"Yes Please," by Amy Poehler has been on my to-read list since it was published in October. When I finally got my hands on it this past week, I could not put it down. Not only does she have the whole acting/comedian thing down, but apparently writing an entire novel is on her list of talents as well. Of course, similar to her work on Mean Girls, Saturday Night Live, and Parks and Recreation, it was hilarious, but it also featured a side of Amy Poehler most audiences have never seen before. Writing about her childhood, introduction to comedy and improv acting, and experiences with SNL, she explained the uncertainty she felt while trying to achieve what felt like the impossible at the time. Though definitely not a self-help book, I finished the novel feeling as though I had just received an incredible pep-talk from the one and only Amy Poehler, which included some of the following quotes:
1. “That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again. Good for her! Not for me.”
2. “Watching great people do what you love is a good way to start learning how to do it yourself.”
3. “How a person treats their waitress is a great indication of their character.”
4. “You have to be where you are to get where you need to go.”
5. “If you can dance and be free and not embarrassed, you can rule the world.”
6. “Emotions are like passing storms, and you have to remind yourself that it won’t rain forever. You just have to sit down and watch it pour outside, and then peek your head out when it looks dry.”
7. “A person’s tragedy does not make up their entire life. A story carves deep grooves into our brains each time we tell it. But we aren’t one story. We can change our stories.”
8. “People who are committing and taking risks become the king and queen of my prom.”
9. “You don’t have to treat people badly to be on top.”
10. “Ask for what you want. Girls can do anything boys can do. Don’t listen to experts.”
Congratulations, Amy Poehler. You have done it once again.
