Bossypants by Tina Fey: Book Review, Summary & Analysis
Laugh along with Tina Fey's life journey in 'Bossypants.' Read our book review & summary. Explore her life stories, humor, and witty insights.
Bossypants by Tina Fey: Book Review, Summary & Analysis
Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.
She has seen both these dreams come true.
At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon - from the beginning of this paragraph to this final sentence.
Tina Fey reveals all and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy.
(Includes Special, Never-Before-Solicited Opinions on Breastfeeding, Princesses, Photoshop, the Electoral Process, and Italian Rum Cake!)
Book: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Bossypants is an autobiographical comedy book written by the American comedian Tina Fey. The book topped The New York Times Best Seller list and stayed there for five weeks upon its release. As of November 2014, the book has sold over 2.5 million copies since its debut, according to Nielsen BookScan. Wikipedia
- Originally published: April 5, 2011
- Author: Tina Fey
- Genres: Humor, Autobiography, Biography
- Pages: 277
Short Comment
Tina dares to say that it is very poisonous and very sharp (compared to Mindy's words). Regarding gender equality, photoshoots, PS, work and family, and parenting, they are all very good. Their views are very real while maintaining feminist rights without preaching.
And it's very humorous (I think my wrinkles are coming out when I smile). In fact, the first time I heard it was very behind, but when I picked it up, I forgot it and listened to the middle again.
Excerpts from Bossypants
This was compounded by the fact that Whitney Houston's cover of I Will Always Love You was constantly on my FM Walkman radio around that time. I think that made me cry because I associated it with absolutely no one.——Quoted from the chapter: Young men's Christian associate
Bossypants Summary and Analysis
It’s hard to imagine that Tina Former Chicago Second City actor, screenwriter, actor, and 30 Rock screenwriter and producer on the previous Saturday night, could not find a job for a long time after graduating from college,
and finally went to Chicago YMCA (YMCA, similar to the multifunctional youth hostel, except that people who live there are not necessarily youth) in Evanston, a small suburb to the north, is a receptionist.
While working as a receptionist, Tina went to Second City to participate in an improvisation course and eventually joined her troupe for a tour.
This is a not-so-inspiring inspirational story, because the protagonist of the story, Tina, did not feel sorry for herself because she was not so outstanding, even if she was "stolen" by her boyfriend by a beautiful blonde chick when she was a teenager, even if she When I work at YMCA, I need to arrive at work at five o’clock every morning and I have to face tons of unreasonable people and things.
Even when she graduated from college, she still remained a virgin and got a pap smear by mistake. Believe me, even if you are not a virgin, you definitely don’t want to try it lightly); she did not project too much self-movement when she worked hard in the comedy session.
She said that her screenwriting career in SNL, Compared with the subsequent TV series production, is simply a "cakewalk".
However, her ability to seize opportunities in ordinary life is extraordinary and cannot be ignored. She joked that she had the ability to "always turn the good news into anxiety" and left SNL to make her first TV series 30 Rocks.
She returned to SNL after leaving SNL. The experience of becoming an actor after two years as a screenwriter became a "highlight moment" in her life.
Fortunately, I was able to escape the bleak and depressing life like a zombie during my commute and listen to Tina Fey tell her story.
Bossypants Book Review
Many friends strongly recommend it. Behind the pungent and hilarious ridicule is precise, straightforward wisdom. It is highly recommended to all soft girls and female men: the
former should read it because we in the workplace may wish to "do things with our talents and go against them." "Being a character with personality", appreciate the wonderful life of another style, and upgrade to the soft girl 2.0;
the reason for pushing to the latter needs no explanation. The cover of the ridiculous man has spoiled everything.
In such a patriarchal female industry, Tina, the ugly duckling, took the top spot as the first female Head Writer in the history of SNL.
She was able to write, act, and talk, and she won a bunch of Emmys and Golden Globes, and she managed two hundred numbers.
People, plus the mother of two children, an absolute female leader, a living proof of our own potential.
PS: This book is seriously unsuitable for reading on the subway.
Advice to Women in the Workplace
In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.
In other cases, to get the best work out of people you may have to pretend you are not their boss and let them treat someone else like the boss, and then that person whispers to you behind a fake wall and you tell them what to tell the first person.
Some people say “Never let them see you cry.” I say, if you're so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.
When faced with sexism or ageism lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself the following question this person in between me and what I want to do?' If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Do your thing and don't care if they like it. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way. Then, when you're in charge, don't hire the people who were jerky to you.
On Fashion
You can tell different generations of women by whether or not they wear that Hillary Clinton blue power suit or the reappropriated Playboy-symbol necklace worn ironically.I think women dress for other women to let them know what their deal is. Because if women were only dressing for men, there would be nothing but Victoria's Secret. There would be no Dior. (Believer)
A wise friend once told me, “Don't wear what fashion designers tell you to wear. Wear what they wear.” His point is that most designers, no matter what they throw onto the runway, favor simple, flattering pieces for themselves.
On Comedy
I know for sure that you can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.
A good rating is a good rating, even if people tune in just to be mad about how much it sucked.
I want to keep creating comedy that is, as my old improv teacher would say, at the top of our intelligence or higher.
It's easy to fall into the trap of just cranking out things that are good enough to sell. (Oprah)
No one ever said it was “mean” when Chevy Chase played Gerald Ford falling down all the time.
o one ever accused Dana Carvey Darrell Hammond or Dan Aykroyd of “going too far” in their political impressions.
You see what I'm getting at here. I am not mean and Mrs. Palin is not fragile. To imply otherwise is a disservice to us both.
The rules of improvisation appealed to me not only as a way of creating comedy but as a worldview. YES, AND means don't be afraid to contribute.
It's your responsibility to contribute. Always make sure you're adding something to the discussion. Your initiations are worthwhile.
The next rule is MAKE STATEMENTS. This is a positive way of saying “Don't ask questions all the time.”
In other words: Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES, only opportunities.
Anything I learned about Real Acting I learned from watching Alec Baldwin. By Real Acting I mean “an imitation of human behavior that is both emotionally natural and mechanically precise enough as to elicit tears or laughter from humans.”
Alec is a master of both Film Acting and Real Acting. Alec knows how to let the camera come to him. He can convey a lot with a small movement of his eyes.
He speaks so quietly sometimes that I can barely hear him when I'm standing next to him, but when you watch the film back, it's all there.
You know those scientists who were developing a blood-pressure medicine and accidentally invented medicine? We were trying to make medicine and we ended up with blood-pressure medicine.
I have a suspicion that the definition of crazy in show business is a woman who keeps talking even after no one wants to F*k her anymore.
On New York
In the “Great American Melting Pot," rural Ohio may be a lump of white flour that hasn't been stirred properly. Not that New York is any better.
New York is that chunk of garlic that you bite into thinking it's potato and you can't get the taste out of your mouth all day.
It all blends once you mix it, but sometimes you really have to grind it against the side.
I think part of picking where you live in New York is accepting who you are. Really looking at yourself and going, 'Yeah, I'm not cool enough for the West Village. (Vogue)
On Homophobia
Gay people don't actually try to convert people. That's Jehovah's Witnesses you're thinking of.
I learned quickly that trying to force Country Folk to love the Big City is like telling your gay cousin, “You just haven't met the right girl yet." They just don't like big cities. It's okay. It's natural. They were born that way.
It is an impressively arrogant move to conclude that because you don't like something, it is empirically not good. I don't like Chinese food, but I don't write articles trying to prove it doesn't exist.
Others
I like to write about women, not so much about the way they relate to men, but about the way, they relate to each other.
My whole life, people who ask about my scar within one week of knowing me have invariably turned out to be egomaniacs of average intelligence or less.
And egomaniacs of average intelligence or less often end up in the field of TV journalism.
I have no affinity for animals. I don't hate animals and I would never hurt an animal; I just don't actively care about them.
When a coworker shows me cute pictures of her dog, I struggle to respond correctly, like an autistic person who has been taught to recognize human emotions from flash cards.
On Parenthood
How can I give her what Don Fey gave me? The gift of anxiety. The fear of getting in trouble. The knowledge that while you are loved, you are not above the law.
The Worldwide Parental Anxiety System is failing if this many of us have made sex tapes.
What is the rudest question you can ask a woman? “How old are you?” “What do you weigh?” “When you and your twin sister are alone with Mr.
Hefner, do you have to pretend to be lesbians?" No, the worst question is "How do you juggle it all?"
Sleep when your baby sleeps." Everyone knows this classic tip, but I say why stop there? Scream when your baby screams.
Take Benadryl when your baby takes Benadryl. And walk around pantless when your baby walks around pantless.
The Mother's Prayer for Its Daughter
First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it's the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.
Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock'N Zero-G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.
Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I'm asking You, because if I knew, I'd be doing it, Youdammit.
May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers?
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.
Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For Childhood is short—a Tiger Flower blooming
Magenta for one day—
And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever,
That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a B*h in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 AM, all at once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck. “My mother did this for me.”
And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget.
But I'll know because I peeped it with Your God's eyes.
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About Muhiuddin Alam
Muhiuddin Alam is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ReadingAndThinking.com. He serves as a consistent contributor to various websites and publications, including Medium, Quora, Reddit, Linkedin, Substack, Vocal, Flipboard, and Amazon KDP. Alam personally read numerous books and, for the past 10 years, has been providing book recommendations and reviews. Find Me: About Me & Google Knowledge Panel.
