The Winter of Our Discount Tent: A Humorous Look at Flora, Fauna, and Foolishness Outdoors

By Jim Mize and James A. Mize

Knee-slappers from the man praised as an entertaining combination of Marlin Perkins and Lewis Grizzard

According to Jim Mize, nature has no mercy--just a sense of humor--and in this hilarious romp through the woods, he waxes comic about carnivorous plants, insects that make people nervous, and birds with bad names. He points out, for instance, that all plants are edible. It's just that some of them will kill you.

Jim tells parents how to referee while paddling a boat, raise kids that people will like, and survive two hobbies no child can resist--rock collecting and entomology. He makes hunters and anglers chuckle as he ponders the purpose of carp ("fish so ugly they have to spawn in muddy water"), the perplexities of orienteering ("Getting lost has never been much of a problem for me; the problem is getting found.") and the procedure for getting crappie to bite at night ("Lay your rod down, hold a cup of scalding coffee in one hand and a floppy sandwich in the other, and, if possible, try to balance the open thermos on one leg.").

Jim also answers such age-old questions as to why women fish better than men and why people give homes to shoe-chewing puppies. His amusing insights are guaranteed to make you laugh out loud in renewed appreciation of the great outdoors.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570030499
• ISBN13: 9781570030499
• Release Date: February 1995
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellence in Craft Award

Note from the author: Since publication, this book has been selected for an Excellence in Craft Award from the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association.

great for all ages

Jim Mize's book, "The Winter of our Discount Tent" caught my eye because of the title. Anything with that title had to be funny and it is! I love the author's take on nature : i.e."carp spawn in the mud 'cause they're so ugly". There's so much more! I was impressed to find this book on my child's middle school reading list, also. Each chapter is a story in itself, so if you can't read for long periods of time, you will feel satisfied after a chapter or two, but you'll find you can't wait to get back!

funny, well-written, visually descriptive

"The Winter of our Discount Tent "is a delightfully funny book of stories that can be read over short periods of time, picked up later and never miss a beat. Based on the author's experiences, you'll find yourself laughing out loud. If you like Patrick McManus, you'll love Jim Mize!