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lilyabryant's review
4.0
I really enjoyed how motivating this book was and learning more about Shonda Rhimes. Honestly, I don’t watch a lot of television and haven’t seen more than snippets of her shows but I still know she’s a powerhouse. I’m sure I’d appreciate this even more if I was a TGIT fan.
bananapie777's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
selfishxromance's review
1.0
This book was so freaking unbearable, I couldn’t get past chapter 4. Unreadable, bland, and why does she think she has to be liked by everyone? Duh. A waste of time.
mdevlin923's review against another edition
4.0
Part memoir, part inspirational self-help book, Rhimes details the year that she said yes to everything after her sister told her that she "never says yes to anything". Rhimes urges readers to say yes to yourself and self-care, things that scare you, new experiences, family and friends who support you and inspire you, help from others, and setting up boundaries and having difficult conversations.
I loved Rhimes' attitude towards empowering women (mothers especially), spending time with friends and family, and taking care of your body (in addition to all of the other great things that Rhimes had to say).
Two quotes that really struck a chord with me:
"Lucky implies I didn’t do anything. Lucky implies something was given to me. Lucky implies that I was handed something I did not earn, that I did not work hard for. Gentle reader, may you never be lucky. I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass."
"Let's all put our glorious cashmere thinking caps on, and see if we can decipher this puzzler. What is the opposite of a cocky, immodest, brazen woman? Anyone? A meek, chaste, timid woman. Who in the name of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Queen Bey wants to be a meek, chaste, timid woman? Do you? Because I sure as hell don't. I'm outraged...but I still can't take a compliment. And neither can any of the women I know. You know what, I don't think we were raised to do so."
I loved Rhimes' attitude towards empowering women (mothers especially), spending time with friends and family, and taking care of your body (in addition to all of the other great things that Rhimes had to say).
Two quotes that really struck a chord with me:
"Lucky implies I didn’t do anything. Lucky implies something was given to me. Lucky implies that I was handed something I did not earn, that I did not work hard for. Gentle reader, may you never be lucky. I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass."
"Let's all put our glorious cashmere thinking caps on, and see if we can decipher this puzzler. What is the opposite of a cocky, immodest, brazen woman? Anyone? A meek, chaste, timid woman. Who in the name of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Queen Bey wants to be a meek, chaste, timid woman? Do you? Because I sure as hell don't. I'm outraged...but I still can't take a compliment. And neither can any of the women I know. You know what, I don't think we were raised to do so."
cherylstj's review
2.0
Shonda Rhimes is a creative genius. I've watched Gray's Anatomy since day one and still never miss an episode in real time. Watched Private Practice, too. Plan to binge watch Scandal soon. Her characters are multi-dimensional, and her dialogue is emotional. I've used specific scenes in teaching how to write emotion.
I really wanted to love this book, but from the very beginning the writing put me off. It's choppy and repetitive. Reading it is work. I admire Ms. Rhimes as a scriptwriter and person. I admire her work ethic and her commitment to family--a juggling act for all of us. Unfortunately I slogged through the book, sometimes skimming. I searched for gems. She and her editor probably thought all the one line, one word paragraphs were clever. They were tedious. Overall, it was just ok.
I really wanted to love this book, but from the very beginning the writing put me off. It's choppy and repetitive. Reading it is work. I admire Ms. Rhimes as a scriptwriter and person. I admire her work ethic and her commitment to family--a juggling act for all of us. Unfortunately I slogged through the book, sometimes skimming. I searched for gems. She and her editor probably thought all the one line, one word paragraphs were clever. They were tedious. Overall, it was just ok.
catgv's review
5.0
Excellent, wonderful, funny, honest, raw, and... TRULY INSPIRING!
(More detailed review to come.)
(More detailed review to come.)
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
3.0
"They tell you: Follow your dreams. Listen to your spirit. Change the world. Make your mark. Find your inner voice and make it sing. Embrace failure. Dream. Dream and dream big. As a matter of fact, dream and don’t stop dreaming until your dream comes true. I think that’s crap. I think a lot of people dream. And while they are busy dreaming, the really happy people, the really successful people, the really interesting, powerful, engaged people? Are busy doing."
I sadly have to give this book 3.5 rating because of Shonda's rambling, writing style, and repetition. But there were a number of takeaways that made up for it at times, like the quote above.
I sadly have to give this book 3.5 rating because of Shonda's rambling, writing style, and repetition. But there were a number of takeaways that made up for it at times, like the quote above.