Tim &. Deb Smith

This is indeed the "ultimate primer," a masterful and lovingly written book on two distinct threads of Black culture in America. Never before has this approach been taken on these topics. There are books on Black humor and there are books on Black history, but no one has ever attempted to merge those two threads into the eye of a single needle. And the Smiths have accomplished this with pinpoint precision. Just when you have laughed so hard that you need a little break, they throw the history book right back at you. Next, you find yourself reading an incredible story about some Black person that you've never heard of before, and by the end of it, you're thinking, "Why have I never heard of this dude?" And you find yourself blessed by the authors for having brought this story to your attention, as well as to the attention of all those who make it a priority to stay well-read in terms of any pertinent new material woven into the fabric of the Black consciousness. The breadth and depth of the research that went into this book is totally astonishing. No stone has been left unturned. From the comedy perspective, the reader is provided with a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of Black humor from the late 1800's through the modern-day. Black heritage has been blessed by their thoroughness and so has society's. In the heart of the book, you will be blessed by gal-pal stories such as the first Black woman to publish a book (a 12-year-old slave), enlist in the Army (passing the physical while posing as a male), and serve as a WW II spy (before Coretta Scott King asked her to head the civil rights movement after MLK's assassination). For the he-men, stories are shared about the first Black rodeo star (his secret was to bite the steer's lip), the Wild West's most maniacal marshal (inspiration for the Lone Ranger), and the oldest musical artist to score a Top 40 hit. (remember "Here Come Da Judge"?) This book should be in every home across America.

Take a trip around the world and discover places strange but true. "These authors are hilarious and one-of-a-kind which I discovered while I was the activities director at a seniors' center. When they came in to do a presentation on their first book they totally stole the show. It was a memorable performance which prompted a heartfelt reaction on the part of our members. - WILDLY WONDROUS WHEREABOUTS - During my introduction I shared with my group a true story that had occurred a few weeks earlier. I was in my backyard reading the Smiths' book and literally laughing out loud. How loud? So loud that my backyard neighbor heard me, came and leaned over my fence, and asked me what in the world was so funny. All I did was hold up the book and he said, 'I've seen that book and heard about that book.' While I did do a nice job of warming up the audience for them, as I said before, they truly stole the show They are as funny on the written page as they are in person, so don't say I didn't warn you' prepare yourself to absolutely love this book " - Deb Milne O'Brien

A veritable "magical mystery tour" of the world of Tim and Deb Smith through their weekly "Life With The (Word) Smiths" columns in the Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel. Their stories - a baker's dozen of tantalizing topics - "run the gamut of educational, hilarious, surreal and in some cases even somber." The Smiths' storytelling style is absolutely mesmerizing. It's crazy what they come up with. Everything's here from dead frogs stuffed and stationed in human poses to the bat bomb the U.S government actually built during WWII to take down Japan. Oh, and who could forget their retelling of Disco Demolition Night at the ballpark in Chicago which goes up in flames, literally. Want to delve deeper? Check out these chapter titles to get a flavor of Tim & Deb's entertaining word "Smith"ing: - Storyline Sampler - Bizarre Tales of Endangered Babies - Animal Acts - Historical Hijinks - Top 10 Country Stories - Crimes And Passion-Deftly Dealing With Death - Hoping For High Holidays - Titillating Travel Tales - Making Musical Memories - On The Homefront - Falling For Niagara Falls - Sports Spectacular Whether you're young or old, coastal or heartland, a little bit country or a little bit rock-and-roll, you're sure to find something in this treasure trove of tales to tantalize you, excite you, and, above all, may you smile that smile you haven't smiled in too long a time.

In just two years, a would-be Messiah used lyrics from the most popular Rock and Roll band and verses from the most read book to create an infamous cult. This "family" remained run-of-the-mill until...August 16, 1969.Exactly one week after the hideously bizarre Tate-LaBianca murders. 200 members of the Los Angeles Police Department including the SWAT team storm the ranch where the Manson Family is living and arrest everyone there...Two days later, all 24 detainees are simply released. Why would the LAPD apprehend every guilty party in the most notorious murders the city has ever experienced and then just let them go?Whether you know this story really well, or not very well at all, the Smiths will take you right back there with them. When Tex Watson's boots hit the ground as he drops onto the Sharon Tate compound you will feel and hear your boots drop right beside him.When Charles Manson delivers his "Helter Skelter" sermon on a cold New Year's Eve in 1968, to his Family who is huddled around the devilishly dancing flames of their bonfire in Death Valley trying to keep warm, you might feel a little chill run up your own spine.The overall feel of the book is one of Tim and Deb telling "insider secrets." That's a cool feeling. They're not real insiders, but metaphorically they - and anyone who grew up in that era - are. They have immersed themselves in the action and aren't afraid to play with it - no matter how serious the subject. Their impish anti-establishment flavor is appropriate - if not expected - for the era about which they write.Their use of limericks as a transition technique works brilliantly. That, combined with their irreverent Hunter S. Thompson style, brings an attitude to this time capsule in history like none before. It's engaging and entertaining and somehow manages to milk the story with just the right combination of tragedy and comedy. With the Manson murders, that's a fine line to walk and Tim and Deb somehow manage to knowledgeably negotiate this perilous path perfectly.