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I’ve been all over this great Nation. Well except for the Pacific Northwest, most of the deep south, and the majority of the East Coast. But otherwise, my travels have opened my eyes to the preciously unique traits, traditions and behaviors inherent to the different geographic regions of our country. But no region can match the level of charming quirk as my home territory: The Midwest. And no one better encapsulates those delightful idiosyncrasies than comedian Charlie Berens. Here is my review of Charlie Berens’ book, Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat . . . Everything with Ranch
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The Midwest Survival Guide Book Summary
The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat…Everything with Ranch is comedian Charlie Berens’ hilarious love letter to the quirks, culture, and chaos of Midwestern life. Known for his comedic sketches as the creator of The Manitowoc Minute, Berens dives deep into the peculiarities of the Midwest, offering an entertaining and absurdly accurate handbook for navigating life in America’s heartland.
The book is part memoir, part humor, and part cultural analysis. It’s peppered with hilarious illustrations, infographics, and charts. (I consumed via audiobook, so I missed out on these key visual features.) Berens explains the “Midwest nice” phenomenon, decodes the regional accent (yes, it’s “ope,” not “oops”), and provides a comprehensive breakdown of Midwestern foods. Ranch dressing is the holy grail. Have you ever dipped pizza in Ranch dressing? Go do it now. I’ll wait… He also tackles essential survival skills, like how to politely decline seconds at a potluck (spoiler: it’s impossible) or survive the region’s unpredictable weather by layering up like an onion.
Packed with satirical tips and cheeky insights, this book is perfect for any Midwesterner OR anyone who knows a Midwesterner. OR anyone who has been to or near the Midwest. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever braved a snowstorm to get to work, debated the finer points of fish fry etiquette, or knows that the key to any conversation is asking, “How’s your folks?” Whether you’re a proud Midwesterner or just Midwest-curious, The Midwest Survival Guide will leave you laughing and maybe craving some tator tot hotdish.
Charlie Berens Brandy Old Fashioned
Want to know what you’re getting into with Charlie Berens’ comedy? Watch him mix a classic Midwest favorite: the Brandy Old Fashioned. This video is packed with Beren’s signature Wisconsin charm plus some cocktail tips.
Now onto the rating! My The Midwest Survival Guide Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 3.5/5
Pretty darn wholesome. A few off-color jokes and (minimal) swears, but otherwise, Chalie Berens delivers a family-friendly book. Midwestern creators in general are often cautious to release risqué content that might embarrass their Grandmothers.
Hilarity Score: 5/5
The Midwest Survival Guide is hilarious. Am I biased since I am a true-blooded Midwesterner? Perhaps. But this Midwestern-focused book has wide humor appeal. It’s not exclusively intended for us in America’s Heartland.
“This is a weird place, but that’s what keeps it filled with the world’s best-kept secrets. And we can’t just keep these secrets buried deep inside, because that’s where our feelings go.” -Charlie Berens
referencing TBR (to be read) books for Midwesterners: “The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. The inspiring story of a Bears fan who ran for president just so he would know what victory felt like.” -Charlie Berens. Remember, Berens is a Wisconsin native. And as such, one must be a Green Bay Packers fan and hate the Chicago Bears. I feel silly explaining that.
Apologize. There is no “when in doubt” here; simply accept blame and seek forgiveness. The waiter brings you the wrong meal, you say sorry. (And genuinely feel bad he has to go all the way back to the kitchen.)” – Charlie Berens on #1 of The Midwest Values System
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
Loved it. Highly awesome. I listened via audiobook. I plan on acquiring the physical book – it has tons of great images, cartoons, and infographics. Would make a great coffee table book.
Things I liked:
- Midwestern humor. You don’t have to convince me – Midwestern humor is the funniest of all the western humors.
- book pictures, infographics, etc. (which I missed due to consuming as an audiobook, but I saw examples of these rich visuals in a book preview online.)
- sarcasm and dry humor
Things I didn’t like:
- Reverence for the Green Bay Packers
Conclusion: Final Thoughts on The Midwest Survival Guide Book Review
I love Charlie Beren’s humor. The Midwest Survival Guide is like a roundup of Beren’s viral YouTube videos. This will be a rare re-read for me. After consuming via audiobook, I will purchase a physical copy for to keep and refer to often in the future. It would make a great gift to my Midwestern and non-Midwestern friends alike.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
