#1025 in our old book database. Not rated.

Back in the 1990s my wife got her start in computer programming working at a distribution center for Little, Brown and Company in Massachusetts. The best perk of the job was that once a year employees were invited into the warehouse to pick through dozens of pallets of bins heaped with reject books from returns, damage, or overstocks. Everything was free and first-come-first-served. The giveaway happened just before Christmas, so I'm guessing many people were looking to regift and stuff some stockings.

So there was some tension along with the excitement. There was even a starting signal as everyone lined up around the perimeter waiting to lunge in for the loot. The giant bins were in no particular order, so it was a bit of a frenzy as people went tunneling through the dross looking for little gems.

This book was part of the dross. I snatched it up because I was a fan of David Letterman at the time.

The writers try to mimic the shambolic tone of Letterman's show as they cut and paste a scrapbook of trivia about him and interview people who became minor celebrities when their neighboring small businesses were featured on the show. There is even a running gag as one writer dresses up in a bear costume to visit Letterman landmarks. The book is filled out with some recipes and images of Letterman's many speeding tickets.

It's not bad, but it's the kind of humor that tries too hard and gets a little mean at times.

But, hey, it was free! ( )