This is a collection of short, and I mean less than 2 pages short, stories as told by Black on NPR during 2001. (I think that's right...) Admittedly, something is lost in the translation from radio to book form. Baxter has a way with words and the way he says them is as meaningful a part as what he says. I was glad most stories had a brief introduction and for the glossery at the back of the book for those "non-cowboy" types like myself. I also liked the fact that I could read a story or two, put the book down and be able to come back to it a few minutes later or a week later.

I read all 75 (ish?) stories; I found my dad in one story (you know which one, Dad!), really enjoyed about 10, liked probably 40 or so and missed the point, didn't "get" or just didn't like the rest.
Perhaps it is the differences in age and sex (me being a 30-something married woman) or the generational differences or just the lifestyle differences but in some of the tales I had a hard time relating. I did, however, send the book on to my father who is older and wiser and much more learned in the ways of veterinarians, cowboys and politics and I bet he gets much more out of the book than I.

If you are already familar with Baxter's other stuff and like it then I believe you will not find any fault with this newest book. If this is your first Baxter Black book as it was mine then I suggest one of his more favored volumes to see if you like it first.