Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Book Review: Bossypants

Ok, I know that I'm totally that person who is showing up to the bar when everyone is really tired and already saying their goodbyes, but can we just stay out for one more hour and drink in the awesomeness that is Tina Fey's Bossypants?

Oh great, you decided to stay through my extended metaphor!

I got the book for Christmas (a good 7 months after everyone else had read it) and it was utterly my dream read. I think I finished it in about 3 hours of total reading time because 1) I couldn't put it down 2) it's a very smooth, engaging read 3) it's hilarious.

I had no doubt that it would be funny--Fey regularly cracks me up with her work on 30 Rock and, of course, her Sarah Palin impression. However, what did surprise me was the outright feminism of it all. Fey isn't exactly a favorite of feminists, as her Liz Lemon character is quite imperfect. (And not imperfect in an endearing Leslie Knope kind of way.) But at its core, the book is about Fey's triumph over a male dominated field, helping other women, and sexism. Take her chosen title, for example:

Why is this book called Bossypants? One, because the name Two and a Half Men was already taken. And two, because ever since I became an executive producer of 30 Rock, people have asked me, 'Is it hard for you, being the boss?' and 'Is it uncomfortable for you to be the person in charge?' You know, in that same way they say, 'Gosh, Mr. Trump, is it awkward for you to be the boss of all these people?'

Point well taken.

All in all, I highly recommend Bossypants. Not only with it get a genuine LOL out of you, but it will also give you a peek inside the greatness that is Ms. Fey's mind and the struggle women often face in breaking it to the top levels of TV.

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