Humor from the Country

by Jerry Apps, Steve Apps (Photographer)

Life during the early to middle twentieth century is often viewed as a time of backbreaking work for meager returns. Often, the strength and resiliency of family and neighbors is overlooked. Through stories based on childhood memories, master storyteller Jerry Apps gives us insights into the lighter side of country life.

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Jerold W. Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls. His children's books include: Stormy, Eat Rutabagas, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker. He has an audio book, The Back Porch and Other Stories. Jerry has published four novels, The Travels of Increase Joseph, In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story, Blue Shadows Farm and Cranberry Red. Jerry is a former publications editor for UW-Extension, an acquisitions editor for the McGraw-Hill Book Company, and editor of a national professional journal.

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Check www.jerryapps.com for more information.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Life during the early to mid-20th century is often seen as a time of backbreaking work for meager returns. Often, the strength and resiliency of family and neighbors are overlooked. In Humor From The Country, master storyteller Jerry Apps gives us insights into the lighter side of country life. Through stories based upon childhood memories, Apps shows us that country folk knew how to have fun, too.

"Stroll down memory lane with stories of Felix the intrepid barn cat and Nancy the obstinate cow. Reminisce with Apps as he recalls trying to fit in on his first day of high school and trying out for the baseball team. Laugh out loud while reading about the antics of the wily billy goat Bob or the foiled moonlight attempt to steal watermelons from the neighbor's field. Relive the memories of a young boy as he travels to a big city for the first time.

"Country witticisms and advice are interspersed throughout the book. Catch up on your country lingo by learning how to speak 'farm talk'. Enjoy life as it used to be through the eyes of one of America's most beloved storytellers.

"Humor From The Country will warm your soul and lighten your heart."
~~back cover

Well, I didn't find it all that funny.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know most of you reading this probably don't care about a collection of humorous stories about growing up on a farm in mid-20th century, but I read the whole thing, so I'm going ot write about it. Luckily, I wasn't particularly enthused by it, but that's because it wasn't necessarily written for me. While I can relate to some, okay a lot, of aspects of farm life covered in it, the tone of this book is directed at an older generation. I could definitely see my grandpas really enjoying it.

[Larry Wegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories (some humorous) from a rural Midwestern childhood in the 30's through the 50's.