*The Life and Times of Bubba Lee Boatbum* is a mid-life, rite-of-passage novel that addresses contemporary 21st century society, largely through linguistic humor but also direct social dialog and commentary. Bubba, the protagonist, is a Naval military retiree running from a traumatic past toward a personal dream he is already living but fails to recognize. Other important themes include religion, parenting, politics, male friendship and chauvinism. First and foremost, however, this is a love story between a man and his ex-wife, a man and his off-spring, and a man in love with life in general. In an era of emphasis on higher education and a culture-wide push toward an informed electorate, it is good to remember what was once a common understanding, that formal education is not the only route toward knowledge. Bubba Lee Boatbum is a life-smart common man who knows when to dodge the “guvmint” and where to read between the lines of the latest political spin. He manages to live a life of honor and camaraderie by applying common sense and experiential intelligence to life's often chaotic circumstances. Bubba shows us that a good heart and good intentions still count on the field of life's everyday battles.