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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I selected this book because of its title and because I just started a “year of yes.” It’s more of a memoir than a self-help book, but if you’re looking for a book to inspire you to try new things and feel your power (how ever subtle), check this one out. Rhimes has written entertaining TV (Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Private Practice) and at times this bok felt a little over done, a little “TV showy.” But in the end it spoke directly to my heart. It’s an easy and entertaining read. She tells colorful but relevant stories, many that made me laugh out loud. I doubt I’ll ever get invited to speak at a college graduation or appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live, but I’ve been inspired t say YES.
I changed my stars from 3 to 4. In the beginning, I found her super annoying so we were at a 2 in the book. Maybe because I have zero patience for anxiety or phobias.
When she explained that one of her Ride or Dies is Christina Yang, I got that. Add another star.
Anyway, I kept "reading" & towards the end I realized that Shonda & I are so similar in regards to romantic relationships. Holy crap. When she explained how her first love is writing & that her significant other would never be put before writing, I got it. 100%. It wouldn't be fair to either one of them to get married even though they both loved each other. She could not & would not designate any more of her time to him than he was already getting. Yes! So that part was 5 stars across the board. I didn't love all of it but the parts I loved, I reeeeeeally loved. (And I also love Grey's Anatomy.)
When she explained that one of her Ride or Dies is Christina Yang, I got that. Add another star.
Anyway, I kept "reading" & towards the end I realized that Shonda & I are so similar in regards to romantic relationships. Holy crap. When she explained how her first love is writing & that her significant other would never be put before writing, I got it. 100%. It wouldn't be fair to either one of them to get married even though they both loved each other. She could not & would not designate any more of her time to him than he was already getting. Yes! So that part was 5 stars across the board. I didn't love all of it but the parts I loved, I reeeeeeally loved. (And I also love Grey's Anatomy.)
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Loved listening to this and leaning more about what a bada$$ Shonda is!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book on audio. It was nice that it was read by the author. It gave you a real sense of how the book should sound. What was really great about audio was how the speeches she talked about were actually played which was an experience I would not have had if I had read the book on kindle or physical copy. My favorite speech and favorite part of the book was listening to her "You Are Not Alone" speech. It was touching and moved me to tears. I like that Shonda cares about being inclusive; about representation. I like that she wants the world to be a world where everyone recognizes someone like themselves on television. She knows how important that is to feel like you belong and she is normalizing things that have not been considered the "norm" but should have been on her shows.
I also liked the concept of saying "yes" to the things you fear. I liked her concept of saying "yes" to saying "no." It really is a time saver and an energy saver.
I disagreed with some of her perspectives/opinions on things but I still respect them. As a stay at home mother who is going to school full-time, I disagree with her on being a mom is not a job. Yes, motherhood is beautiful in all of its glory but it is a job. It may be a job you love but it's a job. You are working 24-7. It may not pay monetarily and it may not have health insurance benefits or provide a roof over your head but it has an impact on another human's life and if you don't do it well it can fuck them up for a very long time. Soooo, it is something to prepare for, something to work at improving at, something to study for, something to be appraised to see how you're doing, something in my case that requires I am a chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, teacher, and personal shopper. It is a job that you could actually quit if you wanted to because a lot of parents do. (They are crappy parents but they quit!) So yes, parenting is a job.
Other than that, I enjoyed most of the book and there were things I took away from it that I will use in my life which is what I am looking for when I read/listen to theses types of books.
I also liked the concept of saying "yes" to the things you fear. I liked her concept of saying "yes" to saying "no." It really is a time saver and an energy saver.
I disagreed with some of her perspectives/opinions on things but I still respect them. As a stay at home mother who is going to school full-time, I disagree with her on being a mom is not a job. Yes, motherhood is beautiful in all of its glory but it is a job. It may be a job you love but it's a job. You are working 24-7. It may not pay monetarily and it may not have health insurance benefits or provide a roof over your head but it has an impact on another human's life and if you don't do it well it can fuck them up for a very long time. Soooo, it is something to prepare for, something to work at improving at, something to study for, something to be appraised to see how you're doing, something in my case that requires I am a chef, chauffeur, housekeeper, teacher, and personal shopper. It is a job that you could actually quit if you wanted to because a lot of parents do. (They are crappy parents but they quit!) So yes, parenting is a job.
Other than that, I enjoyed most of the book and there were things I took away from it that I will use in my life which is what I am looking for when I read/listen to theses types of books.
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
(I love Cristina Yang.) I can now see that the way Shondaland characters all talk in a similar way is because that's how Shonda talks (writes). While it gets flat in her shows, it's really enjoyable here. I love the way it feels real, like a conversation, dramatic and funny (e.g., on having to write a speech, "I lie on the floor of my office. I drink red wine. I eat popcorn. I hug my kids. I prepare for the end of days.").
I think this book could be generally inspiring to do more of the things that scare you in life and that are good for you, but since it's more memoir than self-help, it's more interesting just as someone's personal journey.
I think this book could be generally inspiring to do more of the things that scare you in life and that are good for you, but since it's more memoir than self-help, it's more interesting just as someone's personal journey.
This is not the usual type of book I'd read, but I love the productions of Shonda Rhimes. In this, she's witty, creative, insightful, and an interesting persona. It's great to get a glimpse of her reflections on Grey's/creating Shondaland/a creative's journey to engage with the world/take more chances. It's a light read, not my usual genre, but good for a tired day.