ALL CAPS: Stories That Justify an Outrageous Hat Collection

by Craig Colby

2022 Canadian Book Club Award Winner, non-fiction.

Silver Medals in the 2023 North American Book Awards for Bio/Memoir and Sports/Nonfiction.

In March 2020, during the great COVID-19 lockdown, television producer Craig Colby’s work disappeared. He marked the time by wearing a different baseball hat every day, posting a picture with a story about each one on social media. A community of friends started sharing their hats and stories, too. After 125 days, Craig ran out of hats, but gained new insight into what each cap told him about his own life. In isolation, Craig experienced triumph and heartbreak, love and loss. He was meeting his childhood sports heroes and floating weightless with an astronaut. The stories in ALL CAPS weave a tapestry of human connection, one hat at a time.

282 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2022

About the author

Craig Colby is an executive producer, writer, and director of high-quality television. His productions have appeared on Discovery Channel, ESPN+, TSN, BBC, Smithsonian Channel, CTV, Documentary Channel, Netflix, Prime Video, and Quest, to name a few, and have found success around the world. If a country has television sets, they’ve played one of Craig’s shows. Craig owns a video-production and storytelling company, colbyvision. He lives in Toronto with his wife Nancy and two sons, Shane and Curtis.
You can find out more about Craig and his work at www.colbyvision.net

Reviews

[Lori Ruberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is a book about caps but not about caps. I know Craig’s parents so I read it and it is a lovely read, full of fun, friendship, family, and loss. I loved it.

[Scott Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL CAPS is a difficult book to define because it is many different things at once. The first impression is that it is a book about a hat collection. It is that, indeed. But it is mostly a book about relationships. Craig Colby is my brother, so I am biased, but I am also a writer and an editor and I can say this is a well-written book and its strength is its storytelling. Every hat featured in ALL CAPS contains a compelling story and the narrative arc of the book takes the readers on an emotional ride that will make you laugh and possibly even cry. If you like smart, emotional storytelling and excellent writing, this is a book for you.

[J. Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book by chance and I'm glad I did. Colby weaves his love of hats and collecting into a memoir of sorts about life, loss, work, and family. It's an inspiring and fun read.

[John Panikkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout his working life, author Craig Colby has told stories, mainly about people other than himself. That’s what a television/new media creator, editor and producer does, and he has held all of those roles and more. His stories have been about sports figures, entertainment luminaries, about science, technology, the natural world, adventure and history. Millions of words later, he has written a book from a uniquely personal point of view, using his remarkable collection of hats to open windows on life, love, relationships, heartbreak, successes, highs and lows. Some are poignant and sad. Many are lighter-hearted and amusing. But above all, in these engaging 290-some pages, you will find a resonance and a relatability that few other authors can make happen. His adventures could be your adventures, and you don’t need a hat collection to identify with them. “All Caps” is a wonderfully enjoyable one-sitting read in perfect bite-sized pieces. I enjoyed every minute I spent with “All Caps”. Highly recommended.
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[Glenn Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I go further with my review, full disclosure. The author, Mr. Colby is a friend of mine. We met at Tigers Fantasy camp (an experience he talks about in the book) and I'm pretty honored to call him a friend. Having said that, it's been a long time since I enjoyed a book so much. I did not see all the Facebook posts that became the Genesis of this book, but I'm kind of glad I didn't. I learned so much more about my friend, his family, and the ups and downs of his life. It is a feel good book, but not everything is sunshine and lollipops. He's been through a lot and he takes the reader along with him through all the ups and downs of his personal life and career. Using his amazing cap collection as a jumping off point in each chapter, the author puts you right there with him at whatever time and place the hat is representative of. If you are looking for an uplifting book, that illustrates the ties that can bind friendship/family/career, please check this book out. You won't regret it. You'll enjoy getting to know my friend.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite having little interest in sports - or hats for that matter - I found this book quite enjoyable.

Nearly every story has other themes woven in with the hat tales that make it an engaging read for any human being - and Craig's collection works as an effective tool to get these stories across.

On a personal level, having started working in the Toronto TV scene only a few years after Craig, many of the names, places, and scenarios were familiar to me - and some I was even there for as a co-worker.

All in all, a good and relatable read - particularly if you like short stories to read on vacation or while commuting.

And if you are into sports and hats - even better!

[Jane Enright · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible read!

Craig Colby's authenticity, insight and wonderful sense of humor shine through on every page of All Caps--inviting the reader to read and FEEL his lived experiences. A delightful anthology with heart, ALL Caps is a must read for anyone looking to make sense of it all and add meaning and inspiration to their life.
----Jane Enright, award winning author of Butter Side Up & Jane's Jam: Inspiration To Create Your Super Awesome Life

[Katrina Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, for me, was personal, I laughed, cried, went back and read it again! Craig is a an old friend, but I learned so much more about him, his family, my old friends, sports, and amazing places!
Craig’s heart is on every page, and whether you knew him then, know him now, or don’t know him at all, it’s definitely a must read for anyone! You will love it! This is a book worth reading 💖