Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass; How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up

Pulitzer Prize–winning humor columnist and novelist Barry (Swamp Story) reflects on his life and literary career in this wise-cracking memoir. Barry explains his early years and how his parents shaped his sense of humor and reluctance never to take things too seriously. He also remembers how one larger-than-life boss at the Miami Herald the young man who was voted class clown in high school into a journalism career where humor and amusement always took center stage. Barry’s memoir is equal parts CV of his literary career and highlight reel of his most amusing humor columns, plus the funniest of the hate mail he’s received, illustrated with excerpts throughout. From local newspapers to campaign trails to The Oprah Winfrey Show, Barry has covered a lot of ground in his decades-long career. Not many people can say they’re in a rock band with Stephen King or had Bruce Springsteen sing backup vocals for them, but Barry can.