David Giffels Conversational Quirk

In one of his most well-known books, Giffels once said, “A conversational quirk exists among natives of this region: Whenever we hear people say they’ve moved here from somewhere else, we instinctively respond, ‘Why?’” The Hard Way on Purpose, by David Giffels, talks about what it is like living in Midwestern Ohio, specifically Akron, Ohio. Through essays and dispatches, Giffels explores the meaning of identity and places, hamburgers, thrift stores, music, and the heartbreak of basketball. Akron has suffered some downfalls throughout the years, with legends coming and going, the fall of the rubber industry, and through his essay’s and dispatches, Giffels reflects on those downfalls that Akron experienced. Giffels also reflects on the local

It was home to the B.F. Goodrich Company, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company before it was all taking away. In one of his most well-known books, Giffels once said, “My city is particularly stricken-a place known for most of the twentieth century as the Rubber Capital of the World was stunningly, completely stripped of that identity by virtue of a swift and profound industrial collapse.” (citation pg.67) From being known to unknown, Giffels talks about that specifically in that quote. The industrial collapse was maybe one of Akron’s major downfalls that they experienced. Akron had lost its identity and at that time, Akronites felt a feeling of loss and failure. They became known and then unknown. What could be worse than losing your identity? Well, losing its identity was not the first and only time that made Akronites feel like a failure and lost, the famous basketball player that everyone knows and loves, was born and raised in Akron and caused equally amount of damage. Maybe

Akronites felt all types of pain; failure, betrayal, lost, etc. But through all of that, Akronites still had pride. Other than being home to major rubber companies and a famous basketball player, it was also home to bowling, hamburgers (so they say), and New Wave music. In one of his most well-known books, Giffels once said, “Bowling, to Akron, is something like sex to Paris and celebrity to Los Angeles and dry heat to Phoenix.” (pg. 100) and “Akron was bowling, and bowling was Akron.” (pg. 105) Bowling came from Akron. A well-known sport that everyone played at least once in their life. A major sport came from a city that was having an identity crisis. That’s something to feel proud about. Yes, it’s not a famous sport, but it’s a sport and it came from Akron. Besides bowling, two other things came from Akron that is well-known around the