Funny read, honest perspective
580526
Nick Offerman is hilarious, and discusses his humble upbringing and hard work to land the role he is known most for.
3082898
I love Tina Fey's down-to-earth attitude and self-deprecating humor.  She's actually a normal person despite her fame.  A quirky and enjoyable read.  Warning: If reading in a public setting, don't be surprised if people look at you strangely for bursting out laughing every five minutes.  This is a normal side effect of the book.  And no, I am not reading this as a woman in her 40s.  I am 23 and found this book hilarious, enlightening, and inspiring.
3054857
I enjoyed reading this, it was a fun romp with some serious meaning too. A nice take on a college kid dealing with what he considers a character flaw (anxiety) and how he gets a handle on this and learns others are not so different with "flaws" of their own. It's funny, well paced, relatable situations for that age group, and the characters are fairly well drawn and quite believable (well, Grandma Gertie is a bit of a stretch!)
2574029
This was a book which I just picked up because I saw it on a few bestseller lists. I'm not a huge Tina Fey fan (I loved her on SNL but don't watch 30 Rock) and didn't think she had some amazing story to tell which would make me feel like I connected with her on a deeper level. I just wanted an easy read and something that was semi-lighthearted. On all those fronts, I wasn't disappointed.

She definitely shows her writing prowess with all of the anecdotes that are present in the book. I found myself smiling and laughing throughout the entire time (with the exception of The Mother's Prayer for Its Daughter chapter, which seemed more like filler). And her personality easily shines through.

But with that said, I also picked up Kathy Griffin's memoir with the same intent and was completely blown away with the depth and honestly she wrote with (and of course, it was hilarious on top of that). And Jerry Weintraub's memoirs weren't as funny but he definitely gave you a larger sense of who he is as a person with the amount of detail that he went into. Compared to those two, I felt like this book was a little hollow.

So, it's not too deep, too preachy or too insightful but I guess that wasn't supposed to be the premise. I just wish that it had ended up being a little more than what it was.
2779611
Honest, funny and heartbreaking! Well worth the read.
4808384
This book gave me a new perspective on issues we hear about everyday as women--how to behave at work, how to make friends, how to deal with being unlikeable, how to embrace your imperfections, and so much more. What affected me most was the tip for alpha females prone to depression. It helped me see that I don't always have to be perfect or smile until my face hurts. I can feel what I feel, and feeling is good, not something to hide. I really enjoyed the writing style and found it funny at times. It was like talking to a best friend who just tells me like it is! It's fast, easy to read with lots of food for thought. I closed the book knowing I had some good tools, ideas, and concepts to approach life differently one day at a time
1153343
This book kept a smile on my face during some trying times in the wilderness.  Bryson's hilarious observations on his experience with the outdoor industry and their ability to suck money out of customers for things like rain covers for backpacks (because as he notes, apparently they never thought we hikers might want to take them out when it was raining) begins his chronicle of two men's struggle over the adversity of the Appalachian Trail.
I must admit, I turned to this book for humor, so at times his historical narratives of the AT served as an effective sedative.  His tone could also be preachy at times, which served as a jarring change of pace after reading about his pudgy friend Katz throwing cans of Spam out into the wilderness.  Overall though, I certainly appreciate his reverence for the AT and efforts to educate the public on its signficance.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who's had any outdoors experience that has tried their patience.  Bryson's commendable progress towards his quest serves as an entertaining read any hiker can appreciate.
2856252
Prior to reading "Laid Off and Crazy Happy", I thought the book would be totally a humourous take on the daily life of a house husband.  However, I am presently surprised.  Andy Weisberg describes the sunny side of not working along with "a bit about the darker side of being out of work."  After each chapter, there are some reflective exercises to reinforce his discussion.

This would be a good book to read for someone who is seeking work and would help you see your situation from a different perspective.  Of course, his humorous observations make the book enjoyable.

Thank you GoodReads for the book.
631494
i enjoyed this thoroughly. mostly b/c i didn't take it too seriously. he has thought long and hard about what it is to be a cycling commuter and perhaps being a new yorker has left him jaded and angry, thinking he is being funny. i can appreciate it b/c i am such a person myself at times (hopefully not all the time) and i had a lot of fun reading it, laughing out loud. i certainly need a laugh at times so it all worked out. also, i belong to a Christian church and i *can* say that it was an enjoyable read (he has made fun of us to an immense degree) - mostly b/c i do not take myself so seriously. that said, yeah it's probably not for everyone as you can see from the many reviews already written. many do not like it and i can see why. so to each his/her own, and if you like bike snob nyc, (read a few blog posts first), then go for it. TBT i am not a blog reader but i have occasionally read a couple of his posts - and i haven't read the first book of his. hope this helps make a decision.
3543057
This was a fun read with a lot of humor and clever catch-lines mixed in with some more serious advice. It was written with the advice to start each secret off with and the majority of the time the author would go into further detail with examples to include further explanations. I shared some of the secrets with family and friends that were embarrassing to admit but true and marked a few pages of good advice that I'm planning to reference back to. I love his relatable struggles with Craigslist job postings, his journey as he is figuring out what marriage means, his struggles to find a purpose and never quit, and referencing everyone's struggle with Obsessive Comparison Disorder. I'm still debating if I should share the wealth and knowledge of this author and pass the book along or keep it all to myself, so I can enjoy it again.

Two of the reasons I loved this book:

The authors vivid comparisons...
"I check my phone more times than a frantic smoker takes puffs after a six-hour flight."
"This turbulent season in your 20s where you feel like you're getting the insides ripped out of you like crab legs at a Las Vegas buffet."

His humorous approach at bringing up advice we all need.
- You learned a lot about life from the game Oregon Trail.
- You can figure out compatibility with your mate by seeing what kind of Karaoke personality they are.
- What things everyone needs in their first cubicle.
- As well as teaching about the different personalities and awkward scenarios you'll run into with coworkers.

I would highly recommend this book to a twentysomething individual. It's humorous as well as versatile in it's variety of topics. It will act like a stepping stone into deeper conversation and get them thinking and asking more questions about life.
3949706
I like Michael Black's sense of humor about life - the good and the not-so-good.  He shares his ridiculous thoughts that like most of us, we never say out loud, or haven't thought them yet, until he brings it up.  I get that Martha feared he would 'pull the plug' too easily.  I feel that way about my Mom, though never said it out loud.  Made me raise and eyebrow and chuckle.

Great book for anyone that wants a casual read and doesn't want to concentrate too hard, yet looking to be inspired or engaged with interesting people.  Thanks Michael!
2710282
I appreciate using humor in tough times and being honest no matter what people may think.  Funny read with a great story
3555811
Currently in the throes of new motherhood myself (two babies nineteen months apart, like the author), I really appreciated this humorous and HONEST take on being a SAHM. The writer also articulates what so many of us are afraid to admit: Staying at home with our kids is the toughest job we've ever had, and feeling this way comes with a guilty conscience - since society deems staying at home with your children a privilege. The book is a collection of smaller stories which can be read in installments - perfect for busy moms who can't sit for an afternoon or evening to devour a good book like we used to! Definitely a great baby shower gift with lots of laughs!
2965584
Liked it a lot. It was a very easy read, funny but also gave me a new perspective of someone who suffers from depression. I loved the pictures, even my 10 year old dtr found the pictures funny without even reading the text. I had never read her blogs or knew anything about the writer. Just wished it was a little longer. Went through it pretty quick but feel like this may be a book I would go back to periodically for a laugh.
4566022
I picked up this book as an impulse; the title was intriguing.

It's a very funny read; I laughed out loud numerous times which I rarely do when reading. With the humor there were some social/political issues that did get one thinking. I appreciated the fact that Troost never preached or got on some political band wagon. Regardless, there were issues explored that caused me to ponder man's existence on this planet.

It is a quick read; it's hard to put down.

Troost's writing style is somewhat academic; even he makes comments on his long sentences. However, once the reader gets used to his style, it's engaging.

I can not recommend this book any more highly.
3702902
Ending a five-year marriage and looking up from the malaise which has covered her life like a fog, D.C.-based writer Cathy Alter begins a quest to transform her life, Oprah-style -- all by following the edicts of twelve magazines. "Up For Renewal: What Magazines Taught Me About Love, Sex, and Starting Over" is her humorous look at trying to attain the "perfect" life featured in the magazines' spreads -- and realizing that reality can actually be better than that.

With periodicals like Real Simple, O Magazine, Cosmo and Allure pouring into her mailbox, Cathy chooses to focus on improving one area of her life monthly. As she tries to end an office affair about to combust and desperately wants to improve her relationship with her well-meaning but critical mother, Cathy looks to her magazines for advice on getting through all of life's sticky situations.

There's much to like about Alter's wit and the hilarious situations in which she finds herself -- including all the gritty details about her affair with Bruno, the office lazybones who skates by on his Latin charisma. At many points I wanted to reach between the text and give Cathy's shoulder a good shake -- I mean, seriously, what was she doing sleeping with this guy . . . especially at work? -- I couldn't necessarily fault her for how her views on life had slipped.

I'm younger than Alter and haven't been married, let alone divorced, but I've ended plenty of relationships -- and know the pain that accompanies that. I could definitely sense her real desire to become an "improved" version of herself, but I did have a bit of a problem with the entire concept of looking to women's magazines for inspiration regarding that change. Still, it was a fun read with plenty of heart, and I loved that it read like a novel. And many women will probably find themselves typed out on Alter's pages -- I know I did.
1508081
Confession time: I have loved Iliza Shlesinger's standup since I accidentally stumbled across it while binging Netflix. Since then, I have spent a slightly unhealthy amount of time watching her standup and shows. Because I live under a rock (clearly), I hadn't realized she had published a book, but the moment I did, I bought it. No regrets. Girl Logic is funny, witty, insightful, and just real, in the most terrifying and crazy sense of the word.

In Girl Logic, Shlesinger attempts to make sense of the confusing, frustrating, and often contradictory life experience that is being female. From dating to looks to life pursuits, she covers it all. The book exhibits a lot of the snarky humor that Shlesinger is known for in her standup, but more than that, it calls on women to realize that it's okay to just be them. It's inspirational and thought-provoking about the things that matter most in life while still being wickedly funny.

In some of the best parts of the book, Shlesinger shares her own anecdotes and life experiences, from struggling with being an outsider growing up, to trying to be happy with the way she looks, to finding a place as a female comic in a world of men. In Girl Logic, Shlesinger celebrates the things that make women, well, womenadmitting that they can be confusing and be deterrents, at times, but they don't have to be.

While Girl Logic is obviously geared towards women (duh, it's in the title), there's a lot that men can get out of it, too. In fact, a lot of the advice, while written from the perspective of a woman, is applicable to any gender. The struggles Shlesinger faces are ones many people face, and while she speaks from the perspective she is familiar with, I believe anyone could enjoy this book and find something relatable and positive from the experience.

All in all, this book definitely delivered on laughs, inspiration, and some very real moments that made it a very enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend this.