Silly: Stories in Ordinary Time

by Michael Kauzlarich

Silly is a collection of autobiographical essays that weave together memory, humor, and emotional honesty. Drawing from a lifetime of experiences, the book moves through childhood, family life, long-term partnership, work, travel, and the slow process of becoming oneself.
The essays shift easily between factual recollection, satire, and fictionalized moments, using storytelling rather than strict chronology to explore how ordinary experiences shape identity. Food, music, and place serve as recurring touchstones, grounding larger reflections in everyday detail.
Written with warmth and self-awareness, Silly balances comedy and tenderness, often finding meaning in moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Some essays are lighthearted and playful, others more contemplative, but all share a voice that is observant, humane, and quietly generous.
Rather than offering a traditional memoir, Silly presents a mosaic of moments that together form a portrait of a life lived attentively, with humor, affection, and a clear-eyed acceptance of imperfection.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2026