Bossypants by Tina Fey

This month The Savvy Reader Book Club read Tina Fey’s book Bossypants. I chose this book after learning it was the best book Sheryl Sandberg read last year. I was a bit apprehensive about selecting it after reading several mixed reviews; some reviewers found it hilarious while others didn’t think it was funny at all.

My thoughts:

Bossypants is funny:
It’s not the funniest book I’d ever read. Bill Bryson’s book A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trailstill holds that distinction, but it was funny. This book’s humor is classic Tina Fey. If you ever watched Tina’s TV show 30 Rock you will recognize the humor. I realized Liz Lemon was Tina Fey or perhaps Tina Fey was Liz Lemon.

Tina can be a bit vulgar:
When I checked Bossypants out from the library, the librarian told me her book club didn’t like it. They thought it was too vulgar. I actually didn’t find the vulgarity to be too bad. In my opinion Caitlin Moran’s book How to Be a Woman was much worse. As you may recall her book was so crass I wasn't able to finish it. I do think if you’ve never watched 30 Rock you will find the chapter that includes dialogue of the show’s characters weird.

I’m not sure what this book is:
Bossypants is not a memoir. Tina Fey doesn’t analyze her life or provide us with insight in to who Tina Fey really is. Nor is it a career or how to book. My library classifies it as stage entertainment (whatever that means).

Tina is one of us:
I did learn the reason I like Tina Fey is because she started out like many of us. She grew up in a middle class family, had a regular childhood, felt like a misfit in college and struggles with many of the same issues we do. She is tenacious, an incredibly hard worker and has difficulty balancing work and family like most women.

I usually base the value of a nonfiction book, by how many notes I take while reading the book. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a single note from this book, but I did bookmark a couple of interesting passages. Here is a sampling:

Tina’s views on Photoshop:
Give it up. Retouching is here to stay. Technology doesn’t move backward. No society has ever de-industrialized. Which is why we’ll never turn back from Photoshop. At least with Photoshop you don’t really have to alter your body. It’s better to have a computer do it to your picture than to have a doctor do it to your face? (Pg. 161)

On luxury cruises:
Luxury cruises were designed to make something unbearable-a two-week transatlantic crossing – seem bearable. There’s no need to do it now. There are planes. You wouldn’t take a vacation where you ride a stagecoach for two months but there’s all-you-can-eat shrimp. (Pg. 100)

What she tells young women who ask for career advice:
People are going to try to trick you. To make you feel you are in competition with other women. “You’re up for a promotion. If they go with a woman, it’ll be between you and Barbara.” Don’t be fooled. You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone. (Pg. 88)

Her unsolicited advice to women in the workplace:
When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself the following question: “Is this person in between me and what I want to do?” If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way. Then when you’re in charge, don’t hire the people who were jerky to you. (Pg. 144-145)

Final thoughts:
Unlike Sheryl Sandberg, I don’t think this is the best book I’ve read this year, but I did enjoy it. I would recommend reading it if you are a fan of Tina Fey, are looking for a light read, a beach read or a palate cleanser. If you are looking for a memoir that includes an in-depth analysis of who Tina Fey is or how she became one of the funniest women in comedy you will probably be disappointed in this book.

Have you read Tina Fey’s book Bossypants? If so what were your thoughts?

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The Savvy Reader Book Club Choices for October

The Savvy Reader Book Club is an online nonfiction book club created for the serious reader.  At the beginning of each month I select one or two books then host discussion posts covering the books throughout the month.  If you write a blog post about one of my selections I will be happy to include its link in my final post.

The Savvy Reader book club selections for October are:

Andrew Hacker and Claudia Dreifus book Higher Education?: How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids---and What We Can Do About It

  

I decided to choose this book after talking to a recent college grad who after spending over $100,000 on a fashion merchandising degree can only find employment as a retail associate; a job that does not require a 4-year degree. This book promises to expose the truth about what is wrong with higher education and is guaranteed to provide interesting conversation.

 

I am also selecting Tina Fey's book Bossypants

 

 

 

I chose this book after learning it was the best book Sheryl Sandberg read last year. After reading a depressing book like the one above we will most likely be ready for a funny book. I've read mixed reviews about this book though.  Some reviewers have found it hilarious while others thought it wasn't funny at all.  Please join me if you would like to find out for yourself.   

 

Have you read either of these books? If so what were your thoughts?  Be sure to stop back in throughout the month to participate in the discussions. 

 

Please Note, I am an Amazon Affiliate

Strength Challenge Interview #1 - An Introduction

I recently discovered Darlene B. Nemeth's blog at http://darlenebnemeth.blogspot.ca/. About two years ago Darlene embarked on a journey to travel towards inner peace and happiness. Her quest reminded me of  my own  challenge to become a stronger person in my 50th year. Curious to learn more I emailed Darlene requesting an interview.  I am delighted to announce she agreed and that I will be posting a portion of our interview each day this week.


First let me introduce you to Darlene B. Nemeth and her blog:

What inspired you to create your blog Darlene B. Nemeth?
I was going through a difficult time and was searching the net for answers. Problem was I didn't know what the questions were. I just wanted…everything to be better. 

I was feeling very alone and had no one to talk to who understood what I was going through. There was a lot of information out there but nothing with a personal touch. I wanted to connect to other liked minded people. Believe it or not that was when I first discovered blogging.

Around that time, my daughter found this book called The Magic (The Secret). I recognized the author and thought we should give it a try. To me, The Magic is really all about gratitude and it is through gratitude that we can change our lives for the better.

I created my blog to share our experience and hopefully help others.

To view a list of posts Darlene has written covering her journey, please visit her website.

Can you provide a little more information about yourself?
I am Darlene and I live in southern Ontario with my wonderful family. Our home is my sanctuary - my center and I am so very grateful to have it.

I like to share my thoughts and tips as I travel on the road to inner peace and happiness. It is my goal to help as many people as I can to find sustainable happiness and inner peace. And if we attract into our lives more money, better jobs, loving relationships and awesome adventures then we will be doubly blessed.

If you would like to learn more about me, keep reading.

I work full-time as a Human Resource Manager. I love my job and look forward to going into work each day. I have a great group of coworkers who are so silly and we have been known to laugh 'til it hurts. (I wonder how the men folk at work would feel about me describing them as silly.) But seriously, we are all very dedicated employees that work well together.

As HR Manager, I get to use a variety of skills to accomplish a wide range of tasks. My role in the company allows me to help people, research, continually learn, be creative and write. 

I am more than just a HR Manager. I am an artist who loves to create and appreciates the skills and efforts of other artists. The need to create is in my blood, passed down from my mother and then to my daughters and granddaughters.

I also consider myself a writer. I kept a daily journal throughout my teens and early twenties. Since then I researched and created a 2 Human Resource Manuals, 2 Health and Safety Manuals, an Accounting Manual, a few short stories (for my entertainment only) and a couple of blogs under another name.

My most rewarding role in this life is being the mother of three wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, sweet girls and grandmother to three adorable, smart, happy girls. I am extremely fortunate to have good relationships with my daughters and my grand-babies. I am blessed. I get hugs and kisses every day.

When I am not working or spending time with my hubby and girls, I am creating or hunting for treasures. (Of course house work, laundry, yard work . . . gets squeezed in there somewhere.)

Check out my pins on Pinterest and the items for resale at LittleShopTreasures on Etsy. 

Have you read Rhonda Byrne's book The Magic?  If so, what did you think? Did it change your life?

Tune in tomorrow to learn how Darlene stays strong.

Using humor during phone interview

Abby writes:
I have a phone interview scheduled for a tenured teaching position with a private college. My husband has advised me against using humor during my interview. He said, "You are funny. I think you are funny, all of your friends think you are funny, but don't be funny during this interview." But funny is who I am. I want to show the interviewer I have a personality. Wouldn’t humor make me more memorable? What do you think?

I agree with your husband on this one; save the humor for the face to face interview or better yet 'til after you are hired. There is such a large margin for misinterpretation of humor; I wouldn’t take the risk. Not everyone has a sense of humor. Plus, because it is a phone interview you will miss any visual cues indicating your interviewer did not realize you were joking. A phone interview is serious business especially in the current job market where there are more qualified candidates than positions available. The purpose of your phone interview should be to get an in-person interview; focus on promoting your job qualifications and teaching ability not your sense of humor.