Eat Less Cottage Cheese And More Ice Cream Thoughts On Life From Erma Bombeck

by Erma Bombeck

In 1979, someone asked humorist Erma Bombeck, "If you had your life to live over, would you change anything'" Her immediate answer was no, but once she thought about it, she changed her mind. The result was a classic column full of Bombeck"s signature wit and warmth. Now the beloved column that has hung on hundreds of refrigerator doors has been cheerily illustrated and designed as a handsome gift book, Eat Less Cottage and More Ice Cream. In it, Bombeck gently reminds us of what is really important in "If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more."I would have cried and laughed less while watching television . . . and more while watching real life."But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it . . . look at it and really see it . . . try it on . . . live it . . . exhaust it . . . and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it. . . . "Long-time fans of Erma Bombeck will be thrilled to have this favorite column in the form of a beautiful keepsake. Readers discovering Bombeck for the first time will become fans instantly. Eat Less Cottage and More Ice Cream offers wisdom to inspire all of us.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Self Help

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2003

About the author

Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.

For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.

Reviews

[Mikella]

Ok so i read this while volunteering and i was totally judging the cover but then i picked it up and stared reading it and then finished it well long story short - i was a very short story with pictures and quite large lettering - it gave me an existential crisis. it talked about liking life to the fullest and it was short and sweet. picture style was nice ...... that is all i recommend the book if you want and existential crisis

[Amelie Russell]

“If I had my life to live again, I would have talked less and listened more.”
💐🍦🍧🍨

[Relyn]

I read this essay a long, long time ago - I think on the last page of an issue of Good Housekeeping. I am so glad I read it then, when I was just starting, young and in my twenties and learning how to live. This was foundational advice; the kind that sort of seeps in until it becomes so much a part of you that you don't even remember it didn't originally come from inside your own self.

It was amazing to read it again at 55 (this time in gift book form) and know that, while I am sure I will have some regrets, I did sit in the grass, burn the candle, drive with the windows down, and eat more ice cream. In fact, if I have any regrets at all, it might be too much ice cream. ;0)

[Catherine]

Reread. Bombeck is one of my favourite authors. She talked about motherhood and its' challenges when others were trying to make standards seem impossible.
Her realistic view of life raising a family made me laugh especially when I was in the thick of it myself.
My mom and I both laughed over her books. She was also friends with the cartoonist from Family Circus, Bill Keene.
Always a favourite.

[B.]

A brief little book where every other sentence or defence fragment is on a page alone and sandwiched between pages of illustrations.

It is a list of regrets from a perfectionist. This is why the author wants you to go ahead and eat the fattening ice cream and stop worrying with lower fat fairy.

I liked it.

[Courtney Mroch]

I didn't realize what a short book this was and all just quotes paired with pictures. But in true Bombeck style, it doesn't take many words to prove her point with panache. This is one I'll return to time and again when I need a kick-in-the-pants pep talk pick-me-up now that I know how short and sweet it is.

[Pat]

Worth the re-reading

Being a Bombeck fan, I read this when it first printed. As I'm now considerably older, I realize that her advice is still as valuable today as it was then, perhaps even more so now when we are bombarded with depressing "breaking news" at every turn. Well worth the little bit of time required to read and the longer time to absorb her words.

[aleksandra🧛‍♀️]

can we please discuss how genius is this woman? by genius i don’t mean the intellect only because being genius is also a skill to tell jokes that will make you smile but don’t make you uncomfortable.
love you Erma, will read more :**

[Linda Edenfield]

Inspectional

Inspiring for everyone to live in the moment. Do not sweat the small stuff. Be forgiving to everyone and no exceptions. Be kinder and gentler.

[Carol H.]

Heartfelt little story with a beautiful reminder: we only have one life so live and enjoy each day.

[M W FURLONG]

SERIOUSLY?

You just charged 8.99 for a so called book that was all of 8 pages. A total rip off! A credit to my account should be given along with anyone else who purchased this!

[Mary Dolce]

Stuff to keep in mind. The big picture. One of those 'gift books' w/ one thought per page. What she would have done differently if she had life to live over. This from someone who knew she was going to die early (died of cancer). Like :....I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the couch was faded.

[Kimberly]

Very short but nice.

[JoAlice]

Very quick read

[Molly]

Thank you, Nicole. I needed that.

[Claudia (CJ)]

Always a treat to hear anything from Erma Bombeck....

[Andreia]

Short, Sweet, To the point and impactful