Big Boy

Why a book about a man who weighed in the neighborhood of 400 pounds, stuttered, and died before the age of 60? If you were one of a legion of Norman Swanner's friends, you know why.

For those in his orbit, Norman became a modern-day folk hero. He was truly a bigger-than-life character. He could hold court with anyone. To Norman, there was no such thing as a stranger. From the moment you met him, you felt like you had known the Big Boy for years. If you were having a bad day, you couldn't help but end up with a smile on your face and a chuckle in your heart upon running into the Big Boy.

The exploits of most folk heroes end up being tall tales. In the case of Norman Swanner, the tales are actually true. As time passes, the legend that has become the Big Boy will surely morph itself into something that stretches the imagination. In the meantime, his family and friends can take solace in the fact that they knew some not-so-long-ago legend, but a real flesh-and-blood man who did something the rest of us can only hope to achieve - to leave the world a little bit of a better place than he found it.

Big Boy: The Life and (Often Hilarious) Times of Norman Swanner recounts the fun times and big heart of a very special man, told by the people who knew him best.