom for those quick visits, or in the kitchen for when you're microwaving some food.
If you make it through his "Greatest Hits" then I highly recommend "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need," followed by "Dave Barry is Not Making This Up."
You can't go wrong with any of his books, but I found the 3 mentioned to be the funniest.
Sure, some of the events and people discussed within these pages may be dated, but if you were alive for those times (or took a history class in school) then you'll still appreciate a fresh and hilarious perspective.
This book contains my all time favorite Barry column titled "Molecular Homicide" which tells the tell of the author having the flu and what happens when he is unable to get out of bed to monitor his young son's activities. This column alone is worth the price of the book. If you enjoy that column then there are plenty more that will tickle your funny bone.
This is a good starting point for anyone getting into Barry for the first time. It's a book that's easy to pick up whenever you have a few minutes and since each column is only 2-3 pages in length you can always come back to it later without having to worry about remembering what you read previously. Though don't be surprised if you find yourself reading some columns numerous times! It's a perfect book to keep in the bathroom for those quick visits, or in the kitchen for when you're microwaving some food.
If you make it through his "Greatest Hits" then I highly recommend "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need," followed by "Dave Barry is Not Making This Up."
You can't go wrong with any of his books, but I found the 3 mentioned to be the funniest.
September 8, 2020
I was literally laughing out loud! This is great
June 27, 2024
Although I’ve not been reading much the last few years, I’ve had an even harder time since December of last year. Most of you don’t know this except some I know in person or at least on Facebook but my dad had a heart attack on December 31st. He then had multiple surgeries including open heart surgery. He was not able to come home until April. Since then, recovery has continued to be slow. It’s been a lot.
My dad has always been a big reader. He gifted this love to my sister and me. He was unable to read to himself in the hospital and rehab places so my sister and I started reading to him. We went through a lot of his favorite, Tolkien. He read The Hobbit to us when we were little and I found it sad but sweet, reversing things. It’s funny how life comes full circle.
He has also struggled with depression since his surgery. It’s getting better but it was bleak for a long time. During this time, I wanted to find something funny to read to him. He read a lot of Dave Barry when I was growing up and our whole family loved him too. We started with a different book at first, one we knew and loved before. When we finished it, we started this one and we started a new one tonight.
Book wise, despite some dated references, he’s still a pretty darn funny guy. His humor is gentle and silly. It’s goofy and weird. He’s still right up my alley.
If I could find Dave Barry somehow I would give him the biggest of hugs. (I don’t even like hugs.) I would thank him for making my dad smile and laugh when it seemed I would not see that again. I would tell him that it looks like we will be going through his whole catalog, two chapters at a time. Every night. Never more and never less. As long as my dad keeps laughing, I’ll keep reading.
My dad has always been a big reader. He gifted this love to my sister and me. He was unable to read to himself in the hospital and rehab places so my sister and I started reading to him. We went through a lot of his favorite, Tolkien. He read The Hobbit to us when we were little and I found it sad but sweet, reversing things. It’s funny how life comes full circle.
He has also struggled with depression since his surgery. It’s getting better but it was bleak for a long time. During this time, I wanted to find something funny to read to him. He read a lot of Dave Barry when I was growing up and our whole family loved him too. We started with a different book at first, one we knew and loved before. When we finished it, we started this one and we started a new one tonight.
Book wise, despite some dated references, he’s still a pretty darn funny guy. His humor is gentle and silly. It’s goofy and weird. He’s still right up my alley.
If I could find Dave Barry somehow I would give him the biggest of hugs. (I don’t even like hugs.) I would thank him for making my dad smile and laugh when it seemed I would not see that again. I would tell him that it looks like we will be going through his whole catalog, two chapters at a time. Every night. Never more and never less. As long as my dad keeps laughing, I’ll keep reading.
July 7, 2017
Younger me loved Dave Barry; older me doesn't love Dave Barry.
November 1, 2010
I don’t read when I’m in the bathroom. But if I did, Dave Barry would provide most of the material. His work pretty much screams bathroom. As if the essay title, “Some Thoughts on the Toilet,” didn’t make that clear enough for his billions of readers.
Not that I like bathroom humor. I don’t. I’ve probably only read “Some Thoughts…” two or three times. I’ve read a few of the other essays in here a couple dozen times. There’s just so much to learn, such as Dave’s tips for truffle harvesting. “When you see the pig chewing something, fire a few shots over its head and collect whatever it spits out in a Mason jar.” He also has a profound appreciation for global politics. “Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the defense of Western Europe. It keeps my mind off this rash in my right armpit.”
This book should be required reading in every high school class, or at least the ones that have their own bathrooms.
Not that I like bathroom humor. I don’t. I’ve probably only read “Some Thoughts…” two or three times. I’ve read a few of the other essays in here a couple dozen times. There’s just so much to learn, such as Dave’s tips for truffle harvesting. “When you see the pig chewing something, fire a few shots over its head and collect whatever it spits out in a Mason jar.” He also has a profound appreciation for global politics. “Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the defense of Western Europe. It keeps my mind off this rash in my right armpit.”
This book should be required reading in every high school class, or at least the ones that have their own bathrooms.
June 30, 2020
If Dave Barry had lived in an earlier time, I think he might have been a member of the Algonquin Round Table, or a cohort of Mark Twain. He might have been part of the cadre that wrote Shakespeare's plays and would have been in charge of the comedies.
But he lives in our time, and we are better for it. The essays in this book are all from the 1980s but still manage to resonate one way or another.
But he lives in our time, and we are better for it. The essays in this book are all from the 1980s but still manage to resonate one way or another.
July 28, 2014
I just discovered Dave Barry when I saw his latest book You Can Date Boys When You're Forty at a local bookstore. After reading it, I was ready for more.
Greatest Hits is a collection of his newspaper columns. For someone like me, who never read any of them, it presents a nice profile and overview of his newspaper work. The columns are silly, often very funny, and each one if them is an easy read but reading dozens of them is quite a heavy dose; I am now ready to go and read something else.
But I am very glad I discovered Dave Barry. I think I will come back to read another one of his books in the future when I need a good laugh.
Greatest Hits is a collection of his newspaper columns. For someone like me, who never read any of them, it presents a nice profile and overview of his newspaper work. The columns are silly, often very funny, and each one if them is an easy read but reading dozens of them is quite a heavy dose; I am now ready to go and read something else.
But I am very glad I discovered Dave Barry. I think I will come back to read another one of his books in the future when I need a good laugh.
January 28, 2018
While parts of this haven't aged well, the majority is still just as funny to me as it was when it was helping shape my sense of humor as a teenager. Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck, and 'Weird Al' Yankovic are the main reasons I am the way I am.
February 8, 2008
Ha ha funny even though it's meh dated.
July 16, 2008
Ian will probably read these next. He's already convinced boogers are funny.
October 1, 2019
Brainless amusement. I gave it four stars simply because of the number of times I laughed out loud, and sometimes to tears. What a treasure!
September 7, 2022
I enjoy Dave Barry's humor. He is a good writer and once you get into the rhythm, I actually laugh out loud which causes my boyfriend no end of amusement. This is a compilation of his articles as he is a humor columnist.
I find that I enjoy ones about his family - both past reflections on funny moments and "current" ones. He also had ones about tax policies and politics that weren't as humorous to me because I was not alive during the time. They are from the late 80's and I didn't understand all the references. And since he mixes humor with realism, I wasn't always sure what the politicians actually did.
I love some of his other books more then this one, but it's good for the short reads.
I find that I enjoy ones about his family - both past reflections on funny moments and "current" ones. He also had ones about tax policies and politics that weren't as humorous to me because I was not alive during the time. They are from the late 80's and I didn't understand all the references. And since he mixes humor with realism, I wasn't always sure what the politicians actually did.
I love some of his other books more then this one, but it's good for the short reads.
Read
November 22, 2025scrumptious monty python ass book. after a few dozen pages I got really hooked into Dave's blend of the absurd and the quotidian - but what really sells this are the rare moments where he lets deeper feelings and insecurities slip.
most of the book is brief 3 to 4 page flash in the pan humorist columns - but one segment in particular, a fictionalized series of news headlines for the entire calendar year of 1987 across an epic 17 pages full of nested running gags, makes me wonder if Dave ever tackled longer form work. if existent, id love to read some of that
most of the book is brief 3 to 4 page flash in the pan humorist columns - but one segment in particular, a fictionalized series of news headlines for the entire calendar year of 1987 across an epic 17 pages full of nested running gags, makes me wonder if Dave ever tackled longer form work. if existent, id love to read some of that
May 30, 2023
Listened to this one on a car trip from Buffalo to Manassas. Read by John Ritter, which was enjoyable. I didn’t find it funny like I used to when I first read Dave Barry probably 25 years ago. It was just okay.
May 1, 2024
3/5 At just over an hour long, listening to this audiobook while driving was an ideal way to keep myself from becoming annoyed with the sluggish pace of traffic but it wasn’t as funny as I’d expect a “greatest hits” compilation to be. There were a few laughs to be had, possibly culturally biased.
May 17, 2023
I laughed until I cried. Several times. It's not just a nostalgia hit, these columns are legitimately funny, albeit sprinkled with a lot of 80s pop culture references.
October 8, 2018
Dave Barry is funny as a stitch in time.
Those who appreciate the exaggerated metaphors of David Barry will certainly appreciate this book. Others be aware. Thank you Dave for making light of what should be made later.
Those who appreciate the exaggerated metaphors of David Barry will certainly appreciate this book. Others be aware. Thank you Dave for making light of what should be made later.
December 21, 2018
Some of the essays held up better than others (since they were mostly from the 80s), but I definitely laughed out loud many times. I like that the stories are short, only a few pages each, so you can read a few whenever you need a laugh.
July 23, 2019
Bought at a thrift store and read in bursts when I needed something lighthearted. Some of it was laugh out loud funny and some was eye-rolling juvenile funny. Younger readers might not be able to relate to the 80's issues, but many of the columns are relevant anytime.
January 25, 2020
Well, I’ve been reading Dave Barry for at least 20 years and thought there were none of his books I hadn’t read. Then I found this. And it made me laugh, sometimes very hard. What more can you ask for?
February 15, 2020
I've read them all, but won't bore you with all the reviews. He's a beer soaked genius, the embodiment of the modern male mind. Even after learning his rope-a-dope technique, he still manages to catch me by surprise. Only author ever to make me laugh out loud.
July 30, 2020
Long time fan of the column. I know it's good when I'm down on the floor out of breath and crying at the same time. It's not all great. He's not for everybody. Not going to get an unbiased review here.
February 16, 2024
I love all Dave Barry books. All of them convulse me. I don't really distinguish between them.
November 3, 2016
Quick, funny, but forgettable. Some of his classic articles from his column. Some made me laugh out loud, but some are dated. Still, he's very funny.
July 8, 2017
Although this is an older book, published in 1997, it is still laugh out funny in some parts.
March 8, 2018
Dave Barry's alert readers will enjoy this collection of columns from the 1980's. Those who lived through that decade and are still alert enough to remember will enjoy it even more.
May 29, 2018
Very Funny but his Dave Barry is not making this up was better!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews