Michael Perry Livres

The essence of hope has been the cornerstone of SpringHill for nearly fifty years, shaping its mission and impacting over half a million lives. This book explores the profound influence of hope within the community, illustrating its transformative power and the enduring legacy of SpringHill's commitment to fostering positive change. Through inspiring stories and experiences, it highlights how a simple word can lead to significant transformations in individuals and communities alike.

Another in a series (including From the Top, Roughneck Grace, Million Billion, and Peaceful Persistence) of collected brief essays by New York Times bestselling author and humorist Michael Perry. "Although these pieces were written during times of unrest and pandemic, they drew on human connection," says Perry. "Week after week, slowly at first, and then regularly, I received messages, emails, comments, and sometimes even a handwritten note from readers who weren't looking to me for advice or a 'take' on the latest news blast or controversy or tragedy or variant. Instead they said they were grateful for a brief break from it all. Something to go with their morning coffee. Something to read before bed. Something heartfelt, something goofy. Something that was anything but that other thing. Something to lighten the hunker."

Exploring a wide range of themes, this collection features brief essays that blend humor and introspection, reflecting on everyday life and poignant moments. From the chaos of family life and the quirks of nature to the wisdom gained from road trips and the challenges of parenting, the author shares personal anecdotes and observations. Touching on topics like contentment, hope, and the absurdities of modern life, these columns, drawn from "Roughneck Grace," offer a heartfelt and relatable glimpse into the complexities of human experience.

Tom is 82-year-old Tom Hartwig, an old-timer best known locally for building and firing homemade cannons. Toiling in a shop that Perry describes as an antique store stocked by Rube Goldberg, curated by Hunter Thompson, and rearranged by a small earthquake, Tom works from scratch to make everything from shovel handles to parts for a quarter-million-dollar farm equipment. He has an endless reservoir of stories dating back to the days of his prize Model A.Visiting Tom is dominated by the elderly man's equanimity and ultimately by unvarnished tenderness.Tuesdays with Morrie meets Shop Class as Soulcraft as Michael Perry, a middle-aged father of daughters, finds guidance and inspiration in visits with his octogenarian, cannon-shooting neighbor. Visiting Tom celebrates the wisdom, heart, and sass of a vanishing generation that embodies the indomitable spirit of small-town America.

Pattern can be derived from many sources, if we remember to look closely. While patterns have been around forever, there'sa recent movement, a tendency among designers, to allow patterns to animate their work with colorful and exuberant complexity. Over and Over: A Catalog of Hand-Drawn Patterns collects groundbreaking work from fifty of today's most talented designers who create patterns by hand and use them in their work in inventive and innovative ways. From Deanne Cheuk's patterns that adorn current fashion to those of Robin Cameron that explore her interest in art to Garrett Morin's patterns that arose from an exercise for a character called Eloie, the examples in this book push the boundaries of the traditional concept of what a pattern is. The selected works are often not an end result but the beginning of something else, of something bigger and broader. While the computer is sometimes involved in the production of patterns, the hand-drawn element is always evident in the uniqueness of these works. Featuring more than 250 vibrant and exciting patterns, Over and Over explores this magic on every single page and will inspire designers everywhere.

The book offers an intimate look at a distinctive individual and their commitment to a particular lifestyle. Through detailed storytelling, it explores the nuances of this person's experiences and the values that shape their existence, reflecting on the broader themes of dedication and individuality. The author's previous works, Coop and Population: 485, set a foundation for this engaging narrative that promises to resonate with readers interested in personal journeys and the intricacies of rural life.

In this digital age of computer-generated graphics and typography, it's refreshing to find typographers who still believe in working by hand. No longer relegated to designer's sketchbooks, hand-drawn type has emerged from the underground as a dynamic vehicle for visual communicationfrom magazine, book, and album covers to movie credits and NFL advertisements. As the practice and appreciation of hand-drawn type grows, its time to celebrate the work of those typographers whose every letterform is a work of art.Hand Job collects groundbreaking work from fifty of today's most talented typographers who draw by hand. Graphic designer and hand typographer Michael Perry selects work representing the full spectrum of design methods and styles. Each hand-drawn work is entirely shaped by the artist's unique processevery one a carefully executed composition enhanced by unplanned "accidents" of line, color, and craft. Hand Job also includes photographs of found type,artists studios, and the tools that help make typography come to life. Whether you are looking to invigorate your design work or are just in need of a little offbeat inspiration, Hand Job will have you reaching for your favorite pen.

The narrative combines humor and heartfelt reflection as a novice farmer faces the challenges of rural life. Michael Perry's engaging prose captures both the comedic missteps and the deeper emotional journey of a man seeking connection and stability. With a blend of Midwestern charm and sharp wit, the story reveals a sincere exploration of personal growth and the quest for belonging amidst the trials of farming.

Welcome to New Auburn, Wisconsin (population: 485), where the local vigilante is a farmer's wife armed with a pistol and a Bible, the most senior member of the volunteer fire department is a cross-eyed butcher with one kidney and two ex-wives (both of whom work at the only gas station in town), and the back roads are haunted by the ghosts of children and farmers. Michael Perry loves this place. He grew up here, and now -- after a decade away -- he has returned.Unable to polka or repair his own pickup, his farm-boy hands gone soft after years of writing, Mike figures the best way to regain his credibility is to join the volunteer fire department. Against a backdrop of fires and tangled wrecks, bar fights and smelt feeds, he tells a frequently comic tale leavened with moments of heartbreaking delicacy and searing tragedy. Tracing his calls on a map in the little firehouse, he sees "a dense, benevolent web, spun one frantic zigzag at a time" from which the story of a tiny town emerges, building to a final chapter that is at once devastating and transcendent.

The collection showcases a blend of humor and insight as the author reflects on a variety of experiences, from battling fires to contemplating spirituality. With a focus on rural life and personal anecdotes, it explores diverse topics like local culture, societal issues, and the human condition. Perry's writing style combines earthy realism with poetic elements, creating a rich tapestry of observations that resonate with both local and global themes. The essays are infused with wit, making for an engaging and thought-provoking read.