Finding Wisdom in a Lifetime of Silliness
Shtus is a Yiddish word for foolishness or nonsense, and Willy Stern’s Shtus & Nonsense makes room for both. The 122-page book, self-published by Ogishkemuncie Press, offers one little story per page. It’s easy to pick up, read a few pieces and return to later. The book is literally pocket size at 6x4 inches.
Stern has spent much of his career telling other people’s stories. An investigative reporter for the Nashville Scene and a former staff writer for Forbes and BusinessWeek, he also reported from Afghanistan, where he was embedded with a Green Beret unit. Afterward, he founded The Legion Fund to support soldiers of the 5th Special Forces Group and their families.
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One story that stayed with me is “At Least Nobody Fell Asleep.” Stern recalls having more than 100 students on waiting lists for his classes. He jokes that his own narcolepsy led him to keep the lessons fast-moving, participatory and sometimes ridiculous. His willingness to poke fun at himself makes the piece enjoyable.
Another story finds Stern presenting his press credentials to an Israeli desk officer at Japan’s Foreign Ministry in Tokyo. Annoyed when a staffer greets him in a language he doesn’t recognize, Stern says he doesn’t understand Japanese and suggests they speak English. The staffer replies in English: “But Mr. Stern, I was speaking Hebrew.” The joke lands at Stern’s expense, and he lets it.
I liked Shtus and Nonsense, though I suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I had come to it as a longtime fan of Stern’s writing. Those readers may hear a familiar voice in these brief stories. I came to the book without that connection, but I appreciated its humor and its easy-to-browse format.
Shtus & Nonsense is for sale at Fireflies and Foxes Bookseller in Superior, WI.
