Montaigne in Barn Boots

?The journey began on a gurney,? writes Michael Perry, describing the debilitating kidney stone that led him to discover the essays of Michel de Montaigne. Reading the philosopher in a manner he equates to chickens pecking at scraps?including those eye-blinking moments when the bird gobbles something too big to swallow?the bestselling humorist embarks on a journey to glean what he can about life from the long-dead French nobleman.Written in a spirit of exploration rather than declaration, Montaigne in Barn Boots is a down-to-earth (how do you pronounce that last name?) look into the ideas of a philosopher who ?composed essays while ensconced in a castle tower overlooking his vineyard? channeled by a Midwestern American writing ?in a room above the garage overlooking a disused pig pen.? Whether grabbing an electrified fencer, fighting fires, failing to fix a truck, or feeding chickens, Perry blends his personal experiences with Montaigne's illuminating essays to write his own poignant (and hilarious) meditations on human nature. The result is a sincere, unflinching look at the vital need to be a better person and citizen in our modern world.