Vince Staten

About Vince Staten

Vince Staten is an American author and columnist known for his humorous and insightful takes on history, culture, and the quirks of everyday life. With an impressive portfolio of 17 books (and counting), numerous articles, and columns in publications like The New York Times, the (New York) Daily News, Saturday Review and Food & Wine, Staten has entertained readers with his unique blend of trivia, nostalgia, and warm anecdotes. His article on barbecue for Bon Appétit was even featured in the anthology Best Food Writing 2000.

Known for his "warm, chuckling tone" as noted by Booklist, Staten has a knack for making readers laugh while exploring the hidden corners of American life, from hardware stores to barber shops to baseball diamonds.

A Duke University graduate, Staten earned his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee on a Grantland Rice Fellowship. While at Tennessee, he made headlines as the university’s first male homecoming queen in a memorable and controversial election.

Real Barbecue: A Guide to the Best Barbecue Joints in America (1988) was called "the single best book on barbecue" by The Washington Post.

His humorous explorations of hardware stores and hardware stories earned him a spot on six episodes of the History Channel’s Modern Marvels series. Jeopardy used his book about drugstores as a category.

Explore Vince Staten’s works on Amazon and discover a unique voice that brings laughter, insight, and nostalgia to every page.