Texas Eccentrics, the debut book by Texas author John Kuhn, tells the stories of over one hundred unique Texans, both native and adopted, who have made names for themselves in fields as diverse as business, sports, art, and politics. These folks have done their part to create an "aura around the world of unabashed quirkiness," in the words of Adventure Guide to Texas author Kimberly Young. Because of them (and others like them from all corners of the Lone Star State), the fictional Texas eccentric has become a common sight in popular media, frequently appearing in American literature, television, and film. This book points out that those fictional characters are just plain boring compared to some of the real deal Texas eccentrics. Illustrated by Dennis Menese, Texas Eccentrics is a fun read, combining zany caricatures of the subjects with tales of their stranger-than-average exploits. Ross Perot, Howard Hughes, and Dennis Rodman are just some of the folks you'll read about here, along with lesser-known - but no less interesting - Texas eccentrics like Thomas Jefferson "Stout" Jackson and Jim "Silver Dollar" West.As you will learn in these pages, everything is weirder in Texas. In fact - as the author notes in his foreword - a Texan who can't name a crazy member of the family probably is the crazy member of the family. If that describes you or someone you know, then this is the book for you.Texas Eccentrics is the perfect read for a Texas history buff with a sense of humor. Or for a Texas humor buff with a sense of history. Either way.
