Knocking the Neighbors

"Knocking the Neighbors" by George Ade is a compilation of amusing stories that showcases a slice of American life at the start of the 1900's. Packed with comical takes on how people act, what society expects, and the funny things that happen when people get together, especially through different characters and their adventures. Ade's work is full of cleverness and poking fun, shining a spotlight on everything from regular townspeople to the wealthy folks in the city. Starting in a small, odd town in the Midwest, readers meet Milt and Henry, two shop owners known for acting like they're very moral, but they're secretly planning a crazy trip to the city. As they go on an adventure filled with fancy dinners and fun activities, the difference between how they act in public and what they do in private brings up the idea of how people pretend to be something they're not. With lots of laughs and sharp observations, Ade kicks off a funny look at what people are really like.