A speaker (Johnny Knoxville) recounts first reading You Can't Win (by Jack Black) around age 25 after a recommendation from his friend John Lenson. He describes repeatedly rereading the book to revisit its characters—Jack, Foot and a Half George, the Sanctimonious Kid, and Salt Chunk Mary—and expresses affection for the book and gratitude to his friend.
How old were you when you read this? 25 ish. My friend John Lenson gave me that book. He turned me on to a few great books. Ask the dust. John Fonte. A book called My Friends by Emmanuel Bove. Thank you, John, for a lot of things, but that one, I just. I've read it so many times. You know, it's one of those books that you just. Or me. At least I'll go back and reread. Just cause I want to be with those characters again. I want to hang out with Jack again and hang out with Foot and a Half George and the Sanctimonious Kid and Salt Chunk Mary, who could say no quicker than anyone. And none of her nos ever meant yes when she sold everything from a barrel of whiskey to a baby carriage.
