It Beats Working

by John Lardner

Short stories

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd wager few readers today know who Lardner was, or read any of his work. Perhaps a few sports historians, or historians of his period, may read or consult him in their research. He died only a month or so after I was born. His father Ring Lardner is probably much better known. John was a good sportswriter however, and this collection of mostly humorous shorts on the sports world are really worth reading, even if mostly of the character mentioned are long forgotten to history. There is no doubt in my mind that if John were writing today, his pieces would regularly show up in The New Yorker's Shouts & Murmurs section, they are often that good, even if a bit old fashioned for today's taste.