Erma Bombeck: A Life in Humor

by Susan Edwards

A celebration of the life and works of Erma Bombeck chronicles her experiences, dedication to laughter, and irreverence for long-held traditions, which were shaped by her battle with cancer. 50,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography, Humor, Nonfiction

222 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Alice Teets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erma Bombeck has long been a favorite of mine as I started reading her books long before I ever thought of being married or having children. I loved reading about her beginnings and life. I completely recommend this for anyone who has ever enjoyed one of her books.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erma Bombeck was born on February 21, 1927 and passed away on April 22, 1996. I read her book When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home in 1991 and found it to be very funny. I have one Family - The Ties that Bind...And Gag! on my TBR mountain. I only know her from these books. I found this book to very interesting and showing a woman that was underestimated, the critics hated her but women and a few men loved her. Her humor is sassy and straight forward. The book is not over the top with details, gives a good overall view of her life, work and home. I have only one complaint, the book started off with her death, did not like that. I am going to be adding more of her books to my TBR mountain and see if I can find the shows she was on. I would like to hear her voice now. I was not much into TV when she was around, I feel I missed something.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom's favorite humor writer was Erma Bombeck. While my dad read the paper from front page to back, my mom zipped right to Erma's column and then read the comics. Erma was laugh-out-loud reading for my mom, the best way to cap off her day, no matter good or bad. So, I sort of grew up with Bombeck's columns even though I didn't really read her.

I'm attending the Erma Bombeck Humor Writing Conference in Dayton, so I thought this book would be a good way to get me started on who Erma really was as a writer and as a person. Susan Edwards does a good job of presenting Erma and her career. I felt that, though at times the writing style of Edwards comes across more for middle school students instead of for adults, her book was informative. But the writing style did make me wonder, since the book was published a year or less after Erma's death, if it had been hastily put together to take advantage of the tragic loss of Erma or as an homage to Erma. In the end, that didn't matter as much, because the book is a quick and easy read. I know more about Erma Bombeck now as a result of this book. And that was my goal when choosing to read it.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Erma Bombeck so was interested in learning more about her. This book covered the basics. I wish it hadn't been so full of reviews of her books. (mostly negative)

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been an Erma Bombeck fan--never missed her column in the paper and have read most of her books. Susan Edwards did a fine job on a short biography of the highlights of Bombeck's life.

[Posadafan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this bio, I'm wondering if Erma's place in history as "humor writer lite" goes deeper than that. I'm thinking of Roseanne and similar family-with-dirty-laundry sitcoms, movies, etc. Erma may very well have paved the way.

The author makes reference to author Jean Kerr a few times; apparently some critics felt that Kerr was the better writer. A moot point, really - hey, don't we all know there are better musicians in our local pubs than some of the musicelebrities today? (Not to say that Kerr was not as good - she probably was - she just didn't reach Erma's height of fame.)

One thing I appreciated in author Susan Edwards' writing is that she included the negative reviews and opinions about Erma's writing. So many bios are oozy with rapture, giving the reader an inaccurate picture of the person's place in the culture of their time.

The writing itself...just okay. (And yes, I'm terribly envious that a first-time author snagged a deal with a publishing powerhouse such as Guideposts.)

Non-judgmentally, I would have liked fewer commentary/reviews, etc...and much more about her life with her husband and children. In fact, the absence of that leaves you feeling as though Erma was so busy writing and committing herself to projects that she barely spent time with her family. Did she ever relax and enjoy her time with them? No doubt. Show us that.

I remember when Erma died. It was a shocker. She definitely was beloved.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I've read all of Erma Bombeck's books at one time or another. This book brought it all together. For instance, I didn't know that Phil Donahue and she were once neighbors. This book also reiterated for me the fact that true writers can't be stopped. Erma wrote from her earliest years as a child to almost the day she died. What a great guy Bill is too!

[LPR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not particularly well-written, but it was interesting to read. I like knowing facts about her background and the contexts of her books. Now I think I'll read one of her actual books for my dose of Erma.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting, but I think I would read some of her books first before reading her biography. I am a sucker for biographies, especially the ones on A&E. Good thing we don't have cable!

[Herb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting and lovely account of one of our greatest humorists. I went away from this book thinking that I would have liked this lady personally. The author did a very fine job.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interesting, if somewhat superficial, look a the life of one of my all-time favorite writers.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 3/97

[Wendy Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of Erma. Read her other books if you want her humor.