Jack Erdmann delivers a gift - a brutally honest true story about one man's struggle with alcohol. However, this book is more than just a book about alcohol and alcoholics - it is a great story, period. The language may be raw or lyrical, and the story is heartbreaking, funny, and ultimately filled with hope. If you enjoy this book read 'Whiskey's Children', by the same author.

What a wonderful, wonderful book about the recovery and the real life application of the
twelve steps that have taken a man from hell into sobriety and sanity. This is a inspiring
honest book about a man who finds hope and the miracles that follow.
A great book !!

Absolutely hilarious take on life and it's many different paths. A great read!

My dissertation at university is on eating disorders, so I've been reading quite widely on the subject. Geneen Roth's books had been recommended to me for ages, so I decided I should start with this one: maybe it was the wrong choice as an introduction to her work, maybe not. I guess I'll find out after reading the rest of her books.

Mind you, this is NOT a disappointing book: Not at all. It contains good, very useful ideas, and it makes clear points. The basic, no-diet philosophy of Roth is valid & makes sense. And since this is a self-help book, it helps that the author uses examples, little stories, & catchy titles. From cover to cover, it can be read in a couple of hours, but I think it's better to read the ideas more slowly, savouring & trying to understand each one better.

"When you eat at the refrigerator..." is NOT a bad book: it's just that these things have been said before, & (in my opinion) much better, for example, by Susie Orbach. Maybe Orbach concetrates more on the theoretical part & Roth tackles the more practical, self-help part. I don't know. And maybe Roth has covered more theory in her other books. But this book, for me, was lacking in theoretical explanation of the ideas presented, & so most of these ideas seemed like little gimmicks to me. But, as a beginnning book, a book of ideas that can lead to other similar books, it's not bad.

Geneen Roth is right on target, AGAIN. If you've never read Ms. Roth's books, then this is a great introduction to her philosophy. If you're familiar with her work, then you'll quickly discover that this IS a moveable feast - the portable Roth.

My one criticism, and maybe Ms. Roth will correct this in future printings, is the Table of Contents. This book is supposed to be 'a take along' to be read in bits and pieces as time allows and mood suggests. But when you want to find a nugget, the Table of Contents is a hindrance, not a help. I'm just a reader, not a book editor but below is an excerpt from the current layout and a recommended, improved Table of Contents:

Current:
4.Give Away Clothes that Cut Off Your
Circulation/22 5.Consider Howard Stern and
Live 'As If'/26 6. Learn to Recognize a
Fat-and-Ugly Attack/29 7. Emergency . . .

Suggested
4.Give Away Clothes that Cut Off Your Circulation___22
5.Consider Howard Stern and Live 'As If'__________26
6.Learn to Recognize a Fat-and-Ugly Attack________29
7.Emergency Interventions_____________________34

geneen roth does a fabulous job discussing our relationships between food and love, then giving you ways to change that relationship. it is NOT a diet book. it is a book to make you think.

Jack Erdmann tells a story with more ups and downs than a rollercoaster! It's amazing that he lived to tell about it and he provides hope for anyone who's ever considered himself to be a "hopeless alcoholic". It's a story for anyone who's ever struggled with the "love/hate" relationship with an alcoholic parent. Erdmann paints a moving emotional picture in telling his story! An exceptional book!

Whiskey's Children touched me far more than Angela's Ashes. It hit me in emotional places I hadn't visited for a long, long time. The prose was brilliant. As Annie Lamott the New York Times Best Selling Author wrote in her forward: "a story so beautifully told it will leave you shaking with wonder". Exactly! When I read the rave reviews on the jacket I was struck by Senator George McGovern's remarks: "Heartbreaking and soaring. A testament of survivial and hope for all who suffer from this affliction". D. May

I believe Whiskey's Children is the most powerful and inspirational book ever written on alcoholism.

Everyone who loves a fast and gripping read should run, not walk, to the nearest bookstore and pick one up.

Jack Erdmann has walked the walk of an alcoholic and takes us inside the mind, heart and soul of the person that is hopelessly addicted. The emotional trauma that is involved in the machine of a family disease is gut renching. I cried and I laughed and I held my breath. Nobody knows the incomprehensible hold of alcohol like this author. I have read many books about the disease of alcohol and recovery testamonials but this book lays it on the line like no other. There is hope for the alcoholic and that comes shinning through in Mr. Erdmann's book. The machinery has to stop somewhere in the family of the alcoholic. It seems to be a genetic, inherited disease that needs early intervention. People do not have to go through the hell Jack did if they will heed the warning signs. Friends and family have a mandatory responsibility to intervene when the signals of alcohol or addiction are waving frantically in their faces. A great book!!!!

Anne Lamott's "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year" is one of the most honest--painfully so--books I've ever read on both pregnancy and new motherhood. Given the strictures of Lamott's situation at the time--no man around to help her or take responsibility for his child--the humor in this book is nothing short of amazing. After a particularly frustrating episode of feeding solids to her son Sam, Lamott writes that the process is a lot like spackling; you fill the hole with stuff, scrape around the sides, try to pack some more stuff in the hole, and so on. This was so true and so perfectly described that I laughed out loud with recognition. Although Lamott's situation isn't everyone's, the difficulties, fears and joys she describes herein are universal to most new parents. This makes a marvelous gift for the new mom who has everything else and who could use a good laugh.

My son had colic and had it badly. There were days I would just sit and cry along with him. A fellow mom and friend of mine loaned me this book to read. I LOVED this book. Anne Lamott's writing style was wonderful and refreshing to me. I cried and I laughed at the same time. It felt like many times exactly what I'd been feeling and thinking was said in a courageously honest format. Thank you Ms. Lamott for giving such a gift. It was a cleansing experience for me to read your book in a difficult time. I highly recommend this book for any mom going through a rough time with a colicky baby. I needed an understanding heart and not a " how to" manual at this time in my life and I found it in the pages of this book.

You'll need to keep a box of Kleenex handy for this book because you'll either be laughing so hard tears stream down your face or you'll be sobbing over the tragically sad and tenderly touching passages.

Anne Lamott writes about her first year of single motherhood and her magnificent yet extremely trying baby boy, Sam. She's brutally honest about the good and the bad. If you have fluffy powder blue and pastel pink images of parenthood, brace yourself for some shattered illusions. Her nutty family, endearingly loyal friends, eccentric church congregation, and Marin County community of slightly off center characters create a real pageturner. Anne Lamott takes us on a privileged journey into her very peculiar mind. Despite what she claims in one paragraph, it really is a fun place to visit. Also woven through the story is the sorrowful tale of the failing health of her best friend. Be prepared to gobble this book up in one sitting.

_Operating Instructions_ is an uncompromising story from the true trenches of parenthood. There's no idealized "What to Expect..." nonsense here. Also, Anne is a Christian but is a radical, liberal, defiant one. For those of you who have somewhat narrow ideas about what it means to be a Christian, take a look at Annie...she'll twist your mind around like a pretzel. Some people may find Lamott's leftwing politics and theology offensive. Also, parents should be warned that this book contains very coarse language.

I first read this book when I was still single and had no children. I was hooked! Years later when I was pregnant with my son, I pulled it back off the shelf and used it almost like a reference book...a glimpse of things to come! During my son's first year, my husband and I often referred to passages from this book in our struggling efforts to maintain a sense of humor in the midst of newborn madness. I have reread _Operating Instructions_ many times over the years and have also recommended it to others and given it as a gift. I now recommend it to you...

Anne Lamott makes her guide to writing, Bird by Bird, personal, effective, and endearing by sharing embarrassing stories--everything from her three and a half year old son's cussing habits to her own struggles with writing to her debilitating bout of jealousy after the tremendous success of a writer friend. From her unabashed openness, the audience comes away with a good sense of Lamott's personality, and her humor makes it easier for the reader to accept her advice. Lamott does an excellent job of keeping the writing style conversational, which reinforces the book's personal quality. The writing is eloquent but simple, insightful but interesting. "Me, I'm a nice Christian girl, and while I wish I could quote something kicky and inspirational that Jesus had to say about writing, the truth is that when students ask me for the best practical advice I know, I always pick up a piece of paper and pantomime scribbling away" (37). From the first line of Bird by Bird the reader can tell that Lamott's voice is consistent; she is a caring coach, comic, and expert who offers sage and useful guidance. Her wit and wisdom capture the reader's interest; her practical counsel and experience build the reader's ability and boost his motivation.

I can't remember ever laughing so much when I read a book. This book is a MUST read for all authors or would-be authors out there. I nearly soiled my bed, I laughed so hard and so much. Anne Lamott has a unique writing style that jumps off the page and smacks the reader in the face.

I guess that the reason I found it so entertaining was the fact that I could relate (REALLY RELATE) to everything she was saying about being an author. It is tough, being a writer. The distractions (both external and --- most hilariously--- internal) are difficult to deal with. Anne Lamott takes those problems and puts them in a very appropriate context for the authors out there. I have it on my desk in a place of reverence. It is my writing bible now. Thank you, Anne.

When I finished Bird by Bird, I immediately turned back to the beginning to read it again. I haven't done that since I first read The Sound and the Fury in college, but then it was to try to unravel Faulkner's convoluted story line. This time I went back to page one for the sheer enjoyment of rereading the book. Lamott's advice applies primarily to those who want to write fiction, but her down-to-earth attitude and practical advice are appropriate for anyone who wants to write, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. Her outrageous sense of humor repeatedly had me laughing out loud, but her humor is not gratuitous: it serves to highlight the very practical advice she offers. And, as the book's subtitle implies. Bird by Bird is relevant not only to writing but to everyday problems and challenges. We frequently are overwhelmed by even mundane tasks, but if we can just take them bird by bird, a step at a time, eventually we will have made our way through the crisis. The way to clean the house is bird by bird, room by room--and the Lamott way to write a book or article is also bird by bird, section by section. So don't start by asking who the best publisher is; write the masterpiece first, then use the bird-by-bird approach to find that publisher. Lamott makes it all seem very attainable

Annie Lamott shows us the modern path to Christ in this twisted, comical, and grossly honest book! Not for the timid reader but still for the Christian who wishes to read about experiences vastly different than their own. Annie supports abortion, homosexuality, and Feminism. She does not hide her support of these causes, she only claims to have found Christ in the midst of them. No one can deny that she is HONEST, in fact, she is what I would call a HARDCORE HONESTY JUNKIE. She does not pretend to be something she is not. She brings a whole new dimension to the Gospel of Grace! The beauty is that God does love her, as he loves each of us regardless of our upbringing, political position, and/or emotinal stability. A surprisingly inspirational book!

This book restored my faith in writing and in the wisdom that pain brings. It's funny and spiritual and comfortable yet it pushes you a little out of your comfort zones. She has a very paradoxical faith that resists easy categroies which shows that she is really honest. How many of us fit in to these models, really? Liberal, evangelical, relativist, absolutist, Darwinist, creationist (young earth or old???) we all deep down are walking contradictions. Ms. Lamott's writing focuses on the experiences she went through with an honesty that resists these models. She's messy, like the rest of us when we are in the dark. And Jesus still loves her and the rest of us, even when we are at our messiest.

Read this book. You wont regret it!

I bought this book the day that I found out my father had terminal cancer. The writing is insightful, touching, funny and amazingly human. Without this book, that next year would have been a completely different experience. Tonight I found myself, over three years later, reading excerpts to a friend over the phone. I came to Amazon.com tonight to send her a link to this page, so she can get a copy for herself. After all, I wouldn't give mine up for the world.

It was refreshing to read about motherhood from this book's collective perspective, but after a while it became tedious. I think it would have been fantastic if it had been edited down to a four page article that included only the best excerpts of stories. By the time one has finished the book it is apparent that "Mothers Who Whine a Lot" would have been a more appropriate title. I didn't find any great thoughtful revelations it was just a collection of the most honest, but whiny moments of a tired mother.

As I read this thoroughly enjoyable book, I laughed, cried, sighed, cringed, and chuckled. Each essay gave me a look into how motherhood affects one's life and how one's life circumstances can impact the parenting experience. I may have identified with some authors more than others, but all had meaningful stories to tell. Don't miss reading this book! I've already given it twice to friends and probably will do so again.

I picked up this book quite by accident when my son was about four months old and read it on his first plane ride. Honestly, it made me cry. It features a broad spectrum of mother's persepectives, however, I could relate to so many of them. At a time of upheaval in my life, it made me feel like I was not alone. As a first time mom who works full time at a job I love and hate alternatively, who is a staunch republican and married, I still related to so many of the columns. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I do not find the title at all offensive, I think its catchy. I think that we should embrace any book that truly celebrates mothers and recognizes that while some see mothers as one cohesive group of people, we are as varied as any segment of the population. I loved this book and recommend it to any parent who ever feels as if they are fighting to keep their sanity, despite the fact that they love their children so much they could never imagine life without them.

Having come upon and enjoyed thoroughly, BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott, I was anxious to read another book by this author. My research started with and probably will end with HARD LAUGHTER. Judging by the other Amazon reviews of this book I am one of five who not only didn't like it but would have stopped reading it after the first chapter if I was not dedicated to finishing any book I begin. First of all, in my opinion, to support a novel without a story line, a book has to have exceptional prose and great characters.This book had neither. I thought if these people opened another beer, I'll scream. Moreover, Jennifer's relationships in addition to being pathetic were sophomoric, and the descriptions of sex, dreams, food, sex, family members told me more than I ever wanted to know about any of them. I suppose they were a loving family with deep alcoholic ties but unfortunately if there was humor, it was lost on me. What I missed most, in this book was the charm I found in in BIRD BY BIRD. For me, the laughter was indeed hard to come by. I'm writing this not to be cruel, but because I think if someone looks up the comments as I did, it might be good to read a dissenting opinion.

I stumbled onto Anne Lamott while grocery shopping. Marginally coping with a new baby and a three year old I picked up "Operating Instructions-A Journal of My Son's First Year" and threw it into my cart. It quickly became my book of "daily affirmations" for the less than perfect parent. With hopeful anticipation I searched for more of her writing and found "Hard Laughter". I wasn't disappointed. The characters came alive and I realized the author was writing about her own family. These were the same voices I had grown to like so much in her journal. Once again her imperfect, humorous, messy, love-filled life lifted my spirits. I laughed even as I read of her father's diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer. The only disappointment was that it ended too soon and I had to leave the characters I felt I knew so well. I can't wait for more Lamott

Reading one of Anne Lamott's novels is like taking a refreshing cool bath on the hottest day of the year; it quenches the soul. Additionally, her wonderfully gritty voice resonates from the pages. The story of a family's struggle to keep the happiness going through the most poignant and disarming moments of their lives is insightful, touching and memorable. Hilarious and poignant as ever, Lamott again illustrates how her characters make everything difficult seem worth undertaking. All in all, a wonderful and illuminating read...

Crooked Little Heart, by Anne Lamott, is novel about a teenage girl named Rosie and her mother Elizabeth. It takes place in California's San Francisco Bay Area in the present day, where Rosie, Elizabeth, and her second husband, James live. Elizabeth must deal with her own demons involving her first husband's death while attempting to love her family. To complicate matters, thirteen-year old Rosie's tennis playing has attracted the attention of a dark and omnipresent fan, who attends her every match, just to watch her.

I give this book a six out of ten, because though the writing was good, I found it geared toward female readers. The issues explored within were not universally engaging. It was interesting to read, but there is other, more worthwhile literature. As my first book by Anne Lamott, I selected it because of the sports aspect and the recommendation of a teacher. The language is precise and the plot is fairly easy to understand within the first twenty pages. Though the storyline is separated and choppy, the language is simple and straightforward so I found it an easy read. A major difficulty with the book is that the author unintentionally made many of the issues, emotions and all the points of view distinctly feminine. This sometimes makes it hard for male readers to become involved. The tennis aspect is also difficult to understand unless you follow the sport. Otherwise, the book is a jarringly honest piece, baring the core of the emotional turbulence that teenage girls encounter and their mothers worry over, including such current topics as abortion, abuse, grief, depression, and prejudice. The reader must be willing to go where Anne Lamott leads in her exploration of humanity's psyche. It reminded me of Of Mice and Men for its honest and believable story.

Throughout the novel, the flawed characters attempt to communicate and love with all the humanness that infuses the book. "Her mother rubbed her eyes wearily. Rosie scowled and looked to the ceiling for help. 'What could have happened, Mommy, that's so bad you have to go to bed?' She walked slowly into the dark still room and sat down on the bed. She felt for her mother's long skinny shin under the top sheet. 'You weren't depressed at breakfast.'" (pg. 76). Anne Lamott does not mince words. She writes with purpose and necessary detail, each word carrying specific meaning and contributing to the world of the story. This quote demonstrates the precise words and easy language that accompanies the ardent dialogue throughout the entire book.

Though it is limited in scope, Crooked Little Heart is a genuine, heartfelt novel that is interesting and involved. Tennis players, teenage girls, and lovers of earnest exposure of hidden feelings coupled with a touch of eccentricity will enjoy Crooked Little Heart. It supplies a passionate journey through intertwining lives and realistic characters, leaving the reader with some complex thoughts to digest.

Lamott's latest novel, Crooked Little Heart, is the story of a family of the 90's confronting both the new questions of a blended family and age-old issues of human relationships. Respectively, Elizabeth, the mother; Rosie, her teenage daughter; and James, the step-father; face their own questions of unresolved grief, coming of age in the 90's, and the struggles of an aspiring writer. With varying degrees of success, Lamott combines her characteristic style of irreverentwit, hilarity, and candor to unveil very real and human characters to the reader. The two women characters are the most well-developed. As Rosie negotiates the competitive tennis tournament circuit, the pain and perils of an adolescent girl growing toward womanhood are skillfully explored. With Lamott's background as a writer, the reader might expect more character development of the stepfather-writer. (P)However, I find that Lamott's book is well written. Her metaphors for human feelings and relationships are sensitive, humorous, and thought-provoking. Throughout the story, the presence of a transient man in the bleachers at tennis matches lends suspense to the novel. As the story unfolds, the reader is treated to a family that perseveres despite individual and family secrets. Together these characters struggle in a very human way and with "crooked little hears" to become a family and make sense of the human condition

Crooked Little Heart is a moving story about a girl named Rosie Ferguson and her jump into adolescence. Rosie is obsessed with tennis, and often competes in tournaments with her best friend Simone. From the sidelines a mysterious man constantly observes Rosie and seems to be up to no good. He frightens Rosie's recovering alcoholic mother, and Rosie is warned to stay away from him. Yet she doesn't always listen to her mother.

If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this book an eight. This book was enjoyable to read, with an interesting storyline that always moved forward. The first paragraph immediately brings you into the world of the story, giving you background on the character's lives. The only drawback in reading this book was the tennis lingo. Because I am not familiar with the game of tennis and do not understand how the scoring works, at times I couldn't understand what was going on in the game. Although this didn't matter with the overall plot of the book, it sometimes distracted me from the story.

Anne Lamott is gifted in her ability to describe situations and events. On page 37 she writes, "At one point she raced after a lob that went over her at the net, and she lobbed it back so brilliantly, sending it over both boys at the net, that even Simone looked bashful and victorious when the boys shook their heads with amazement, and Luther laughed a loud throaty laugh of appreciation and something like joy, as if she had done a magic trick, and when Rosie looked up and accidentally met his eyes, he took her picture with an imaginary camera." In addition she does a thorough job in describing important details about every character, and is always reinforcing the relationships between them. Because of Lamott's wonderful ability to put the story together in a manner that continuously flows, the story is enjoyable to read.

This book reminded me of another book, Anywhere but Here, because both books involve the relationship of mother and daughter. Although their plots are very different; one takes place during a move to California and the other on a tennis court, the theme of family lurks in both. In both stories you get a sense of what it's like to be a mother, and the feelings they face while their child travels through adolescence.

I think anyone who enjoys sports, especially tennis, would enjoy this book. But in my book club group, the girls seemed to enjoy the book a little bit more than the boys. If you're looking for an enjoyable read, with life-like experiences, this is the book for you.