
- Paperback: 324 pages
- Publisher: Glendower Media (March 21, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0914303082
- ISBN-13: 978-0914303084
- Source: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
- Rating: 5/5
Banjos, Boats and Butt Dialing is the third installment in Mike Ball's What I've Learned... So Far series of books. In it the Erma Bombeck Award-winning humorist grapples with topics ranging from becoming a grandfather, to rabbit hunting, to the Zen of a middle-aged guy trying to cope with cleavage. The book is a compilation of 74 entries from Mike's nationally-syndicated column, What I've Learned... So Far. His homespun wit, sharp sense of humor, and ability to connect with readers on an emotional level have been compared to Mark Twain, Erma Bombeck, Robert Benchley, and Ernie Pyle.
I really love the fact that Mike isn't afraid to make fun of himself. He does a great job at articulating some of the issues that many people face, but all in a humerus way. This book has a little bit of something for everyone. One of my favorites was the dock story. It just made me giggle and smile as I pictured it all in head.
Not all books that set out to be funny while telling a story actually succeed. In fact, a lot of them, suck. It's an unfortunate truth. Not everyone is as funny as they think they are! But Mike Ball really is funny. I imagine him as the kind of guy that would fit perfect into any crowd and be the life of the party as he found the right story for the situation- especially if something awkward happened.
I highly recommend this book for those that need a laugh, but also enjoy connecting with another human being through stories you might actually relate to. It's a very enjoyable read!

Mike Ball is an award-winning humorist who writes the internationally popular weekly syndicated column "What I've Learned So Far..." He lives and writes on the shores of Whitmore Lake, Michigan, sharing a roof with his wife and a psychotic Siamese cat. He is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the recipient of the 2003 Erma Bombeck Award, and a finalist for the 2011 Robert Benchley Award.
Mike's first book, "Bikes, Docks & Slush Nuggets," is Part I of the "What I've Learned... So Far" trilogy. Part II, "Angels, Chimps & Tater Mitts," was published in April, 2012. Part III, "Banjos, Boats & Butt Dialing" hit the shelves in March, 2013.
In addition to cranking out his humor column and books, Mike is a musician. As front man for the band Dr. Mike & The Sea Monkeys, he plays guitar, banjo, ukulele, djembe, slide guitar, and F# Shaker Egg. The band has been described as John Prine meets Jimmy Buffet, and features songs based on Mike's columns and books, such as, "At Least I've Got Most Of My Hair," "Carlson the Pissed Off Angel," and "The Colonoscopy Song."
Mike is also the founder of Lost Voices, a Michigan non-profit group that takes therapeutic roots music writing and performing programs to incarcerated and at-risk youth. For this work he was awarded the Kindness Community Hero Award from USA Today.
Check out his site: http://wilsf.com/