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Reviews
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety: Observations from a Reforming Neurotic by Jen Lancaster
carriesouthard's review
1.0
0 stars should be an option
This book was 98% NOT about anxiety. In fact, the only thing this book did was give me anxiety with pages ,upon pages of useless, random topics that felt like they would go on forever. I hope the author doesn’t think she is going to achieve the transcendence of the top of the pyramid for helping anyone with this incessant rambling about topics not related to helping with anxiety. I’d seriously be pissed if I spend $ on this book and didn’t get it free with my Amazon First Reads.
This book was 98% NOT about anxiety. In fact, the only thing this book did was give me anxiety with pages ,upon pages of useless, random topics that felt like they would go on forever. I hope the author doesn’t think she is going to achieve the transcendence of the top of the pyramid for helping anyone with this incessant rambling about topics not related to helping with anxiety.
klippy's review
5.0
You just cannot go wrong with one of Jen Lancaster's book. Can't wait for a new one..
mbkarapcik's review
4.0
I've been a longtime fan of Jen Lancaster's memoirs and race to get a copy of her latest as soon as I can. Very few authors make me laugh out loud, but I went into reading this with trepidation. Many reviews complained that she's become too "woke" and didn't like that she cited studies for the subjects she covers. I'm scratching my head, wondering if I read the same book as other readers.
For her latest memoir, Jen discusses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and talks about how it fits into our modern lives while incorporating her own stories from her present life, which include her 1970s childhood in New Jersey (right there with you, Jen) to her forays into comedy by taking classes at Second City. She examines our unhealthy obsession with social media and our consumption culture. Each topic she covers includes her customary footnotes, but these aren't just snarky comments but references to real articles, blogs, studies, etc. I totally appreciated those although it's hard to go to them in an e-book.
As for Jen being more "woke", I don't totally see it. She's definitely less snarky but still muses over the lunacy of others and points the finger at herself when appropriate. And yet, she's more open to understanding what's not acceptable to say, but she defends comedians over the limits placed on them and other forms of art.
She also wants to learn about other people and their backgrounds. To me, she's more thoughtful, not brainwashed. I would say she comes at topics by exploring both sides for herself and the reader. She's not expecting the reader to agree but consider what she's trying to say.
The main problem with this book, and this is not Jen's fault, is that the pandemic happened. Things are so unstable for so many reasons--it may alter some of the items she wrote about because the world is crazy in general. She almost could write a follow-up to this book or a quasi sequel about how the chart works out during this time.
As usual, I would be right on board with Jen. Even when I disagree with her, I like to hear what she thinks like I do with a good friend, and she seems more honest and dare-I-say-it more earnest. She even discusses why she's estranged from her mom and dad, and I don't doubt or disagree with her reason for doing so.
Some of her previous fans may not enjoy this book as much as the others, but I surprisingly did, and I'm glad.
Thank you NetGalley and Little A, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
For her latest memoir, Jen discusses Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and talks about how it fits into our modern lives while incorporating her own stories from her present life, which include her 1970s childhood in New Jersey (right there with you, Jen) to her forays into comedy by taking classes at Second City. She examines our unhealthy obsession with social media and our consumption culture. Each topic she covers includes her customary footnotes, but these aren't just snarky comments but references to real articles, blogs, studies, etc. I totally appreciated those although it's hard to go to them in an e-book.
As for Jen being more "woke", I don't totally see it. She's definitely less snarky but still muses over the lunacy of others and points the finger at herself when appropriate. And yet, she's more open to understanding what's not acceptable to say, but she defends comedians over the limits placed on them and other forms of art.
She also wants to learn about other people and their backgrounds. To me, she's more thoughtful, not brainwashed. I would say she comes at topics by exploring both sides for herself and the reader. She's not expecting the reader to agree but consider what she's trying to say.
The main problem with this book, and this is not Jen's fault, is that the pandemic happened. Things are so unstable for so many reasons--it may alter some of the items she wrote about because the world is crazy in general. She almost could write a follow-up to this book or a quasi sequel about how the chart works out during this time.
As usual, I would be right on board with Jen. Even when I disagree with her, I like to hear what she thinks like I do with a good friend, and she seems more honest and dare-I-say-it more earnest. She even discusses why she's estranged from her mom and dad, and I don't doubt or disagree with her reason for doing so.
Some of her previous fans may not enjoy this book as much as the others, but I surprisingly did, and I'm glad.
Thank you NetGalley and Little A, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! It was a pleasure!
katrenia's review
Did not finish. I buy Jen Lancaster’s books to be entertained by her smart wit, to laugh out loud. This book is not humorous. It’s the study and analysis the author went through to discover why we feel/act the way we do. Not interested.
swtcntrygrl82's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.25
mariarhianne's review
2.0
I was really excited for this. It’d been a long time since I read a Jen Lancaster book, but this was not what I was expecting. While it had a couple good moments, I ultimately felt like I was forcing myself through it.
Meh.
Meh.