Class Clown by Dave Barry
Dave Barry is hilarious … full stop. He promises this is his first and only memoir, but since so much of his writing is personal and/or observational, we needn’t take this as definitive. Class Clown, subtitled: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I went 77 Years without Growing Up, is not a comprehensive autobiography nor is it a tell-all memoir but it does offer glimpses of the man behind a stellar 50 plus year successful career in journalism, film and television and as a writer for luminaries such as Steve Martin.
The chapter titled My Readers is so funny it may actually make you laugh out loud until you snort and cry, as witnessed by someone who prefers to remain anonymous. This entertaining work of non-fiction is dedicated to Barry’s mom and dad, who must bear responsibility for his existence. He notes being influenced by humorist Robert Benchley, from reading his father’s books as well as William M. Gaines’s Mad magazine, which began publication in the 1950s. Satirical humor has riled some less devoted readers unable to appreciate the irony.
Early Life
David McAlister Barry was born on July 3rd, 1947, in Armonk, New York, a “hamlet” about 30 miles north of New York City, the second of four children born to David and Marion Barry. His dad was a Presbyterian minister and social activist who commuted to New York City for his job as executive director of the NYC Mission Society.
Due to lack of money, he built their home himself, beginning with the foundation that he dug by hand; a lengthy process lasting several years and never fully completed. Living in an ongoing construction site was probably character-building and provided fodder for humor.
Helicopter parenting did not then exist, nor did the McMansions that sprang up after they moved away. They did experience a rural neighborhood with trees and meadows, creeks, lakes and ponds for swimming in summer, skating in winter and endless exploration and play.
The prevailing parental philosophy was that if the kids got home by suppertime without major injuries, all was well.
His fellow students at Pleasantville High School, Class of ’65, in Pleasantville, New York, home to Reader’s Digest, elected Dave “class clown”.
Early Career
His early writing career began with work on their school newspaper. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature at Quaker-affiliated Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where he also wrote for the college newspaper. Looking back, newspapers in 1969, when Dave Barry graduated from college, were still in their golden years, as even the smallest of towns had at least a weekly, if not daily, paper.
In 1971, he was hired as a general news reporter for West Chester, PA’s Daily Local News. Beginning in 1975, he taught business writing for Burger Associates, a consulting firm, while moonlighting as a humorist for the Daily Local News, whose columns were sometimes picked up by major newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune.
Fortune smiled when he was offered the dream job of writing a humor column for The Miami Herald by Editor Gene Weingarten, a boss who encouraged focusing on subjects that amused him. Weingarten had happened to read Dave’s side-splitting, relatable guest column in The Philadelphia Inquirer about being present in the delivery room for the birth of his son in 1981.
Dave Barry and family relocated to Florida, where he remained with the paper from 1983 to 2005. The column was so popular that it was syndicated to over 500 newspapers in the USA and abroad.
Works and Accolades
Dave Barry has written dozens of books, including Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits, which formed the basis of the sitcom Dave’s World that ran for four seasons starring Harry Anderson. His first novel, Big Trouble (1999), was adapted into a movie.
Steve Martin tapped him to join his team of writers when Martin hosted the 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) and again for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards (2010), which was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Among the honors Dave Barry has received are the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and in 2005, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
A Writer and a Rocker
Music has always been a major part of Dave Barry’s life, beginning at home with the many varied styles of the ‘50s and ‘60s, including folk, gospel and rock. He played guitar in a band called the Federal Duck during college. He also played guitar and sang with work colleagues at The Miami Herald as The Urban Professionals, whose high point may have been realized with an invitation to perform their original tune “The Tupperware Song” at Tupperware Headquarters in Orlando.
His clearly favorite alter-ego is as lead guitarist for Rock Bottom Remainders, which he joined in 1992. This rock band is composed of published authors who, according to Barry, “are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud.” The group has raised millions for charitable causes and was founded by his late sister-in-law, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, with an initial performance at an American Booksellers convention. They have also played for American Library Association conferences and some major book festivals.
At various times, the band members have included Stephen King, Amy Tan, Greg Iles, Mitch Albom, Ridley Pearson, Matt Groening and Barbara Kingsolver, as well as the author’s younger brother, Sam Barry. Professional musicians and singers who have elevated their performance quality include The Byrds’ founding member Roger McGuinn, Al Kooper, the late Warren Zevon and Bruce Springsteen.
An Inspiring, Comic Genius
Dave Barry reminds us the flip side of comedy is tragedy, but does not overly dwell on negativity or sad times, nor does he discuss his first two marriages, which ended in divorce.
Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass is an inspiring, uplifting, life-affirming gem from a writer who observes and commends the lighter side of life. Dave Barry offers sound advice for people of all ages to look on the bright side and include laughter in each and every day.
Another personal favorite book relating to music is the author’s now out-of-print Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs. Be prepared to laugh with abandon and admiration for this genial comic genius.
About Dave Barry:
Dave Barry is an author and humorist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his syndicated column, which ran in more than 500 newspapers and was the inspiration for the TV show Dave’s World. He has also written dozens of bestselling books, most recently Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog. Along with Ridley Pearson, Barry wrote the bestselling Starcatchers series of young-adult novels, one of which was adapted as the Tony Award-winning Broadway play Peter and the Starcatcher.
Barry once set fire to a pair of underpants with a Barbie doll on national television. He is also largely responsible for the popularity of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, although it was not his idea. In recognition of Barry’s achievements, the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, named a sewage lifting station after him. Very few authors have attained this honor. Barry lives in Miami and he really likes it there despite what people say.
