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Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and Fun but not very deep
Review: I loved this book! It's a fascinating mix of "real life" stories of the passions of down-to-earth and "regular" people who have intriguing obsessions. Reading it is like joining a secret society or club or meeting a new group of wild friends whose lives are the richer for (as the Banana Sculptor himself puts it) the need "to dream."This book could be called "American Eccentrics" for its wonderful range of characters - from the tiddly wink competitor to the inveterate garage saler to the sculler and the skater and the card shark. The authors are the best kind of good listeners and interviewers - they stay out of the way and let the enthusiasts speak for themselves, about the magic of baking or bonsai and how the soul and spirit factor into swimming all night or collecting pre-cancelled stamps. A great one-of-a-kind summer/beach book, and a terrific anytime gift!
Rating: 
Summary: You Don't Have To Be A Collector to Like this Book
Review: I loved this book! It's a fascinating mix of "real life" stories of the passions of down-to-earth and "regular" people who have intriguing obsessions. Reading it is like joining a secret society or club or meeting a new group of wild friends whose lives are the richer for (as the Banana Sculptor himself puts it) the need "to dream." This book could be called "American Eccentrics" for its wonderful range of characters - from the tiddly wink competitor to the inveterate garage saler to the sculler and the skater and the card shark. The authors are the best kind of good listeners and interviewers - they stay out of the way and let the enthusiasts speak for themselves, about the magic of baking or bonsai and how the soul and spirit factor into swimming all night or collecting pre-cancelled stamps. A great one-of-a-kind summer/beach book, and a terrific anytime gift!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Fun but not very deep
Review: This book is a series of mini-biographies of Americans with odd hobbies or pursuits or interests. They are very short (5-7 pages) and very well-written. However, there is no analysis as to why these people do what they do or whether there is something wrong with them. For example, many of the men profiled are bachelors. Is this cuase and effect or effect and cause or neither? It might have been interesting to speculate. This book is like whipped cream - fun to eat but ultimately of no nutritional value.
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