THE DEFINITIVE EXPLORATION OF MINNESOTA'S CULTURAL IDENTITY , by behavioral cartoonist and graphic anthropologist Kirk Anderson. A cartooned package of insights into what makes Minnesota such an iconic and wonderful place to live (I mean, for the most part) (I hope that doesn't sound like I'm bragging!) (Minnesotans hate braggers) (unless they're bragging about Minnesota) (oh and we're not overly self-conscious!) (in case that's something you've heard) (some people think we're self-conscious; what do you think?). (Did I just go on too long?) WACKY "Lucky me! I get to write a blurb for a book by one of my favourite cartoonists ever, Kirk Anderson! Minnesotans have been enjoying Kirk's clever satire and lively art for decades, and now he's sharing his unique insights into everything that makes this place special ... the good, the bad, and the just plain wacky. You betcha you might be from Minnesota if you have this hilarious book on your living room coffee table!" ―Steve Sack, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Minnesota Star Tribune HILARIOUS "Minnesota and its people are far more diverse and fascinating than Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon may have led you to believe. And there are few who present that in funnier fashion than Kirk Anderson. Anderson captures the culture in all of its contradictions, comforts and absurdities, hilariously portraying what makes life in Minnesota so unique... and uniquely rewarding." ―Rob Hubbard, arts critic, St. Paul Pioneer Press WACKY "Lucky me! I get to write a blurb for a book by one of my favourite cartoonists ever, Kirk Anderson! Minnesotans have been enjoying Kirk's clever satire and lively art for decades, and now he's sharing his unique insights into everything that makes this place special ... the good, the bad, and the just plain wacky. You betcha you might be from Minnesota if you have this hilarious book on your living room coffee table!" —Steve Sack, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Minnesota Star Tribune HILARIOUS "Minnesota and its people are far more diverse and fascinating than Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon may have led you to believe. And there are few who present that in funnier fashion than Kirk Anderson. Anderson captures the culture in all of its contradictions, comforts and absurdities, hilariously portraying what makes life in Minnesota so unique... and uniquely rewarding." —Rob Hubbard, arts critic, St. Paul Pioneer Press The Peterson Field Guide defines a Minnesotan (Frigidi taciturnus inresolutus) as a domesticated primate with a fishing license and at least one boat. They can easily be spotted in their natural habitat, Target, in their telltale parka-with-flip-flops. During the season when testosterone levels run particularly high, the male of the species exhibits flamboyant purple and gold plumage. Brawls ensue, but never to impress a mate. Most anthropologists agree Minnesotans originated when Canadians first began breeding with Americans. They spend winters hibernating, in small dens on frozen lakes, or in larger dens in Florida. They live off their body fat and Netflix. Because of a shorter growing season, Minnesotans long subsisted on wild rice and Jell-O salad, until they developed a highly evolved raffle system for acquiring meat. They began walking on two legs once they discovered they could eat food on a stick. In recent years, many refugees have arrived in Minnesota, fleeing unstable and inhospitable regions, such as Wisconsin. These Wisconsin-Minnesotans have difficulty assimilating, chiefly because they pray to a different Sports God. Some say this is understandable, as the Minnesotan Sports God does not answer prayers. Minnesotans have a written tradition and pass down their history in the form of runestones. Runestones are notoriously open to interpretation, and debates rage whether the Kensington-Alexandria area was "discovered" in the 1300s by Scandinavians, or by the bastard offspring of King Boreas and Princess Kay. Other theories include magic missionaries, space aliens, or the people who were already here. Many thanks to fellow researchers Eric Anderson, Karen Anderson, Dave Brand, Nancy Brewster, Ron Brewster, Chris Briscoe, Ed Dickinson, Mark Fearing, Kevin Featherly, Kathy Henderson, Rob Hubbard, Tammy Nelson and Mike Sooy. Also to Steve Sack, John MacIntyre, Vernon Oickle and Alex Hickey for tireless work in carbon dating the fossil evidence. Kirk Anderson is a proud (but not too proud) Minnesotan; a cartoonist, illustrator, animator and writer; the former political cartoonist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press ; and a former weekly cartoonist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune opinion page. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek International, The Los Angeles Times, Forbes.com, The Onion, and hundreds of other publications. A long-time St. Paul resident, he lives with his wife, Nancy, and two invisible friends, Winky and Mr. Tithers.