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Around the Weird In 80 Days
When you've broken 25 of the USA's most absurd laws, what do you do next? If you're Rich Smith, you return to the scene of the crime, and then:
Attend the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, which includes such treats as the Hobo bake sale, a giant parade, a pie and ice-cream social and the 'cheerleader omelette breakfast'.
Watch the convicts compete in The Prison Rodeo at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Browse for treasures at the World's Longest Yardsale, held each August along 630 miles of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Expose yourself at the Amtrak Mooning in Orange County, California. This year sees the 28th annual mooning of Amtrak. After 8pm, night mooning starts. Mooners are advised to: 'bring a torch with plenty of batteries...Night mooning is better because it is less crowded, cooler temperature, and more authentic'.
Compete in the Redneck Games, in Buckeye Park, Georgia, where eager participants engage in such high-brow events as the mudpit belly flop, the armpit serenade, and bobbing for pig's feet.
Attend the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, which includes such treats as the Hobo bake sale, a giant parade, a pie and ice-cream social and the 'cheerleader omelette breakfast'.
Watch the convicts compete in The Prison Rodeo at Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Browse for treasures at the World's Longest Yardsale, held each August along 630 miles of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Expose yourself at the Amtrak Mooning in Orange County, California. This year sees the 28th annual mooning of Amtrak. After 8pm, night mooning starts. Mooners are advised to: 'bring a torch with plenty of batteries...Night mooning is better because it is less crowded, cooler temperature, and more authentic'.
Compete in the Redneck Games, in Buckeye Park, Georgia, where eager participants engage in such high-brow events as the mudpit belly flop, the armpit serenade, and bobbing for pig's feet.
- GenresTravelNonfiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2008
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 7, 2021
A fun premise, but a bit of a letdown in execution. Rich Smith, better known for traveling across the US breaking a variety of absurd laws, returns to the United States from the UK to experience the most bizarre festivals and events the States have to offer, and some of them are pretty weird. Along with a handful of other English adventurers, Smith takes on battle reenactments, 48-hour film festivals, yard sales, hobo conventions, and other odd Americana, and some of their “fish out of water” shenanigans can raise a laugh or two. Hoping to confront the weirdness of US American culture head-on, Smith and compatriots spend a summer crisscrossing the country from Montana to Georgia, and many states in between, meeting interesting (and disturbing) characters and places. A fun topic that could be used to spark a lot of intercultural discussion and jokes alike, Smith, unfortunately, is unable to really take advantage of his idea to its full potential.
Around the Weird in 80 Days* was, for the most part, just not the most interesting travelogue and Smith comes off as a bit of an unprepared jerk, simply showing up and seeing what happens, and seems to take pride in doing absolutely no research. While this could be a fun approach, in theory, it amounted to little more than Smith telling us, well, this happened, and then that happened, and then this crazy thing happened! (just kidding, that didn’t actually happen, just added it because the rest was boring). Mainly, it was accounts of various typical travel snafus, like almost running out of gas in the desert, trying to locate beer in a dry county, or being unsure what happened to your travel companion the morning you’ve got to catch your plane. There could be interesting tales milked from such all too familiar travel issues, but Smith’s writing is just not witty enough to carry it. While some readers were put off by Smith’s condescending and obtuse attitude toward UK/US differences, I felt this was the most amusing part, and the rest was just dull. If the earlier work, You Can Get Arrested for That, is at all similar, I may skip it.
*This is the UK edition of the book, which was published as The Great American Attraction: Two Brits Discover the Rollicking World of American Festivalsin the states
Around the Weird in 80 Days* was, for the most part, just not the most interesting travelogue and Smith comes off as a bit of an unprepared jerk, simply showing up and seeing what happens, and seems to take pride in doing absolutely no research. While this could be a fun approach, in theory, it amounted to little more than Smith telling us, well, this happened, and then that happened, and then this crazy thing happened! (just kidding, that didn’t actually happen, just added it because the rest was boring). Mainly, it was accounts of various typical travel snafus, like almost running out of gas in the desert, trying to locate beer in a dry county, or being unsure what happened to your travel companion the morning you’ve got to catch your plane. There could be interesting tales milked from such all too familiar travel issues, but Smith’s writing is just not witty enough to carry it. While some readers were put off by Smith’s condescending and obtuse attitude toward UK/US differences, I felt this was the most amusing part, and the rest was just dull. If the earlier work, You Can Get Arrested for That, is at all similar, I may skip it.
*This is the UK edition of the book, which was published as The Great American Attraction: Two Brits Discover the Rollicking World of American Festivalsin the states
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July 31, 2012What an utterly dreadful, dreadful book.
I was hoping for a something similar to Martin Fletchers brilliant ‘Almost Heaven’ travel story (in which the journalist journeys around little-seen, regional-culture USA). Instead, I have just finished the worst thing I have ever read (quite literally).
The author possesses the worst combination of character traits; arrogance and ignorance.
Rich Smith is simultaneously condescending & confounded (ie stupid). On page 170, for instance he indignantly reflects on how ‘ill-informed’ many of the Americans citizens he meets are; a page prior to this, he is idly reflecting on the fact that the ‘names on the Taco Bell menu require a degree in Spanish or Modern Languages…’.
Err, actually, Rich, most adults don’t have trouble pronouncing complicated words such as ‘Quesadilla’ or ‘taco’.
Jesus.
He also fails spectacularly in completing/ participating in almost all of the tasks (which are the books only [thin] premise). If you weren’t able to complete an entry into a small-town event (didn’t get there on time, couldn’t afford it, couldn’t be arsed etc), why bother writing a book about it? Seriously.
Also, a few points for ya, Rich:
Yes, people in other countries pronounce words differently! Oh my God! They say ‘Nissan’ funny over there!
Yes, people in other countries use different words for objects (other than the words you are familiar with)! Couch/ sofa etc! How dare they!
Random House should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this.
I was hoping for a something similar to Martin Fletchers brilliant ‘Almost Heaven’ travel story (in which the journalist journeys around little-seen, regional-culture USA). Instead, I have just finished the worst thing I have ever read (quite literally).
The author possesses the worst combination of character traits; arrogance and ignorance.
Rich Smith is simultaneously condescending & confounded (ie stupid). On page 170, for instance he indignantly reflects on how ‘ill-informed’ many of the Americans citizens he meets are; a page prior to this, he is idly reflecting on the fact that the ‘names on the Taco Bell menu require a degree in Spanish or Modern Languages…’.
Err, actually, Rich, most adults don’t have trouble pronouncing complicated words such as ‘Quesadilla’ or ‘taco’.
Jesus.
He also fails spectacularly in completing/ participating in almost all of the tasks (which are the books only [thin] premise). If you weren’t able to complete an entry into a small-town event (didn’t get there on time, couldn’t afford it, couldn’t be arsed etc), why bother writing a book about it? Seriously.
Also, a few points for ya, Rich:
Yes, people in other countries pronounce words differently! Oh my God! They say ‘Nissan’ funny over there!
Yes, people in other countries use different words for objects (other than the words you are familiar with)! Couch/ sofa etc! How dare they!
Random House should be ashamed of themselves for publishing this.
June 2, 2010
Not a terrible book at all but one which I expected more from,one of the flaws really seems the paucity of events visited but as the type of events looked at where mainly weekend obviously there is a week to fill which proves time intensive!!
The author,his friend and eventually Girlfriend embark on some of the more 'interesting' small town festivals/events in America..from celebrations to the hobo way of life,the basque region,mooning,leonardo da vinci and even mooning all is covered plus others.
The book was laugh out funny in parts but sometimes I found the cynicism too much...the authors concerns for instance when confronting exhibitionism at a 'mooning' contest or less than PC views at the redneck festival just made me wonder what he was expecting to find there...for this I'm dropping one star,it does seem obvious that people likely to attend a mooning contest wouldn't find the baring of flesh unacceptable and a redneck games surely would attrack an element of true 'redneck' values.
All in all though not bad and I will check out the authors first book which seems a more enjoyable proposition.
Possibly for fans of Tony Hawks,Danny Wallace or Dave Gorman though not being perhaps as refreshing as these...by no means a waste of time though a good holiday book.
The author,his friend and eventually Girlfriend embark on some of the more 'interesting' small town festivals/events in America..from celebrations to the hobo way of life,the basque region,mooning,leonardo da vinci and even mooning all is covered plus others.
The book was laugh out funny in parts but sometimes I found the cynicism too much...the authors concerns for instance when confronting exhibitionism at a 'mooning' contest or less than PC views at the redneck festival just made me wonder what he was expecting to find there...for this I'm dropping one star,it does seem obvious that people likely to attend a mooning contest wouldn't find the baring of flesh unacceptable and a redneck games surely would attrack an element of true 'redneck' values.
All in all though not bad and I will check out the authors first book which seems a more enjoyable proposition.
Possibly for fans of Tony Hawks,Danny Wallace or Dave Gorman though not being perhaps as refreshing as these...by no means a waste of time though a good holiday book.
July 26, 2012
The WORST book I have ever read.
What I'm desperately trying to work out: WHY WHY WHY was this considered publishable? It's not even a book, just a very dull travel story (from a smug, dull Cornish student-type).
Rich Smith is SUCH a bad writer, also. Even down to the ability to form basic sentences correctly/ cohesively.
WHY would anyone want to read the long, boring holiday story of this man (& why would you think your troubles with a car rental service are noteworthy enough to publish)?
Just....WHY?
What I'm desperately trying to work out: WHY WHY WHY was this considered publishable? It's not even a book, just a very dull travel story (from a smug, dull Cornish student-type).
Rich Smith is SUCH a bad writer, also. Even down to the ability to form basic sentences correctly/ cohesively.
WHY would anyone want to read the long, boring holiday story of this man (& why would you think your troubles with a car rental service are noteworthy enough to publish)?
Just....WHY?
May 22, 2013
Though not as entertaining as the first book 'You Can Get Arrested For That', this is a great second read that I enjoyed. Not spoiling anything, but the first few chapters really got me going. Well played, Rich.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews