The Southerner's Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life (Garden & Gun Books, 1)

Cheaply made book for too much money. For Southerners this book is preaching to the choir, they know all that by heart. It is dated, I have 13 Hermes scarves that I could not give away at this point.For transplants it neglects a few essential areas such as : Religion - just pretend. Lying - learn to do it with a straight face. Politics - pretend you are a political Virgin, let them court you for a decade or two until you know who your friends are. For women - marry an educated Southerner and keep him alive. On race - do not let white Southerners know that you believe all people are created equal.I am a transplant from Germany 50 years ago. I love the South but not unconditionally.

I added this book to my coffee table for two reasons: 1. The colors navy and orange run heavily in my living room decor. 2. Every Southerner needs this book, in living the good Southern life. I saw it on Katey McFarlan's blog (Chronicles of Frivolity) first, as she paired it with an orange Hermes box to sit on a built-in bookshelf. I have now done the same. As for it being more than show, I have found that when guests come to my home, this is the first book they gravitate towards, whether they have a Southern upbringing or not. They flip through and find interesting pieces of information to read out loud and discuss. I consider it a solid purchase.

Sweet tea, cluckensteins, BBQ and Hermes = the American South.This was a Daily Deal and it caught my interest-and I proceded to read it in two days. It's that engaging, but the upside is you can also read it bit by bit as it's well curated into themes with different columns/essays by certain folks in each field.In many ways, the "American South" as it's often portrayed is equal parts reality, myth, and legend. This book does its best to distill those elements into what is the 21st century American south. While I'm not sure every woman really need an Hermes scarf or monogrammed stationary, this is a good look into why things are just a little bit different south of the Mason-Dixon line. Maybe it's sweet tea in the blood?Warning, do not read when hungry.

Now, I'm a "Damn Yankee," the kind that started to pass through, but ended up staying. So, although I learned a few things ( I've been in the South a while now) from the guide, I did find parts of it precious and whiny, almost like a spoiled child. Culture, arts, and hard-working salt-of-the-earth people do exist in other parts of the country, you know. So, if you're from the South, you will be moved to say "amen" a lot. If you are not, you will need a while shaker of salt, because a grain won't be enough. Will never understand the near life-and-death importance of football (weddings are planned around important games), but I do love the bourbon.

Love the book, great read! Beautiful front cover. Only issue i have with it is the stuck a gigantic white sticker on the back outside cover which looks horrible. I tried to remove it and it tore the cover. I would have given it a higher rating if they have not put this on the back side. Very disappointed.

Such a fun read. Took the Mint Julep recipe for watching the Kentucky Derby. Got our palettes and minds ready for our trip to coastal Georgia.A good book for sharing.

Received the book with weird water damage on the front cover; white drops almost looking like salt water. It was a last minute Christmas present for my husband and he really had been wanting it so I gave it to him anyway. He still really likes the book, though.

This was an excellent book on southern living.It put in perspective and explained some of the things I experienced but did not fully understand.And it discussed the different regions of the south, including language differences.I loved this book and a great read..

A wonderful Book for everyone, especially for someone who loves the Southern was of living.

Content aside, I was expecting the same luxurious high quality production values that are on display in every Garden and Gun issue. I was disappointed to find a simple book with minimal illustration and none of the luscious photography that I was hoping for. At first glance, the content will serve, but never without a frisson of disappointment at the spartan presentation.