Practically Perfect in Every Way

by Jennifer Niesslein (Goodreads author!)
Practically Perfect in Every Way
book data
84 ratings, 3.42 average rating, 32 reviews (more data...)
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published
May 17th 2007 by Putnam Adult

binding
Hardcover, 352 pages

isbn
0399153918   (isbn13: 9780399153914)

description
A wry, perceptive, and witty examination of our relentless need for self-improvement by the admittedly imperfect founding coeditor of the award-winnin...more






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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 187)



Lena Phoenix
Lena rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/03/07

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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Katherine
Katherine rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/15/08

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 spiritu...more
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Elizabeth
Elizabeth rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/15/08

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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Susan
Susan rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/09/07

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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Brenda
Brenda rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/08/07

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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H-bomb
H-bomb rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/17/08

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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Beth
Beth rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/29/08

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 comfortable an...more
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Jamiepea
Jamiepea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/14/08

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 parts, which are a...more
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Stormkpr
Stormkpr rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/12/08

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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Sharilyn
Sharilyn rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/04/08

Read in November, 2008
Interesting idea. The author cruises through the world of self-help authors. Each chapter had a different theme (examples: finance/health/relationships/household organizing/kids). The earlier chapters were stronger and funnier and it got a bit heavy in the later chapters (on psychology and spirituality). Generally very entertaining, but it bogged down a bit in the last third.
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Betsy
Betsy rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
07/18/08

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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Jill
Jill rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/17/08

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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Elizabeth
Elizabeth rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/13/08

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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Annadupree
Annadupree rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/13/08

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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Jane
Jane rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/30/08

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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Sara
Sara rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
08/27/08

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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Michele
Michele rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
07/04/08

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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Gina
Gina rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/15/07

Read in October, 2007
I liked Brain, Child, so I knew I would like this book. I had fun reading about all of her experiences, and even though it's been several weeks since I read it, I keep thinking about some of the advice she took, and how it worked out (or didn't) for her. Worth a read.
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Melinda
Melinda rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/09/08

bookshelves: 2008, psychology
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for: Kate, Blayne
Identical in topic to the last book I read, this one was more introspective into both the author's life and the nitty-gritty of the self-help books read. I appreciated the honesty of the author's struggles and came off with a small list of books to check out.
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Melissa
Melissa rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/15/07

Entertaining read. Like listening to a girlfriend with whom I had a lot in common. Also made me look up a few of the self help books to see if I had the same reaction (I did). Definitely borrow this one from the library, though, I doubt you want to own it!
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Practically Perfect in Every Way: My Misadventures Through the World of Self-Help--and Back (Paperback)