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I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962 and Other Nekkid Truths
Lewis Grizzard remembers 1962. But a lot's happened since then, and he's in the mood to discuss it all, in the inimitable style that's made him the most popular social commentator to tickle people AND tick them off.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 25, 2019
I sort of stumbled into reading this book by accident. I never thought I would finish it, but I did.
This Lewis Grizzard seems like a complex guy. His book ranges all OVER the place, from funny to hateful to serious and almost moving. Empathy for women and certain Asian countries seems to be really low, but I think that’s mostly an act, although not a very funny one. Sometimes I could see his true self: a frustrated man who, despite his annoyance, still knows that you have to treat people alright.
I still hated what he had to say about Vietnam and “the Japs.”
I definitely did not expect to find this sentence (in the chapter about the meaning of telling someone to “go wait in the truck”):
“Bill Clinton, a white Southerner like Jimmy Carter, should have told his wife, Hillary, to wait in the truck while he ran for president when it was becoming more and more obvious she was the one who should have been running.”
This Lewis Grizzard seems like a complex guy. His book ranges all OVER the place, from funny to hateful to serious and almost moving. Empathy for women and certain Asian countries seems to be really low, but I think that’s mostly an act, although not a very funny one. Sometimes I could see his true self: a frustrated man who, despite his annoyance, still knows that you have to treat people alright.
I still hated what he had to say about Vietnam and “the Japs.”
I definitely did not expect to find this sentence (in the chapter about the meaning of telling someone to “go wait in the truck”):
“Bill Clinton, a white Southerner like Jimmy Carter, should have told his wife, Hillary, to wait in the truck while he ran for president when it was becoming more and more obvious she was the one who should have been running.”
September 8, 2025
Lewis Grizzard remembers 1962. But a lot's happened since then, and he's in the mood to discuss it all, in the inimitable style that's made him the most popular social commentator to tickle people AND tick them off. From being PC to watching MTV, from rednecks to black militants, from singing the praises of the South to sounding off on the problems of just about everywhere else, nothing and nobody escapes when Grizzard shoots from the lip...and hits the "nekkid" truth every time.
June 3, 2018
Hilarious, as always, but some of his humor doesn't stand up in our new PC world. I wonder what he would have thought of it.
May 22, 2020
I discovered Lewis Grizzard in 1984 when I picked up "Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You" during a layover at the Atlanta airport. Since then, I've read just about everything he's had published in book form. This one, published in paperback in 1992, was the exception.
I think I was put off by a review that indicated that Grizzard was just not that funny in this book, but instead was engaging in a misogynist, racist, far right-wing polemic. Recently, the completist in me decided it was time to read it.
The first and last chapters especially made me cringe, although in the last he does depart from the right wing on gun control, abortion, and a couple of other matters. He really seemed to go off the deep end with his attacks on political correctness.
In summary, I found myself appalled at some of his opinions (assuming he was more sincere than satirical about them), in agreement with others, and for the most part grudgingly admitted that he had a point about some things. It's also interesting to note what hasn't changed about the left/right "debate" in almost 30 years.
His trademark humor, though, is still there, even if buried under layers of outrage about the condition of the Single Southern White Male. The anecdote about a great aunt visiting an outhouse with a wasp's nest gave me tears of laughter, and I had to laugh at and share the throwaway line about another of his aunts who could talk 50 miles an hour "with gusts up to 70."
Bottom line, don't avoid this for the same reasons I did. Go into it for the humor and for another look at one of our best modern humorists, without any preconceptions that you might be offended. Be assured that at some point or another, you will be.
I think I was put off by a review that indicated that Grizzard was just not that funny in this book, but instead was engaging in a misogynist, racist, far right-wing polemic. Recently, the completist in me decided it was time to read it.
The first and last chapters especially made me cringe, although in the last he does depart from the right wing on gun control, abortion, and a couple of other matters. He really seemed to go off the deep end with his attacks on political correctness.
In summary, I found myself appalled at some of his opinions (assuming he was more sincere than satirical about them), in agreement with others, and for the most part grudgingly admitted that he had a point about some things. It's also interesting to note what hasn't changed about the left/right "debate" in almost 30 years.
His trademark humor, though, is still there, even if buried under layers of outrage about the condition of the Single Southern White Male. The anecdote about a great aunt visiting an outhouse with a wasp's nest gave me tears of laughter, and I had to laugh at and share the throwaway line about another of his aunts who could talk 50 miles an hour "with gusts up to 70."
Bottom line, don't avoid this for the same reasons I did. Go into it for the humor and for another look at one of our best modern humorists, without any preconceptions that you might be offended. Be assured that at some point or another, you will be.
October 20, 2023
Great book. Wish he was still alive to see what’s all going on in the world today. Hilarious guy and knows what he’s talking about. Wish more people thought like Lewis but instead they get offended by him.
January 4, 2019
horrible. he's completely out of touch with society, but at least he admits it
April 28, 2020
Funny as are all of Lewis's books, but a bit crude. Still lots of LOL moments.
Did Not Finish
July 7, 2020
December 24, 2020
My first Lewis Grizzard book... excellent!!
November 26, 2012
Lewis Grizzard passed away too young. I have listened to this audio book as I drive. In this book he made political statements without remorse or regret. He has been compared to humorist Mark Twain. He was married and divorced three times. As he lay dying in hospital, he married his fourth wife. He died within a week. The marriage was a success! It ended of natural causes rather than divorce.
January 30, 2016
This book is a great and humorous view of the world through the eyes of the Southern male. While it was written in 1992 some the wit, wisdom, and insight hold true for a much younger fellow like myself even today in 2015 (when I last read the book). Great read for a few laughs, and an unapologetic synopsis of society.
May 25, 2009
OK, so I'm a great fan of the late Southern humorist. I can just imagine sitting on the front porch with Lewis and reminiscing. You feel like you know him when you read his right on the mark witticisms. Read and laugh out loud.
August 28, 2014
I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962 and Other Nekkid Truths by Lewis Grizzard (Villard 1992)(081). The Atlanta comedian is back for another look at why life is not as easy as it was in the good old days of 1962. My rating: 7/10, finished 1993.
November 12, 2008
One of my favorite writers, he died many years ago now and the books seem to be out of print which really annoys me. You can still find them online or sometimes at used book stores..
Read
September 27, 2009Funny reflections.
July 18, 2010
I almost had to put the book down after the first chapter. I almost ruined my opinion of Lewis. I've revered him for 25 years, but he sounds like a modern day tea-bagger in this one.
August 3, 2016
Signed copy.
Probably my least favorite of Grizzard's books. It reads like one long complaint about everything.
Probably my least favorite of Grizzard's books. It reads like one long complaint about everything.
August 23, 2014
The best book he ever wrote. All original. Nothing more to be said about it. Best ever!!! If I could give it ten stars I would.
April 11, 2016
read some time in 1997
July 5, 2022
Learn exactly what white southern males think, believe and behave. Also learn all about the Speech Police (as of 1992), and have some chuckles along the way.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews