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Dave Barry Talks Back
Yet another collection of wit and wisdom by Pulitzer Prize–winning humorist and author Dave Barry . This collection of essays explores a range of topics including traffic cops, dentists, and Congress.
"Want to impress your friends? Tell them you read the latest work by the 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winner for commentary. Just don't tell them it's full of booger jokes".--Orange County Register
"Want to impress your friends? Tell them you read the latest work by the 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winner for commentary. Just don't tell them it's full of booger jokes".--Orange County Register
285 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
42 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Dave Barry
154 books2,247 followersDave Barry is a humor writer. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 3, 2024
Why I chose to read this book:
1. I'm a fan of Dave Barry's writing, so when I came across this, and other books by him, at my local library's book sale, I snatched them up; and,
2. June 2024 is my self-appointed "Humor" Month!
Praises:
1. I like how this book focuses on Barry's humorous responses to various strange-but-true newspaper articles sent to him by his so-named "Alert Readers";
2. filled with hilarious essays throughout this book, my personal favorites focused on: his son's Nintendo game; surplus mangoes and zucchinis; yardwork; and, getting a prostate exam;
3. a couple essays were strongly relatable: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta (where I'm from) and other Canadian references; and, staying in various hotels (which I was doing while reading this book); and,
4. illustrations by Jeff MacNelly (of Shoe fame) greatly added to the comedic mood of this book.
Overall Thoughts:
I believe Barry's entertainingly humorous sarcastic writing style would be mostly enjoyed by Baby Boomers (and do we ever need it nowadays!) and possibly Gen Xers. Younger generations might appreciate it, but I think his brand of humor would be too complicated for them to get. Ha! Ha!
1. I'm a fan of Dave Barry's writing, so when I came across this, and other books by him, at my local library's book sale, I snatched them up; and,
2. June 2024 is my self-appointed "Humor" Month!
Praises:
1. I like how this book focuses on Barry's humorous responses to various strange-but-true newspaper articles sent to him by his so-named "Alert Readers";
2. filled with hilarious essays throughout this book, my personal favorites focused on: his son's Nintendo game; surplus mangoes and zucchinis; yardwork; and, getting a prostate exam;
3. a couple essays were strongly relatable: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta (where I'm from) and other Canadian references; and, staying in various hotels (which I was doing while reading this book); and,
4. illustrations by Jeff MacNelly (of Shoe fame) greatly added to the comedic mood of this book.
Overall Thoughts:
I believe Barry's entertainingly humorous sarcastic writing style would be mostly enjoyed by Baby Boomers (and do we ever need it nowadays!) and possibly Gen Xers. Younger generations might appreciate it, but I think his brand of humor would be too complicated for them to get. Ha! Ha!
Read
October 18, 2025My favourite piece in this humour collection is “Garbage Scan,” where Dave Barry scans through his local radio stations in cycles, becoming increasingly frustrated with the lackluster content. This book truly taught me the value of neck weasels and dressing to impress.
March 17, 2020
Humorist Dave Barry responds to fan mail.
It's tough to be funny in print, but Barry does a pretty good job at it.
It's tough to be funny in print, but Barry does a pretty good job at it.
December 7, 2015
(Crossposted from my blog: https://daariga.wordpress.com/2015/12...)
One of the gems that I discovered when I first started surfing the Internet was Dave Barry. Countless hours of my life have been spent reading the archives of his hilarious Florida articles written for the Miami Herald. Considering the amount of pure happiness (and tummy ache) his writing has given me, those were probably the most well-spent hours of my life. When I recently discovered that he has many books to his credit I had to get started on it!
Dave Barry Talks Back is a collection of 63 old articles, from before 1992. I was pleased to discover that I had not previously read any of these. They sample all the zaniness on this planet, ranging from relationships to family to pets to government to politics. Since these were written for a newspaper with a strict word limit, each of them is just 3 pages long. You can get shots of the funnies all through the day by picking up this book!
Dave Barry is the real deal because the observations he makes about us are genuine. Something else clearly stood out: the world of 1980s was just as insane as our world today. The same ineptness and bungling by government departments, the same weaselly politicians and most importantly, the same crazy real-life events involving the common man that keep happening around the world!
Except for a couple of dull pieces at the beginning and at the end, it is hard to find fault in this collection. As an icing, each article has a pertinent cartoon, drawn by Jeff MacNelly, another of my favorites. Much like Calvin and Hobbes or Seinfeld, to me Dave Barry’s writings are epic. Beware of where you read this book cause you will not be able to control your snickering and giggling. This is a fantastic mood lifter from probably the funniest writer in USA.
One of the gems that I discovered when I first started surfing the Internet was Dave Barry. Countless hours of my life have been spent reading the archives of his hilarious Florida articles written for the Miami Herald. Considering the amount of pure happiness (and tummy ache) his writing has given me, those were probably the most well-spent hours of my life. When I recently discovered that he has many books to his credit I had to get started on it!
Dave Barry Talks Back is a collection of 63 old articles, from before 1992. I was pleased to discover that I had not previously read any of these. They sample all the zaniness on this planet, ranging from relationships to family to pets to government to politics. Since these were written for a newspaper with a strict word limit, each of them is just 3 pages long. You can get shots of the funnies all through the day by picking up this book!
Dave Barry is the real deal because the observations he makes about us are genuine. Something else clearly stood out: the world of 1980s was just as insane as our world today. The same ineptness and bungling by government departments, the same weaselly politicians and most importantly, the same crazy real-life events involving the common man that keep happening around the world!
Except for a couple of dull pieces at the beginning and at the end, it is hard to find fault in this collection. As an icing, each article has a pertinent cartoon, drawn by Jeff MacNelly, another of my favorites. Much like Calvin and Hobbes or Seinfeld, to me Dave Barry’s writings are epic. Beware of where you read this book cause you will not be able to control your snickering and giggling. This is a fantastic mood lifter from probably the funniest writer in USA.
September 24, 2017
23 Sept. 2017
Just finished Dave Barry's "Best.State.Ever." and loved it so much that I wanted to add all the Dave Barry books to my Goodreads list that I had read but forgotten to add previously. This one was my third, from 1991, and I even remember going to see him give a little talk at a bookstore in Chicago and getting the book autographed afterwards. For some reason I remember being nervous waiting in line and asking him to sign it, but still telling him I was a libertarian. Here is what he wrote in the book:
"For Patrick, a major threat to the American Way of Life - with admiration, Dave Barry, closet libertarian."
Gotta love him.
Printed Dedication:
"This book is dedicated to all the Alert Readers [those who are readers of his column are familiar with this phrase] who take the time to send me newspaper items about exploding toilets when they could be doing something meaningful with their lives."
This book has 64 chapters and 285 pages, so you can easily tell that each chapter is quite short. Many, many little stand alone vignettes, with no real connection to them, other than they are just about all, very funny.
Enjoy.
Just finished Dave Barry's "Best.State.Ever." and loved it so much that I wanted to add all the Dave Barry books to my Goodreads list that I had read but forgotten to add previously. This one was my third, from 1991, and I even remember going to see him give a little talk at a bookstore in Chicago and getting the book autographed afterwards. For some reason I remember being nervous waiting in line and asking him to sign it, but still telling him I was a libertarian. Here is what he wrote in the book:
"For Patrick, a major threat to the American Way of Life - with admiration, Dave Barry, closet libertarian."
Gotta love him.
Printed Dedication:
"This book is dedicated to all the Alert Readers [those who are readers of his column are familiar with this phrase] who take the time to send me newspaper items about exploding toilets when they could be doing something meaningful with their lives."
This book has 64 chapters and 285 pages, so you can easily tell that each chapter is quite short. Many, many little stand alone vignettes, with no real connection to them, other than they are just about all, very funny.
Enjoy.
September 20, 2023
This is a compilation of Dave Barry's columns from the late 80s and early 90s. Even though I remember reading some of them in the Miami Herald, I laughed all over again. I laughed a lot. It's the perfect kind of book to pick up and read just one or two chapters when you need a little pick me up. What can I say, the man is a national treasure, booger jokes and all.
June 21, 2021
This is another laugh-out-loud book by my favorite humorist, Dave Barry!
May 10, 2021
Great comedy from my high school and college days. I think a lot of it will go over the heads of anyone younger than 40 however.
Find it. Buy it. Read it.
Find it. Buy it. Read it.
August 15, 2025
I needed a humor book to fulfill a monthly challenge prompt so I chose this older book by Dave Berry. At times it was hilarious but at other times a bit too over the top for me. I have always enjoyed his humor but in general humor is not my genre for reading. I would have preferred that this audiobook was narrated by the author instead of by Arte Johnson.
December 22, 2017
This was a compilation of Dave Barry's articles from the Miami Herald. Most of them were based on tidbits his readers would send in to him. Then he would respond in his humorous, sarcastic way. Some of his articles were based on his experiences with his family. I found those articles the funniest. My favorite article was about buying, then learning how to launch and sail, a boat. Some of the other articles were, well, just plain dumb. But overall, a good laugh.
January 6, 2018
Based on his newspaper column. Some misses, some direct hits. Though written well before the Trump residency, there are some good Trump shots here. Some of the "guy" humor especially had me laughing out loud. If you like fart jokes, or self-deprecating humor, or "News of the Weird".. this book is for you, too.
July 27, 2017
Another bundle of fun from Dave Barry. Hi "Greatest Hits" collection is still my favorite, hands, down, but this was a great road-trip read-aloud for hubby and I.
May 9, 2018
Made me laugh out loud while riding public transportation (in S. Florida) but I won't apologize for my behavior :)
July 28, 2019
Booger
Cute humor by the undefeated champion of booger jokes and setting pop tarts on fire for science. Don't forget to vote.
Cute humor by the undefeated champion of booger jokes and setting pop tarts on fire for science. Don't forget to vote.
December 9, 2020
Hilarious! A good antidote to Covid blues.
April 4, 2021
An extra star for the MacNelly illustrations.
April 18, 2021
Another great book by Dave Barry
Admittedly i am a great fan of Dave Barry's writing. This book is hilarious and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh.
Admittedly i am a great fan of Dave Barry's writing. This book is hilarious and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh.
August 5, 2021
Very funny!
December 13, 2021
It his funniest book
To me, that one was Dave Barry Does Japan. But some screamingly hysterical sections and overall a fun read. My favorites are his annual reviews.
To me, that one was Dave Barry Does Japan. But some screamingly hysterical sections and overall a fun read. My favorites are his annual reviews.
February 21, 2024
Absolutely brilliant humor. Such a talented author.
August 30, 2018
Dave Barry was a "blogger" before the word existed, instead writing a column every day for the newspaper with a quota of 19 years. In this book, he talks back to his readers, to traffic cops, about the IRS and even doctors. No one is beyond his humor is, including himself.
Unfortunately this was his last books--"the best of the best" put together by his wife and his editor.
Unfortunately this was his last books--"the best of the best" put together by his wife and his editor.
Read
February 9, 2024In the late 1980s/early 1990s, a time before the competition of the internet, this probably had boomers spitting out their morning coffee across the table. "Hey, Edna, this guy wrote about Congress contemplating naming a national insect! What a bunch of clowns!"
"I am not making this up" count: I don't know, I stopped counting.
That said, it's not a bad audiobook to have on in the background while you run or exercise.
"I am not making this up" count: I don't know, I stopped counting.
That said, it's not a bad audiobook to have on in the background while you run or exercise.
April 15, 2024
It's Dave Barry. I find that people either think he's hysterical or don't get him. Luckily, I'm in the former group. Sarcasm, wit, jokes about boogers and weasels, and a little bit of non-partisan political humor. There was a golden age of print-newspaper-based humorists in the 70's and 80's, and Dave is certainly deserving of a spot at the top of the list.
So, yeah... if you like his stuff, this is a great book. If you don't, you're missing out.
So, yeah... if you like his stuff, this is a great book. If you don't, you're missing out.
May 17, 2017
An amusing collection of columns centering around reader responses.
Read
October 12, 2020A collection of his columns mostly from the 1980s, the topics are largely still relevant for today's world. It is an easy read, and I recommend it if you just need a good laugh.
July 20, 2023
Certainly dated material.
November 28, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and it’s okay. Classic Dave Barry for sure and at time raucously funny and at times asinine, adolescent humor.
Want to read
June 4, 2025Cutting is for Garbage Scan
By Dave Barry
Another cutting is for Blimey, Frognal Cockfosters
By Dave Barry
Yet another cutting is for Attack of the Cartoon
Animal Heads
By Dave Barry
Still another cutting is for Where You Can Stick the
Sticker Price
By Dave Barry
By Dave Barry
Another cutting is for Blimey, Frognal Cockfosters
By Dave Barry
Yet another cutting is for Attack of the Cartoon
Animal Heads
By Dave Barry
Still another cutting is for Where You Can Stick the
Sticker Price
By Dave Barry
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews