SI-COLOGY 1: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle

This is a very quick and easy read. I read it during a 6 hour plane ride and it made the trip tolerable. There were some laugh out loud moments but not as many as I would have thought. He tells the story of his childhood, wife and kids, his military career and briefly touched on what really brought him to fame (which is not something he sought). I've read all three "Duck Dynasty" books and I'd rate this one No. 2. Willie's book gives you the real background of Duck Dynasty. If you are a fan of the show -- you will enjoy it.

This is a short enjoyable book about the life of Si Robertson... "Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle". To fans of the show... a lot will seem familiar... until you realize that "old-Si"... has allowed the reader to go way beyond the quirky, lovable, character seen on TV. Si shares his childhood and all the inherent love and obstacles in a family growing up in the Louisiana "country". His life was built around hunting... fishing... sports... and a great love of G-d. All of his tales are interspersed with the off-the-wall-humor that he bubbles over with on every show... but bares much more of his faith and belief in Jesus.

As an honorably discharged veteran myself... I find it kind of funny... that the dizzily undisciplined Si wound up becoming a military "lifer"... it almost seems like an oxymoron. And as Si himself would say: "That's a fact Jack!"

For about eight years of my life... Louisiana was almost a second home to my son and I... and to this day the greatest fishing adventures we ever had were in Louisiana... and there is no second place. And whenever I talk to anyone about those days... I always start off by saying: "There's a reason it says **SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE** on their license plates!

And with that in mind... along with stories of Si's human family... the rest of the book is filled with stories about... fish... squirrels... rabbits... blackbirds... chickens... foxes... dogs... pigeons... bullfrogs... snakes... deer... alligators... wolves... coyotes... wild pigs... bumblebees... skunks...

In fact... I don't know what Si hated or feared more... school.... (To quote Si: "some of the most educated idiots I've ever met have a master's degree or PhD. They couldn't pour urine out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel!") ... or snakes!

Though this a "wildly" enjoyable read... the closing pages of the book are letters of love from his wife... daughter... and son.

This book is not just a down home story with a man who admittedly made mistakes, but it is also the story of a son, brother, husband, father, and military man and his faith in God and Family. A good clean book, a VERY fast read, and quite a bit of humor along the way. If you think you know Si, you don't know him until you have read this book.

Thanks Si for your service to this country, and for not being ashamed to be one of God's children.

I read this book in about 7 hours. I honestly did not understand a reviewer who gave it only 3 stars with a cryptic answer about only fans of the show would give it a higher rating. That is my paraphrase of course. But my response was ????. Who else but a fan of the show would want to read a book like this? I suppose there would be some bizarre people who indiscriminately read memoirs or biographies willy-nilly. I have never met one of these but, hey, anything is possible.

It is a smooth, enjoyable read. The "Uncle Si" on Duck Dynasty is a facet of the personality of Uncle Si and that comes out in the book. He is a story teller; there is no doubt about that. He warns you in the prologue about his stories and tells you he is telling it as best as he remembers. There are obvious places where he uses hyperbole but that is part of his story telling and charm. Whether it is about growing up in rural Louisiana with his father, mother, brothers and sisters or him going off to college for a short time or his time in the military, where he served in Vietnam for a year, or meeting his future wife and the problems and joys of having children, to how important his faith in Jesus is to him, you get a much fuller picture of Silas Robertson, affectionately known as Uncle Si. In my opinion, he is much smarter than he appears on TV and I noticed it in the book. His appreciation of the fans of "Duck Dynasty" comes out at the end. It would be a privilege to meet him, talk with him, and listen to more home style stories in person.

Another thing about the previously mentioned reviewer. He mentioned that he didn't know if Uncle Si wrote this or Mark Schlabach. If you read the "Acknowledgments" at the very end, Uncle Si thanks Mark Schlabach for "taking my stories and putting them all together to show my journey so far." He says what I suspected before I read the book. One of the main reasons I give this book 5 stars is that it reads like you are sitting down with Uncle Si, having some iced tea, with him telling you these stories. You will read hyperbole but it is obvious just like if you would hear him say it in person. I am a big fan of this show which is why I bought this book in the first place. After reading this book, I am a bigger fan of Uncle Si. I hope your experience of reading it was at least as good as mine. I already ordered the book about his brother, Phil Robertson and am hoping that one is as good as this one. I haven't had this pleasurable a read in a long time. Hey, enjoy it, Jack!

I'm a big DD fan and previously read Phil's great book. Si's book however read like a Dick and Jane book...."See Si run, see Si fish". Its a book that sounds like it was written for a 4th grade school project. Very short, little actual content. I still love Si, but his book is crap.

Just received prepaid on my IPad. Uncle Si is pretty much the same in his book as he is in the show.
Added in much more "background" information and history that makes Si the man he is today. A nice
fellow who loves God, family, and having a great sense of humor.
If you are DD or DC fan, you will be happy happy happy to have this book.

Okay, I think now is the time to admit it - I watch Duck Dynasty. I'm not a die-hard fan of the show, but I've progressed from a fan-by-default (Mister and Bug love it) to someone who looks forward to the show each week. Trust me when I say that it sneaks up on you. Si Robertson is pretty much the sole reason that I watch the show, and his book did not disappoint the fan in me.

Si Robertson is crazy, and I mean that in the most respectful and positive way possible. He has a no-holds-barred sense of humor, and he comes across as a person who does not care what other people think about him. I guess if you spent most of your childhood running around naked and with six older siblings (five of them brothers), you can't really pay too much heed to what people say/think. Si is also a veteran and devout Christian. He tells stories about all of that, as well as about hunting and fishing, in the book in such a way that would have me snorting as I tried not to laugh out loud.

Si and the other Robertson boys (and Phil's wife, Kay) grew up near where I lived, so I knew a lot of the stories already. However, Si-Cology gave a new depth to Si that I've never seen on Duck Dynasty or heard about from his old schoolmates. Some of the chapters had me laughing from mishaps in the woods, but his stories about Vietnam and the fertility problems he and his wife showed a different side of Si. Though I would feel a little down for him one minute, the next thing I knew, I'd be laughing again.

I would mostly only recommend Si-Cology to fans of the show, hunters and fishers, or people from my area, but I think it is a book that anyone could enjoy. It was a very fast read for me, and it never got boring. Each chapter was only a few pages, so even the most reluctant of readers would have a good time reading the book. I preordered my copy of Si-Cology ages ago, I'll also be getting the audiobook for Mister and I. I think there will be a new dimension to the book with Si reading it, and I look forward to it though I've already read the book.

- 3.5/5 Stars -

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received an digital copy of the book for reviewing purposes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way affected the outcome. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.

I never made it to the end! Horrible, and not nearly as interesting as the program. The "ghost writer" did a horrible job and could not quite translate this book into "Duck Dynasty" humor.....Sorry Si, but he did no justice for you! JE

Could have done without some of the "stories". Maiming and killing of family pets is a bit much. Stopped reading after that and probably will not finish the book.

I found this remaindered at the supermarket. (Sorry, Amazon!) I saw that Robertson had served in the military, a quick scan and the book looked interesting.
Then I started reading it from the beginning. "Si" was apparently "raised up" to kill all small animals. He brags of shining roosting birds at night and killing as many as possible. This was a very warped child. He sics his dogs on any cat who wanders by. He enjoys seeing the dogs tear the cat to pieces. This guy needs his beard trimmed, it's clearly ingrown badly.

I saw no qualifier, as in "Gawrsh, ahh am so sorry I murdered thousands of birds and dozens of family pets!" Just a big joke.

This guy is one super-sick creep. I put the book down and entirely swore off this warped family and their murderous ways. "Si-Cology?" More like "SI the Psycho!"

You can have this whole gang.