From the vertiginously talented James Parker, a collection of uproarious odes that show how to find gratitude in unexpected places. "Note to readers! This book has two parts. The first is the book itself, the one you read, as James Parker's prose grips on your receptors: here is a seriocomic essayist of the first order, enthusiastic and nervous, spiritual and salty, excited by the very idea of a wide frame of reference, totally on.? The second part happens after you've finished, as life seems like a series of further odes waiting to happen, and more inviting because of it."? -- Ben Ratliff, author of Every Song Ever and Coltrane: The Story of a Sound?? "Parker's dazzlingly erudite mind has found ways to appreciate everything from Proust to dog waste, and somehow make it funny.? It's a book as edu-taining as it is inspirational, and his mastery of language ripples easy like Sunday morning.? Parker is, in short, brilliant." -- Cintra Wilson, author of Fear and Clothing: Unbuckling American Style "James Parker loves the English language like a farmer loves the soil, but then he's a lover of the world by nature.

Here he counts his blessings, from Pablo Neruda to his dog's balls, and each of his entries is a small, beautifully shaped rapture. This book should be kept at bedside for all those rude awakenings and sodden sleeps." -- Lucy Sante, author of Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York.