THE BOOK OF GUYS

More from the master of the broadcast memoir (WLT, 1991; We Are Still Married, 1989; etc.). Keillor's attentions in this outing are loosely concentrated on the plight of the semi-competent male in today's world of can-do ladies. The 23 items (five previously published) in this latest collection include the other team's view of "Casey At the Bat (Road Game)"; a modern myth about "Zeus the Lutheran" and a pastor's wife; a very amusing high-school anecdote ("Gary Keillor"); a sendup of men's movement nonsense ("Address to the National Federation of Associations..."); a sharp smack at the TV talk shows ("The Chuck Show of Television"); one of the best letters-to-the-editor of recent times ("That Old Picayune Moon"); some business with "Don Giovanni"; and an updated fable of the "Country Mouse and the City Mouse." Liberal as public radio may be, there are still some words you can't say, so Keillor can be a little sharper in print than his listeners may be used to. Some of the pieces ("Buddy the Leper" and "Roy Bradley, Boy Broadcaster") cry out for commercial breaks. The shorter pieces ("The Mid-Life Crisis of Dionysus," "Omoo the Wolf Boy") do better, but even at his windiest, Keillor is more talented at the Thurber business than anybody since. Quite good. You don't have to be a radio fan to enjoy. You do have to be literate.