Review: Yes Please

Yes Please by Amy Poehler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amy Poehler has always been one of my favorite female comedians (aside from Tina Fey), so after reading Bossypants, I knew I had to also read this book. And I wasn't disappointed. Amy was funny, realistic, and blatant in how she views the world, which is what I expected memoirs to be. She mentions growing up in her family, suffering through post-modem depression, and living the life of a druggie. Occasionally, she will also throw in some comedic relief and feminist advocacy to help characterize her life. My all-time favorite chapter of the book was when she talked about her experience working on SNL and Parks and Rec (one of my favorite comedies). I binge watched all of Parks and Rec in 2 weeks a couple of months ago, so her favorite scene picks were a delight to enjoy reading.

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Surprisingly, this book also gave me some great advice for my own life. Some of my favorites include:
1. "Good for her, not for me." I think this is an important phrase that women need to reiterate to themselves. It is not necessary for you to mold your life in accordance to someone else's when you are clearly uncomfortable to be put under such circumstances. Live your own life; find your own path.
2. “I think we should stop asking people in their twenties what they “want to do” and start asking them what they don’t want to do.” OMG...I love this! I love her! I am currently in my early twenties and I HATE it when people ask me this. The hell I know what I want to do...that's what I'm still trying to figure out, isn't it? So leave me alone!
3. “The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others. No one can do it alone, no matter how great the machines are.” So...not only is she a comedy goddess, but she also gives great self-help advice. Amy put this in the final chapter of her book which dealt with the rise of the internet and new technology movement. However, this was incredibly moving; despite everything that we own materialistically, we still depend on each other to live a fulfilling live.
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Overall, I would recommend this book for everyone to read at least once. Feminists, buy it!

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