No Ordinary Lives: One Man's Surprising Journey Into the Heart of America

by David R. Johnson

Twenty years ago, cub re-porter David Johnson had an idea for a column: he'd pick a name at random from the telephone book and write a story on the person who answered his call. Visiting journalist... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446526398
• ISBN13: 9780446526395
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

thumbs up

Thumbs up to all those ordinary people who help this book be much more than an ordinary read!

"Epiphanies will always be elusive."

When I found this little book,I thought it was a typical 'Road Book';but it wasn't.The author is a small town newspaper columnist,and who is quite happy to live the simple small town life with a job he enjoys,a family he loves,a home he and his wife created out in the country;and that is about all he really yearns for---the simple life.The newspaper that employs him has had its ups and downs,and ownership changes as is so common these days;but through the years Johnson has survived it all;if sometimes only barely; but then that is all he really wants.He is basically a writer who writes a human interest column.He has come up with a novel method of searching out his subjects--he simply picks them at random from his telephone directly.What he finds is that he has an unlimited source of interesting people to write about and all within a short distance of his home.He shows that virtually everyone,and no matter how ordinary their lives seem to be,there is always something interesting about their life experience to write about. That is about all there is to this book.Except for one thing.A few years ago a friend recommended that I read "The Stone Diaries' by Carol Sheilds.It was a very similar book,written about ordinary people and their lives.The one big difference is that Sheilds won a Pulitzer Prize for her efforts. I looked up her book and read the Customer Reviews and they are very mixed.Some think the book was wonderful and really deserved the prize,while others just couldn't see where it was merited. The two books are very similar and if you like Johnston's you are sure to like Sheild's.Likewise; if you find one rather mundane ;you're likely to find the other the same. Here is what Johnson has to say in a nutshell: "Over the better part of two decades,these people have confirmed the notion that everyone is worthy of the front page.Moreover,they've shown me how to appreciate the simple things we already have within our grasp and the exhilaration that comes with looking ahead-like to the next person who answers a random call. Most of the answers to life's riddles hide not in the profound,but in the ordinry;not in the unusual;but in the conventional;not in the celebrity pages of a newspaper,but perhaps in the the white pages of a phone book."

Good writing that keeps your attention

If your dream evening is to sit at a stangers diner table to pry into their greatest victories and defeats without the fear of having to answer the same questions then this book is for you. Its a fascinating read into the lives of many obscure characters. I agree that Johnson's book reads as an autobiography with sideline stories of others (the title tells otherwise) but he does have an interesting story to tell and can tell it very well. I would'nt pay a lot of money for it but I would read it and pass it on to others looking for a few evenings as a dining room guest.

a new appreciation

I read this book in just two days! It's enjoyable to read with plenty of light humor, but it also touches on deeper issues like love, family, faith, and personal loss. The author relates the lives of the people he interviews with his own life, and he shows that seemingly 'ordinary' people have something important to share with others. This book gave me a new appreciation for the people I come into contact with everyday.

Touching and intriguing

This book was very enjoyable to read. Having visited northern Idaho every summer since I was born, I can relate to and appreciate the descriptions of the area and the people in it. The format is ingenious, and I love how the author incorporates the stories of so many people into that of his own life. You can see how some of the random people he's interviewed have made such a significant impression in this life and his views. This creates a very good feeling, because it reminds us that no matter how insignificant we may feel or seem, just a simple conversation can stay with a person forever, if you are willing to open up. In addition to a wonderfully heartfelt story, the author uses vividly descriptive language to showcase both the characters and the setting, and writing that flows beautifully. You can really see the author's heart and soul on every page in this book. I would definately recommend it to anyone who's ever dealt with life, needs reassurance of themselves, or just wants to read a good book.