Lessons from Lucy : the simple joys of an old, happy dog

Title:

Author:

Barry, Dave, author.

Personal Author:

Barry, Dave, author.

ISBN:

9781501161155

Edition:

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

Physical Description:

225 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Abstract:

"A bestselling humorist shows how to age gracefully, taking cues from his dog, Lucy"-- Provided by publisher.

"Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and bestselling author of Dave Barry Turns 40 now shows how to age gracefully, taking cues from his beloved and highly intelligent dog, Lucy. Faced with the obstacles and challenges of life after middle age, Dave Barry turns to his best dog, Lucy, to learn how to live his best life. From "Make New Friends" (an unfortunate fail when he can't overcome his dislike for mankind) to "Don't Stop Having Fun" (validating his longtime membership in a marching unit that performs in parades--and even Obama's inauguration), Dave navigates his later years with good humor and grace. Lucy teaches Dave how to live in the present, how to let go of daily grievances, and how to feel good in your own skin. The lessons are drawn from Dave's routine humiliations and stream-of-consciousness accounts of the absurdities of daily life, which will leave you heaving with laughter and recognition. Laugh-out-loud hilarious, whether he's trying to "Pay Attention to the People You Love" (even when your brain is not listening) or deciding to "Let Go of Your Anger," Dave Barry's Lessons From Lucy is a witty and wise guide to joyous living"-- Provided by publisher.

Faced with the obstacles and challenges of life after middle age, Barry turned to his dog, Lucy, to learn how to live his best life. He decided to try doing the thinks she does-- except for drinking from the toilet. Lucy teaches him how to live in the present, how to let go of daily grievances, and how to feel good in your own skin. And when Barry is faced with a family crisis, these lessons came just in time. -- adapted from jacket

Subject Term:

Aging -- Humor.

American wit and humor.

Conduct of life -- Humor.

Human-animal relationships -- Humor.

Pets -- Humor.

Genre:

Humor.

Summary:

"A bestselling humorist shows how to age gracefully, taking cues from his dog, Lucy"--

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Main Library	Book	818.6 B279	Searching... Unknown
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Summary

In this "little gem" ( Washington Independent Review of Books), Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and New York Times bestselling author Dave Barry learns how to age happily from his old but joyful dog, Lucy.

As Dave Barry turns seventy--not happily--he realizes that his dog, Lucy, is dealing with old age far better than he is. She has more friends, fewer worries, and way more fun. So Dave decides to figure out how Lucy manages to stay so happy, to see if he can make his own life happier by doing the things she does (except for drinking from the toilet). He reconnects with old friends and tries to make new ones--which turns out to be a struggle, because Lucy likes people a lot more than he does. And he gets back in touch with two ridiculous but fun groups from his past: the Lawn Rangers, a group of guys who march in parades pushing lawnmowers and twirling brooms (alcohol is involved), and the Rock Bottom Remainders, the world's oldest and least-talented all-author band. With each new lesson, Dave riffs hilariously on dogs, people, and life in general, while also pondering Deep Questions, such as when it's okay to lie. (Answer: when scallops are involved.)

Lessons from Lucy shows readers a new side to Dave Barry that's "touching and sentimental, but there's still a laugh on every page" ( Sacramento Bee) . The master humorist has written a witty and affable guide to joyous living at any age.

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review

An old dog learns new tricks from his dog, Lucy.Pulitzer Prize winner Barry (Best. State. Ever: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland, 2017, etc.), well-known for his countless humorous columns and books, tackles a topic that most of us don't find funny: aging. Once the author hit 70, the same age in dog years as Lucy, he started thinking more about the brevity of life. "If our lives were movie credits, we'd be way down at the bottom, past the assistant gerbil wrangler. If our lives were Cheez-It bags," he writes, "we'd be at the stage where you hold the bag up and tilt it into your mouth to get the last crumbs. In other words: the End Is in Sight." Despite her age, Lucy was almost always happy. So Barry set out to learn from her, compiling seven basic "lessons" from his observations. The lessons are filled with the author's signature brand of quirky, sometimes-sarcastic humor as he wanders from topic to topic: a hurricane bearing down on the Florida coast; having his DNA analyzed; waiting interminably in line at an ice cream shop; hitting puberty and suddenly finding girls attractive; and accumulating stuff, particularly camera equipment. His integration of informative tidbits about his life helps readers see him as an average guy confronting his own mortality. Few topics are off-limits, and each ministory relates back to the lesson at hand, whether it's to have more fun, make new friends, or pay attention right now to the people you love (put down the cellphone). Even for those who are not as enamored by dogs as the author, his gentle wisdom seeps through the humor. He successfully pokes fun at the aging process without wallowing in overly long discussions of declining health and the wear and tear of body parts.Astute advice about growing older rolled into a blanket of classic Barry humor. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.