Monster Trucks & Hair in a Can

by Bill Geist

Entrepreneurship is alive and well and living all over America in a study that shares discoveries of pig racing, the dog-eat-dog traffic school, the cable Fish Channel, and other slightly warped, uniquely American delights. 75,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Essays

223 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 1996

Reviews

[Balloon Bruce]

Very funny.

[Cheryl]

An interesting romp through the quirkiest things that American entrepeneurs have come up with in recent years (okay, not so recent, since this was written in the Clinton era). American Gladiators, nail salons, pig racing, monster trucks, shotgun-chic clothing, the Astrodome, Ron Popeil (may he rest in peace), and Branson Missouri all have entries. Several of these things are still going strong. Bill Geist's snide-without-being-truly-offensive tone, which is well-known to anyone who has seen him on the Sunday talk shows and such, comes through loud and clear and makes you see the ridiculous side of so many of the things he discusses. In a way, he truly is celebrating American ingenuity even while observing in a Greek-chorus-like way the deterioration of meaning in society. Despite being somewhat dated (car phones are not that impressive any more and the proliferation of computers and similar technology has changed infomercials and mail-order businesses like those discussed), the themes he focuses on, such as kitsch replacing substance and the drive to seek entertainment at any price, are still prevalent in American society -- and have gone global.

[melydia]

Here we have the 1990s distilled into a book: pro bass fishermen, American Gladiators, Phil Donahue, and more. It's more or less about unusual entrepreneurs, and it's fascinating to read this from the point of view twenty years later. A lot of this is still going strong, and what isn't has been replaced by something else. Geist's humor is interesting, because sometimes it sounds like he's making fun of his subjects, but most of the time he seems generally enthusiastic. If you'd like to do a bit of time travel to the fads of a couple decades ago, this is the book for you. I had fun.

[Kristal Stidham]

I love Bill Geist and his fun segments on CBS Sunday Morning. This book is very similar -- little stories about quirky American entrepreneurs, interspersed with Bill's snarky sarcasm. (If you can read while hearing his voice and pacing in your head, it's a slam dunk.) The material holds up too -- surprising since this was published in 1994. I guess I lived through it, so I totally get it.

[Harper Haven]

3.5 stars. These are typical Bill Geist essays....thoughts on the quirkiness of people and places in America. If you like Bill's spots on 60 minutes and other CBS news shoes, you'll like the book. I found myself snickering alot thruout it. Its not an exceptional book but its good fun.

[Sandy]

The quirky stuff is worth the effort of reading. I have recommended this to a number of people. Just for fun.....

[Marshaferz]

Such a fun book - completely silly, like its author. I reread this every decade or so for the giggles.