The Essential Kirby Canon

by Robert Kirby

Feeling lost in a confused and hostile world? Sad ... hopeless ... desperate? Hungry for words of comfort to feed the weary soul? Heck, so are we! We can’t promise the answer to all of life’s problems (though ‘quit whining’ is a much under-appreciated piece of ageless wisdom), but cough up ten bucks and you’ll get the best of The Salt Lake Tribune’s award-winning humor columnist Robert Kirby  (with a cover illustration by Tribune  cartoonist Pat Bagley. The newest book from Robert Kirby is as funny and thought-provoking as his last five humor titles; but maybe it’s even more important because he allows himself to be serious at times. Sobering moments of truth mixed in with his off-kilter humor make this a book that should be read and appreciated by every Utahn, Mormon or not, and every Mormon, Utahn or not. Kirby is a keen observer of Utah and Mormon Culture, he is never shy about pointing out, in the funniest ways, our flaws, foibles and weaknesses as well as our strengths.

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than two authors in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Rachel Piper]

I'm a bit biased, given that I'm Robert Kirby's new editor. But though I've read Kirby plenty before, this collection really showcases his range, in topics — Mormonism, mental health, general mayhem — and in tone, from irreverent and goofy to sobering.

Minor notes: I think I might've put the dates at the beginning of the columns, or not at all, and I maybe would've rearranged a few, but that's just me.

[C. Michael Perry]

Kirby's aim is right on the mark -- even when using a canon! Beloved columnist, Robert Kirby is a unique humorist who sees things in an off-kilter way and then makes observations about what he has discovered. His observations and commentary are always dead-on. Robert Kirby's truth may be hard for some to swallow, but it is always the truth!

[Marinda]

Liked his other books better

[John]

Classic Kirby. I will never look at a bowling ball the same way again.