Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species

by Philip Gulley

Evoking a time when life revolved around the front porch, where friends gathered, stories were told, and small moments took on larger meaning, in today’s hurry-up world, Philip Gulley’s essays remind us of the world we once shared—and can share again.   When Philip Gulley began writing newsletter essays for the members of his Quaker meeting in Indiana, he had no idea one of the essays would find its way to radio commentator Paul Harvey Jr. and be read on the air to 24 million people. Fourteen books later, with more than one million copies in print, Gulley still entertains as well as inspires from his small-town front porch.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Essays, Memoir, Inspirational, Christian, Spirituality

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Philip Gulley has become the voice of small-town American life. Along with writing Front Porch Tales, Hometown Tales, and For Everything a Season, Gulley is the author of the Harmony series of novels, as well as If Grace Is True and If God Is Love, which are coauthored with James Mulholland.

He hosts "Porch Talk with Phil Gulley" on the Indiana PBS affiliate WFYI television's flagship show Across Indiana.

Gulley lives in Indiana with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Spencer and Sam—in a rambling old house with Gulley’s eclectic chair collection (64 at last count) and a welcoming back porch.

Gulley is also the Pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting House in Camby, Indiana. If you find yourself in Camby, you're invited to attend a sermon.

Reviews

[TK421 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the most complicated of issues can be solved with a refreshing drink and a porch swing.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, someone else who is a liberal Christian and thinks that fundamentalist are tyrants who want everyone else to believe like they do or else. I really enjoyed this!!!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Phillip Gulley relates to the heart of the matter with humor and a deeper message. The first chapter reminded me of my childhood and the house that I grew up in. We had a front porch and many a summer day the adults spent many hours sitting out there and talking, while we kids played in the yard and tried to pick up bits and pieces of the conversation. In this bright, warm-hearted little book, he lets us go along with his memory journey and meet his friends and neighbors...the hardware store owner that knew everyone and knew how to repair anything and everything. The owner of the local Dairy Queen that spent his days sitting in a chair in back of the store and never wore a watch. His veterinarian friend that led him to his dog Zipper. Mr. Gulley may be correct when he says that the entire world should have a front porch and spend many hours on it. The world would surely be a better place for it.

[Brianna Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a special book. It has an adorable collection of personal stories that speak to your heart. It's relatable and uplifting. The author elaborates on what he feels are his life's biggest takeaways from experiences he's gone through. Thank you to my Mother-in-law for lending it to me ❤️

[Dorothy Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

In looking for a book to give me a lift, I pulled Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species by Philip Gulley out of my own bookcase. Porch Talk consists of a series of short essays, Gulley’s observations about himself, his family, his church, and his town folks.
As I read, I found myself laughing out loud. Gulley begins by reminding readers that people used to gather on the front porch in the evenings with friends and relatives to spend time together and talk. I heard noted author Ray Bradbury speak in Tulsa years ago. He mentioned his parents and their friends gathering on the front porch to visit, and he would sit in the shadows and listen. What fodder for a budding writer.

Gulley does not include any earthshaking revelations. He simply writes about time spent in a small town as a Quaker minister with a growing family. In the chapter titled “Professional Thinkers,” Gulley explains, “There ought to be a law that all thinkers, professional and otherwise, must foreswear all allegiances, resign from all factions and parties, and abandon all preconceptions before undertaking their work. Except for me, of course, who alone of all the professional thinkers is able to remain above the coarse partisanship of human exchange.”

Gulley’s stories are often self-deprecating. He enjoys poking fun at himself. He explains that his wife is drying his clothes much too long causing them to shrink. A friend of his agrees that his wife is doing the same thing. Then Gulley goes on to tell readers that he tried the “new coconut-cream-pie-flavored Blizzard” at the Dairy Queen at the behest of his friend Leon who owns the Dairy Queen. Lest Leon think Gulley just said the Blizzard was good to humor him, Gulley has another one. Later at the library, the librarian tells him he has read enough books to qualify for a prize—three candy bars. To avoid hurt feelings at home, he ate all three candy bars. Yet, his wife is responsible for his shrinking clothes.

These essays are delightful.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a most enjoyable collection of short articles. Love the author's warm, homespun style of narrative. Reminded me a lot of Garrison Keillor's work.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that's full of charm, anecdotes, and thought-inspiring passages. Favorites include chapters on 'the social compact' -- the idea of collective responsibility, and 'the slow life' -- with its reference to a Carl Honore's book "In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed" and the phenomena of "seeking to live at what musicians call the tempo giusto (the right speed). Some good lines follow:

p.7 "'...be sure to marry someone you can be silent with and not be anxious.'"

p.69 "Beware of people who treat waiters and waitresses poorly. They'll treat you that way too."

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Gulley hosts the "Porch Talk" series on an Indiana-based PBS affiliate station. He is a Quaker theologian. This book is based on the radio program. Go back in time to a day when people visited each other on the front porch. Catch up on the neighborhood news, get some advice, share a recipe, just sit and "be". It's a little bit like being the fly on the wall and listening in. It reminds me a lot of Garrison Keillor's brand of storytelling.

[Jessica A Kramasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun an easy to read book, with a laid back style and interesting tidbits wisdom. I enjoyed it, but must warn of serious theological errors. The author is a Quaker, so of course one must expect Quaker theology and it's errors to be evident in his writing, but beyond that Gulley is a universalist and makes that claim in the book.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Gulley is most certainly an Indiana treasure, a Quaker pastor and writer and often sought speaker whose ability to live into and communicate fundamental Quaker values has made him a popular writer.

Gulley tends to live into the values present within the Quaker faith, including simplicity, integrity, peace, and "plain speech."

This book is a simple, breezy read. It's a collection of short reflections that read almost exactly like Gulley speaks and they're honest, lightly funny, occasionally self-deprecating, and always filled with the rich humanity that Gulley embodies.

I fancy myself a fan of Gulley's writing and this first in the "Porch Talk" series definitely didn't disappoint and was refreshingly devoid of a lot of the extraneous linguistics so common in contemporary writings.

[Joan Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to pick up and read a short story in a couple minutes each. I enjoyed the first two about porch houses and hardware stores the most. I could relate to the porch one since I grew up often sitting on my paternal grandparents porch. When my husband and I build our house we we choose a plan with two porches and a small deck. He also grew up porch sitting. I'm still a porch sitter, but my husband passed a couple years ago. The one about hardware stores also left was revelent to me. We still have a hardware store where older men still gather in a nearby small town. My uncle was a frequent visitor until he passed several years ago. He drew crowds because he was well traveled, a good storyteller, and musician.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Facebook post drove me to this book. That post mentioned the lack of front porches and how people used to sit on them and talk with their neighbors. My husband and I sit on our porch and hope for our neighbors to stop by, so I was intrigued by this title. What a delightful find! Written by a Quaker pastor with a very fine sense of humor, this book was a delight. Each little tale of his neighbors and Friends showed me a little bit more about him and his town in Indiana. Apparently he has written 13 more books before this one. I will be sure to find a few of those also.

[Bryan Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute stories from the heartland. Most of the stories revolve around common sense family values. I appreciate the wit and self deprecating style. Similar to some of his other books, I wish the stories flowed together better. They are each distinct, with very little to tie one page to the next. It's also very short.

If you enjoy reading humorous anecdotes of small town life, then this book will make you smile.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read Gulley's Mitford series, so I was interested in reading his essays. They did not disappoint. With all the humor, emotion, sensitivity, and insight he exhibits in his novels, this collection of short essays (sermons?) is a pleasant read. Sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes tear inducing, but always a perfect glimpse into the human experience. For fans of Garrison Keillor and the like.

I read these aloud to my husband, who also enjoyed them very much.

[Mishon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were some parts of it I wished I could give more than 5⭐️ to and others that were more like 4⭐️ so I balanced it out at 5.
I love how he words things. The observations he makes. He he tells the stories.
There are a couple things that do not line up at all with my own worldview, but that’s the beauty of humanity— we’re all different and just because someone doesn’t believe/think exactly like you, doesn’t mean they don’t have things to offer

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author. Very nice stories. Favorite story, “The Death of Freedom”. I appreciate his views on Christian fundamentalists. Didn’t give a 5 because a lot of the stories reflect on how the olden times were better. It is lovely to think that way, but many biases play into that line of thought.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Evoking a time when life revolved around the front porch, where friends gathered, stories were told, and small moments took on larger meaning, in today’s hurry-up world, Philip Gulley’s essays remind us of the world we once shared—and can share again."

This was a quick read with 30 short chapters/stories that evoke contemplation. I really enjoyed it.

[Deann Doolittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this guy. He is funny but he also gets what it means to be a true Christian. Definite good read.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As comforting as watching the Andy Griffith show.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

"Reading PORCH TALK is like sitting next to an old friend and listening to the music of his storytelling." Charles Osgood

[Nicole Northrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved these short gems!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and witty. One of my favorite writers and if he lived where I live, I would attend Quaker meetings.

[Kate Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific, light-hearted read. I laughed out loud multiple times.

[Deb Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reflect upon my own stories as I read the nostalgic thoughts of Philip Gulley. There are moments when, despite lmtesiding in Indianna, I believe that he has a southern soul.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of pleasant musings. I enjoyed picking it up and reading a some of them now and then.

[Fairport Public Library]

January 2008

Recommended by Carol K

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

More filling in of a series.

I enjoy this author and have heard him speak several times. A sweet friend also took me along to Meeting to hear him preach.

[Mary]

Wonderful, could reread over and over, exactly the types of things I want to think about. Time on my porch or in a comfortable chair is too easily spent reading, or taking to a dear friend.

[Rick Fifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short tales to make you think about various aspects of life and make you think about things. Mr. Gulley is a very good storyteller and always leaves me wanting more.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute & funny. It's a read for the soul