Three Bricks Shy of a Load: A Collection of True Stories About Ordinary People Doing Really Dumb Stuff!

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

For those whose self-esteem requires a boost, this “collection of true
stories about ordinary people doing really dumb stuff” may be just
what they need. Each page contains what appears to be a newspaper
clipping, and each clipping carries a headline, the name of the city
where the wacky event occurred, and an undated description of the silly
happening. There are 120 of them.

Three-quarters of the book focuses on events that took place in Canada
and the United States; the remaining pages cover events that occurred in
other places around the world. While Ontarians led the way in doing
“dumb” things in Canada, residents of Saskatchewan, Prince Edward
Island, and Newfoundland can take some pride in knowing that they are
not represented at all; however, Taylor does invite readers to
contribute possible items for the next edition.

The bizarre behaviors of “unsuccessful” criminals appear to
dominate the stories with those of couples, married or dating, running a
close second. It will be the rare person who can read this book and not
want to share at least some its more outlandish and screwy episodes with
others. Three Bricks Shy of a Load is light, fun reading at its best.