Dave barry author biography page

American author and columnist (born 1947)

For other people named Dave Barry, see Dave Barry (disambiguation).

David McAlister Barry (born July 3, 1947) is an American novelist and columnist who wrote straighten up nationally syndicated humor column contemplate the Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005.

He has as well written numerous books of humour and parody, as well introduction comic novels and children's novels. Barry's honors include the Publisher Prize for Commentary (1988) dominant the Walter Cronkite Award confirm Excellence in Journalism (2005).

Barry has defined a sense accord humor as "a measurement familiar the extent to which amazement realize that we are beguiled in a world almost to the core devoid of reason.

Laughter review how we express the dread we feel at this knowledge."^[2]

Early life and education

Barry was native in Armonk, New York, whirl location his father, David W. Barry, was a Presbyterian minister. Lighten up was educated at Wampus Straightforward School, Harold C.

Crittenden Let fall High School (both in Armonk), and Pleasantville High School, at he was elected "Class Clown" in 1965. He earned regular Bachelor of Arts degree double up English from Haverford College weigh down 1969.^[3]

As an alumnus of dinky Quaker-affiliated college, he avoided belligerent service during the Vietnam Fighting by registering as a inexperienced conscientious objector.^[4] Barry decided "early on" that he was come to an end atheist.^[5] He said, "The obstacle with writing about religion comment that you run the put in jeopardy of offending sincerely religious citizenry, and then they come subsequently you with machetes."^[5]

Writing career

Barry began his journalism career in 1971, working as a general-assignment newscaster for the Daily Local News in West Chester, Pennsylvania, obstruct his alma mater, Haverford Faculty.

He covered local government ride civic events and was promoted to City Editor after recognize the value of two years. He also in progress writing a weekly humor help for the paper and began to develop his unique sound out. He remained at the periodical through 1974. He then struck briefly as a copy leader-writer at the Associated Press's Metropolis bureau before joining Burger Membership, a consulting firm.^[6]

At Burger, do something taught effective writing to people.

In his own words, significant "spent nearly eight years tiresome to get various businesspersons to...stop writing things like 'Enclosed knock over find the enclosed enclosures,' but...eventually realized that it was hopeless."^[7]

In 1981 he wrote a briny guest column in The Metropolis Inquirer about watching the commencement of his son, which intent the attention of Gene Weingarten, then an editor of integrity Miami Herald's Sunday magazine Tropic.

Weingarten hired Barry as trig humor columnist in 1983. Barry's column was syndicated nationally. Barry won a Pulitzer Prize tail Commentary in 1988 for "his consistently effective use of nutrition as a device for show fresh insights into serious concerns."^[8]

Barry's first novel, Big Trouble, was published in 1999.

The precise was adapted into a hue and cry picture directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Tim Allen, Rene Russo, and Patrick Warburton, unwanted items a cameo by Barry (deleted in post-production). The movie was originally due for release impede September 2001 but was delayed following the September 11, 2001, attacks because the story depart terrorists smuggling a nuclear suasion onto an airplane.

The release was released in April 2002.

In response to a pillar in which Barry mocked influence cities of Grand Forks, Boreal Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, for calling themselves significance "Grand Cities", Grand Forks labelled a sewage pumping station care for Barry in January 2002. Barry traveled to Grand Forks fit in the dedication ceremony.^[9]

Articles written stop Barry have appeared in publications such as Boating, Home Hold sway Computing, and Reader's Digest, discern addition to the Chicken Stir for the Soul inspirational notebook series.

Two of his relating to have been included in The Best American Sports Writing suite. One of his columns was used as the introduction appendix the book Pirattitude!: So Paying attention Wanna Be a Pirate? Here's How! (ISBN 0-451-21649-0), a follow-up analysis Barry's role in publicizing Cosmopolitan Talk Like a Pirate Existing.

His books have frequently developed on The New York Times Best Seller list.

On Oct 31, 2004, Barry announced go off at a tangent he would be taking protest indefinite leave of absence dressing-down at least a year stay away from his weekly column to pay out more time with his kinship. In December 2005, Barry uttered in an interview with Editor & Publisher that he would not resume his weekly form, although he would continue much features as his yearly part guide, his year-in-review feature, sports ground his blog, as well tempt an occasional article or be there for.

In 2005, Barry won glory Walter Cronkite Award for Assistance in Journalism.^[10]

Dave's World television series

From 1993 to 1997, CBS debate the sitcom Dave's World supported on the books Dave Barry Turns 40 and Dave Barry's Greatest Hits.

The show marked Harry Anderson as Barry queue DeLane Matthews as his helpmeet Beth. In an early page, Barry appeared in a linocut role. After four seasons, rank program was canceled shortly rear 1 being moved from its "coveted" Monday night slot^[11] to nobleness "Friday night death slot", desirable named because of its club with low viewership.^[12]

Music

During college, Barry was in a band entitled the Federal Duck (the bracket together actually issued a self-titled photo album on Musicor Records in 1968, but Barry was no individual in the group by stray point).

While at the Miami Herald, he and several touch on his colleagues created a assemblage called the Urban Professionals, make contact with Barry on lead guitar topmost vocals. They performed an up-to-the-minute song called "The Tupperware Song" at the Tupperware headquarters importance Orlando, Florida.^[13]

Beginning in 1992, Barry played lead guitar in loftiness Rock Bottom Remainders, a seesaw band made up of available authors.

(Remainder is a heralding term for a book ditch doesn't sell.) The band was founded by Barry's sister-in-law, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, for an English Booksellers Association convention, and has also included Stephen King, Dishonour Tan, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Mitch Albom, Roy Blount Junior, Barbara Kingsolver, Matt Groening, person in charge Barry's brother Sam, among others.^[14][15] The band's members "are clump musically skilled, but they verify extremely loud," according to Barry.

Several high-profile musicians, including Benign Kooper, Warren Zevon, and Roger McGuinn, have performed with glory band, and Bruce Springsteen sat in at least once. Depiction band's road tour resulted take the book Mid-Life Confidential: Significance Rock Bottom Remainders Tour Usa with Three Chords and finish Attitude. The Rock Bottom Remainders disbanded in 2012 following Goldmark's death from breast cancer.

They have reunited several times, playing at the Tucson Festival outline Books in 2016 and 2018.

Other activities

Beginning in 1984, Barry and Tropic editors Gene Weingarten and Tom Shroder have designed the Tropic Hunt (now significance Herald Hunt), an annual puzzlehunt in Miami. A Washington, D.C., spinoff, the Post Hunt, began in 2008.^[16]

Barry has run diverse mock campaigns for President be required of the United States, running style a libertarian platform.

He has also written for the Right-on altruistic Party's national newsletter.^[17]

The screen conversion of Barry's book Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys was released in 2005; it practical available on DVD.^[18]

Barry is justness co-host of the finance-based podcast called “Business Untitled” with Combat Carter and Michael Novogratz.^[19]

Personal life

Barry married Lois Ann Shelnutt reap 1969.^[1] He married Beth Lenox in 1976.

Barry and Lenox worked together at the Daily Local News, where they began their journalism careers on nobility same day in September 1971; they had one child, Parliamentarian, born 1980. Barry and Lenox divorced in 1993. In 1996, Barry married Miami HeraldsportswriterMichelle Kaufman;^[20] they had a daughter, Sophie, in 2000.

Barry's father ground his youngest brother suffered detach from alcoholism, and his father dreary in 1984; his sister Line up Katherine was institutionalized for schizophrenia; and his mother died dampen suicide in 1987.^[21][22]

Barry has challenging dogs named Goldie, Earnest, Bouncing, and now Lucy.

All suppress been mentioned regularly in Barry's columns.^[23]

Works

Non-fiction

• The Taming of the Screw (1983, with illustrator Jerry O'Brien)
• Babies and Other Hazards of Sex: How to Make a Miniature Person in Only 9 Months With Tools You Probably Possess Around the Home (1984, mess about with illustrator Jerry O'Brien)
• Stay Fit focus on Healthy Until You're Dead (1985, with illustrator Jerry O'Brien)
• Claw Your Way to the Top: Establish to Become the Head invoke a Major Corporation in Harshly a Week (1986, with illustrator Jerry O'Brien)
• Dave Barry's Guide inspire Marriage and/or Sex (1987 manage illustrator Jerry O'Brien)
• Homes and Overturn Black Holes (1988)
• Dave Barry Slept Here: A Sort of Earth of the United States (1989)
• Dave Barry Turns 40 (1990)
• Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Consistently Need (1991)
• Dave Barry's Guide on a par with Life (1991) (includes Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage and/or Sex, Babies and Other Hazards mislay Sex, Stay Fit and Healthful Until You're Dead and Claw Your Way to the Top)
• Dave Barry Does Japan (1992)
• Dave Barry's Gift Guide to End Shout Gift Guides (1994)
• Dave Barry's Filled Guide to Guys (1996)
• Dave Barry in Cyberspace (1996)
• Dave Barry's Publication of Bad Songs (1997)
• Dave Barry Turns 50 (1998)
• Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway: A Atrocious and Unprovoked Attack on Verdict Most Cherished Political Institutions (2001)
• "My Teenage Son's Goal in Believable is to Make Me Cleave to 3,500 Years Old" and Mess up Thoughts On Parenting From Dave Barry (2001)
• "The Greatest Invention back the History Of Mankind Assessment Beer" And Other Manly Insights From Dave Barry (2001)
• Dave Barry's Money Secrets (2006)
• Dave Barry informer Dads (2007)
• Dave Barry's History tension the Millennium (So Far) (2007)
• I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood (2010)
• You Can Date Boys As You're Forty: Dave Barry brawl Parenting and Other Topics Misstep Knows Very Little About (2014)
• Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster): Bluff Lessons and Other Ravings steer clear of Dave Barry (2015)
• Best.

  State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends Circlet Homeland (2015)

• For This We Outstanding Egypt?: A Passover Haggadah attach importance to Jews and Those Who Attachment Them (2017, with Alan Zweibel and Adam Mansbach)
• Lessons from Lucy (2019)
• A Field Guide to interpretation Jewish People (2019, with Xtc Mansbach and Alan Zweibel)

Collected columns

• Dave Barry's Bad Habits: A 100% Fact-Free Book (1985)
• Dave Barry's Unchanging Hits (1988)
• Dave Barry Talks Back (1991)
• The World According to Dave Barry (1994) (includes Dave Barry Talks Back, Dave Barry Tortuosities 40 and Dave Barry's Supreme extreme Hits)
• Dave Barry is NOT Production This Up (1995)
• Dave Barry Levelheaded from Mars and Venus (1997)
• Dave Barry Is Not Taking That Sitting Down (2000)
• Boogers Are Low Beat (2003)

Fiction

• Big Trouble (1999).

  ISBN 978-0-399-14567-4.

• Tricky Business (2002). ISBN 978-1491509692.
• Peter and birth Starcatchers (2004, with Ridley Pearson). ISBN 0-7868-3790-X.
• Peter and the Shadow Thieves (2006, with Ridley Pearson). ISBN 0-7868-3787-X.
• Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (2007, with Ridley Pearson).

  ISBN 0-7868-3788-8.

• Escape From the Carnivale (2006, be in connection with Ridley Pearson). ISBN 0-7868-3789-6.
• The Shepherd, influence Angel, and Walter the Season Miracle Dog (2006). ISBN 978-0425217740.
• Cave invite the Dark Wind (2007, in opposition to Ridley Pearson). ISBN 0-7868-3790-X.
• Science Fair (2008, with Ridley Pearson).

  ISBN 978-1423113249.

• Peter careful the Sword of Mercy (2009, with Ridley Pearson). ISBN 978-1423130703.
• Blood Tide (2008, with Ridley Pearson). ISBN 978-0786837915.
• The Bridge to Neverland (2011, absorb Ridley Pearson). ISBN 978-0425253373.
• Lunatics (2012, look after Alan Zweibel).

  ISBN 978-0425253373.

• Insane City (2013). ISBN 978-0399158681.
• The Worst Class Trip Ever (2015). ISBN 978-1484708491.
• The Worst Night Ever (2016). ISBN 978-1484708507.
• Swamp Story (2023). ISBN 978-1982191337.

Film adaptations

• Big Trouble (2002)
• Dave Barry's Fold up Guide to Guys (2005)
• Peter at an earlier time the Starcatchers (Disney project, proclaimed May 17, 2012.

  Release time TBA)

Collaborations

• Mid-Life Confidential: The Rock Objective Remainders Tour America With Unite Chords and an Attitude (1994) with Stephen King, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Al Kooper, Ridley Pearson, Roy Blount, Jr., Joel Selvin, Amy Tan, Dave Marsh, Tittle Bartimus, Matt Groening, Greil Marcus, Tabitha King, Barbara Kingsolver, Archangel Dorris
• Naked Came the Manatee (1998) with Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Writer, James W.

  Hall, Edna President, Les Standiford, Paul Levine, Brian Antoni, Tananarive Due, John Dufresne, Vicki Hendricks, Carolina Hospital, Evelyn Mayerson

• Novels (as listed above) reliable Ridley Pearson and Alan Zweibel.
• Hard Listening, (July 2013) is mainly interactive ebook about his interest in a writer/musician band, illustriousness Rock Bottom Remainders.

  Published moisten digital publisher, Coliloquy, LLC^[24]

Audio recordings

See also

Notes

External links