Customer Reviews

Food Court Druids, Cherohonkees and Other Creatures Unique to the Republic

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Accompanied by hilarious illustrations, Food Court Druids, authored by Robert Lanham, is a mock sendup of scientific analysis of dozens upon dozens of grotesque American specimins that we've all seen in shopping malls, bowling alleys, high schools, the business office, etc. Lanham is a self-proclaimed idiosyncrologist who classifies individuals according the principles of idionyncrology. For example, here are some favorite specimens that are featured under Lanham's magnifying glass:

1. Happy Mondays--overbearing, needy bovine office workers with "overly earnest or maternal natures."
2. Office Lichens--needy geeks who are dead weight at the office and make their co-workers work harder to make-up for their sloth and incompetence.
3. TGIFs--emotionally retarded males who read Maxim and impose their obnoxious, adolescent masculinity on everyone in the office.
4. Alpha Weasels--backstabbing employees who act sycophantic to your face.
5. The Lifer--incompetent nincompoops who, inert in their comfort zone, never change jobs.
6. Sigmund Fruits--narcissists who feel compelled to tell you in detail their dreams as if their nocturnal visions are the most special events to be discussed.

The accompanying illustrations seem to capture the very needy faces we've all seen at the office and elsewhere as we try to navigate around the various annoying specimens rendered in this very funny book.

Finally, let me add that the author includes a website so that readers can contribute their own specimens, a list of which is posted on the website.

SO I found myself a mix of the Hexpatriate and the CROW. Not that this is a bad thing.

Insightful and damn funny! If you own a new Volvo and go jogging with your golden retriever every morning, AND shop at Crate and Barrel, you will be offended. If you smoke American Spirits and chastise people for not buying all organic food, you will be offended. If you use any Tom's of Maine product and wear toe rings, you will be offended. If you can't laugh at yourself, you will be offended.

It is a glorious book.

The illustraor, Jeff Bechtel, is my new hero. His drawings are RIGHT ON.

The weird, long title of this book struck a chord with me and I had to open it up to see more. It's REALLY funny. It classifies idiosyncratic people like Stretchibitionists (desperate women who stretch provocatively at the gym), Hexpatriates (think Susan Sarandon), Cherohonkees (whites obsessed with Native Americans), and my favorite Soccer Lilies (soccer moms with lesbian haircuts). It reads almost like an art book because there are so many great illustrations. I picked up a couple copies for Xmas gifts. I don't know if I was hip enough for the Hipster handbook, but i definitely recommend this really smart, funny book. The part about the freaks at the office is funny too. "Napoledrones" still cracks me up.

This book is very funny. Robert Lanham has the eye for social types one meets in the world. This book is more expansive than the hipster handbook. The section about "how gay is your dog" is great. The drawings are impressive.

This is a hilarious book, if you are not easily offeneded! Offered up at the begining this book claims that you or someone you know may be included, and they take shots at everyone. If you want some hilarious commentary on your strange coworkers or disgruntled neighbors, pick this up. If you like to pretend that you have no oddities in your personality whatsoever, maybe look else where, because this book will point out what you may secretly fear, your strange. Good travel book, and you may be tempted to copy out sections and email them to your friends with notes like, 'Remember Ms. Montgomery?!'

This and the Hipster Handbook (and their mother, The Official Preppy Handbook) are not only hilarious, but important books. For every joke, there is a grain of truth. You have to wonder which characteristics were genuinely observed in these people, and which are made up. But when you start seeing people you know flawlessly described in the book, and it's happened to me a lot with this book, it's apparent that it really is telling the truth. This cataloguing of traits is a great thing, because years from now, when that small subset of people called Soccer Lillies or Leiberals is gone, there will still be this record of them.

Completely astute and true commentary on stereotypes. Just about the funniest book...um...maybe ever. LOVED it, and highly recommend it to anyone who loves to people-watch. We've ALL seen/known these people.

Does your roommate like to wear black, play D&D and frequent the mall? They might be a Food Court Druid. Does Mary at the office seem a little high strung and have the amusing habit of labeling her trashcan as her in box? Watch your step. Your likely working with a CROW. These and many more character types are displayed and analyzed in Robert Lanham's book on urban sociology. The book begins with the chapter untitled "Cube People" or, types of people that you might work with at the office. It's hilarious how dead on Lanham's profiles are because I found myself laughing out loud when I identified some of my coworkers. After "Cube People" the book gets progressively neurotic and hilarious. Every profile gets a brief introduction, population size, Gender, Habitats, Hobbies, Favorite books, sexual orientation and a idio rank , or just how strange the person is.(Ex. If a person has a idio rank of 10. RUN! the person is a freak) The book is a very entertaining and fast read and you'll find yourself spotting people from the book in no time. "Food Court Druids" is a book that helps us poke fun at other people but also helps us laugh at ourselves.

Funny character sketches matched with quirk-capturing drawings -- a perfect combo. This book can open your eyes to the world of fruits and freaks that surround you. In fact, you may be one and not know it! If you have ever noticed a certain odd type of person around town but can't find the right words to describe them, this book is for you.

This book is truly hilarious. For what it is, (a light-hearted but pointed analysis of human behavior), it's really quite brilliant. The writing is insightful, witty and fresh. The price makes it a bargain. Take it on trips as a welcome respite from more heavy duty reading.

Great work!