Attention ladies and gentlemen: the Captain has switched off the No Smoking sign. Keep your seat belts lightly fastened, order a double bourbon on the rocks, kick back and get comfortable. We are in for a long strange flight through the streets of Boston and Philadelphia, Philippine tribal villages, lush tropical islands, a storybook kingdom, and the State of Israel.

In this collection of curious short stories and odd little essays, C. L. Hoffman introduces us to a colorful array of "square pegs" and social desperados, kibitzers, criers, wild men and wise guys. Hoffman describes each of...