Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

For any writer who has lost their way Ms. Lamotts" book is an invaluable resource. Without being preachy. She is more of a confidant, taking you around the shoulder and leading you through the trials and tribulations of having confidence in your talent.

I love this book. I've read it so many times it's falling apart.

This is a fabulous book - I couldn't put it down from the moment I began. I laugh, I cry, and then I am touched by her deep sense of faith. Can't wait to read more of her work.

Funny, genuine and wise.

Anne Lamott sets out to tell us "absolutely everything she knows about writing" -- and she apparently does it, which I think is almost unbelievably generous. And yet this doesn't read like a how-to book, but more like a meditation on life, love, family and the richness that comes up if we allow ourselves to deeply appreciate every annoying little detail. An...more

Anne Lamott sets out to tell us "absolutely everything she knows about writing" -- and she apparently does it, which I think is almost unbelievably generous. And yet this doesn't read like a how-to book, but more like a meditation on life, love, family and the richness that comes up if we allow ourselves to deeply appreciate every annoying little detail. An indispensible book for writers, and a simply beautiful book for anyone and everyone else.   hide

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I call it "The Artist's Way" for lazy people. Okay, maybe not completely, but for those of us who want to break through our mental garbage and create or even just live, but don't have the spiritual goodness to meditate our way to creativity, this is our book! Practical and funny, it is full of painful truth and doable advice....more

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I call it "The Artist's Way" for lazy people. Okay, maybe not completely, but for those of us who want to break through our mental garbage and create or even just live, but don't have the spiritual goodness to meditate our way to creativity, this is our book! Practical and funny, it is full of painful truth and doable advice. I'm now on my third copy!   hide

What a delight! Her anxiety (about everything) gets in the way on occasion, but what a fresh view of storytelling. Since this is what preaching is to me, truth-telling in your stories, it struck something deep.

A great book for writers! Very personable & inspiring.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it hard to put down. Lamott writes with an entertaining style, almost always funny, and she also gets a lot of useful information across for us writers. I really enjoyed this book. Lamott has a true and funny style, and gets everything across in a very entertaining way. I wouldn't call this a writing manual, because it's nothing like one. More than...more

I really enjoyed this book. I found it hard to put down. Lamott writes with an entertaining style, almost always funny, and she also gets a lot of useful information across for us writers. I really enjoyed this book. Lamott has a true and funny style, and gets everything across in a very entertaining way. I wouldn't call this a writing manual, because it's nothing like one. More than anything, she'll give you some great tips, get that idealistic idea of "when I get published, everything will be great" out of your mind, and motivate you to write more and more.   hide