How To Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons

by Sam Barry

Filled with ideas for how to liven up your life, How to Play the Harmonica is the perfect companion for keeping you happy. Lost your dog? Call him home with a shrill whistle on your harmonica. Bored at work? Impress your colleagues with your witty banter and new thoughts on life. Tired of cooking? Throw in the apron and head out for Chinese . . . in Beijing. With the harmonica as his guide, Sam Barry leads the way to higher sense of self and fun.

As a former minister, reporter, activist, bohemian, writer and artist, Sam Barry knows a great many things about life-and playing the harmonica. Barry currently works as a marketing and promotions manager at HarperOne and plays the harmonica in The Rock Bottom Remainders with his brother Dave. He and his partner, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, live in San Francisco.

Witty ways for putting some fun back into your funny bone!

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Sam Barry is the publisher, editor, and a contributor to Hard Listening: The Greatest Rock Band Ever (of Authors) Tells All (Coliloquy; June, 2013), by Dave Barry, Sam Barry, Amy Tan, Scott Turow, Roy Blount Jr., Greg Iles, Stephen King, James McBride, Mitch Albom, Ridley Pearson, Matt Groening, Ted Habte-Gabr, and rock legend Roger McGuinn.

He is the author of How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons and coauthored Write That Book Already! The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now with his late wife, the author and founder of the Rock Bottom Remainders, Kathi Kamen Goldmark. In 2014 Sam was instrumental in getting Kathi's novel "Her Wild Oats," posthumously published by Untreed Reads Publishing.

Sam is writing a book with musician and folk music matriarch Ellen Verdries (mother of Ben Harper and owner of the Folk Music Center in Claremont) that will be published in 2020.

Although he has played harmonica, piano, and sung with the world’s most famous mediocre rock band for many years, Sam really is a great musician. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is the proud father of Daniel and Laura and stepfather of Tony Goldmark. You can also find Sam on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @sambarry.

Reviews

[Sam Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like my book.

[Co2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom bought me a harmonica a long time ago. I think it was just before she got me the test to see if I could draw from a matchbook cover. She was determined to uncover some sort of skill or talent in me. I spent one long summer playing little league baseball. I vividly remember the lone hit of my season.

Sam Barry has that same kind of faith in me and I'm afraid I let him down too. He was so sure that I would learn and enjoy the harmonica. I enjoy music, I enjoy listening to blues harmonica. I thought that I would give it a try but......

The book is pleasant, deliberately wacky, and seems to be a pretty good instruction manual. Although it does have a "hide the broccoli in cheese sauce" kind of vibe.

I think I know a bit about Sam Barry now and I like him.

By the way, Sam and his brother Dave convinced me to finally schedule a colonoscopy, thanks, I'm OK and I'm glad they are too.

[Susanne Pari · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best tools for practicing mindfulness is learning to play the harmonica Sam Barry's way. You can really learn just by reading this book; his instructions are amazing. More than that, his light-hearted and wise humor is enough to make you smile the whole way through. Buy this as a gift to yourself, and as a gift to your loved ones, especially if they're stressed out and/or take life too seriously.

[Ellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute, fun, light hearted.Plus,If you really want to learn how to play the harmonica this is the book for you

[Michelle Witte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Sam's book. (I should since I was his editor ;)

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so going out today and buying a harmonica! I can't believe I don't have one already... I remember having tons as a kid that I never even tried to play legitimately (by that I mean, I just made noise to piss off my parents). This was an extremely well written book about how to play the harmonica and how to take charge of your life in general. Even if you don't want to learn how to play the harmonica, I think you would still enjoy the stories and the lessons learned from the book, but seriously, after reading this, I would be surprised if you didn't want to learn how to play the harmonica.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I played the clarinet in middle school. I wasn’t good. And I have no interest in learning another musical instrument.

But I LOVED this book.

Yes, it will teach you how to play the harmonica. But more importantly, it will also remind you how to have fun and be playful. I laughed out loud at some parts, while other parts made me feel like I’d just received a pep talk and a hug.

This will be my “go to” holiday gift for 2009.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my most recent book club pick. It is a humor book plus it really does teach you how to play the harmonica! The best was the concert we had the night we met up to discuss the book. Andrea & Dave were practicing together. Sara taught me what Ode to Joy is suppose to sound like! I've can play taps...

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! And I will like it even more (and re-read it) when I unearth the harmonica(s) that I know are somewhere in my house. A very enjoyable read even though I wasn't doing the "lessons" the 1st time around.

[Kathi Kamen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned "Oh, Susanna" and I learned how to live life the playful way.

[Katherine Montanez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun. Really enjoyed it!

[Meadow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Since the kid is obsessed with the harmonica, I might as well get her some life lessons out of it.

[Ron Goodrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much substance to this book, but it was entertaining and learned to blow a few kids songs from it.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little book! It was very witty and fun. A good reminder not to take yourself too seriously and to have fun while learning something new. I'm going to have to buy a copy for my bookshelf.

[Diego Palomino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, and very accessible.

[Jay Gabler]

Sam Barry can play a helluva harp, and write a helluva book.