Keys To The Truculent Me: And Other Things That Drive Me Crazy

Keys To The Truculent Me contains fifty odd (as in "off-kilter," not "he lost count after fifty") essays in which author John Branning dissects the most mundane of topics (among them: cats, toilet paper, the Kardashians) and finds something objectionable about nearly all. He himself is not above criticism, documenting it in this collection with scrupulous accuracy before eviscerating whomever launched the unjustified attack.

Branning explores dilemmas, some real but most largely imagined, inspired by the challenges of marriage (people pity his wife), parenting (his only child, now an adult, identifies himself by first and last name when he calls), home ownership (his tasks come from a "honey-don't" list), and the English language (by which he is flummoxed at every turn).

In the post "Rude Awakening," he is awakened by a punch in the nose -- from his wife. In "Climb Every Mantra," he reluctantly attends a yoga class and in short order become mindful of the importance of beer and chocolate. And "No Rhyme or Reason (well, it rhymes a little bit)" is a poetic exploration into the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Often petulant, frequently irritated, occasionally profane - but always funny - whether you share Branning's viewpoints or not, you'll alternate between laughing with and at him. Mostly at him.