Call him Ceiling Fan Man. Call him Sticker-Shock Guy. Or even Ignacio Finkelstein, Roller-Rink King. Lane Filler, columnist for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, is all this and more in a hilarious new Hub City book, Ask Mr. Smartypants. Filler’s book is now available on our website and in area stores. He will do a reading at the Hub City Bookfest on Saturday, Dec. 6 at noon in the Showroom at HUB-BUB. Meanwhile stay in touch with Lane Filler at www.askmrsmartypants.com. “Don’t let the good manners fool you. Once a wiseass, always a wiseass,” says Josh Lieb, co-executive producer, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Filler is, quite simply, one of the funniest newspaper columnists writing in America today, a feat made more impressive by the fact that he is not, strictly speaking, a humorist. He is also one of the most innovative political and philosophical thinkers around, a feat made more impressive by the fact that he injects mirth into nearly every topic, no matter how serious.

When Filler addresses parenting or marital relations-Man vs. Household-the laughter comes fast and furious, but an insightful observation or a sobering reminder often lurks, as well-camouflaged and as powerful as a knockout punch.