L. A. Nuts: A Collection of the Cult-Hit Columns Book

A highly amusing series of vignettes on the rather subtle madness of Angelenos. The book is broken up into nice bit size bits of commentary on the multiple facets of living in one of the stranger cities on earth. The subjects range on everything from parking and actors, to historical and odd disappearing landmarks, as well as several memorable and, especially in the case of one, often reocurring local characters. This is all delivered with a measured sense of absurdity by the author, who whilst delivering calm and cool observational prose on his myriad subjects, does not quite escape from being one of them (or perhaps following around odd neighborhood drifters for hours is normal in LA - being from New York I am more aware of our own more aggressive brand of nuts). In any case, a very entertaining and culturally informative work.