Rounding Some Corners: Observing Life's Oddball Ironies

by Rob McKenzie

This book is a collection of oddball newspaper columns I wrote about how silly humans beings can be. Many of columns make you laugh out loud; all of them show life's oddball ironies. Read the columns in order or read them randomly at your choice. I came up with the name “Rounding Some Corners” to create two metaphors to describe the intent of the column. Metaphor 1 is a person who rounds a corner and stumbles upon a surprise they didn't expect. Metaphor 2 is a person who uses ironies to take the edge off life — like using sand paper to take the edge off a piece of wood. Since every column is laid out on the two pages in front of you when you open the book, you can pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down--and still follow along. I have re-edited many of these former columns to give them a better fit for this book format. Yet, the columns still have a newspaper feel, complete with a headline. I have also included a couple columns that were turned down by the Pocono Record for being inappropriate — columns that I still think are worth considering. The most important line of each column is the last line, where I try to deliver a double meaning that brings home the essence of the oddball irony. My goal is for the last line to invite you to catch the double meaning that is presented, and then for you to wrestle with your opinion on the observation. Because, with so many observations of life’s oddball ironies out there for the taking, why shouldn't you join in the fun of wondering why humans act like they do?

306 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2014

Reviews

[Nichola Gutgold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever collection of essays that make you think! Would make a great First Year Seminar book for colleges and universities.