I Heart Ranch Dressing and Other Stuff White Midwesterners Like

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· 83 ratings · 24 reviews

Start your review of I Love Ranch Dressing: And Other Stuff White Midwesterners Like

I've lived in the Midwest just long enough to recognize most of these entries but not to take them personally. Tempted to get my parents a copy before their next visit. My community lacks a Bob Evans and a Casey's but we nail the rest. Of course a few things are just generic small or rural town quirks that I recognize equally from living elsewhere. I love how she uses dork as a verb -- 'And when he's not dorking around with his lawn...' She does mis-identify Tom Brokaw as being from North Dakota I've lived in the Midwest just long enough to recognize most of these entries but not to take them personally. Tempted to get my parents a copy before their next visit. My community lacks a Bob Evans and a Casey's but we nail the rest. Of course a few things are just generic small or rural town quirks that I recognize equally from living elsewhere. I love how she uses dork as a verb -- 'And when he's not dorking around with his lawn...' She does mis-identify Tom Brokaw as being from North Dakota rather than South. ...more

Nov 09, 2008 Catherine rated it really liked it

Pretty right on the mark. A few of my favorites include theme bars, 4-H, wood paneling, the weather channel, free refills, and meth.

Mar 17, 2021 Cheryl rated it really liked it

This book is very funny, some parts aren't true but the ones that are, are really funny.

Nov 02, 2008 Danielle rated it it was amazing

This was great. I have now been to two weddings in Oklahoma, and everything listed in this book as something beloved by White Midwesterners is actually something beloved by White Midwesterners. The title item being demonstrably true at a rehearsal dinner I attended: There was a VAT of ranch dressing for a dinner catered by an Italian restaurant. I thought it was for the salad. There was no salad. I saw people casually drizzle lasagna and ravioli with the stuff, and MY OWN BOYFRIEND dunked a calz This was great. I have now been to two weddings in Oklahoma, and everything listed in this book as something beloved by White Midwesterners is actually something beloved by White Midwesterners. The title item being demonstrably true at a rehearsal dinner I attended: There was a VAT of ranch dressing for a dinner catered by an Italian restaurant. I thought it was for the salad. There was no salad. I saw people casually drizzle lasagna and ravioli with the stuff, and MY OWN BOYFRIEND dunked a calzone in a puddle of it. Not only that, but TWO (2) restaurants at which we ate had ranch dressing listed as a side item on the menu (all by itself, not even attached to wings...)
...more

Jun 25, 2010 Madison rated it really liked it

This book was so true! Having grown up in Kansas and Missouri, I can confirm that Midwesterners do love these things (wood paneling, French manicures, mega churches, the color beige)However, I cannot confirm that people across the United States don't like some of these same things. I thought lots of people liked Pottery Barn, white zinfandel, Dockers and finished basements... perhaps that just shows how truly Midwestern I am. This book was so true! Having grown up in Kansas and Missouri, I can confirm that Midwesterners do love these things (wood paneling, French manicures, mega churches, the color beige)However, I cannot confirm that people across the United States don't like some of these same things. I thought lots of people liked Pottery Barn, white zinfandel, Dockers and finished basements... perhaps that just shows how truly Midwestern I am. ...more

his is a Midwest-specific version of Stuff White People Like. Targeting our likes with snarky accuracy, Freie pokes fun at our love of Ranch Dressing (on anything), comfortable Dockers, novelty sweaters, Cracker Barrel and having your wedding reception at the VFW. Hey, that's not funny! Oh wait, yeah, it is. his is a Midwest-specific version of Stuff White People Like. Targeting our likes with snarky accuracy, Freie pokes fun at our love of Ranch Dressing (on anything), comfortable Dockers, novelty sweaters, Cracker Barrel and having your wedding reception at the VFW. Hey, that's not funny! Oh wait, yeah, it is. ...more

Jul 09, 2018 Renee MA rated it it was amazing

Even though the last 5-8 items were just okay, the beginning is hilarious enough to make up for it. As a WM, I found much of this book as true, and may have laughed so hard I cried. Good times!

Aug 14, 2012 Lorna rated it it was ok

It was okay. Some of the things weren't really specific to the Midwest. Theme Parks? They're everywhere. It was okay. Some of the things weren't really specific to the Midwest. Theme Parks? They're everywhere. ...more

Jun 10, 2015 Trea rated it liked it

Reading again because it makes me laugh. Then donating to a friends library. 😀

Nov 29, 2010 Brett rated it liked it

This short collection takes about 90 minutes to read. You may get a handful of laughs out of it, and most of it is pretty true as far as it goes. Casey's General Store, ranch dressing, the color beige, and meth are some of the things the people of my community love. I got this as a gift, but I wouldn't pay money for it. This short collection takes about 90 minutes to read. You may get a handful of laughs out of it, and most of it is pretty true as far as it goes. Casey's General Store, ranch dressing, the color beige, and meth are some of the things the people of my community love. I got this as a gift, but I wouldn't pay money for it. ...more

A real knee slapper! Even though I am caucasian and live smack in the midwest I apparently don't share many of my fellow white neighbor's tastes. I don't wear novelty sweaters or drive a pick up truck but I admit I am a fan of Cracker Barrell. Definately good for a chuckle or three and a few hearty guffaws. A real knee slapper! Even though I am caucasian and live smack in the midwest I apparently don't share many of my fellow white neighbor's tastes. I don't wear novelty sweaters or drive a pick up truck but I admit I am a fan of Cracker Barrell. Definately good for a chuckle or three and a few hearty guffaws. ...more

May 03, 2013 Summer rated it really liked it

Read this really quick, took about a half hour. Funny, and for anyone who doesn't live in the Midwest and is wondering how us Midwesterner s live...well here you go! LOL. It's so funny because it's true! Read this really quick, took about a half hour. Funny, and for anyone who doesn't live in the Midwest and is wondering how us Midwesterner s live...well here you go! LOL. It's so funny because it's true! ...more

Dec 07, 2010 Sarah rated it it was amazing

What a shockingly accurate collection of 100 things White Midwesterners (WM) love. My personal favorites are 10. covered dish suppers, 25 beige, 39 finished basements, 54 Casey's General Stores, & 77 wedding receptions at the BTW. What a shockingly accurate collection of 100 things White Midwesterners (WM) love. My personal favorites are 10. covered dish suppers, 25 beige, 39 finished basements, 54 Casey's General Stores, & 77 wedding receptions at the BTW. ...more

Aug 20, 2010 Holly rated it it was ok

I wish I could get a bunch of pictures from istockphoto and place them next to short paragraphs about something completely obvious and get paid for it.

That said, it is mildly amusing and totally truthful.