Yes Please

This interaction between Poehler and her friend summed up the book for me. “He pointed out that people were really starting to know my name and asked me if I ‘could believe it.’ ‘Yes,’ I said. I had worked for over a decade to get to this moment.” While other comedic autobiographies brush over the struggles to succeed and chalk it up to luck, Poehler takes ownership of her zig-zagging pursuit of novelty and pursuit of her tribe of peers and doesn’t brush off success as coincidental. Throughout her relationship with improv, she knows she’s a part of something engaging and knows she’s running with the brilliant minds in comedy. And so when her career takes off in big ways, it doesn’t seem like luck but rather the pay-off for her decades of “yes please” and being ambivalent about her career. Yes Please. Poehler describes “Yes Please” as “the ‘yes’ comes from my improvisational days and the opportunity that comes from youth, and the ‘please’ comes from the wisdom of knowing that agreeing to do something usually means you aren’t doing it alone.” Amy’s hilarious stories from improv shows in Amsterdam, sharp details from her childhood and waitressing jobs, and road-tripping with Second City show how much she values the array of her youth experiences. Amy’s detailed reflections on SNL cast mates, Parks and Recreation colleagues, and fellow volunteers on her trip to Haiti (even her shout-out to Sharita at the LAX TSA) back up her belief that “agreeing to do something usually means you aren’t doing in alone. “ Career Ambivalence. “Ambivalence is key. You have to care about your work but not the result.” I re-read the piece on career vs. creativity at least three times because it was a mixture of humor and truth that resonated. Yes Please includes so many anecdotes that back up Poehler’s pursuit of creativity and passion over career – from uncomfortable auditions and interactions with producers to the gritty thrill of starting Upright Citizens Brigade to how to take your mind off of the pudding (the awards). Layer in Poehler’s openness in sharing everything from drug experiences to painfully delayed apology letters to post-partum depression to riding the conflicting waves of success and failure at the same time. And add in her ability to tell these stories in a fast-moving, easy-to-read, hilarious way. All in all, a quick read that was entertaining, witty, and thought-provoking at the same time. Thanks for making my subway rides more enjoyable this week.

If you want to read a book with raw humor with a touch of philosophy about life, this book is for you. Amy Poehler is naturally funny. In this memoir of her life as a comedian, you learn about her as a person. She suffered the hard road to success and makes it clear that it isn't easy. But, her desire to do what she loved outweighed roaches in her apartment or no heat in the winter. She gave up a lot and managed to make it to the top. Not everyone can do that nor has the talent as well as the passion to do so. Her story gives budding actors a bit of hope but it also demonstrates that the path is not for the feint heart. I underlined a lot of things in this book because she nails so much. She didn't hold back. She tells you what she thinks, right or wrong, good or bad. Here are a few things she said about writing: Everyone lies about writing. They lie about how easy it is or how hard it was. The truth is writing is this: hard and boring and occasionally great but usually not. Writing a book is a small, slow crawl to the finish line. She quoted Eleanor Roosevelt: "A woman is like a tea bad, you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water." This book not only describes Amy's career, but she also talks about herself. She shares her innermost thoughts and insecurities. I thought it was interesting that such a public person could describe herself with "social anxiety." When she talks about her appearance, she points out all her negatives and gives credit for knowing those things through the little voice that never goes away in her head. That voice we all share. Amy came from a rather normal family background. She has good parents and a very supportive relationship with her younger brother. She doesn't carry baggage from that world. If you can get through the four-letter words and the rather length descriptions of scenes and events from SNL and Parks and Recreation, you will enjoy this book. I ended up having to skim a great deal. Nonetheless the writing full of funny, spot-on metaphors kept me reading. My four stars are really 3.5

Livre très drôle je le recommande à tout les monde

Aunque en España no se conoce mucho a toda la batería de mujeres humoristas que han salido de SNL como Amy Poehler o Tina Fey, para mí son un referente, y alguien que me conoce muy bien me hizo este regalazo. Este libro de "memorias" es divertidísimo de principio a fin y una gran fuente de ánimo para mujeres que quieren (o intentan) dedicarse al mundo del espectáculo. Sólo apto para los que conozcan un poco la trayectoria de la Poehler y hay que tener cierto conocimiento de la cultura pop norteamericana, si no te pierdes un poco. Además sus "insights" sobre política son geniales y su extraña relación de amistad con Hillary Clinton es desternillante. Creo que, por ahora, sigue sin traducción al español.

Amy Poehler ist in Deutschland durch Filme und vor allem durch die Serie Parks and Recreation bekannt. Leider wird die Sendung nicht auf einem bekannten Sender ausgestrahlt. So ist das nun mal. In den USA ist sie als ehemaliges Mitglied von Saturday Night Life und in Kombination mit Tina Fey als Moderatorinnen der Golden Globes schon um einiges bekannter. In diesem schönen Band gespickt mit Fotos aus ihrem Leben und in wichtigen Posen erzählt sehr unterhaltsam wie sich in ihrem Leben alles so entwickelt hat, wie es heute ist. Es macht Spaß in einem oder passagenweise zu lesen. Das Audiobuch kenne ich noch nicht, aber dort soll sie zwischen Vorlesen auch Kollegen zu Wort kommen lassen.

This is one of those books that contains the sort of advice I wish I'd received as I approached adulthood. Like a caring older friend, Poehler gives great advice on relationships, careers, creativity, and all the while she encourages you to be yourself. The style is a entertaining mixture of short essays and lists, with plenty of show biz anecdotes and a smattering of name-dropping. The stories are warm and light humoured, serious and reflective. Poehler comes across as being humble but also acutely aware of how awesome she is at being herself. You get a sense that writing this book has been a cathartic experience for Poehler which gives the book a reassuring sense of truth and honesty. Perhaps best of all Poehler can talk about womanhood and children with out the gory details of labour. Also I finished it in five sittings. This book reassures the reader that its OK not to be perfect and also that just being yourself is pretty damn perfect too.

this is the best book i have ever read in my life, amy poehler is the most amazing human being on earth and she deserves all the good things in the planet. i love her deeply! 10/10 would recommend. read this. read now. read tomorrow. read everyday. keep it with you at all times, all places. eat, sleep and breath this book. you will become a better person. whoever you are expecting to call you, will call if you read this book. i promise. do it. do it now. i love amy poehler. bye.