Often times my literary ego (aka high school English teacher BS) keeps me from enjoying the memoirs of pop culture icons, but Amy Poehler's "Yes Please" is an artistic triumph. Perhaps entirely because of its imperfections.
I would have loved to say "I couldn't put it down!" but my adult years have taught me *some* self-restraint, so I unwittingly bookmarked it a couple times over a few days to get as much work done as possible so as not to arouse suspicion from my superiors.
This book, for one beautifully brutal work-week, became my everything. I am so grateful Amy shared her soul with me because this stranger needed her so desperately. She will never know how she has helped me. And that's ok. She also taught me that there are probably a few people who I might have helped this way. Her words grounded me. They validated me. They reminded me why I love to read.
Amy Poehler has written a book saturated with witticisms, credos and battle cries. In doing so, she has achieved a rare feat of enchanting her way onto my sacred list of Favorite Authors. This is a difficult task. I am not even on that list. And my writing is something to write home about.
"Yes Please" is honest, funny and harsh. There are times where I am so deeply entrenched in her disquiet, and I know it, I get it, and I hate it all with her. I have never been a Hollywood actor, or a mother, or a wife, but in some inexplicable interconnected way, her intuition guides my insight into her strange fiction-filled reality.
It's her connections in life that she fuses together through a variety of vignettes that she balances with non-sequiturs, footnotes or pure silliness. Oh how I needed those silly parts because sometimes what she had to say wasn't easy to sit with as a person guilty of similar offenses.
I am grateful on a pure human level that she seemed wholeheartedly overwhelmed with writing this book and that writing it sometimes just wasn't much fun for her. Not because I wanted her to suffer, but because I often find that the best books to read are, upon closer inspection, labors of love. Her frustration echoes from the sheer weight of the physical book (it's DECEPTIVELY heavy) to her constant avowals of this frustration within the preface, within Seth Meyer's written cameo, and even within her acknowledgements at the end. Be prepared--she complains about how hard it is to write an awful lot. But that's because writing is hard and contingent on connections--real or imagined.
Maybe, just maybe, this will convince people to blog less and connect more. Especially if you decided to read the e-book and you must swipe your way guiltily through her chapter on why technology is the devil. (Side note: This book often did a good job of making me feel guilty for choosing the easy way, but Amy Poehler never made me feel alone as I stewed in that guilt. Usually, if she didn't have a brilliant solution to abate that sinking feeling deep within me, she would have a sliver of silver lining and remind me I am just human. Just like she is.)
I am in awe of her authenticity. She owed me none of that honesty, but it felt like I was taking a warm bath in estrogen. I was reminded of all the ways women are beautiful creatures with exceptional powers and a unique cadence that we share through our sincerity.
I write this review to pay homage to a new legend, even if only in my eyes. Amy Poehler has rejuvenated a very lost soul and I need to celebrate her.
In honor of her, I immediately shared my book with my dear friend. At first, she regaled in the density and visual content, like I did, for a few short minutes, then proceeded to open the book and immerse herself in the preface. Out loud, she spoke the words I remembered saying to myself just five short days ago...
"I'm on page ix and I've already learned so much!"
Thank you, Amy Poehler, for teaching me, reminding me and, most critically, empowering me.
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You have to care about your work but not about the result. You have to care about how good you are and how good you feel, but not about how good people think you are or how good people think you look.Highlighted by 8,277 Kindle readers- Decide what your currency is early. Let go of what you will never have. People who do this are happier and sexier.Highlighted by 6,047 Kindle readers
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This book made me love Amy Poehler even more!
I have been a fan of Amy Poehler for awhile now. I enjoyed her on Saturday Night Live, watching and rewatching Parks and Recreation, and I love anything she does together with Tina Fey. I love to read and she wrote a book, so (bibliophile that I am) I bought a copy.I am generally not a huge fan of autobiographies, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I laughed out loud (obviously, the woman is hilarious), I enjoyed the personal photos she shared and the tales of how she got to be where she is today. She is an inspiring woman and it was interesting to learn more about where she came from and just how very human she is. I also enjoyed the anecdotes about her early days and it was cool to look up her old stuff online (the Upright Citizens Brigade and Andy's Little Sister bits were particularly enjoyable). It's a good read about an interesting woman and I'm happy to have it in my collection. More Amy Poehler? Yes, please!
Top reviews from other countries
Clara Deboosere
Bien écrit et drôle au souhait
Reviewed in France on December 16, 2018
