A Knack for Knowing Things brings together in book form the best of his writing and demonstrates his talents as a master storyteller with plain-spoken, intimate prose.

After more than fifteen years of covering hard news, writing a newspaper column gave Boxmeyer the freedom to tell stories of more than just the politicians and the famous. "I realized that the interesting people and places nobody ever wrote about held more fascination for me, and for my readers, than all the governors, mayors, and city council members who never seemed to be much persuaded by my opinions anyhow. I...