Why I Hate Straws: An offbeat worldview of an offbeat world

by Barry Parham

Includes the award-winning stories "Going Green, Seeing Red" and "Driving Miss Conception!"

Online humor columnist Barry Parham unleashes this set of satire, humor, and indignations.

Why I Hate Straws is an eclectic compilation of observations about life on Planet Earth. His what's wrong with this picture? commentaries run the gamut of topics from family, to politics, to dating (or not dating) and even ferrets. From the frustrations of trying to save the planet, one light bulb at a time, to analyzing the inane concepts that define daily television advertising, these brisk, bite-sized stories will strike a chord with anyone who grew up
in (or in spite of) American culture.

Says one reader: "His delivery is so slick, his punchlines so accessible...Parham proves that he really only needs one sentence to bring you to tears."

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Essays

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Barry Parham is the award-winning author of humor columns, essays and short stories. He is a recovering software freelancer and a music fanatic.

Parham is the author of the 2009 sleeper, "Why I Hate Straws," his debut collection of humor and satire including the prize-winning stories, 'Going Green, Seeing Red' & 'Driving Miss Conception.'

In October 2010, Parham published "Sorry, We Can't Use Funny," another award-winning collection of general-topic satire and humor, and the more targeted "Blush: Politics and other unnatural acts." He followed up in 2011 with "The Middle-Age of Aquarius," a growing-old-but-not-so-gracefully vehicle for the award-winners 'Comfortably Dumb,' 'Snowblind' and 'The Zodiac Buzz-Killer.'

"Full Frontal Stupidity" (2012), Parham's 5th collection of humor, satire and observations, features more award-winning stories, including 'Skirts vs. Skins' and 'Scenes From a Maul.' He followed up the next year with a brace of collections, "Chariots of Ire" and "You Gonna Finish That Dragon?" and most recently published his 8th compilation, "Maybe It's Just Me."

Parham's work has also been featured in three national humor anthologies:
"My Funny Valentine" (2011)
"Open Doors: Fractured Fairy Tales" (2012)
"My Funny Major Medical" (2012)

Reviews

[Wes Locher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you discover why funny man Barry Parham hates straws, you'll never look at one the same way again. As you get caught up in his offbeat world view you'll also never look at Alaska, Barbies, or Joe Biden the same way either.

This book collects a myriad of Parham's weekly humor columns into a physical tome that looks great on your bedside table. Just beware of the sleep you may start losing if you choose to read passages prior to bedtime. Also beware of your significant other, who may get annoyed with your laughter while she tries to sleep.

Barry's columns touch on classic themes but remain relevant by challenging current happenings in the worlds of pop culture and politics with smart humor and clever wordplay. His delivery is so slick and his punchlines so accessible that if this book doesn't make you laugh hysterically then you should check your pulse immediately.

Parham has mastered the art of the humorous list and proves that he really only needs one sentence to bring you to tears with laughter. If this is only his debut book, then bachelor (or is it single guy?) Barry Parham has one of the brightest futures in humor writing.

I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy a good laugh... and to sad clowns.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads contest and was very excited to read it. The book was funny in parts, and just plain confusing in other parts. If you take offense to strong political views that are not your own, you will probably be offended by this book. I gave this book three stars because there were a lot of chapters that I really enjoyed and chuckled out loud. I think my favorite chapters were "Did We HEar From Oprah?" and "Head of the Country."

Oh, and I can totally understand why he hates straws!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read/keep books in the bathroom, but this book would fit in well to the category of "bathroom books," books with quick, short, readable and not too heavy sections that are usually meant to be amusing. I understand this book was originally written as blog posts, so that must be the reason for the style.

I found the book amusing, although I'm not much of a fan of political humor, especially if I'm sitting somewhere to the left of it. My other criticism would be that sometimes the writer lays it on too thick and the writing would benefit from a lighter touch.

[Barry Parham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find this to be extrememly funny. But don't take my word for it. I wrote it.

[MAP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this book on a giveaway at Goodreads.

This book is a collection of humorous essays originally written (I think) as blog posts.

Although I found myself laughing at many of the essays, there was one major flaw running through the book -- a very personal flaw, because I doubt most people react the way I do.

There was a ton of political humor. Many many essays focused solely on politics. This was an issue with me for 2 reasons: one very personal, and should not influence others unless they think like me, the other I think, a little more objective.

1. I never deal well with politics in humor books. I guess that's because I find politics stressful/distressing, and I read humor books to...not be stressed. So the two kind of compete. (Parham seems to write from a slightly-right-from-the-center POV, but to show I'm bipartisan [nopartisan?:] about my political discomfort, the other book I can think of that did this was Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes. Every single joke involved Bush and Cheney, and I ended up learning nothing about philosophy and feeling bad for B&C, neither of which I think were the authors' intent).

2. Like I said, I think these were originally written as blog entries, which is meant to be read for a more immediate reader. But this doesn't work so well in book form, and the political humor in this book dates it really really fast. Some of the things mentioned happened maybe 6 months ago, and I was already struggling to remember what certain things referred to or what they represented.

Other than that, I enjoyed his non-political essays. I especially enjoyed The Tales of Luddite Johnson, 20% Off With Their Heads, Evil Inc, and the titular essay Why I Hate Straws.

So, if you don't mind political humor or in fact embrace it, you will probably enjoy this book. If you're like me and are slightly uncomfortable with it, you might seek out some of his individual pieces online and read those instead.

3 Goodreads stars, 4 Amazon stars.

[Despina Panagakos Yeargin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My task is to tell you "What I learned from this book"--that's what the heading is, really.

What I learned from this book:

Barry Parham is very observant, so watch your actions and your words. If Barry gets a hold of them, they are likely to appear differently in print, but in ROFL kind of way.

Barry leaves no stone unturned...or politician, public figure, facebook account holder, television news story...or himself.

Barry is a single guy, which is different from a bachelor, as he tells us over and over in the book, and I believe him. How else could he have added ALL of these books to his 'read' list!!!? See? Proof. Only a single guy would have that much time!

Barry knows a lot of words, and he doesn't hesitate to use them in a most engaging (nay, addictive) way. You read one story, you want more and more and more... You laugh at a pun; you can't wait for the next one. You laugh; you cannot stop laughing. So, don't start on "Why I Hate Straws", unless you have time to read the entire book ('cause you won't want to put it down), unless you have ear plugs to give the people around you who tire quickly of hearing you laugh out loud throughout the entire book, and unless you have a dictionary handy.

WTG, Barry!

[Cheryl Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this funny despite not having the depth of political knowledge to appreciate all of the sarcasm. Maybe it was because of that lack of reference that I found his formula of taking a situation and making a fantastical hyperbole of it wearing a little thin towards the end.

[Marfita]

Just read one of Barry's free-range articles that was actually amusing. Can picture him saying it as well. Keep at it, man!

[Reading For Sanity · Rating 1 out of 5]

read this review and others at http://readingforsanity.blogspot.com/...

[Bevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty excited- I won this book! Can't wait to start reading