shelf notes: Yes Please

Monday, December 29, 2014

Yes Please

*Yes Please* Amy Poehler 4/5	Published 2014 First Sentence "I like hard work and I don't like pretending things are perfect."
Publisher's Description: In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book is full of words to live by.
Dear Reader, Oh Amy... can you be my best friend? I was super excited for this book and it didn't let me down. Poehler delivered timely jokes and punches that sometimes had you gasping for air. However, and yes... I will gripe about what isn't "perfect" about this comedian's book... I wasn't thrilled with the non-comedic advice she was dishing out. I'm not a huge "self-help" fan and this became borderline just that (at times). As you can clearly see, the rating may have been a perfect FIVE if Poehler stuck to what she has going on, her comedic wit. That talent, woah... she has it. I found her personal history fascinating and was even impressed with her crazy name dropping. Speaking of, I listened to this on audiobook and I wouldn't suggest ANY other way to read this book. Amy invites a bunch of her "celebrity" friends to her recording session for the book, thus presenting us with numerous cameos from some highly impressive names (Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner just to name two). This clever woman has armed herself with a troop of personalities to strengthen her own magnetic charm. I tell you what, it sold me. What exactly had me so joyful about Yes Please? How about Patrick Stewart reading intimate thoughts from Poehler's writing?!? That just about made an entire day for me. I was really impressed with the chapter on drugs, of all the life lessons Poehler tried to throw at me, this one didn't seem as annoying, she actually gave us some really good points. I found myself jotting this down right after; "finally someone my age who gives an honest account of past digressions but gives it to you straight, all the life experiences summoned up in three sentences "drugs suck", "drugs help" and "drugs are fun"". So yeah, I might not have learned anything from that chapter but I really appreciate a good analyzation of a controversial issue, especially one that falls in line with my own opinions. Lastly, one quote that made me snort/laugh, "If I could eat my children, I would". Yes Poehler, that is why I find you so hysterical, eating babies... always funny. Anyways, I think you should listen to this book. To be honest with you, I think everyone should listen to this book when they've had a REALLY shitty week and need to escape from it, Yes Please is the perfect dose of medicine for that gloom and doom day. Happy Reading, AmberBug