SERIOUSLY?!?!  What is wrong with some people?
926537
I just watched this on pay-per-view today.  I simply cannot fathom how some people's reviews are anything but 5 stars on this movie.  This is only the second movie I've ever watched in my 45 years on this planet that made me laugh so hard that I literally fell out of my chair onto the floor (the other movie being "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective").  I'm a big fan of Kristen Wiig, and I'm now happy to say that I'm a big fan of Melissa McCarthy (from "Mike & Molly" fame).  Not only is this movie laugh-out-loud-'til-your-gut-is-wrenching funny, but it's also a movie with real heart and a nice quality storyline to go with it.  But there are a couple of scenes in particular that will go down in movie history as being classic comedy.  While I won't give anything away here to those who have not seen this movie yet, all I'm going to say is the "Bridal Shop" scene and the "Little Boy w/Glasses" scene.  All of the characters are great, but Kristin Wiig and Melissa McCarthy's characters are far & away the scene stealers here.  The movie isn't hilarious the entire way through as there is a meaningful plot that plays true to life for many I'm sure.  But there's something to be said for a movie that has you laughing out loud within the first 2 minutes (not to mention putting a 45 year old man into hysterics to the point at which I nearly thought I'd have to call 911).  This is an absolute MUST SEE comedy for anyone who has any sense of humor.  10 stars in my book!
1940916
This book was sent to me for review. I am an avid exerciser who visits the gym at least 3 times a week. So naturally I was curious.

At first I thought the book would be one of those humorous coffee table books. But in fact, while the chapter titles are humorous, the content is quite serious.

And that brings me to my biggest concern. Who is going to read this book? People do not become hooked on exercise through logic. As the book suggests, if you take away one excuse, they will find another. Unfit people will be offended if they get this book as a gift and they certainly won't buy it.

I can see fitness trainers giving this book to clients as a gag gift...but it's not really funny.

The suggestions to defuse the complaint make sense, for the most part. For the excuse, "My spouse won't let me stop at the gym on the way home," I think the only answer is, "See a marriage counselor!" Some suggestions are beyond the reach of most people, such as, "Get a friend to help with the housework" or, "Encourage the boss to have a  walk-and-talk meeting."

The problem is that excuses just cover an underlying reason that's too deep for a trivial response (and may even be buried deeply in someone subconscious). For instance, one twenty-something male admitted he won't go to the gym because he's not very good at exercise. He was embarrassed to work out in public. Lots of people gave him suggestions - everything from a home gym to a personal trainer to coming to the gym when it's empty. He rejected them all. Bottom line: For whatever reason, he won't do it. But I bet if he gets a girl friend who starts going with him, all those reasons will disappear overnight.

The author's bio needs to be reworked. The words "she giggles" do not belong in a biography. Her credentials seem related more to nutrition than exercise, and exercise motivation seems to be a whole separate field.  She reports that she rejected a hot dog as "unhealthy" when she was eight. She says she likes helping seniors across the street. It's not clear how these facts qualify her to motivate couch potatoes. And these days "seniors" often can be seen running down the street, not needing help to cross it.
1986673
Ok, we all get it, Lynne Truss has a problem with holding a door open without getting a thank you, in addition to talking about general politeness for 206 pages.

What shocked me incredibly is her comment on page 5:
" Whenever I hear of someone being gluten intolerant or lactose intolerant, for example, I feel I've been missing out. I want to be gluten intolerant too. I mean, how much longer do we have to put up with that gluten crap?"

This is the most insulting, disrespectful and ignorant thing I've ever heard.  Having grown up with lactose intolerance and never been able to have a milk shake or regular ice cream, it is extremely hard for me to understand why a well educated person would make such a mean spirited remark?

Am I just missing the joke here?
If anybody can explain this to me it would be greatly appreciated.
Or am I just old-fashioned, and jokes about somebody's disease or allergy are now a new cool thing to say?

OH, you have "your choice of disease/allergy", well, too bad, I wish I had it too; how much longer do we have to put up with that "your choice of disease/allergy" crap?

Wow - I can't help myself I still think this is horrifying! The wost thing you could possible say to a person with a certain disease or allergy!
1511702
THE BOOK WAS GREAT AND ALL, BUT WHAT PISSES ME OFF IS THAT SOME OF THESE BLACK WOMEN IN THESE STORIES HAVE A BOYFRIEND OR A HUSBAND, AND THEYRE OUT THERE CHEATIN OR HAVIN AN AFFAIR. WHAT KINDA SH!# IS THAT?!!!! THATS WHY NOBODY CAN TRUST THESE WOMEN. I LOVE THEM, BUT I KNOW THAT IM NOT GONNA BE HAVIN NO LASTIN RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. CAUSE THATS NOT WHAT THEY WANT. THEY WANT SEX, THEN THATS WHAT IMMA GIVE THEM. AND THEY RUN AROUND CRYIN BOUT THEY CANT FIND A GOOD MAN. THANKS TO BROWN SUGAR 2, I KNOW WHAT THESE SISTAHS WANT. AND IMMA GIVE IT TO THEM. THEY DONT WANNA BE FAITHFUL, THEN THEY COULD BE THE OLD ONE IN THE CLUB, CAUSE "IM INTO HAVIN SEX, I AINT INTO MAKIN LOVE....." LET THE GAMES BEGIN.....
1156310
What the hell is the matter with men of that culture?  Repress women because you are afraid they may learn about the world, may leave?  WTF???  They need to learn the term "If Mama Ain't Happy Ain't No One Happy".

They teach them that women of other countries are whores?  WOW.  This is an eye opener that will piss you off to the point you want to fling the book, but you can't because you need to know what happens next.
595626
And we wonder why children are being bullied, couples no longer feel the need to honor commitment and demonstrate "give and take" .. and  thus create another generation of emotionally damaged citizens... There is enough garbage in everyday life in today's world... we don't need more of it on the screen.  The bar is set low enough as it is for young generations.  Hope they deep six this one.
854095
Dr. Simon boils various dysfunctional relationships and personality types down to their bare bones. This makes me wonder why we are such dysfunctional messes if their root causes are so easily sorted out. So many thousands of years of human history and we are still just as broken as ever. Why are these skills not taught in schools and elsewhere? But, at least one can start here with "The Judas Syndrome" to start making sense out of the astonishing stunts the we sometimes pull as broken, fallible human beings.
859041
Many of the questions in this book are incredibly disturbing.  Like the one about whose pet you would kill.  Or what country you would nuke.  Or what family member you would like to watch you have sex.  Or who you would lock up in a room and torture.  What the hell is wrong with these people?
4835377
.  A tough situation for Sugar I have a hard time understanding mean spirited people.  Try living in other shoes, it could be heartbreaking.
3774687
I just finished reading this book and will be returning it post haste to the library tomorrow. 90% of what is written in this book I found to be crazy talk. I am a young Christian woman who has come a long way from believing the world revolved around and my opinions, to now believing that no two people view life the same way or has the exact same experiences day to day much less over a life time. I believe, and the author herself writes, one person's toxin is another person's balm. No one is perfect and in life we all experience situations that we categorize in the good or bad tanks of our memory. To place a person in a category of toxic or non toxic is rediculous. I give this book two stars based on the last couple of chapters that talks about being nice to people. DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU. If you disrespect me that is your business but if I decide to do that back to you how does that make me a better person? The Bible says God protects us from our enemies and will make so that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. So what do I need with calculations to tell me how to treat one personality versus another? The only constant is ME and the only person I can control in ANY situation is MYSELF. This book is very outward looking and contradicts a lot of what the Bible speaks on about judging and treating others.

Sometimes it's not about who a person is but where they are in life.
The person I am not is not the same perso nI was one year ago. If everyone I encountered had written me off as being toxic because I was recovering from a bad experience they knew nothing about, I probably would still be in that same state. But when you are strong and confident in who you are as a person you make an effort to help people bring out the best in themselves. Yes, we all have our limits on how much negative energy we can endure, but that is all part of life. One thing we should never do is condemn someone and place them in a box with a lable. Unfortunately, that is all I got from this book. We don't always realize when we're behaving in a toxic way and someone turning the tables doesnt bring that weakness to light much less encourage the person to overcome it. If anything, it does the opposite and reinforces the negative behavior.  What I find to work best for me is to be direct, gentle and honest with people. If there is no acknowledgement or change in behavior then yes, I will create a healthy distance and for the sake of my sanity and emotional well-being, remove myself from the situation. I much rather spend my time and energy learning ways to grow and improve on myself than figuring out anotehr person (esp if they're a stranger I will more than likely never meet again). I rather read a book that teaches me how to bring out the best in me that one encourages the worst to be brought out in me. If you know someone who does possess toxic characteristics bring to their attention gently and in private. One book I would recommend is "Put Your Best Foot Forward: Make a Great Impression By Taking Control of How Others See You" by Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, Ph. D. and Mark Mazzerlla.

Review update:

Just finished reading a book that addresses similar issues and situation except it doesn't focus so much on other people's behavior and personalizing it. It's a really great read called "How to be a Really Nice Person. Doing the Right Thing Your Way" by Pat  (former news anchor of CBS-TV Morning News). I picked it up this afternoon from the library and its such a pleasant read that I paused it only to share it with my fellow Amazonians. Pat does a great job of suggesting how to address people and situations. Her perspective  is less complicated (no psychoanalyzing relative strangers and placing them in categories based on negative personality traits---yay!).

08/28/09
4552159
While we may not always get along with our peers we need to respect them. This shows how important it is to tell someone when you are being picked on or messed with and in understanding that there are some folks who cannot appropriately express or demonstrate friendship skills. Thus meanies may want to be friends but lack the skills to do so.
1829250
It's not hate, its a tool to teach our kids about the twisted world that we live in and the twisted people on the "other side."

Have you ever noticed that conservatives don't cry nearly as loud as liberals do when you step on their toes?  I have two toddlers and I am constantly trying to teach them not to cry or whine to get their way.  I wish the parents of liberals would have done the same thing.
3376868
Really horrible, terrifying, mean, cold hearted, despicable violent crimes that some people are capable of is a horrible nightmare. Why they decide to behave in such ways just puzzles me.
4885135
Sis, I am shamed to hear your personal experiences and observances within the Israelite Community. While I agree with your frustration with the division and ego trip of many Israelite men, I've noticed through the context of your book that you simply lacked the privilege of experiencing true believers o the Israelite community. All the people you expressed that ran you away from the faith, should be interrogated on whether or not they truly believed. Many people don't belive, the just want to belong. Due to chemical imbalances, low self esteem, etc, many people join the "community" because it is a "movement" or way of life. These people you've experienced are very poor presenters of the Israelites who actually apply scripture. There shouldn't have been pimps, drug adduicts, thieves, fornicators, abusers, gossipers, respect of persons, pride slanderers, and etc - had they actually applied what was written. These hypocrites have scattered the sheep, as the Pharisees did. Despite your cover photo and title, I, one who subscribes to Israelite teaching, am none of the things you mentioned. I actually teach against all of that with the bible. Despite my faith, I have supported your book, and read it entirely. There are good Israelite camps out there, you just have to look. Stop following these busted, wanna be thug, bumraelites.
3815345
This sick man is crazy !  He thought that making her his own she was saving others from this hurt
he should of ask her what her opinion was about it all. How do people like these ones feel they are doing a good thing
2354591
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AUTHOR!
Being bullied, left out, ostracized, deliberately ignored/avoided for what ever reason, is just plain wrong.  It's done to others besides children and nerds.
I've never seen a stranger who didn't smile or join in with a happy or funny comment or two back at me, site makes standing in line riding a bus, or wherever a nicer experience. No matter who or what they are, or look like, just do.
You may never know if it improves they're day, but it sure will yours.
801233
I think the world has gone crazy.  We expect___what we don't do.  We all have made mistakes even racial slurs in one way or another, be serious we have.  We sometimes let our mouths over ride our thoughts.  That doesn't mean we should be condemned for the rest of our lives, or deprived of a lively hood. We also shouldn't be judging others, what makes us think we are so perfect.  Someone even makes an apology from the bottom of their hearts and that still isn't enough. When will we all learn to forgive and forget and not continue to dwell on the negative.  Life is too short to not look at an issue, form an opinion, express it and then let it go, and let that person go on with their life.  Why do we feel we need to tear down others, could it be to cover up our own shortcomings? People wake up, look at the positive, forget the negative and move on to a happier life.  Remember the phrase "What Would Jesus Do".  I wish all the luck and happiness to all of the Deens and hope they have a great future.  Please continue to make us happy with your delicious food and future tv shows.