The Bear in the Attic

The beloved humorist delivers a "winsome collection of anecdotes and essays on fishing, camping, hunting and other outdoor activities and catastrophes" (Publishers Weekly).

Overflowing with his trademark outdoorsman's wit, Patrick F. McManus's newest collection ponders the strange allure of the RV, the existential implications of being lost, the baffling tendency of animals to outsmart those who wish to hunt them, and the singular pleasure of doubling the size of every fish one doesn't actually catch.


Combining the curmudgeonly voice of Dave Barry and the sly humor of Garrison Keillor, McManus brilliantly captures the everyday absurdities that comprise our existence. Alongside his humor, McManus's inimitable vision consistently evokes a childlike wonder at the natural world. Even if we are running low on food, the compass is broken, and we are fairly certain we have just spotted a family of Sasquatches frolicking in the treetops, The Bear in the Attic makes the outdoors seem irresistible.

Praise for Patrick F. McManus

"Patrick McManus is a treasure." —The Atlantic

"Everybody should read Patrick McManus." —The New York Times Book Review

"A style that brings to mind Mark Twain, Art Buchwald, and Garrison Keillor." —People

"Describing Patrick F. McManus as an outdoor humorist is like saying Mark Twain wrote books about small boys . . . the funniest writer around today—indoors or outdoors." —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution