Letters from a Nut

Before I tell you what I think about this book, I'd like to address an older review for this book. The review I am referencing was a spotlight review, and the only thing it seemed to illuminate was the complete ignorance of the person who left the review. This reviewer gave this book two stars! And if that isn't incredible enough, he goes on to say that "Nancy doesn't have talent," as well as saying, "We can all write stupid letters, but if we can't catch the victim in our trap what's the use?" What's incredible is by saying everyone can write "stupid" letters, he is including himself in the group. So He thinks he can write as well as Nancy does? HA! What he fails to realize is these letters aren't "stupid", but are in fact quite brilliant as they stretch the imagination way beyond the normal limits. But he is right about something: he is quite capable of writing stupid things, such as the review he left for this book. There is not a single thing in this world that everybody can do, least of all display genius on paper. Now, on to what I think of this book. Very simply, this book is hysterical. If you enjoy the musings of a chaotic mind, then you will find this book very enjoyable. Ted Nancy is quite a character, and his letters reflect a certain brilliance. Anyone with a sense of humor will find this a highly memorable read. So what are you waiting for? Order it. But don't take my word for it, take all the people's word below me. They loved it, I loved it, and I have no doubt that you will love it also.

All of the Ted L. Nancy books are hilarious but this first one may be the best one. Particularly funny is Ted's letter to the King of Tonga and the festive response and photo he received in return. Tonga would appear to be worth the trip if it is possible to hang out with the king. This book is packed with one ludicrous letters after another and every one left me howling with laughter. I loved this book. If you have a sense of humor, you will love it too.

This is one of the funniest books I have read. It contains a collection of hilarious prank letters sent by a Ted L. Nancy (a probable pseudonym for Jerry Seinfeld). Matching the hilarity of the letters, however, are the equally ridiculous responses to them. At the moment, a television show is being developed by Seinfeld (again under the guise of Ted L. Nancy) which will display the marvelous wackiness of Mr. Nancy for a ... tube audience. It is difficult to imagine how this will transfer to the small screen. I recommend reading the Ted L. Nancy books instead.

When Jerry Seinfeld introduces Ted L. Nancy's Letters from a Nut you know it's not going to be just another humor book. The premise is simple: Nancy (is it Jerry Seinfeld? Or Jerry's former collaborator Larry David? Or does Nancy exist -- or is he really some very SERIOUS author having fun?) writes seemingly serious, off-the-wall letters to various companies and indivduals. Some of the funniest are to hotels. In a 1996 letter he writes to the Las Vegas Hilton, saying he has saved up a long time for an Elvis concert and wants to make reservations for the croaked King's Sept 1996 show. Sometimes (as in the Hilton's letter)he gets back a form letter ignoring his letter's contents. Or sometimes, such as when he writes a hotel asking if they found his lost tooth, they answer seriously...as does the Disneyland Hotel, when he writes and asks if he could check in with his own ice machine (the hotel says no). This is laugh-out-loud stuff that you won't be able to put down: a letter to Nordstrom asking to buy a mannequin that looks like his deceased best friend; a letter to the University of Alabama praising the CITY of Alabama, etc. In each case, the complete letter is shown plus the often puzzled response. One note: this is modern "ironic" humor which means the humor isn't in just reading a single letter. It lies in reading the letter and THEN the response (or seeing a nonresponse). Nancy writes even nuttier follow up letters. FOOTNOTE: There are several additional books in the "Letters" series and they are all wonderfully, incredibly nutty. I own all three.

This is a hilarious look at our culture. It is mischevious without being mean. It can be read aloud, and in short spurts. I confess that I am stopping on the way home tonight to buy stamps....watch out