"For at least forty years, Calvin Trillin has commiteed blatant acts of funniness all over the place"--Jacket flap. A collection of Trillin's writings, arranged roughly by category.

Biographically speaking -- The Media: liberal elite and otherwise -- Tales of a clean-plate ranger -- High society and just plain rich people -- Criminal justice, criminals, justices, but (probably) no criminal justices -- Life among the literati -- Madly making money -- The years with Navasky -- Twenty years of pols: one poem each -- NYC -- Family matters -- Beasts of the field, fish of the sea, and chiggers in the tall grass -- English and some languages I don't speak -- Bagels, Yiddish, and other Jewish contributions to western civilization -- The sporting life -- Science, technology, and the healing arts -- Foreigners -- Issues and other irritations -- Seeing the world -- National holidays.