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I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better
Empathy for people who read self-improvement books but never get any better. (Also for the people who sincerely wish they would.)
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2014
10 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Rosby
7 books136 followersDorothy Rosby is a syndicated humor columnist whose work appears in ten Western and Midwestern states. She's the author of four books of humor collections including her latest, ‘Tis the Season to Feel Inadequate: Holidays, Special Occasions and Other Times Our Celebrations Get Out of Hand.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2020
Such a light and entertaining presentation of so many relatable experiences in life. I genuinely enjoyed the author's perspective and playful tone.
November 4, 2022
If you liked Erma Bombeck, you'll like this book. I laughed out loud in several places. I love the short stories because it's easy to read, easy to set aside and pick up later, and it's clean. No foul language or situations. Just good clean humor.
August 8, 2023
Quick read and much tongue in cheek advice!
July 22, 2015
If you hear the same joke twice and laugh again, then you know it’s well told. In Dorothy Rosby’s collection of essays, I used to think I was not that bad..., you’ll undoubtedly read the same snippet from life more than once. If you’re anything like me, you’ll also laugh out loud more than once. Since I don’t actually laugh out loud very much, and especially not on long train and plane journeys when strangers might stare at me, that’s saying quite a lot. I hope they stared at the book I was reading too. Perhaps they’ll add it to their mustread bookshelves soon.
Of course, many strangers on a train are too busy looking at their cell phones to notice someone laughing. Perhaps they should read the author’s essay entitled "Is this a good time to talk?" Who knows what Thomas Watson would say today to Alexander Graham Bell?
As the author misses what “You can’t miss,” forgets names, and acknowledges she too might be one of those ubiquitous “difficult people,” the reader is certain to relate. But these essays are written with such lively deprecating humor, it really doesn’t matter that I’m getting to know myself through the author's eyes as I read. And anyway, I’m not that bad, am I, until...
From romance to weddings to not-so-ever after, from worry to safety to sanity to “What do you mean you don’t know” if you locked the door behind you, this book’s got it all. It even offers occasional rituals to help “Beat Murphy’s Laws” and “Ban the bully”—your bully; the one who insists that you really are that bad and worse. The book is filled with tidbits of wisdom, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and the voice of a friend I really want to go out for coffee with. What more could you ask for in a fine collection of essays to wile away that free time you’ll never have.
The journey was okay, by the way, and I loved the book.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
Of course, many strangers on a train are too busy looking at their cell phones to notice someone laughing. Perhaps they should read the author’s essay entitled "Is this a good time to talk?" Who knows what Thomas Watson would say today to Alexander Graham Bell?
As the author misses what “You can’t miss,” forgets names, and acknowledges she too might be one of those ubiquitous “difficult people,” the reader is certain to relate. But these essays are written with such lively deprecating humor, it really doesn’t matter that I’m getting to know myself through the author's eyes as I read. And anyway, I’m not that bad, am I, until...
From romance to weddings to not-so-ever after, from worry to safety to sanity to “What do you mean you don’t know” if you locked the door behind you, this book’s got it all. It even offers occasional rituals to help “Beat Murphy’s Laws” and “Ban the bully”—your bully; the one who insists that you really are that bad and worse. The book is filled with tidbits of wisdom, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and the voice of a friend I really want to go out for coffee with. What more could you ask for in a fine collection of essays to wile away that free time you’ll never have.
The journey was okay, by the way, and I loved the book.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
February 18, 2016
If you hear the same joke twice and laugh again, then you know it’s well told. In Dorothy Rosby’s collection of essays, I used to think I was not that bad..., you’ll undoubtedly read the same snippet from life more than once. If you’re anything like me, you’ll also laugh out loud more than once. Since I don’t actually laugh out loud very much, and especially not on long train and plane journeys when strangers might stare at me, that’s saying quite a lot. I hope they stared at the book I was reading too. Perhaps they’ll add it to their mustread bookshelves soon.
Of course, many strangers on a train are too busy looking at their cell phones to notice someone laughing. Perhaps they should read the author’s essay entitled "Is this a good time to talk?" Who knows what Thomas Watson would say today to Alexander Graham Bell?
As the author misses what “You can’t miss,” forgets names, and acknowledges she too might be one of those ubiquitous “difficult people,” the reader is certain to relate. But these essays are written with such lively deprecating humor, it really doesn’t matter that I’m getting to know myself through the author's eyes as I read. And anyway, I’m not that bad, am I, until...
From romance to weddings to not-so-ever after, from worry to safety to sanity to “What do you mean you don’t know” if you locked the door behind you, this book’s got it all. It even offers occasional rituals to help “Beat Murphy’s Laws” and “Ban the bully”—your bully; the one who insists that you really are that bad and worse. The book is filled with tidbits of wisdom, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and the voice of a friend I really want to go out for coffee with. What more could you ask for in a fine collection of essays to wile away that free time you’ll never have.
The journey was okay, by the way, and I loved the book.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
Of course, many strangers on a train are too busy looking at their cell phones to notice someone laughing. Perhaps they should read the author’s essay entitled "Is this a good time to talk?" Who knows what Thomas Watson would say today to Alexander Graham Bell?
As the author misses what “You can’t miss,” forgets names, and acknowledges she too might be one of those ubiquitous “difficult people,” the reader is certain to relate. But these essays are written with such lively deprecating humor, it really doesn’t matter that I’m getting to know myself through the author's eyes as I read. And anyway, I’m not that bad, am I, until...
From romance to weddings to not-so-ever after, from worry to safety to sanity to “What do you mean you don’t know” if you locked the door behind you, this book’s got it all. It even offers occasional rituals to help “Beat Murphy’s Laws” and “Ban the bully”—your bully; the one who insists that you really are that bad and worse. The book is filled with tidbits of wisdom, laugh-out-loud anecdotes, and the voice of a friend I really want to go out for coffee with. What more could you ask for in a fine collection of essays to wile away that free time you’ll never have.
The journey was okay, by the way, and I loved the book.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
July 12, 2015
Things that make us go hmm?
This book is very entertaining. The author talks about real life situations and puts a humorous spin on them. If you enjoy reading books by Erma Bombeck, this book won't disappoint as Rosby's writing style is very similar. Often there are things we think about or question ourselves on which we can relate to with this book. Why do people text one another when they're sitting at the same table at a restaurant? We tend to get frazzled by life's daily interuptions and sometimes let it get the best of us. Dorothy reminds us to take a moment and look on the bright side and remember to be grateful for the things that could have been worse.
This book is very entertaining. The author talks about real life situations and puts a humorous spin on them. If you enjoy reading books by Erma Bombeck, this book won't disappoint as Rosby's writing style is very similar. Often there are things we think about or question ourselves on which we can relate to with this book. Why do people text one another when they're sitting at the same table at a restaurant? We tend to get frazzled by life's daily interuptions and sometimes let it get the best of us. Dorothy reminds us to take a moment and look on the bright side and remember to be grateful for the things that could have been worse.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews