For over two decades, writer, rabble-rouser, and bon vivant, Stuart Schuffman (aka Broke-Ass Stuart), has been chronicling life in San Francisco with grit, wit, and an open bar tab. Part memoir, part cultural archive, The Worst of Broke-Ass Stuart brings together twenty years of stories about scraping by, speaking up, and falling in and out of love with the most beautifully heartwarming and heartbreaking place in America. With delectable accounts of modern life in a big city, Schuffman’s writing harkens back to greats like Herb Caen and Jimmy Breslin, a true champion of the working-class citizen. His weekly column, Broke-Ass City, appeared in the San Francisco Examiner for over 6 years. 

From late-night Muni rides to early morning hangovers, protest marches to dive bars, political takedowns to poetic goodbyes, this collection features Stuart’s most infamous, beloved, iconic, and occasionally ill-advised work. It also chronicles his weird and wonderful escapades, such as running for Mayor of San Francisco and garnering over 20,000 votes, traveling the world on someone else’s dime, and hosting his own TV show on IFC. These essays, ruminations, and poems, many of which originally appeared in the San Francisco Examiner, Lonely Planet, SFGate, and more, paint a portrait of a city that’s constantly changing, yet somehow always home. 

If you’ve ever waited tables, cried in a dive bar, danced in weird costumes in the street, tried to pay rent in drink tickets, or been in love with a city that might not love you back, this is your book. 

About the author:

Stuart Schuffman is a writer, poet, TV host, activist, and full-time cultural instigator. His website, BrokeAssStuart.com, is one of the Bay Area’s most influential platforms for arts, culture, politics, and nightlife. His writing has been translated into multiple languages, and he once hosted a travel show on IFC called Young, Broke & Beautiful. Stuart was named “Best Writer” by SF Weekly and “Best Local Website” by the SF Bay Guardian/48 Hills. He lives in San Francisco, where he continues to write, rant, and resist.