My first audiobook ever, which also happens to be the one that I legitimately own (not to say that I pirate books because I am a PHYSICAL book collector. Just that I tend to SAMPLE digital versions that rests on the world wide web all over). Tried a membership on Audible.com, got credited the following month (and freaked out), and still had that two credits - of which I could spent on two books. This is the first one that I kinda got for 'free'.

But I am glad even if did pay for it.

We all knew Ellen from her talk show and her being a host/judge/whatever. But I remember her most as being the voice of Dory from 'Finding Nemo'. I thought she did a cool voice job for that. The character and the traits of Dory being an 'amnesic' fish felt so real. And that's just from voice acting alone! So, when I happened to stumble upon this, I knew this would be interesting. A book by her, narrated by her as well. How many authors do that? How many authors can tell jokes BTW?

If you bought the physical version (that's paper books aka the real thing) then I must say that you are missing a lot. Ellen was talking about matters in her life, adding in jokes here and there - and MAKING SOUNDS that felt ridiculous and dead funny at the same time. I dunno if the chapter on the sounds is included in the real book - because if it did, then you can never have that same feeling of awesomeness+stupidity unless you hear Ellen doing it. Made me laugh and smile during my evening jog - people must be thinking that I was crazy.

She talked about her principles in life and random things. I guess maybe she have covered most of what she wanted to tell about herself in her previous books (this is her third) that she barely touched the subject. She talked about her wife (but only because she also spoke of herself at home), her mom (in a funny and sarcastic way) and Harry Connick Jr. (a lot). I mean, while being funny, she also managed to be INTELLIGENT at the same time. And BRILLIANT. Touching the subjects of 'Opinion Polls (and why people shouldn't be bothered about looking good in pink)' and Animals (cats, dogs, komodo dragon...). Most of the time, relating her work with the things that she discovered as positivity and discovery of what matters better in life.

Some chapters are short. If you read it, you'll think it was being funny by trying to be clever. BUT... if you heard it being told, you'll see that it makes A WHOLE LOT MORE SENSE because the convincing voice, tones and sometimes accompanying music/sound effects - made the whole listening experience real. And funny.

Just imagine the voice of Ellen speaking to you in 3D. With pauses (and she did played with stops, halts, rests - to make a point), grunts, heave, higher octave (especially the part when she spoke that when people lied - their voice got LOUDER) and singing.

I swear sometimes if she really meant this book to be an audio version in it's actual form.

I love it. Short (at 3 hours +) but full of wisdom of life from somebody who went through a lot. And achieved a lot.

If other reviews made you feel bad about getting it, then go and hear it. This is one 'book' you want to hear over and over again just to experience the joy of being tickled. Now seriously... I'm kidding.