“Funny and upbeat...full of hijinks” – Kirkus Reviews “A rocketship to your happy place” – Bruce Lewis, Author of Angel of Mercy series "Coming-of-age tales that highlight the comedy and chaos of childhood" —5280 Magazine “A witty, vivid snapshot of childhood mischief and teenage rebellion." – Nick Pirog, author of the 3:00 AM series "A hilarious, heartfelt memoir!" — Longmont Magazine "Caragol's stories will make you laugh out loud, roll your eyes, and wonder how young boys ever manage to survive to adulthood." — J.v.L. Bell, author of Women of the Colorado Gold Rush Era , winner of the 2024 Colorado Book Award "His observations are wise, irreverent and at times, quite poignant. It's a terrific read!" — Peter Camman, author of The Flies Are Too Damn Small " Caragol brings a fresh voice to oral history—an entertaining, thoughtful, and reflective rite of passage through the Baby Boom era.” — Jon Humboldt Gates, author of Night Crossings "This memoir delivers laugh-out-loud moments and reflections on the trial and triumphs of youth." — University of Colorado Boulder Top 10 Summer Reads "Father's Day favorite" — Bookshop.org The Blunder Years: A Humorist’s Memoir of Growing Up with Undiagnosed ADHD in the 1950s on Long Island, Where Life Lessons and Hilarious True Tales Collide Step into the wildly entertaining world of The Blunder Years , a laugh-out-loud debut memoir by San Francisco Comicle editor and award-winning writer Phil Caragol. Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, Caragol’s boyhood stories capture a comedy of errors fueled by undiagnosed ADHD, a strict Catholic family, and a knack for turning everyday life into awkward, clumsy, mortifying moments…all set in historical events of the era like the JFK assassination, the Moon Landing, the British Invasion, and the counterculture movement. Caragol shares 31 true tales that capture the coming-of-age joy, chaos, and life lessons of a scatterbrained kid—like a botched Maypole dance in kindergarten, a Boy Scout Cuban Missile Crisis prank gone wrong, an embarrassing first-crush encounter with heartthrob actress Jayne Mansfield, and psychedelic trips (one involving an imaginary pterodactyl) in the hippie years. Through his missteps, Caragol reveals universal truths and life lessons that shaped him into the person he became—showing readers that even the most comical moments can carry deeper meaning. Perfect for fans of David Sedaris ( Me Talk Pretty One Day ), Dave Barry ( Class Clown ), Samantha Irby ( We Are Never Meeting in Real Life ) and J.R. Moehringer ( The Tender Bar ). Complete with vintage family photos, this memoir is a time capsule of a generation and a must-read for anyone who loves a good laugh with a side of life’s valuable lessons. Rediscover the innocence, mischief, and meaning of youth in The Blunder Years —a memoir where things go hilariously wrong, but life always finds a way to get it right.