How I Got This Way

Tales of rural Idaho by the New York Times-bestselling author: "There's a smile or guffaw to be had on almost every page . . . entertainment aplenty." -Publishers Weekly

From fibbing fishermen to wilderness misadventures to eulogies for a mean dog, this is a charming collection of comic essays and tall tales from the Field & Stream and Outdoor Life writer and "funniest guy in a flannel shirt" (Kirkus Reviews). Among the many selections is the two-part title essay, in which Patrick McManus delves into the chaotic country boyhood that shaped him into one of the best-loved and bestselling authors of our age.

"Gentle, ironic, self-deprecatory wit from the popular western humorist. There's some of Bill Nye here and more still of Mark Twain." -Booklist

"The brief selections are of the type one might hear from a droll uncle/grandfather prefaced by the phrase, 'When I was a boy.' They are mainly outdoor adventures, some of which masquerade as hunting trips, and celebrate life. All are laugh-out-loud funny." -School Library Journal

"Patrick McManus is a treasure." -The Atlantic