"I know a lot of people swear by the mysterious healing power of chicken soup. But I think they are mainly Yankees. Here in the South, a mess of butter beans is what we look to for physical and spiritual rejuvenation. They're a sure cure for the blues."

Joe Adams is a columnist for the prestigious North Carolina newspaper, "The Gaston Gazette." "Butter Beans for the Soul" is a collection of his hilarious editorials for people with small-town hearts.

A sampling of butter bean substitutes for the weary spirit include: RC Cola and Moonpies Singing, even if you stink Touring families of...