In 1996, Craig Wilson began writing a column for USA Today called "The Final Word." In it, he extolled the virtues of the true pleasures in life--clotheslines, freshly cut firewood, sweet corn, and Adirondack chairs--and looked back on his childhood in the country with fondness and an infectious sense of humor. Wilson's message struck a nerve, and now he receives hundreds of letters and e-mails each week from readers who share his sense of nostalgia and appreciate his warm, thoughtful observations on daily life.

It's the Little Things... showcases the best of "The Final...