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Hey Ranger!: True Tales of Humor & Misadventure from America's National Parks | 
 enlarge | Author: Jim Burnett
Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $4.00
You Save: $12.95 (76%)
New (31) Used (34) from $2.22
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 20335
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st Taylor Trade Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8
ISBN: 1589791916
Dewey Decimal Number: 333.7830973
EAN: 9781589791916
ASIN: 1589791916
Publication Date: April 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In his thirty years with the National Park Service, Jim Burnett has seen it all: boat ramp mishaps that have sent cars into the water; skunks in the outhouse and bears at the dumpster; visitors looking for the bridge over the Grand Canyon.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Lots of laughter February 1, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've always enjoyed visiting national parks and camping, so this book appealed to my interests. The stories turned out to be a lot of fun, and I've given copies of the book to several friends. If you want a really good laugh, (especially you ladies)don't miss the boat ramp tale about the "L.A. Launch." "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" is my other favorite chapter, followed closely by "Don't Feed the Skunks." It is truly amazing what antics visitors to national parks are capable of. Mr. Burnett is a natural storyteller and this is a fun read. It was also featured as one of the fun bedtime reads on "The Price is Right" when they had a bedroom suite to give away.
 Only mildly amusing November 20, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
In this book, Jim Burnett collects amusing stories about visitors in the national parks. These people are normally called "tourons," though Burnett doesn't use the term here. Some of the stories come from his career as a park ranger, while other stories come from other rangers who told them to Burnett. He also includes some background on each park where he was stationed during his career (Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Buffalo National River, Glacier National Park, Colonial National Historical Park, and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial). An appendix provides advice on how not to get hurt being stupid in the national parks.
The book suffers in comparison with other memoir-writers, especially my current favorite, game warden Terry Grosz. Most of Burnett's stories are only mildly amusing, though there are a few good ones. More problematic is the way he tells them - - he gets to the punchline much too fast, so that these stories only last a couple of pages. The second-hand stories are even shorter, more like one-liner jokes. Grosz, in contrast, can spin a tale out much more effectively.
All in all, the book is pleasant enough, and I purchased it at very deep discount, so it's not really disappointing. But there are better options out there.
Fun and Enjoyable Read October 13, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I just finished reading Hey Ranger and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an easy read and it held my attention - I didn't want to put the book down! Anyone who has visited the National Parks, or just spent time in the outdoors, can probably relate to at least one tale in the book. For me personally, my family has done alot of boating and I was laughing hysterically during the chapter on boating, including mishaps that occur when launching a boat! I think anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and humorous real life tales will enjoy this book.
Heartwarming but... September 7, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've got to say that this book definitely made me care about the narrator and feel for the amazing amount of sacrifice and difficult situations that he and his family endured in service of our National Parks. And it's very hard to knock that ever, especially from someone who seems so genuinely likeable and friendly. However... this is not the greatest book. The combination of acronyms and Shakespeare quotes seems quirky and interesting at first, but quickly gets old. The "people are idiots" theme gets somewhat overplayed. Many of these stories and humorous anecdotes are the tough-day-at-work/funny quote type of thing I would put in an e-mail to family or laugh about with friends, not the kind of thing that I would record for posterity.
The last chapter of the book, among other things, earnestly advises you not to get high and jump off a cliff. If you are the kind of person who would responsibly read a book of back-country safety tips and stories, you are probably not also the person who would take some hits of acid and decide to roll off a cliff. Or you are. But that's on you and no books will help you at that point.
I like the author and his family. I feel for his struggles and sacrifice and find the humor in some of his stories. But I can't call this a great book.
A fun, light-hearted book September 4, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a great book that is fun to read, each chapter can stand alone, so you can pick it up at your leisure. A great book to take on vacation.
It tells humorous stories of misadventures in our National Parks written in a way that you feel Mr. Burnett is talking to you. It gave me a good laugh and some good advice for visiting these or any parks.
(Snake in the cold water is my favorite story!)
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