Customer Reviews

29 and Counting : A Chick's Guide to Turning 30

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Having recently endured the traumatic 3-0, I was looking forward to this book, which I expected to cheer me up by reminding me of all the plusses to my advanced age. On the contrary: this book actually increased my depression, listing a multitude of drawbacks to being thirty that had not even occurred to me. Instead of offering real consolation, Tilsner makes empty promises about the benefits of being thirty, assuring us that we will magically wake up with new self-confidence and direction for our lives. I only wish it were so. Probably most off-putting is her assumption that her readers spent their twenties wallowing in recreational sex and recreational drugs; her description of the average 'chick' seems to come straight from the pages of Cosmo and has little relation to my life, or that of anyone I know. If you actually do buy products from the Good Vibrations catalog and count that Saturday night wasted when you don't get high and bag a stud muffin, this book may be for you. It wasn't for me.

The Reader from Athens said it very well, and I agree completely with every part of her review. I was barely worried about turning 30 until I read this book. Let that be a word of warning to potential readers - now it's as if all these other people's fears of turning 30 have been implanted in my brain. And the author's reassurances fell flat with me - too many were based on just some chatty conversations with the author's many "girlfriends". I think there's some helpful information in the book, and it's often interesting to hear about other people's experiences - but I didn't like the author's implication that we're all "chicks" hoping to get "preggers" before the dreadful age of 30.

Tilsner's book gave me a few good chuckles, but there's not much substance to it. It left me with the feeling of "Is that all?" Although I'm definitely a member of Tilsner's generation, and can identify with her humor, I was turned off by Tilsner's constant references to her friends and herself. She even plugs a friend's website in the book--a gesture I found somewhat unsavory. If you're looking for something thoughtful and informative, this book isn't it. But, if you're looking for humor and "lite" writing, you'll enjoy it.

On the verge of 30, I started to seek out books to help me survive the crisis of it all. Judging from the reviews, this book looked like it would fit the bill. It did somewhat...I say that because, well, it actually almost didn't.

I found the first half of this book to be depressing, reminding me that I wasn't a young doe anymore...ugh! But, the second half helped to redeem the book in my eyes, explaining why 30 was so great. You can't tell that this half and half action will happen by reading the chapter titles, etc., but it does.

Also - keep in mind that this book is categorized as humor/self help, and it is just that, emphasis on humor. If you are looking for a psychology perspective, professional advice or something like that - you won't find that here. The only credentials that the author has are that she once turned 30 herself.

This book is an attempt to make light of it all - but I found it to be quite depressing at times! I think I am now even more scared about turning 30 than I ever was! But Julie Tilsner does help you to realize that you are not the only one who is going through this.

Though I appreciate what she's trying to accomplish (make women feel better about turning 30), Tilsner's book is a turn-off. The author's "wacky" tone is SO present as to offend. This book is for a small sliver of women in the US -- the "popular crowd." Her advice? Better get a man, an SUV, and a facelift ASAP. Don't bother with this surface fluff.

I was extremely disappointed with this book and the fact that none of the reviews I read seemed to mention that the author is highly un-relatable unless you happened to be a binge drinking, drug taking, promiscuous girl in your 20's. She mentions many times the use of recreational drugs and talks about drinking and sleeping with random friends or acquaintances. She is shocked when she finds out that one of her girlfriends has only slept with two men in her life, "gasp"! This was hardly my experience in my 20's so I wasn't having her same fear of "growing up". I have been responsible most of my life and was more looking for a book with guidance about "where does it go from here"? There were a few funny or poignant moments here and there and it was a quick read so I gave it 2 stars rather than 1, but if you are a married woman on a decent career path at 29, you will not find this book is for you.

My suggestion to other readers is - do not waste your time or money on this book! When the big 30 began to approach I ordered the book from Amazon. I couldn't wait to tear into it. Unfortunately, I was very, very disappointed. The best part of this book is the cover, and that's no lie. I ordered this book thinking I would get good information and it would be funny. Instead all I learned was that you can string together pages and pages of drivel. With the constant hysteria about turning 30 in this book, it will make you have a mental breakdown. The book feeds into this false culture of fear. Also, the book reads like a college term paper - a bad college term paper.

What this book isn't: 1) something you would take seriously. 2) something to consult if you are a selfhelp fan. 3) something you won't get if you never moved out of your parents' house.

Turning 30 for me was a breeze; it was 31 that freaked me out. As a chronic bargainer (Chapter 3), experiencing the joys of our current economy (Chapter 7), I personally enjoyed this book. I think it's wry, witty, has a touch of Ab-Fab to it, and made me want to have a drink and read it in the tub.

If you are closer in your level of seriousness to some of the reviewers here, don't buy this book. Otherwise, kick back and enjoy the read!

I bought this book because I thought it would be kind of amusing. In fact, it was extremely funny and more helpful than I thought it would be. I'll be 30 in seven months and I have been feeling bad about it, and feeling bad that I feel bad. But Tilsner has a lot of first-rate advice and experiences from other women that make sense. It really was just like sitting down with some girlfriends and talking about it all. I'm still a bit skeptical (how am I supposed to start getting respected in my career after 30 when I still don't have a career?) but I do feel better and more able to cope. I'm passing my copy around to all my 29-year friends this year.

I enjoyed the fun tone of the book overall, but was a little surprised that Tilsner seems to think none of her readers are married and turning 30. I'm hitting the big 3-0 this year, and have been married for two years and have a baby (her Planet Parenthood book is fantastic, by the way!), so I felt almost left out at times. Overall, though, the book is a lot of fun--I'm passing it along to all my girlfriends!