1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South

by John Shelton Reed

An irreverent, idiosyncratic, and information-filled catalog of all things Southern--the people, places, history, traditions, foods, and foibles that fascinate Americans both north and south of the Mason-Dixon line.

The Confederate States. The Cotton Kingdom. The Sahara of the Bozart. The bible Belt. However it is defined, the South is the most intriguing--and misunderstood--region of the country. It's not Where else can such diverse cultural icons as Robert E. Lee, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Moon Pie be found in one place?

In 1001 short, eminently readable essays, authors John and Dale Reed illuminate every nook and cranny of this fertile land and culture, clarifying with an authoritative but humorous touch what everyone should know about. Interspersed with their incisive entries on history, politics, life, and literature, is a whole mess of fun facts such as what state has the best barbecue, where kudzu originally came from, why chivalry is so important to Southern males, and the origins of bluegrass music. So if you want to know the difference between a bubba, a good ol' boy, a redneck, a whelp (Tennesseean), and a sandlapper (South Carolinian), you're sure to find it in 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About The South.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Trivia, Southern

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything about this book, which serves as a sort of dictionary for Southerners. And even though I know plenty about life below the Mason-Dixon line, I still learned a lot from this book. Check it out!

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done but not a book to be read from cover to cover. Unfortunately I've borrowed this book from a library so have to read straight through.
It would make a terrific night stand book for yourself or for a guest room.

[karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favorite things i've learned so far from this book:

1) "uh-huh" and "unh-uh" derive from African languages (along with "goober," "okra," and "jazz," among others)

2) duncan hines had little to do with boxed cake mixes. he was originally a published food critic and travel writer, publishing such guides as "adventures in good eating" and "lodging for a night," and his name came to be synonymous with quality and integrity, his recommendation being a high mark of approval. he formed a food company licensing his name as a label, and as an institute to publish his books, which procter & gamble bought in 1957. when he died 2 years later, "recommended by duncan hines" signs, leased from his company, adorned 10,000 businesses.

3) piggly wiggly was the world's first self-service grocery store, pioneering checkout stands, prices marked on all items, and refrigerated produce cases.

[Addison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually learned the majority of this stuff in school or just from talking to people, but I was born and raised in the South so you can bet your ass I had plenty of chances to learn Southern History.

I use to joke that I had to teach myself American History, because every year in school History classes basically boiled down to, "The Civil War: Why Yankees Suck and Cannot Be Trusted, Ever."

Moving on, this book is filled with a huge amount of Southern trivia covering a large area of subjects. If you're a trivia and history fan, it's definitely worth a read.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South by John Shelton Reed and Dale Volberg Reed (Main Street Books 1996) (973.0) is a fine collection of facts and trivia about the South. This compendium could serve as an appropriate introduction to anyone new to God's greenest pastures. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 12/5/11.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative. I read this in college and really should re-read it again, as the only thing I specifically remember learning from it was that Piggly-Wiggly was the first store to use refrigerated cases. A lot of the other things I already knew, having grown up in the South.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

An encyclopedia of trivia and historical information about the South. Perfect book for 5 minute reading sessions at bedtime except for the fact that the reader might be tempted to keep reading. Wide range of historical and cultural information.