Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

I just finished listening to Amy Poehler's memoir on a self narrated audiobook.  I found it to be an enjoyable listen with plenty of guest narrators such as Patrick Stewart and Seth Myers.  Amy writes as though she is telling you a story over a glass of wine.  She presents her stories in a tangential manner and jumps around in different periods of her life while talking about a specific theme or idea.  It definitely would be a difficult book to read if you like orderly and organized writing.

I found it enjoyable and it showed her personality in her writing.  It is definitely not a polished and formal novel.  She definitely uses colorful language that reflects her upbringing in suburban Boston.  She is a non-filtered personality that believes strongly in empowering women and aspiring comedians.  Her political feelings are apparent but not so in your face that they are the focus of the story.  They arise as a part of the story she is relaying or about explaining her actions/feelings.

There are definitely stories that required self analysis.  She doesn't paint Hollywood and her life as all roses but it is clear she is happy with her life and how she has chosen to live.  I appreciated that she did not use her story as a means to bash her ex, Will Arnett, and she is civil about him.  She keeps her stories about her boys at an enjoyable level and not as such that they would be overly embarrassed to read them down the road.

I did listen to the book and I wonder if it makes it a bit more enjoyable than it would have been if I had been trying to follow along in a printed format.  If you are looking for a fun read that provides an honest insight into the process of becoming a comedian, writer and successful actress this a a perfect book for you.



Yes Please by Amy Poehler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun memoir that I enjoyed listening to as an audiobook. Amy Poehler is a great storyteller and she included multiple guest narrators that added to the reading. The book is a fun read relaying stories from her childhood all the way up until her final season on Parks and Recreation. It is a great look at all the steps it takes to become a successful writer and actress. There are glimpses of her life outside Hollywood, including her 2 sons and her relationships with friends and family.

It is an enjoyable read but if you prefer books that are chronological and organized this is not the book for you. I enjoyed the format of the rambling like story telling that jumps from topic to topic but if this isn't your style you won't enjoy the book in my opinion. If you are looking for a fun read with a glimpse behind the scenes of the Hollywood life then you will enjoy the book.


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge -  Book #42
2. Audiobook challenge  #7
3. AtoZ and Alphabet soup challenge #AlphabetSoupChallenge- "Y"
4. Book List Queen #17 Celebrity Memoir
5. Memoirs-  #21 Humorous memoir