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Don't Miss the Bus: and other tales from the road
Take one serving of David Sedaris,
add one half serving of Andy Rooney,
drain the excess bitterness,
and add a pinch of bad decision-making.
Have you ever flown the Goodyear blimp? Commissioned a gift honoring your favorite serial killer? Known a 12-year-old college student? These are just a few of the situations Benjamin Douglas has encountered while traveling from state to state, entertaining young and old with his music, artwork, and what he optimistically considers to be humor. Having had countless responses to the telling of these tales such “That didn’t really happen, did it?” “They said what?!” and “Are you serious?” Douglas has compiled this collection so that the world may also have insight into the absurdities of the human race. Do you know the reason it’s dangerous to attend dental conventions? Or why you shouldn’t play practical jokes on heart transplant patients in the ICU? Well, fret no more. Douglas has come to the rescue with all of the answers you never knew you needed, and some you probably didn’t.
Having had adventures in forty-nine states (and parts of Georgia), he now passes on the wisdom he’s gained while asking nothing in return except for your time and perhaps some fan mail. So, sit back, relax, and do whatever it is you typically do while being told stories you don’t believe. And remember, it’s okay to forget about any felonies you’ve committed—just make sure you don’t miss the bus!
add one half serving of Andy Rooney,
drain the excess bitterness,
and add a pinch of bad decision-making.
Have you ever flown the Goodyear blimp? Commissioned a gift honoring your favorite serial killer? Known a 12-year-old college student? These are just a few of the situations Benjamin Douglas has encountered while traveling from state to state, entertaining young and old with his music, artwork, and what he optimistically considers to be humor. Having had countless responses to the telling of these tales such “That didn’t really happen, did it?” “They said what?!” and “Are you serious?” Douglas has compiled this collection so that the world may also have insight into the absurdities of the human race. Do you know the reason it’s dangerous to attend dental conventions? Or why you shouldn’t play practical jokes on heart transplant patients in the ICU? Well, fret no more. Douglas has come to the rescue with all of the answers you never knew you needed, and some you probably didn’t.
Having had adventures in forty-nine states (and parts of Georgia), he now passes on the wisdom he’s gained while asking nothing in return except for your time and perhaps some fan mail. So, sit back, relax, and do whatever it is you typically do while being told stories you don’t believe. And remember, it’s okay to forget about any felonies you’ve committed—just make sure you don’t miss the bus!
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 5, 2025
Benjamin Douglas is a man of many talents, and this is not a sentence I use in the lightest of terms. Picture it: Summer of 2024, I had already been living in Florida for over a year, and whilst trapped in the Villages and looking for a new job as a newly laid off American, I was looking for an activity to share my interests. I was scrolling through the Eventbrite app when suddenly, I saw it, a writer’s group being formed in my alma mater’s town. It was about an hour or less drive, but as it was a once a month meeting, I thought it would be worth it. It was at those meetings where I met Mr. Benjamin Douglas and was introduced to his title short story Don’t Miss the Bus, which he had shared in its hilarious glory to the gang of 20 or so writing hopefuls. It’s not everyday that you meet a writer who can craft a piece so relatable while being so free to express words in his own manner.
But onto the book itself. Don’t Miss the Bus is not only a collection of short stories. It is a collection of a man’s life, adventures, and lessons that he’s learned along the way, and what better way to do that than with a little sense of Northeastern Floridan humor? As a fellow pizza snob who has heard Benjamin read these stories aloud on multiple occasions, to enjoy these stories is best read with a voice. Spoken, these words are not just building stories, but they build conversation. They build life experience…(maybe minus the Are You Sure? story. I do not want to spoil anything, but the true answer to which story was the lie still angers me because one of them specifically I wanted to be true so badly.) Don’t Miss the Bus is the opening statement to these experiences, and the rest of the stories do not disappoint. Registries will always be funny regardless of who reads it, especially “Only if they open it in front of the governor.” Then, you have Stay Gold, which is a short form masterclass in what slang is and how it should properly be used (in the classic and always loved Dad joke perspective). As a New Jersey Pizza Snob myself, Sign of Home is one of the newer stories that brought a smile to my face.
If you are looking for a series of short stories to enjoy with a cup of decaf coffee while questioning if socks should be worth $37, Don’t Miss the Bus is the anthology for you. You will not be disappointed. I would know. I’ve waited for this book to come out for months.
But onto the book itself. Don’t Miss the Bus is not only a collection of short stories. It is a collection of a man’s life, adventures, and lessons that he’s learned along the way, and what better way to do that than with a little sense of Northeastern Floridan humor? As a fellow pizza snob who has heard Benjamin read these stories aloud on multiple occasions, to enjoy these stories is best read with a voice. Spoken, these words are not just building stories, but they build conversation. They build life experience…(maybe minus the Are You Sure? story. I do not want to spoil anything, but the true answer to which story was the lie still angers me because one of them specifically I wanted to be true so badly.) Don’t Miss the Bus is the opening statement to these experiences, and the rest of the stories do not disappoint. Registries will always be funny regardless of who reads it, especially “Only if they open it in front of the governor.” Then, you have Stay Gold, which is a short form masterclass in what slang is and how it should properly be used (in the classic and always loved Dad joke perspective). As a New Jersey Pizza Snob myself, Sign of Home is one of the newer stories that brought a smile to my face.
If you are looking for a series of short stories to enjoy with a cup of decaf coffee while questioning if socks should be worth $37, Don’t Miss the Bus is the anthology for you. You will not be disappointed. I would know. I’ve waited for this book to come out for months.
February 19, 2025
Good vibes and humor
Although these stories are true, they remind me of O. Henry's short story collections. So much humor, so much whimsy. When your brain needs a reset and a relaxing moment, read a chapter. You'll emerge happier and on the lookout for your own mini adventures.
Don't miss out on this one!
Although these stories are true, they remind me of O. Henry's short story collections. So much humor, so much whimsy. When your brain needs a reset and a relaxing moment, read a chapter. You'll emerge happier and on the lookout for your own mini adventures.
Don't miss out on this one!
May 6, 2025
I had the awesome opportunity to meet Benjamin Douglas on at Sunshine State Book Festival this year. What a nice man. And after reading his book I have to say Benjamin is a very talented writer and totally funny and witty and intelligent all in one with his writing. Loved his stories! A must read, especially if you need some laughter in your life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews