Sarah Anderson does it again! Thank you for providing cat specific comic relief in funny, relatable ways!

I love Sarah Andersen's books. They always feel like she has crawled right in my brain and puts my thoughts on paper. Her illustrations always hit right to the heart of what we feel about our cats.

I love Sarah with all my soul! She's just so brilliant and funny that I can't put it into words. His comic strips are always so relatable and genuine! I find myself in so many of them.
Strongly recommend checking her out.

Another funny and sadly truthful installment, I always seem to relate to this little introverted, cat & dog loving, book reading scribble person, I can’t imagine why....🤔 seriously though, some of the ones about the Internet, creativity, and how that safe space is changing seemed especially on point at the moment.

Another hit from Sarah Andersen. Introverts and young adults will relate to her life and enjoy her simple yet original artwork.

Reading a Sarah Andersen book is always a pleasure. I'm sure it will be a comforting read that makes me evaluate my life in a way that is not forced. I really like the drawings this time as well and that the focus of the book was now on cats.

This is the first work I’ve come across by Sarah but Internet has some of her scribbles widely appreciated so the name isn’t new to me. I really liked this! I think comics that cover unrelated topics that are deep-down somehow related can be done by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. And that’s the vibe I get from these scribbles.

The comics are ranging from silliest thing that can make us happy--like sliding the scissors through a silky cloth or continuously flipping pages of a book late at night, saying “this is going to be the last one”--to relatable life struggles--like meeting deadlines or picking up small tasks over large, important ones--and these different topics makes this collection wide.

In addition to this, there’s a collection of thoughts toward the end of the book where Sarah acknowledges the dark world of Internet and how difficult it can be for an artist to take up some courage and just post about their passions. It can work like aninspiation to some upcoming artists or it can open up some wounds of those who have suffered same but knowing there are others like you can help immensely; whatever be the case, you definitely take away something good from this book. So, basically, pick this up because you’ll certainly find quite a lot you can relate to.

*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts are my own and in no way biased.*

As always, Sarah’s Scribbles left me in splits throughout the entirety of this comic. I’ve come to love her brand of humour and I have adored the previous books in this collections – Adulthood is a Myth & Big Mushy Happy Lump. Like the previous two, this one was a quick, fun read that I was done with in one sitting. I mean, it is so addicting that I once I started, I couldn’t find in myself to stop till I had read the entire comic.

What I loved especially, was the second half of the comic that speaks of being an artist in the internet era. Being a sort of artist myself (hey! Running a book blog and writing trashy fanfictions are forms of art, okay?), it resonated deep with me. I related to it completely and absolutely and that made the experience of reading this so much better. That section was my favourite, even though it was super short. I absolutely loved and adored it.

This was a little darker than the other two, but just as enjoyable for me. Definitely recommend. 😀

Sarah Andersen's "Herding Cats" is seriously pee in your pants, laugh out loud funny. I would laugh so hard that my husband would give me looks and I'd have to read my favorites aloud. I absolutely love @sarahandersencomics and her sense of humor as well as her insight into issues like anxiety. Get this book so you can have a laugh readily available when you need one.

Thanks to @netgalley for the loan of this book. It's on my birthday wish list to put next to my copy of "Adulthood is a Myth." #netgalley #sarahandersencomics #herdingcats #seriouslyawesomebook #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #booklove

Herding Cats is my first Sarah Scribbles comic, though I have seen a few of her strips floating around the internet.

I love webcomics especially the ones that touch on things I deal with daily...like cats, procrastination, and anxiety around pretty much anything human. I knew that Sarah's comics dealt with all of those things and I just had to finally try one of her collected volumes, and I wasn't disappointed.

I find her humor pretty on point with my own life, and so many of these comics seem like they might be pulled from my own. Not to mention her adorable style makes all of it even better.
It's definitely one of those books that you find yourself reading in solidarity with the author and muttering, 'me too'. It touches on things that are not all that funny (like the crippling social anxiety that leaves me wrecked the night after a single innocent conversation) and turns it into something that I can smile about, which to me is perfect.

Sarah also includes a short essay in the back about being creative and continuing your to follow your dreams. I thought it was a nice touch even though I'm not personally artistically inclined.

Overall I think this is a cute collection that's good for some laughs. I will say that if you follow her artwork a lot online then I'm not sure if it offers anything new here, but you can't beat the convenience of having them on hand.

The essence of what makes Sarah's Scribbles, both in web comic and book form, so wonderful is how Andersen is capable of distilling such human moments into 6 cells or fewer. I find almost every comic extraordinarily relatable.

Unlike the previous two books, this collection of comics didn't have as strong a connecting theme. I like the concept of a connecting theme. It keeps the laughs rolling and the reader engaged. With the seemingly abrupt transitions occasionally returning to a previously explored theme, I found myself less engaged overall. The previous books I read without pausing; Herding Cats I put down once or twice on my journey towards completion.

While many people read the Sarah's Scribbles series for the comics, my favorite part of these books is always the closing essay. Andersen's Letter to Young Artists reflects upon her experiences over the last years coming into fame over the internet. There are a lot of scary and dangerous pitfalls which are not always considered on the road to internet fame. This exploration of the toxicity of the internet, particularly for content creators and public figures, is timely and important. Yet, in most of the reviews I've read, readers have disliked this section of Herding Cats. Anderson's unique style of the longer form combines both comic cells and essay in a gripping fashion. She covers a challenging topic with a light-hearted twist making the topic easier to relate to and appreciate. I love her longer forms. I hope to see more of these in future collections.

Thank you to Andrew McMeel Publishing, NetGalley, and Sarah Andersen for providing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hilarious! I hadn’t read anything else by Sarah Anderson, but I will be sure to check out her other titles now!

I got this one cause I've seen some of her cartoons floating around facebook and they usually make me smile! This was a fun book, it was full of cartoons (lots of cats lol) that will make you laugh and smile. and at the end she had a little segment I didn't expect encourage artists to keep creating. I definitely recommend this book and hope to read through some of the older ones.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4 STARS

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoy Sarah Anderson's work. Her cartoons are really down to earth and relatable, but super funny. I was very excited to read this one after enjoying the first two installments. I found this one to have tackled a lot more social issues than the previous two, but still in her humorous and enjoyable fashion. I especially appreciated the talk at the end about how to grow your creativity in the age of the internet when there are so many naysayers. I can't wait for the next installment!

Herding cats is one of those impossible tasks which would be idiotic to even attempt, but as a metaphor for life, Sarah Andersen graphically encourages the reader to keep moving forward and "Go make stuff" through a series of comic strips.

Sarah loves both cats and dogs who are featured throughout the book:

Cat shapes: Round, Long, Curve, Loaf
Dog shapes: Dog

Starting the day is tough for Sarah, who is far from a morning person:

"I will set my alarm for 7:30 and I will WAKE UP at 7:30! No snooze!"
Last panel: The comforter proclaims "BED OF LIES".

Sarah tries to get a handle on her life:

4 panels with a clean room reflecting "a life of simplicity and order".
Panel 5 - Later that week - "CHAOS, I AM YOUR MISTRESS."

Then there is always retail therapy:

Before: Sad
After: Sad, but in a fabulous outfit

Other issues explored include anxiety, being an introvert, and tackling work assignments. There's a tad of political commentary mainly surrounding a same sex relationship with her significant other.

The last portion of the book is a written commentary about the current state of art and the influence of the Internet, entitled Making Stuff In the Modern Era. Andersen laments that in the beginning she found the Internet a nurturing, inviting environment, but now it's a "fire pit". Part One: A Guide for the Young Creative, Being an Artist and the Internet, describes the prevailing situation facing young artists while Part Two: Artist Survival, provides advice on how to deal with the conflicts mentioned under the following five headings:
1. Growing pains are common and okay
2. Understanding criticism and harassment
3. It's okay to have feelings
4. Go outside; the option is there
5. Don't give up

The author presents comic style representations of Sarah dealing with these concerns providing the reader with some insight into her motivations for the "Sarah's Scribbles" series.

Despite the above serious narrative, Herding Cats creates amusing comedic moments which are easy for the reader to personalize, especially if they aren't a morning person, have a tendency to procrastinate, and love Autumn (like me). The illustrations, while not quite scribbles, are definitely lacking details, yet Andersen is effectively able (most of the time) to visually get her point across, hitched along with a chuckle and sometimes an outright laugh. My favorite comic strip pictures the angst of college students preparing for finals vs the calm of Sarah - "Me: No longer in school". Been there, done that, appreciate the reminder.

Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing this temporary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read:

https://ellenk59.wordpress.com/2018/05/12/herding-cats-a-sarahs-scribbles-collection-by-sarah-andersen/

I was a middle school teacher for a long time so I can relate to the simile for classroom management that is like "herding cats." This collection of "Sarah's Scribbles" holds that same kind of chaotic, quirky glee and awkwardness . I am new to Sarah Andersen but I looked up her work and her daily scribbles and it has the same humor that I find charming.



This one talks about the growing pains of becoming an adult, a journey that most of us struggle with until we realize that we must be adults, even if we don't feel different. I think readers and non readers can relate to this as she deals with deadlines, social situations, awkwardness (like teens and tweens).



The bonus on the author's "Guide for the Young Creative" is a timely, honest message to young artists that things will get better, so don't give up.





A digital advanced copy was borrowed by Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.

This book is mostly filled with Sarah’s comics, which I adore and find infinitely relaetable.
She also has a few sections on what it was like to be an artist on the internet back in the day vs. now, and tips for aspiring artists. You can find most of her work on her Instagram, so the actual book is probably best as a gift for someone who is either a big fan of her comics or that not-very-internetty friend who you know would love them but will never get around to clicking the link you sent her.

A cute book with a little story about going out and doing what you love and growing up, and not growing up.

Anderson writes openly, honestly, and with great humor about being an introvert, a woman, and an artist. Mostly just highly entertaining. THe final portion of this book, where she explores creativity in the internet age, is a departure from her normal humor but I welcome it. It addresses issues that creators need to think about.

I love Sarah's Scribbles, this may be my least favorite of the three of her books but it's still a four star review. She writes my life.