Michael Perry (born December 16, 1964) is an American author, born and raised in
New Auburn, Wisconsin.
Biography
After spending his childhood on a small
Midwestern dairy farm, Perry put himself through nursing school while working on a
ranch in
Wyoming, and subsequently worked as a nurse and an emergency medical technician.
He lives with his wife and two daughters in rural
Wisconsin; in addition to writing, Perry maintains a farm, raising chickens and formerly pigs. Perry hosts the nationally syndicated ''Tent Show Radio'', performs as a
humorist
A humorist (American) or humourist (British spelling) is an intellectual who uses humor, or wit, in writing or public speaking, but is not an artist who seeks only to elicit laughs. Humorists are distinct from comedians, who are show business ...
, and tours with his band, the Long Beds. His memoirs include ''Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, Coop'',
and ''Visiting Tom''. His book exploring the work of the French philosopher and essayist
Michel de Montaigne
Michel Eyquem, Sieur de Montaigne ( ; ; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592), also known as the Lord of Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. He is known for popularizing the essay as a liter ...
, ''Montaigne in Barn Boots'', was published in 2017. He had developed an interest in Montaigne's work while recuperating from a kidney stone, when he did research into his condition and saw references to Montaigne, who also suffered from that malady.
Perry’s essays and nonfiction have appeared in ''
The New York Times Magazine'', ''
Esquire
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...
'', ''
Backpacker'', ''
Outside
Outside or Outsides may refer to:
General
* Wilderness
* Outside (Alaska), any non-Alaska location, as referred to by Alaskans
Books and magazines
* ''Outside'', a book by Marguerite Duras
* ''Outside'' (magazine), an outdoors magazine Film, th ...
'' and ''
Runner’s World
''Runner's World'' is a globally circulated monthly magazine for runners of all skills sets, published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Before its acquisition by Hearst, it was founded and published by Rodale, Inc. in Emm ...
''. He has collaborated with the musician
Justin Vernon on several projects and composed the liner notes for the Vernon-produced
The Blind Boys of Alabama album ''I'll Find a Way.''
Perry has been the subject of three
PBS Wisconsin specials: ''Michael Perry: How Ya Doin (2019), Michael Perry: Where I Come From (2019), and ''Michael Perry: On the Road'' (2023).
Perry was educated at the
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
Works
* ''Why They Killed Big Boy: And Other Stories'' (1996)
* ''Big Rigs, Elvis & the Grand Dragon Wayne'' (1999) (15 of the 20 essays were later republished in ''Off Main Street'')
* ''Population: 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time'' (
HarperCollins, 2002)
* ''Off Main Street: Brainstormers, Prophets, and Gatemouth's Gator'' (
HarperCollins, 2005)
* ''Truck: A Love Story'' (
HarperCollins, 2006)
* ''Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting'' (
HarperCollins, 2009)
* ''Visiting Tom: A Man, a Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace'' (
HarperCollins, 2012)
* ''From the Top: Brief Transmissions from Tent Show Radio'' (
Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2013)
* ''The Scavengers'' (
HarperCollins, 2014)
* ''The Jesus Cow'' (
HarperCollins, 2015)
* ''Roughneck Grace: Farmer Yoga, Creeping Codgerism, Apple Golf, and Other Brief Essays from On and Off the Back Forty'' (
Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2016)
* ''Montaigne in Barn Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy'' (
HarperCollins, 2017)
* ''Danger, Man Working: Writing from the Heart, the Gut, and the Poison Ivy Patch'' (
Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2017)
* ''Big Boy’s Big Rig: The Leftovers'' (Sneezing Cow Publishing, 2020)
* ''Million Billion: Brief Essays on Snow Days, Spitwads, Bad Sandwiches, Dad Socks, Hairballs, Headbanging Bird Love, and Hope.'' (Sneezing Cow, Inc., 2020)
* ''Peaceful Persistence'' (Sneezing Cow Publishing, 2020)
* ''Hunker: Brief Essays on Human Connection'' (Sneezing Cow Publishing, 2022)
* ''Forty Acres Deep'' (Sneezing Cow Publishing, 2023)
Discography
* ''Headwinded'' – Michael Perry and the Long Beds (2006)
* ''Tiny Pilot'' – Michael Perry and the Long Beds (2010)
* ''Bootlegged at the Big Top'' – Michael Perry and the Long Beds (2014)
* ''Long Road To You'' – Michael Perry and the Long Beds (2019)
Recordings (Humor)
* ''Never Stand Behind A Sneezing Cow'' (1996)
* ''I Got It From The Cows'' (2001)
* ''Clodhopper Monologues'' (2011)
References
External links
Sneezing CowGoodreads-Michael Perry
1964 births
Living people
People from New Auburn, Wisconsin
Writers from Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni
20th-century American writers
21st-century American writers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, Michael