Like everyone else, I think Tiffany is hilarious. That's why I picked up the book - because I was curious to know what keeps her smiling and making other people laugh. She always seems to be the life of the party or know where one is at. You get a sense of that in this book by all of the things she's been through and faced good and bad. Her voice reflects a sense of humor about her life but also totally unvarnished honesty. It's Tiffany in a book.

However, I don't know what to say about the fact that she admitted some parts of the book were fabricated or exaggerated by the publishing company. From that admission, there are some rough spots in terms of the language that's used. I'm pretty sure this could compete with 8 Mile for the most use of f-words. I'm not a prude, so it didn't bother me at all, but for others, there is a lot more curse-word laden talk about sex or getting into fights with people than one might expect. As well, the chapter about Roscoe (her handicapped angel) uses descriptions that I kind of didn't know how to react to - if it was all in a friendly, upbeat no-harm-no-foul way, or that there's some straight-up ignorance about people with disabilities. And, then there's some claims (that she clarified) that she approved of the book without reading the final version and that some events might have been fabricated or exaggerated. A lot of books are co-written or heavily edited, we just don't know about it. It's hard for me to know what parts to take truthfully or with a grain of salt - who exactly what wrote.

So there's a lot of good, and a lot that I admire about Tiffany. I really loved how the book came full circle from her childhood to being adult, and learning from horrible relationships and how she hustles in all areas of her life. Onn the other hand, there are a few other parts that hold the book back from being great. I'm stuck between giving this two or three stars.

You know when you choose a book from the library or bookstore because you know it's going to (hopefully) absolutely lovely? That's just the feeling I got when I picked this up. And that's what the book turned out to be - the characters are fun, the tone isn't trying to be too young-adulty to the point that it's obnoxious, the story is a summer adventure you can read anytime of the year and feel like you're in Italy with Lina trying to figure out her life. My only qualm is that it felt like towards the end, the identity of Lina's father turned out to be more confusing than it probably could've been. As with most 'mysteries' you figure there's going to be a little misdirection, but the last chapter or so seemed to cram a lot of info that you have to try to figure out. But other than that, it's a very heartfelt book that will give you all the warm and fuzzies. It could be offered as a Netflix movie tomorrow, and I'd watch it ASAP.

A few years ago, I was biding my time at my sister's college library waiting for her to finish up some graduating plans and happened to pick this up. I was super bummed I couldn't read it at the time, forgot to write down the title, and had been looking for it ever since. About a week ago, I found out my library was carrying this and was so grateful to finally give it a-go....and then as I steadily tried to read it, I couldn't help but feel like it was quite self-aggrandizing.

As the new year started, the author wanted to appreciate her life more and not feel like she was going through the motions of being miserable and taking things for granted. This was easily something I could related to, especially since the new year is actually right around the corner for me. The 'diaries' start simply by Janice making her family and friends know that she appreciates them, and is trying to adjust her frame of mind from wallowing over something that went wrong, and understanding what went right or well-enough. Gradually, though, the book's theme seemed to be: people who (are typically successful, good-looking, wealthy, etc) look like they have it all from the outside but might not realize what they should be grateful for. This approach might not have been the author's intentions, but in writing about meeting with friends (who were successful but miserable) or scholars studying the science of gratitude, it often felt like she was putting herself on a pedestal - "she was learning these secrets to gratitude while others around her had it so good but couldn't be as thankful as she had learned to be; maybe some of her friends were 'smart enough to learn the lesson' (her words not mine) to pick up on her cues about how happy she was and start seeing things differently. Having been the Editor-in-Chief of Parade magazine, getting advice from gratitude gurus is as easy as hopping a plane and seeing them in person.

I can see where other reviewers are coming from who compare The Happiness Project and this.

Even though I don't think gratitude is that far from general happiness or at least joy/contentment, Gretchen's approach with The Happiness Project was far more accessible. Her studies of happiness came from a place of trying new things and seeing if there was 'a secret to feeling happy'. What she learned is that happiness is often what we make of it and what we like to do versus trying to follow a trend or be someone that you are not. Some activities you think might make you happy, might not, and you should do what you love to do as much as you can.

In The Gratitude Diaries, Janice covers different areas life - marriage, parenting, work, money - etc. but there's not a lot of dynamic layers to her growth with gratitude. The scientific studies/references about how gratitude affects our thoughts and feelings were more interesting, but the author's interviews and personal experiences felt limited - always coming from a place about people who couldn't feel grateful despite having it all. In particular, the money chapter, focuses solely on people who are wealthy or extraordinarily so, and are either content with being SO successful or miserable that they aren't higher on Forbes list of #400 richest people in the world. Excluding a study where the poorest people in Uganda were given $5 to spend on someone else or themselves (and they gave the money to help others where as rich people felt entitled to ignore pedestrian signs and okay with stealing candy from a jar for kids), there was no in-between examples on people who are less off, whose lives might be a constant struggle, and what makes them grateful or struggle to grateful - 'looking on the bright side' might not be the most applicable to those who aren't living on the bright side of privilege.

I'm grateful for having read this book because I started my own gratitude journal, and I'd like to look into other books about the science of it and how it affects our feelings and thoughts. Gratitude should or could be universal, no matter where you come from in life. But the accessibility of it here felt few-and-far-between.

Simple, concise and no BS. I'm not a particularly picky bookworm, but I have to really love a book to add it to my shelves (which holds more books I haven't read than ones I have), and I want to buy this ASAP.

I wasn't familiar with Dodie at all, but after this, I feel like I met someone who was determined, vulnerable, creative, and fascinating. Part-memoir, part-diary, she shares about her struggles and epiphanies about relationships, mental health, family, fame and creativity. Sometimes the best 'self-help' books aren't ones where they're trying to teach you the ins and outs of lives, it's just about the reader connecting with what the person is going through. The illustrations that accompany every chapter and the ways she strings words together lit up little parts of my mind that had been darkened. Her journey so far made me see a lot of in myself that I saw in her and think differently about the world without feeling like I was being preached. You feel like you're reading her diary as well as your own, if you can relate to it enough.

My only qualm design-wise is that the poems/songs had deeply colored backgrounds and text, which made it difficult to read at times.

Simple read about creativity and being in the present moment. Bell's advice takes the approach of a stream of consciousness writing, dishing out lots of bite-sized sentences of wisdom that breaks down the easy process of following what you love to do. However, halfway through this book, I couldn't help but feel like the author gave up on a bigger theme of what he was aiming for. Every page or so is a nugget of inspiration, but having not been familiar with any of his other works or his service as a pastor, I don't know if this captures his passion for what he loves to do. It starts out as a book about creativity, and then starts repeating itself or going off into loose tangents about maintaining a life in general if you've reached one of the epiphanies he's offered, and then finishes out of nowhere.

As simple as the book is, it falls into some traps of the self-help genre. Bell's tone often comes across as 'it's so easy, if you do it, you'll be happy/more creative/etc.'. And I find these kinds of 'self-help' books a tad alienating because they take on the persona of being so positive that they aren't really relateable. And instead of expressing true examples of challenges that people have faced, his are quite cliche: "someone can be so rich and have the world at their disposal but are miserable" vs "someone who can barely make ends meet are so happy because they're creative and have nothing to lose". Those two different lifestyles lie at opposite ends of the spectrum and may not be applicable to the average person reading it. I liked the simplistic nature of the book, and found some helpful ideas, but overall, it's just okay.

Stuck between 3.5 and 4 star rating.

As far back as I can remember as a teenager, I was always drawn to these types of "self-help" books. Living in a dysfunctional household growing up, I sought motivational books about how to achieve what you wanted in life, dealing with toxic environments or going after your goals without being influenced by the world. Growing up and going through college, and now trying to be an Adult in my late twenties, hurdles have made me doubtful, drained, and questioning myself. A Lot. Many pieces of advice have stuck over the years, though in the face of more unexpected challenges some of them have fallen to the wayside.

In picking up You Are A Bad-Ass, I liked it immediately. It reminded me of the books I sought out as a teen and used to believe with all of my heart.

Self-help books get a bad wrap but I always thought: Who doesn't want help or better maximize how to help themselves? especially if you're someone who just can't clean up a lot of bad vibes, people, and stuff in their lives.

This book was an immediate comfort. Jen brings about self-help in a very conversational, approachable way. She's all about reconciling your differences with the past, owning up to believing in yourself, and making actual commitment to what you want to get done. She gives pointers and advice about how to be less self-conscious, and just more conscious of what you can achieve. Nothing is impossible in her mind, and you come away feeling the same. Her main teaching point is a little spiritual. Being a mix of religious and spiritual, I didn't mind her narrative style or point of view. If you're looking for a little direction or ideas about just how to better manage and elevate your life, or go after your goals without any doubts, this is a good starting place. The rest, at some point, is all up to you. :)