It Takes a Villager is a treasure trove of collected newspaper columns written by a sharp, insightful and provocative ex-New Yorker from his adopted California seaside village home, Laguna Beach. These delightful commentaries are selected from over 50 years of Arnold Hano's observations of the local history and politics of the town and the foibles of its inhabitants. They demonstrate his affection for Laguna Beach; his effective social activism, including constant vigilance to insure that Laguna retains its village atmosphere; and his love for his family and friends, all leavened with his wry, irreverent humor. This collections rounds out Hano's productive writing life, in which he has written 26 books, including A Day in the Bleachers, as well as hundreds of magazine articles and over 200 newspaper columns.

From the subway ride to the ballpark, through batting practice and warm-ups, to the game-winning home run, A Day in the Bleachers describes inning by inning the strategies, heroics, and ineluctable rhythms of the opening game of the 1954 World Series. Here are the spectacular exploits of the Indians and Giants, and of a young player named Willie Mays, who made the most-talked-about catch in baseball history.