{"product_id":"softballs-the-rude-education-of-an-american-idealist","title":"SOFTBALLS: THE RUDE EDUCATION OF AN AMERICAN IDEALIST","description":"Hysterical, irreverent, honest and brutally frank, but mostly a wet-your-pants good time. Pun intended here, as are the many others you'll find throughout the book. \"Softballs\" is about a guy who has always been looked at as never having quite found his place in the world, but who, in another sense, was amazingly successful in many, varied endeavors. He also failed miserably in some. His continuing education uses the sport of softball as a metaphor for life, and he drives home the idea that the whole process has been pretty rude. Rather than succumb to the negatives, Thompson relates these experiences in an amazingly funny narrative that he shares with readers in a touchingly vulnerable manner.\n\nThe comment from the first editor he tried to hire in 2023, \"Why would anyone want to read about an average guy growing up on Long Island?\", only motivated him to prove, once again, that he could do anything he put his mind to. And yes, that's a dangling preposition, but it sounds better than the correct grammar, which would have been pretentious. Homey don't do pretentious.\n\nSo don't bother to deep-search as to why author, Kevin Thompson, has \"always looked at everything with a skewed perspective\", and found humor in most experiences and circumstances. As columnist Ed Lowe once commented to him, just sit back and enjoy the ride,\u003cbr\u003eASIN: B0GHFM45FL\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: BVV.B0GHFM45FL.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Thompson, Kevin\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact  including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Blue Vase Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43611754102845,"sku":"BVV.B0GHFM45FL.G","price":9.84,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0589\/4225\/9261\/files\/B0GHFM45FL-0.jpg?v=1789247681","url":"https:\/\/www.bluevasebooks.com\/products\/softballs-the-rude-education-of-an-american-idealist","provider":"Blue Vase Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}