Balls on the Lawn Games to Live By

The serious leisure aficionado knows that it doesn't take much to transform a ho-hum afternoon into a truly memorable one—just a few balls, some mallets, maybe a horseshoe or two. The transformative nature of lawn sports takes center stage in Balls on the Lawn, an ode to classic outdoor activities, from the common (bocce) to the obscure (Kan-Jam). Including the history and complete rules of 10 iconic games, plus appropriate accompanying cocktails (serious leisure requires serious sustenance), Balls on the Lawn will revolutionize Saturday afternoons through the long-held traditions, robust competition, and abundant camaraderie of lawn sports.

Brooks Butler Hays is a horseshoe-loving freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.

Jeremy Stein is a designer and illustrator in New York City.