Leland Gregory

Why exactly is Paul Revere revered? Was the lightbulb really Thomas Edison's bright idea? * Best-selling author Leland Gregory employs his masterful wit to expose historical myths, faux "facts," strange events, and tales of human stupidity throughout history. If it would shock you to learn that Benjamin Franklin didn't discover electricity, you'll appreciate this take on hundreds of historical legends and debacles. Historians and humorists alike may be surprised to learn that: * Samuel Prescott made the famous horseback ride into Concord, not Paul Revere. * As a member of Parliament, Isaac Newton spoke only once. He asked for an open window. * On April 24, 1898, Spain declared war on the U.S., thus starting the Spanish-American War. The U.S. declared war the very next day, but not wanting to be outdone, had the date on the declaration changed from April 25 to April 21. With these and many other stories, leading humorist Leland Gregory once again highlights both the strange and the funny side of humankind.

Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions Through the Ages

Stupid History

A new collection of outrageous, laugh-out-loud anecdotes about the weird and wacky things that happen during the Christmas holidays, by the author of New York Times best-sellers Stupid American History and Americaâ€™s Dumbest Criminals. From absurd 911 calls to presidential philosophizing and foolish felons, Leland Gregory generates the best laughs by exposing the worst of human nature. Following up his New York Times best-selling Stupid American History, Gregory sets his sights on the holidays as he exposes mind-numbing mistletoe maladies in Stupid Christmas: Idiots under the Mistletoe. Perhaps it's the spiked eggnog or the multiple family members gathered around crazy-colored, twinkly lights, but the holidays are rife with idiocy by the daft and the dumb. Inside this latest collection, Gregory offers more than 200 accounts of holiday-induced stupidity, including: * While smoke billowed out of the store, firefighters had to physically restrain enthusiastic shoppers from entering a Great Lakes Mall store during an electrical fire. * In 1995, officials debated over whom to invite to the city's Christmas tree ceremony: President Bill Clinton or the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. * As a joke, Andrew Jackson sent formal invitations to his Christmas ball to a well-known mother-and-daughter prostitute team in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Stupid Christmas

tales of stupidity, strangeness, and mythconceptions

Stupid American history

America is the home of the brave and, apparently, the stupid and gullible. Satirist Leland Gregory teaches us a lesson in historical hilarity with Stupid American History. From Columbus to George W. Bush (that's a lot of material, people), Leland leads us through American history's mythconceptions, exposing idiocy and inanity along the time line. He reeducates by informing us about myths. For example, Samuel Prescott actually was the guy to alert us that the British were coming and not that Paul Revere dude. Move over Colbert and Stewart; satire has finally found its rightful place in American history. Excerpt from the book: "John Tyler was on his knees playing marbles when he was informed that Benjamin Harrison had died and he was now president of the United States. At that time marbles was a very popular game for both children and grown-ups." For reasons still unknown, Texas congressman Thomas Lindsay Blanton, a Presbyterian Sunday school teacher and prohibitionist, inserted dirty words into the Congressional Record in 1921. His colleagues overwhelmingly censured him on October 24, 1921, by a vote of 293-0."

Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions

Stupid American History

Daniel Butler

Alan Ray

100 crazy stories of America's dumbest criminals. WARNING: The crimes you are about to read are true. The names have been changed . . . to protect the ignorant. Here is the ultimate collection of the most incredibly stupid and painfully dumb attempts at crime ever brought together. The woman who invalidated her winning $5,000 lottery ticket by altering it to match the $20 prize number The accused vending-machine thief who paid his $400 bail entirely in quarters The streaking robber who thought clothes would make him more identifiable The convenience store thief who got away with just a hotdog, only to end up in the parking lot choking on the wiener

Wild and Weird Stories of Fumbling Felons, Clumsy Crooks, and Ridiculous Robbers

America's Dumbest Criminals

Collects emergency phone calls made to 911, including a call made by a man asking how long his twenty-four hour virus will last and a request for an officer to unplug a coffee pot left on in the caller's kitchen.

What's the Number for 911 Again?

From absurd 911 calls to presidential philosophizing and foolish felons, Leland Gregory generates the best laughs by exposing the worst of human nature. Collectively, his humor collections have sold more than 500,000 copies and generated two New York Times best-sellers. Inside S Is for Stupid, Gregory sets his sights on the stupidest of stupid with a "best-of" collection featuring 50 percent new material and 50 percent fan favorites. As Gregory's largest collection yet, S Is for Stupid features more than 350 pages of outrageous stories, trivia, and factoids organized alphabetically by topic. Such entries include: * The following is a doctor's actual diagnostic notation: The patient is married but sexually active. * "Shooting Reported at Firing Range" --the State, Columbia, South Carolina, August 4, 2006 * Arrested for public urination in Bowling Green, Ohio: Mr. Joshua Pees. --the Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, Ohio, September 5, 2001 Because the stories Gregory chronicles are just that unbelievable, each anecdote, quote, or factoid is presented with relevant background information, including its verified news source.

An Encyclopedia of Stupidity

S Is for Stupid

New York Times best-selling author Leland Gregory is definitely messing with Texas in his book Stupid Texas. This time, Leland--who has so entertainingly highlighted humanity's stupidity in the areas of crime, business, love, politics, cruelty, and history--collects evidence to prove the widespread belief that deep in the heart of Texans lies an extraordinary capacity for absurdity. Culled from print, online, and broadcast media, Stupid Texas is an uproarious collection of true stories, trivia, and factoids about the Lone Star State, such as: * "In 1875, James Stephen Hogg, the first native-born Texan to become the state's governor, named his daughter--Ima." * In 1984, a Texas District Court judge sentenced a 31-year-old Houston man to 35 years in prison--for stealing a 12-ounce, $2 can of Spam." Ridiculous, outrageous, bizarre, and comical, Stupid Texas is ideal for both kinds of people--those who love Texas and those who hate it.

Idiots in the Lone Star State

Stupid Texas

The former "Saturday Night Live" writer's bestsellers, "America's Dumbest Criminals" and "What's the Number for 911?, " are followed by a new work that captures hilarious tales of idiotic criminals.

Leland Gregory

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