Fast Funny Women

Why read this book? The stories here will make you feel better about the world and your life because they tell the truth about how 75 very smart and funny women have made it through their lives. Some are 20 yrs old and some are 90 yrs old. All backgrounds--poor, rich, kids, no kids, jobs, no jobs, dates, no dates, partner, unpartnered, women of color, women who are white-- all 75 new short pieces of non-fiction give you a chance to laugh and get closer to a feeling of community. Jane Smiley, Marge Piercy, Mimi Pond, Liza Donnelly, Darien Hsu Gee, Leighann Lord, and Loretta LaRoche offer advice and life-stories while "Sylvia" creator Nicole Hollander talks about getting revenge on her sister by telling her the whole plot, including the ending, of OZARK while her sister is still watching. A great gift book, for young or old.

Living a life is tricky business. This is true for everyone. But sometimes, it seems trickier for the women in our lives--or if not trickier, at least different than it may be for me, a decidedly heteronormative white guy.

I don't claim to be an expert. The good news is I don't have to be! I just have to listen. And this collection is a great place for that.

These stories, like all good stories, shine a light on the things you miss every day. And there's no shortage of that. None of us take enough time to look at the world and laugh. To me, that's what this collection does. Each voice shines with wit, originality, and verve, whether it's Faye Weldon's insightful piece on her experience with fame, or Kristina Dolce's raucous account of found lines from her (extremely intelligent) middle school students, to any of the other gifted writers showcased in this book: they all leave you with a good laugh and a clearer picture of what it means to be living in this world. 

Plus, they're short. You could do what I do and read a story in the morning with your coffee to remind yourself what really matters before tackling another day.