MISFIT

BookLife Reviews

In this humorous debut collection of personal life stories, Mister John regales readers with anecdotes from his childhood, memorable traveling trips with his wife, Sue, and his experiences teaching and living "over half my life" in the United Arab Emirates and Ecuador. His topics are framed with a lighthearted edge, even those as weighty as racism and privilege, as he darts from his 1960s childhood in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to his time on the University of Florida's football team and, in an intriguing twist, to his move to the UAE as a young adult, "mere months after the Gulf War ended."

The stories are relatable and, at times, comical, both teachable lessons and entertaining scraps of a life lived on the move. Mister John reflects on his privilege as a white male, even when speaking out against racism and injustice during his youth, and contemplates how exposure to other cultures forever altered his views on American life. From Wisconsin to the UAE to Ecuador, he sets down roots (more so with people than in places), makes friends, and carries out a full and adventurous, if somewhat nomadic, life. From funny tales of indoor snowball fights to an uncanny Kevin Bacon resemblance to America's obsession with toilet paper, Mister John amuses, confronts, and generally makes merry.

"I wanted something different, always on the lookout for such after realizing at an early age that if I lived a life like most everyone, I'd get a life like most everyone," Mister John writes, as he pursues a full-throttle lifestyle at an audacious, almost frenzied pace. As a result, the collection is rich in culture, education, and wanderlust, never losing sight of the need for close relationships with family and friends, while emphasizing Mister John's growing awareness that he "never felt at home until I left mine." This will propel readers to wholeheartedly embrace the magic of the present. 

Takeaway: Energetic memories and life lessons from a globetrotting adventurer.