Mini Reviews: One More Thing, Tao of Pooh, & Yes Please

One More Thing 

by B.J. Novak 

★★★★ 

So clever, that’s what I kept thinking over and over again and I read this collection of short stories. I knew who Novak was and so I was curious about his book and the sense of humor behind it did not disappoint. The topics are wide, everything from a bit about Wikipedia Brown (as opposed to Encyclopedia Brown) and a rematch between the famous tortoise and the hare. 

Some of the stories work better than others, which is almost inevitably the case with collections like these. But I was surprised by the sheer number of ones that really cracked me up. 

The stories cover such a variety of subjects that there’s no chance for them to feel repetitive. There’s an invention gone wrong in Vegas, an ambulance driver who chases his dreams, stealing writers, the only way to get closure, dating a war lord, concerts in heaven, receiving constructive criticism, and even an update on where Elvis has been. Some of them feel more like an idea than a fleshed out story, but there’s enough meat there to carry the book. Some are just short little gems, other are more elaborate, funny, or poignant. 

BOTTOM LINE: The collection shows Novak’s skills as both a comedy writer and short story writer. I’d highly recommend for fans of David Sedaris.

  

 

The Tao of Pooh 

by Benjamin Hoff 

★★

A look at philosophy and the spiritual side of things through the eyes of the simple, but surprisingly wise Winnie-the-Pooh. The playful structure has the author speak directly to Pooh as he attempts to explain what Taoism is. I loved that he continued to ask Pooh questions and ask him for songs, etc. as he worked on the book. The style worked well, removing all pretension. 

There's advice about how to avoid the frustration of life told through A.A. Milne’s Pooh stories. The author takes each tale and dissects it to present a life lesion. I understand the basic premise behind it, but the problem for me is at the end of the book the real message is: ignorance is bliss. 

It basically makes the argument that if you try to fill your head with knowledge and wisdom you're only wasting your time and making yourself unhappy. Instead, try to be like Pooh, who knows nothing and doesn't care. You'll find wisdom in the simplicity of just doing exactly whatever comes to you in that moment. While that may be true for some people, I think there's also a joy that comes from expanding knowledge and wisdom in your own life. 

BOTTOM LINE: The structure worked well, but it’s not something I’ll remember in a few years. Also, the message fell a bit flat for me. 


Yes Please 
by Amy Poehler 
★★★★☆ 

This is one of those books that most people will already know if they want to read or not. It’s exactly what you would expect, funny stories and advice from Amy Poehler. I love her sense of humor. From her manic Hilary Clinton laugh on SNL to her Smart Girls videos on YouTube to Leslie Knope’s eternal optimism on Parks and Recreation to her perfect co-hosting abilities at the Golden Globes, I am just a fan. 

So it was fun for me to hear Amy Poehler talk about self-esteem, giving birth, growing up loving attention and later joining SNL. I loved the conversational, sweet tone she took. She’s proud of where she is, but she’s also honest about the hard work that it took to get there.  

BOTTOM LINE: I loved it. I’ve been a fan of Poehler’s for a long time and Parks and Rec is one of my favorite shows. You probably already know if you are going to read it, but if you are PLEASE read the audio version! It is so much better to hear her reading her own stories. There’s also some adlibbing and tons of fantastic guest readers (Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner, and Amy’s Parents)! 

“People are their most beautiful when they are laughing, crying, dancing, playing, telling the truth, and being chased in a fun way.”  

“I believe great people do things before they are ready.” 

“That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again: Good for her, not for me.”