I Love Ranch Dressing: And Other Stuff White Midwesterners Like

by Cara Freie

If you like sporting novelty sweaters, dipping everything in ranch dressing, smothering your home with sunflowers and white wicker, and eating top-notch dinners at Cracker Barrel, then you might be a Midwesterner (or at the very least you should move to the Midwest as soon as possible). 

Chock full of things that Midwesterners love the most, I Love Ranch Dressing reveals the quirky tastes and characteristics of our favorite heartland residents. With good-natured fun and plenty of hilarious "authentic" photos, this real-life encyclopedia of Midwesterners will have you snorting with laughter whether you live in the Midwest or not!

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kristen Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've lived in the Midwest just long enough to recognize most of these entries but not to take them personally. Tempted to get my parents a copy before their next visit. My community lacks a Bob Evans and a Casey's but we nail the rest. Of course a few things are just generic small or rural town quirks that I recognize equally from living elsewhere. I love how she uses dork as a verb -- 'And when he's not dorking around with his lawn...' She does mis-identify Tom Brokaw as being from North Dakota rather than South.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty right on the mark. A few of my favorites include theme bars, 4-H, wood paneling, the weather channel, free refills, and meth.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very funny, some parts aren’t true but the ones that are, are really funny.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great. I have now been to two weddings in Oklahoma, and everything listed in this book as something beloved by White Midwesterners is actually something beloved by White Midwesterners. The title item being demonstrably true at a rehearsal dinner I attended: There was a VAT of ranch dressing for a dinner catered by an Italian restaurant. I thought it was for the salad. There was no salad. I saw people casually drizzle lasagna and ravioli with the stuff, and MY OWN BOYFRIEND dunked a calzone in a puddle of it. Not only that, but TWO (2) restaurants at which we ate had ranch dressing listed as a side item on the menu (all by itself, not even attached to wings...)

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so true! Having grown up in Kansas and Missouri, I can confirm that Midwesterners do love these things (wood paneling, French manicures, mega churches, the color beige)However, I cannot confirm that people across the United States don't like some of these same things. I thought lots of people liked Pottery Barn, white zinfandel, Dockers and finished basements... perhaps that just shows how truly Midwestern I am.

[Elaine Meszaros · Rating 4 out of 5]

his is a Midwest-specific version of Stuff White People Like. Targeting our likes with snarky accuracy, Freie pokes fun at our love of Ranch Dressing (on anything), comfortable Dockers, novelty sweaters, Cracker Barrel and having your wedding reception at the VFW. Hey, that's not funny! Oh wait, yeah, it is.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Some of the things weren't really specific to the Midwest. Theme Parks? They're everywhere.

[Trea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading again because it makes me laugh. Then donating to a friends library. 😀

[Renee MA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the last 5-8 items were just okay, the beginning is hilarious enough to make up for it. As a WM, I found much of this book as true, and may have laughed so hard I cried. Good times!

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short collection takes about 90 minutes to read. You may get a handful of laughs out of it, and most of it is pretty true as far as it goes. Casey's General Store, ranch dressing, the color beige, and meth are some of the things the people of my community love. I got this as a gift, but I wouldn't pay money for it.

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real knee slapper! Even though I am caucasian and live smack in the midwest I apparently don't share many of my fellow white neighbor's tastes. I don't wear novelty sweaters or drive a pick up truck but I admit I am a fan of Cracker Barrell. Definately good for a chuckle or three and a few hearty guffaws.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could get a bunch of pictures from istockphoto and place them next to short paragraphs about something completely obvious and get paid for it.

That said, it is mildly amusing and totally truthful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a shockingly accurate collection of 100 things White Midwesterners (WM) love. My personal favorites are 10. covered dish suppers, 25 beige, 39 finished basements, 54 Casey's General Stores, & 77 wedding receptions at the BTW.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this really quick, took about a half hour. Funny, and for anyone who doesn't live in the Midwest and is wondering how us Midwesterner s live...well here you go! LOL. It's so funny because it's true!

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love Ranch Dressing.

[Sarah Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, I married into this...still don't get the jell-o as salad thing!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

hysterical!
and too true LOL

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, if you have any familiarity with white Midwesterners.

[Vicki Loves to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha! Really funny!

[McKinzey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, and a really quick read. I enjoyed it.

[Clair Fedderly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was insightful and funny- a great find for my forensic students. They used a few sections in thier performance and made it to state!

[Jon Schwarz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty dumb.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book like I love ranch dressing and free refills.