Essays Out of Left Field: Life Lessons from a Midwestern Dad Who Talks About Sports Too Much

by Scott Johnson

“Essays Out of Left Field” is columnist Scott Johnson’s debut book of humorous and inspirational essays. If you find the essays neither humorous nor inspirational, simply consider them regular essays.

Read observations on life through the lens of a middle-age, Midwestern, sports-obsessed Dad. Johnson discusses politics, 5th grade band concerts and the challenges of growing older. He covers hard-hitting topics like shoveling snow, the concerning chicken population and collecting 55 gallons of dog poop. You’ll read about growing up on a South Dakota farm, running a half marathon and the time he heroically rescued a duckling from an evil snapping turtle. He bravely recounts the harrowing tale of nearly being killed by the deliciousness of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

If you enjoy sports references and sarcasm and don't have the attention span to read an entire novel, "Essays Out of Left Field" might be a good fit for you.

You might laugh. You might cry. You might find the stories odd, unexpected or strange. You might feel like they came out of left field. And you would be right.

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2025

Reviews

[Emersyn Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the wide range of topics from chickens to the English language. This was a light-hearted, easy read that almost anyone with a personality would enjoy. One of my favorite lines was in the essay, On Demand.

"Spending our free time productively is more challenging than ever. We don't need to fill our free time with mindless consumption simply to fill it. Just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should. I can dance at a wedding and mow my lawn shirtless, but that doesn't mean those are good ideas that should be acted on."

This book would make a perfect gift for Father's Day!

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, felt like I was spending time with an old friend. One with a great sense of humor and wisdom. Each chapter of the book had a different topic and was a complete story. It would make a wonderful gift, coffee table book or companion on a trip. I planned on reading a chapter a day...but couldn't put the book down, read it all in twenty four hours.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining stories about everyday life

Let’s face it…most of our lives are boring! Scott Johnson finds a way to inject a ton of humor into otherwise mundane and relatable aspects of everyday life through his collection of essays. It made for fun reading!

[Tiffany L · Rating 5 out of 5]

*THIS IS A MUST READ*

I have rarely read a book that made me actually laugh out loud - LOL!! This book made me laugh!! I loved it... the stories are hilarious!! I can relate to several of the everyday occurrences that he talks about in the book. Thankfully, running a half-marathon isn't one of them!!

I highly recommend signing up for his newsletter also!

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, enjoyable

This book was great, being a dad ( though not Midwestern) I could Relate to allot he talks about, laughing out loud and saying, " wow that happens here on the east coast too!!"

[Julie Reiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself laughing out loud!! Loved it!!