After being laid off from his college teaching position, the author traversed the United States on lesser roads, shown in blue on old road maps.

"For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to read without laughing. Now, for the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work....

Mary Norris has spent more than three decades in The New Yorker's copy department, maintaining its celebrated high standards. Now she lends her vast experience, good cheer, and finely sharpened pencils to some of our language's most vexing problems in a boisterous book as full of loife as it is of practical advice. Readers--and writers--will find in Norris neither a scold nor a softie but a wise and witty new friend in love with language and alive...