Book Review: S Is for Southern: A Guide to the South, from Absinthe to Zydeco Editors of Garden and Gun, David DiBenedetto

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge,from Harper Collins, via Edelwesiss,, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it,  all opinions are my own.

And speaking of Virginia......

Synopsis:

From the bestselling authors of The Southerner’s Handbook, Good Dog, and The Southerner’s Cookbook comes a lively compendium of Southern tradition and contemporary culture

The American South is a multifaceted region with its own vocabulary, peculiarities, and cultural touchstones. Even for those born in the South, the unspoken rules—layered in local nuances and complexities—can sometimes be confounding. Tennessee whiskey may technically be bourbon, but don't let anyone in Kentucky hear you call it that. And bless your heart, don’t you dare make the mistake of confusing a magnolia blossom with a Japanese tulip.

Now, from the editors of Garden & Gun—the magazine known as “the soul of the South”—comes this encyclopedia of Southern living, culture, and history. Covering age-old traditions and current zeitgeists, S is for Southern will include more than 500 entries spanning every letter of the alphabet, from absinthe to zydeco. The book will also include 100 signature essays from notable Southern writers, including:

• John Meacham on the Civil War

• Sean Brock on Waffle House

• Roy Blount Jr. on humidity

• Jessica Harris on field peas

• Jason Isabel on The Atlanta Braves

• Jack Hitt on Pluff Mud

• The Lee Brothers on boiled peanuts

• Jonathan Miles on Larry Brow

• Julia Reed on the delta

Informative and irreverent, illustrated with black & white line drawings throughout, S is for Southern celebrates and demystify the traditions of the South, and is a must-read for all fans of the region and culture enthusiasts.

Review:

Garden and Gun is one of my fav magazines. I grew up on Southern Living, and to me it was the primer, but G&G? It's for the adults who love their Southern whiskey, laid back music, food from amazing chefs and a bit of 'high brow' culture. It's the secret your parents kept- not for kids!  So when I heard there was to be a compilation, I couldn't wait to check it out! I was not disappointed! This book covers it all- from simple explanation, to essays about the beloved aspects of the South- yes, even Hurricanes. This is the book you give with a fine bottle of Southern Whiskey and some amazing pralines to the newcomer to the South this holiday season- consider it a primer on all things Southern, even 'bless their hearts' LOL. David has done a fine job compiling the info from the magazine with his staff and creating a book that will be right at home with those of Tennesse, Eudora and William (and if you have to ask 'Who?', then you NEED this book!) on your bookshelves! Don't miss it when it comes out next month!

Get the Book Signed!

Book signings and discussions with the editors will be held at two separate events in Dallas and Atlanta this October. Click on over to G&G and fond out more!

About the Editor

David DiBenedetto is the editor in chief of Garden & Gun Magazine, the two-time winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Previously he was the editor of SaltWater Sportsman, where he led the brand to its first ever National Magazine Award nomination for General Excellence. He is also the author of On the Run: An Angler’s Journey Down the Striper Coast, and has been featured throughout the media, including CBS This Morning, Morning Joe, Fox & Friends, and NPR. A native of Savannah, Georgia, he lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife, children, and Boykin spaniel.