Practically Perfect in Every Way: My Misadventures Through the World of Self-Help--and Back

by Jennifer Niesslein (Goodreads author)

book data

100 ratings, 3.37 average rating, 36 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		15%
4		32%
3		28%
2		21%
1		2%

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published

May 6th 2008 (first published 2007) by Berkley Trade

binding

Paperback, 368 pages

isbn

0425221326 (isbn13: 9780425221327)

description

From Dr. Phil to the Fly LadyA level-headed, laugh-out-loud tour of the loopy world of self-help.( Ann Crittenden, author of The Price of Mother...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 209)

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07/26/07

Lena rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

bookshelves: memoir

recommends it for: self-help addicts

There are a lot of things to recommend this memoir about the two years the author spent trying out various forms of mainstream self-help. Niesslein's tales of trying to follow the advice of the sort of luminaries one finds on the Oprah show is full of insight and humor. Her chapter on attempting to improve her already decent marriage with the help of Drs. Laura and Phil is particularly funny, and I found her commentary on trying to be a better parent very moving. Other sections of the book do...more

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10/25/07

Katherine rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in January, 2008

I really, really liked this book. The premise is simple: over the course of two years, the author conducted self-help "experiments" - taking the advice of popular experts in areas of marriage/health/finances/etc. Niesslein's writing is sharp and funny, and her approach to the various self-help books is generally just the right balance of openness and suspicion.

I had prematurely given the book five stars because I was digging it so very much, but then the last chapter - on...more I really, really liked this book. The premise is simple: over the course of two years, the author conducted self-help "experiments" - taking the advice of popular experts in areas of marriage/health/finances/etc. Niesslein's writing is sharp and funny, and her approach to the various self-help books is generally just the right balance of openness and suspicion.

I had prematurely given the book five stars because I was digging it so very much, but then the last chapter - on spirituality - was disappointing. She makes some fine observations about organized religion and her aversion to it, but then approaches it with a superficiality that grated on me. And I'm not talking about her use of the Belief-o-matic, that funky little Beliefnet tool that deemed Niesslein to be in the same Belief-o-matic sector as me (a combination of Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestant, Liberal Quaker, and Unitarian Universalist). Nah, that's good clean fun.

I cringed at some of her comments about Presbyterianism (essentially that it's milquetoasty, although Niesslein likes the feisty Anne Lamott, who is fully Presby and not the least bit milquey). I also took issue with the characterization of Christianity as a faith that is about belief, as opposed to practice. There are certainly plenty of Christians who privilege orthodoxy over orthopraxis, but there's quite a bit of traction in the "Christian practices" movement, from evangelical emergents to, you guessed it, Presbyterians.

I think what really got to me was the lumping in of religion with self-help. Sure, there are self-help books written from a religious perspective, but there's just so much more to religion and spirituality. I recognize this is a totally biased opinion - I am, after all, an ordained mainline Protestant pastor, undeniably part of organized religion. When Niesslein abandons religious spirituality for the secular spirituality of Oprah after reading Lamott and Harold Kushner, I felt like she'd given short shrift to religion and spirituality (and this is in contrast to the other chapters, in which she puts a great deal of effort into her "experiments"). She doesn't so much as visit a church (or temple or mosque or...), as she's disinterested in the community aspect of religious faith and practice. What she does do to finish up the "soul" chapter is laudable - volunteering editorial services for a community organizing group. But this participating in this project is treated as an alternative to religion and spirituality, establishing again the subtle message that religion isn't about actually doing anything to make a difference.

I've spent this entire review explaining the absence of one star in an otherwise stellar book. Oops. Really and truly, Jennifer Niesslein easily places alongside Sarah Vowell, David Foster Wallace, and the aforementioned Anne Lamott in my pantheon of superb nonfiction writers. I'm just a little cranky about that star, which I'm sure says a whole lot about the state of my own soul. I'd pick up some self-help, but I've had enough vicariously for now. (less)

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09/16/07

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

bookshelves: bookclub

Read in October, 2007

Jennifer Niesslein is the co-editor and co-founder of Brain, Child magazine (which I love) and this memoir of her experiments with self-help books was absolutely fantastic. I hated to get to the end. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading... highly recommended!

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04/22/09

Kari rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in June, 2009

I was happy to find this book at the same time as the advent of my public transit commuting career (or side job) as it were. Niesslen's thoughts were a pleasure to read to and from work every day. Starting with introductory musings on the affect of Oprah-viewing on her own point of view or sense of self, I knew the book would resonate, as I too feel like Oprah helped raise me.

It wasn't difficult to separate myself from her and still enjoy her. I didn't have to be like her or think l...more

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11/05/07

Susan rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

bookshelves: nonfiction-adult

Read in November, 2007

Granted, there are certain areas that could have been whittled down a bit, but this book about a journalist's two year immersion in the treacherous waters of self-help had some extremely funny moments. It almost goes without saying that there's quite a bit to be learned here by people who read self-help. Although Niesslein commits to sticking her program out (informed by a variety of well-known "experts" such as Dr. Phil, Dr. Sears, the FlyLady, Babywise, and others) as a journalist, a...more

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08/07/07

Brenda rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in August, 2007

Jennifer Niesslein takes experts' advice on different subjects and filters out the bullshit. Her cynical worldview ("moderately hopeless" an online test told her) and sense of humor is the perfect spin for me. Like her, I can't help but be skeptical of people who tell you they have all the answers, but at the same time, I'd like to think I'm open to suggestions as to how to genuinely make my life better. Chapters on cleaning, personal happiness, interpersonal relationships, and service...more

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02/10/08

H-bomb rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Considering the books of this ilk, Niesslein is an above-average writer. Unfortunately, she really portrays herself as "practically perfect." She has a loving husband who willingly submits to the ridiculous exercises her self-help books suggest. Her child is smart and adorable. In one section she describes graduating from college and having massive amounts of credit card debt and student loans, but she and her husband make so much money that they pay it all off AND buy a new car! ...more

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04/23/09

Karen rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in May, 2009

Memoirs are one of my favorite genres, probably because they really give you a sense of who the author is. This book was no exception, and I think I liked reading more about the author and her family than about the actual topic of the book, a two-year experiment to explore, read, and try all types of self-help in an effort to become a happier person. Jennifer Niesslein is intelligent, funny, liberal, down-to-earth woman who cares deeply for her husband, son and community. She is the co-founde...more

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10/28/08

Cory rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, it disappointed. I thought it would be full of wacky hijinks, or strangely touching, or extremely practical and full of "best of's". Instead, it was just sort of meh. And, I realized about halfway through that I didn't particularly care for the author . . . if we met, she isn't someone that I would choose to spend a lot of time with. Her reactions to her forays into self help . . . her attitudes toward what she was doing . . . her ...more

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06/29/08

Beth rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

I think it would take me quite awhile to write a concise and poignant review of such a thoughtful book (since my time is measured out in small increments)....a quick synopsis here.... Jennifer takes on different self help gurus' advice and finds that although some seem to have value, what we are really looking for is right in our own backyards.
Of course, she doesn't come out and actually say this (I'm partial to Wizard of Oz references). And it is a joy to read, with writing as comfortabl...more

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05/14/08

Jamiepea rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone who likes to laugh and think

Jennifer Niesslien is smarter, funnier, and more thoughtful than at least 99.5% of the people I know. It is her great gift that she makes her readers feel smart, funny, and thoughtful by association.

Niesslien invites you to come on into her imperfect life (house, checking account, home gym, playdate schedule, psyche) and get comfortable. You won't stay comfortable for long though, and that's the whole point.

I laughed all the way through this book (except for the dark pa...more

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01/12/08

Stormkpr rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

This book tells us of the author’s two-year quest in taking self-help advice, in an effort to become a better, happier person. With a healthy dose of skepticism but not devoid of earnestness as well, she researches and undertakes improvement projects in the areas of the home, finances, marriage, child-raising, health, and spirituality. I found her account witty, insightful, and tremendously fun to read. I liked hearing about her life, I laughed out loud a few times, and I did get ideas for a f...more

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11/15/08

Shaun rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in January, 2009

I found this book really informative and helpful in exploring the different areas of self-help. I actually feel like I'm going through the same period, so this book may have been kismet. The spirituality piece of the book (towards the end) was inspiring, I think I may want to read "Travelling Mercies." I like the humor and the honesty of exploring yourself!

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05/19/08

Betsy rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in July, 2008

I chose this book for my book club. I found it interesting because the author gives almost a personal and applied review of a lot of the "expert" self-help, finance, marriage, etc. books out there. I expected it to be funny, based on a review I had read, but it really wasn't humorous at all. It was an interesting, easy read, but not a summer page turner.

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02/10/08

Jill rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in February, 2008

For some reason, it just didn't click for me. Instead, I left the book feeling sort of empty and depressed. I think she had me at the premise... Why on earth isn't she happy?

I didn't move with her, and I didn't find her mockery of ideas particularly funny. The writing is sharp, as I expected. I might have liked it better if it were half as long.

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01/05/08

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in January, 2008

By one of the editors of Brain, Child magazine. I've been wanting to read this and poof there it was on the new book shelf at the library today. Woot!

Update:
I could really relate to her, more than I thought I would at the outset. Had me laughing out loud at times and also really appreciating what she was going through.

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07/13/08

Annadupree rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

This was a pretty entertaining book. A woman spends a few years reading all the self-help out there on a variety of subjects. She is very real about it all and goes through some really funny experiences with it all. In the end she learns to listen to her own voice as she gleens good advice from the bad.

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08/01/08

Jane rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in August, 2008

This book got better and better and funnier and funnier. I think we could be friends. I have glanced at her magazine "Brain, Child" at Family Connections, but now I might be tempted to subscribe. It only comes 4 times a year, so I could probably even read it before the next issue arrived.

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08/11/08

Sara rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

Read in August, 2008

I had to stop reading this book. She is a good writer, and funny enough, but I couldn't relate. She isn't actually struggling in any area of her life, she feels fairly content with who she is before she even begins. I just couldn't care about her. It seemed contrived.

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07/04/08

Michele rated it:

(review of isbn 0399153918)

There were a couple of humorous moments in an otherwise shallow book. I discussed this with a group of others, all of whom agreed this lacked emotional depth and that sense of someone being real. I couldn't make it all the way through, and I rarely quit reading anything.

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