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Roughneck Grace: Farmer Yoga, Creeping Codgerism, Apple Golf, and Other Brief Essays from on and off the Back Forty
New York Times bestselling author, humorist, and newspaper columnist Michael Perry returns with a new collection of bite-sized essays from his Sunday Wisconsin State Journal column, “Roughneck Grace.” Perry’s perspectives on everything from cleaning the chicken coop to sharing a New York City elevator with supermodels will have you snorting with laughter on one page, blinking back tears on the next, and--no matter your zip code--nodding in recognition throughout.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2016
28 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Michael Perry
25 books607 followersMichael Perry is a New York Times bestselling author, humorist and radio show host from New Auburn, Wisconsin.
Perry’s bestselling memoirs include Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, Coop, and Visiting Tom. Raised on a small Midwestern dairy farm, Perry put himself through nursing school while working on a ranch in Wyoming, then wound up writing by happy accident. He lives with his wife and two daughters in rural Wisconsin, where he serves on the local volunteer fire and rescue service and is an amateur pig farmer. He hosts the nationally-syndicated “Tent Show Radio,” performs widely as a humorist, and tours with his band the Long Beds (currently recording their third album for Amble Down Records). He has recorded three live humor albums including Never Stand Behind A Sneezing Cow and The Clodhopper Monologues, is currently finishing his first young adult novel, and can be found online at www.sneezingcow.com.
Perry’s essays and nonfiction have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Backpacker, Outside, Runner’s World, Salon.com, and he is a contributing editor to Men’s Health magazine. His writing assignments have taken him to the top of Mt. Rainier with Iraq War veterans, into the same room as the frozen head of Ted Williams, across the United States with truckers and country music singers, and—once—buck naked into a spray-tan booth.
In the essay collection Off Main Street, Perry wrote of how his nursing education prepared him to become a writer by training him in human assessment, and he credits singer-songwriters like Steve Earle and John Prine with helping him understand that art need not wear fancy clothes. Above all, he gives credit to his parents, of whom he says, “Anything good is because of them, everything else is simply not their fault.” His mother taught him to read and filled the house with books; his father taught him how to clean calf pens, of which Perry has written, “a childhood spent slinging manure – the metaphorical basis for a writing career.”
Perry has recently been involved in several musical collaborations, including as lyricist for Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer, and as co-writer (with Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon) of the liner notes for the John Prine tribute album “Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows.” Perry also collaborated with Vernon and Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne on a project that began when Vernon approached Perry and said, “Say, you’re a nurse…” The results were bloody, but then that was the point.
Of all his experiences, Perry says the single most meaningful thing he has ever done is serving 12 years beside his neighbors on the New Auburn Area Fire Department.
Mike says:
If I had to sum up my ‘career’ in one word, it would be gratitude. I get to write and tell stories all around the country, then come home to be with my family and hang out at the local feed mill complaining about the price of feeder hogs. It’s a good life and I’m lucky to have it.
Perry’s bestselling memoirs include Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, Coop, and Visiting Tom. Raised on a small Midwestern dairy farm, Perry put himself through nursing school while working on a ranch in Wyoming, then wound up writing by happy accident. He lives with his wife and two daughters in rural Wisconsin, where he serves on the local volunteer fire and rescue service and is an amateur pig farmer. He hosts the nationally-syndicated “Tent Show Radio,” performs widely as a humorist, and tours with his band the Long Beds (currently recording their third album for Amble Down Records). He has recorded three live humor albums including Never Stand Behind A Sneezing Cow and The Clodhopper Monologues, is currently finishing his first young adult novel, and can be found online at www.sneezingcow.com.
Perry’s essays and nonfiction have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Backpacker, Outside, Runner’s World, Salon.com, and he is a contributing editor to Men’s Health magazine. His writing assignments have taken him to the top of Mt. Rainier with Iraq War veterans, into the same room as the frozen head of Ted Williams, across the United States with truckers and country music singers, and—once—buck naked into a spray-tan booth.
In the essay collection Off Main Street, Perry wrote of how his nursing education prepared him to become a writer by training him in human assessment, and he credits singer-songwriters like Steve Earle and John Prine with helping him understand that art need not wear fancy clothes. Above all, he gives credit to his parents, of whom he says, “Anything good is because of them, everything else is simply not their fault.” His mother taught him to read and filled the house with books; his father taught him how to clean calf pens, of which Perry has written, “a childhood spent slinging manure – the metaphorical basis for a writing career.”
Perry has recently been involved in several musical collaborations, including as lyricist for Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Geoffrey Keezer, and as co-writer (with Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon) of the liner notes for the John Prine tribute album “Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows.” Perry also collaborated with Vernon and Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne on a project that began when Vernon approached Perry and said, “Say, you’re a nurse…” The results were bloody, but then that was the point.
Of all his experiences, Perry says the single most meaningful thing he has ever done is serving 12 years beside his neighbors on the New Auburn Area Fire Department.
Mike says:
If I had to sum up my ‘career’ in one word, it would be gratitude. I get to write and tell stories all around the country, then come home to be with my family and hang out at the local feed mill complaining about the price of feeder hogs. It’s a good life and I’m lucky to have it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 21, 2017
I gotta tell ya, there's not a bunch of more diverse readers than those in my Wisconsin family, and we all read everything this man writes. That being said, this collection may not be the best place to start. The essays are very short, as they're actually magazine pieces. Not journalism, not narratives, barely vignettes. Sometimes they're a bit repetitive, for example I got a little worn out reading his self-deprecating humor about his incompetencies on his farm.
And yet, many gems. Many insights. And I cannot persuade myself to give the book anything less than a four star rating. And, of course, I will continue to read everything he writes.
And yet, many gems. Many insights. And I cannot persuade myself to give the book anything less than a four star rating. And, of course, I will continue to read everything he writes.
November 23, 2016
Bravo, again! Once again, Michael Perry amazes me with his wisdom. Couched in an "ah-shucks, who me" lingo, he imparts more meaning in his observations than most authors can only dream of. Amazing!
March 23, 2019
Michael Perry is a humorist from my home state of Wisconsin. His books are all great fun to read, but even more so if you're from the Midwest and can relate to his life with animals, weather that changes in a minute, kids, manure, tractors, auctions....etc. He always makes me laugh.
October 13, 2020
DNF
After 90 pages, my interest was lost in these snippets. Often self-depracating, some humorous. Maybe if I read them once a week in the newspaper as they were originally published they'd go better for me.
That said,
If you like short snippets, stories, anecdotes, life in Wisconsin humor then pick this up. It's not a total waste of time, just not for me at this time.
After 90 pages, my interest was lost in these snippets. Often self-depracating, some humorous. Maybe if I read them once a week in the newspaper as they were originally published they'd go better for me.
That said,
If you like short snippets, stories, anecdotes, life in Wisconsin humor then pick this up. It's not a total waste of time, just not for me at this time.
December 2, 2016
Everytime I read a Perry memoir I get the urge to pack up the family, sell the house and move to the country. Homespun humor and truth from a truly great guy. Perry is a treasure.
October 28, 2017
these two-page columns by michael perry distill the author's tone into wonderful reads. the author himself makes note of the fact that he can occasionally go on at length -- referencing the fact at one point that he can go on for three pages about a shovel, rather than just saying, 'there was a shovel,' -- so it's nice to read pieces that are distinctly succinct in communicating their point.
some are touching, some are silly, some are introspective, but all have a sense of wit and self-awareness which we'd all do well to take to heart at some point. the fact that perry can reference both prince and outdoor writer patrick mcmanus within the same pages points to the wisconsinite's wide-roaming tastes, but the way in which he uses both to point to greater ideas is a right nice bit of literary work.
some are touching, some are silly, some are introspective, but all have a sense of wit and self-awareness which we'd all do well to take to heart at some point. the fact that perry can reference both prince and outdoor writer patrick mcmanus within the same pages points to the wisconsinite's wide-roaming tastes, but the way in which he uses both to point to greater ideas is a right nice bit of literary work.
December 12, 2024
Really another lovely collection from Michael Perry. The final few essays will make you cry. And if they don't, you've crept into codgerism! Perry's insight reminds me why I love Wisconsin and how fortunate I am to live in a place where people matter and there's appreciation for landscape and hard work. I appreciate his brevity, thoughtfulness, and self-deprecating (self-reflecting?) humor. He finds such meaning in the things that are so mundane to most of us. Meditations on the simple things we take for granted in Wisconsin, but are still so relatable to so many people.
November 28, 2018
As usual a very delightful book of essays written by Michael Perry. A great read!
October 23, 2017
Funny when you look back and realize a book has been a completely enjoyable waste of time.
January 6, 2017
A wonderful book of serious, deep, and humorous essays set in "Up North" Wisconsin.
December 6, 2016
This is a book to be enjoyed for its reflective warmth and humor. Michael Perry shares his musing on the way things are in his life with short essays ranging from his admiration of the competence of the septic tank guy, to finding himself in a small elevator filled with fashion models. Tasks around his home that were put off too long; a cheap, broken tape measure; using Grandma's 7-iron to hit wormy, windfall apples out of the yard with his daughter. Not the topics you'd think of for insightful writing. But each one of these short essays offers a relatable point of view.
We hear a lot about the need to express gratitude these days. The last piece in the book,simply called"Gratitude", might be the best writing you'll find on that topic. Thanks,Mike.
We hear a lot about the need to express gratitude these days. The last piece in the book,simply called"Gratitude", might be the best writing you'll find on that topic. Thanks,Mike.
February 6, 2017
In light of everything going on in our culture and the world, I was in great need of a dose of Michael Perry (one of my favorite authors). So I was extra glad to discover this new collection of essays on his life and travels. He encourages me with every essay....as he does not take himself too seriously, as he looks for and sees the ironies in life and as he chooses to be grateful. He makes me laugh (Husband says I have a "she's-reading-Michael-Perry laugh"), and then takes my breath away with his observations of everyday moments. Thank you, Michael Perry!!!!
August 26, 2017
“Roughneck Grace” is a collection of author Michael Perry’s articles in the Sunday Wisconsin State Journal. Perry lives on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin on which he lives with his family, raises his chickens, writes and from which he heads out on book tours. Each article is two pages, more or less, and relates the author’s observations, musings and opinions on a topic of his life.
The articles are absolute delights. A few are profound and all are humorous. Some remind readers of places they have visited, for me Door County and Sears Tower. Others address shared problems like moles. I have never seen a pheasant fly into our barn but “Pheasant Love” paints pictures in the mind’s eye that bring out a laugh. The feeling of responsibility upon becoming a Godfather and the wonder of hearing a grandfather’s recording from World War II touch a chord in any heart.
“Roughneck Grace” is an easy, light read full of pure enjoyment. Sit back, pick it up, read and be entertained.
I did receive a copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
The articles are absolute delights. A few are profound and all are humorous. Some remind readers of places they have visited, for me Door County and Sears Tower. Others address shared problems like moles. I have never seen a pheasant fly into our barn but “Pheasant Love” paints pictures in the mind’s eye that bring out a laugh. The feeling of responsibility upon becoming a Godfather and the wonder of hearing a grandfather’s recording from World War II touch a chord in any heart.
“Roughneck Grace” is an easy, light read full of pure enjoyment. Sit back, pick it up, read and be entertained.
I did receive a copy of this book without an obligation to post a review.
May 22, 2020
I am a big Michael Perry fan. Reading VISITING TOM had me in near tears throughout; reading COOP had me laughing outloud, harder with each chapter. Perry so brillantly captures the essence of why so many of us choose to live in rural or small town Wisconsin that I sometimes forget that he is not really one of my neighbors. Each time he describes one of his semi-successful do-it yourself projects, I think of all the times my husband has said, "It will only be a half hour more," and know, in my heart, that the whole afternoon is shot! All that said, ROUGHNECK GRACE, which is a collection of short essays he wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, is not my favorite Perry book. It was a good read, but I never felt the need for tears or a deep belly laugh, nor was I compelled to continue reading cover to cover.
June 17, 2024
Aw man, I didn’t want this book to end! This book is a humorous, humble, witty -and most important-relatable telling of life in small town, northwest Wisconsin. Written as a collection of short essays, the author has a knack for making even the simplest occurrences in every day back-40 life seem important and purposeful. This author lives *very* close to where I grew up so many of the locations mentioned in the book are places I have not only heard of, but have actually been to. It’s kind of neat reading some of these essays and thinking “hey! I’ve been there! I know exactly what he’s talking about when he says..” He’s a New York Times Bestselling author these days, so that gives the rest of us hope that we, too, can be a somebody someday.
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January 2, 2020I wanted this to be more like Coop, which I still think of often nearly 9 years later, rather than a collection of newspaper columns, but once I settled in it grew on me. I'm left once again with the sense that I would really, really like Michael Perry in real life, not least because of this passage: "As a rural Midwestern former-fundamentalist-Christian white boy I have made some positional and philosophical adjustments in my day (and more to come, I trust, and many hope), but in no case did these changes come about as the result of high-decibel hectoring, public shaming, or a bumper sticker."
September 27, 2024
I just love the way Michael Perry uses words!!! This compilation of columns that were primarily written for, and printed in, The Wisconsin State Journal, cover a lot of topics. My favorites are ones about Perry's neighbors and co-workers (and fellow first responder volunteers), and about his charming family. My least favorite columns were those offering opinions and evaluations of music and musicians, but even those offered varying degrees of mild interest. (That's my version of Michael Perry-style writing!! 😉)
September 1, 2017
If you love the Midwest, grew up here, need some refreshment; let me recommend without any exemptions ROUGHNECK GRACE!! I loved, loved this book! This marvelous, young author reminds me of a younger Garrison Keillor, a voice of the Midwest so well honed, we can anticipate the next pause.
Thank you Michael Perry, for many belly laughs, tears and then some emotions, but all reflecting the something special about the Midwest!
Thank you Michael Perry, for many belly laughs, tears and then some emotions, but all reflecting the something special about the Midwest!
August 29, 2017
This is the first book I read by Michael Perry and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Each short chapter is its own story. Some of them made me laugh, others were winsome or provided a window into unfamiliar places. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
February 11, 2018
I much prefer Michael Perry in long form: "Coop," "Population 485," these books give him space to stretch out and explore his ideas. "Roughneck Grace" is a collection of Wisconsin State Journal columns, which I've never enjoyed as much as his regular books.
June 29, 2018
I just love Michael Perry. This isn't one of his books--neither novel nor memoir. It's a collection of his weekly newspaper columns. The guy can turn a phrase and make the most quotidian events interesting and thought-provoking.
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August 30, 2020I always enjoy Perry's writing, although I don't feel any of his other books came close to his masterpiece, Population: 485. But this book was very good, random and interesting observations on many different things that kept one's attention. A worthwhile read.
June 14, 2022
Short stories from a fellow Wisconsinite. While I'll never be the semi-farmer that Michael Perry is, I feel like I can hit my thumb with a hammer just as well as he can, and his down-home Sconnie style just makes me feel good.
November 11, 2025
I have long loved Michael Perry and this is a good one to read. These are selections from the newspaper column he writes, always with self deprecating wit and a few tears too. Love reading his stories of places I may have visited.
June 2, 2017
Michael Perry is so much fun to read!
July 10, 2017
An interesting collection of short essays, mainly about the pleasures and daily details of country life. A relaxing and pleasant read.
July 31, 2017
My favorite author of all time. This book of essays made me laugh so hard I snorted and also brought tears to my eyes. I love Michael's writing.
September 15, 2017
Short essays that are easy to pick up and put down. Only read half of it.
November 29, 2017
Since I don't always catch the columns in the State Journal, I really enjoyed reading these. Brief but always well-crafted, funny, touching, and true. Highly recommend!
January 25, 2018
Humorous, witty, exceptional vocabulary and simple all at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews