Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining

by Tom Connor

Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining does to Martha Stewart's books what Is Martha Stuart Living? did to her magazine. Hopelessly irreverent, this hilarious new spoof of the uncontested queen of homemaking presents recipes, dinner party plans and home projects that only a crazed Stepford Wife on steroids could hope to accomplish. From garden parties to circumcisions, Martha Stuart's Better Than You at Entertaining provides an unceasing barrage of clever and ludicrous tips to make any occasion unforgettable. Be constructive on your wedding morning and impress the guests with a freshly baked 10-tier cake (from scratch, of course). For Mother's Day, Martha has the perfect recipes and tips to show Mom how inadequate as a homemaker she really is. Revive the pioneer spirit and have a genuine Thanksgiving -- Martha shows you how to breed, feed, kill and prepare your own turkey. As a special treat, see Martha in action for Easter, as she welcomes the Pope to her home. (She even tries to teach His Holiness how to turn water into an '89 Petrus or a '93 White Bordeaux.) Only slightly more impossible than the Hospitality Guru's own projects, these instructions are guaranteed to have the legions of Martha fans (and their critics) roaring with delight.

Genres: Humor

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1996

Reviews

[Justin Cascio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recent round of Gwyneth Paltrow-hating, centered on her food-related quotes, reminded me of this book. Now that Martha Stewart's having her picture with Snoop Dogg circulated on Facebook, reminding us which one has served time as a convicted felon, she seems more down to Earth. Paltrow, on the other hand, is still on Planet Hollywood. Her quotes on men and steak hearken to "Martha Stuart's Better Than You..."'s recipes for capturing a man's heart (roofies, restraints), and the way avocados fall like monounsaturated rain into her life remind me of "Stuart"'s ingredients lists, which would usually call for several difficult-to-secure items, such as manatee butter, the slave labor of adoring fans, and whole, roasted groundhogs.

I laughed until I was hoarse reading this and showed it to everyone who came to the house for at least a year.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is on my coffee table ALL THE TIME. It is clever, over-the-top funny, ...I love hospitality and love when guests come over and peruse my books and magazines...this one is one that from cover to cover you don't want to put down. Written well and photographs are great. I have it sprinkled with my various magazines just to watch people's reactions.