How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me! [Paperback]

Merrill Markoe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1995

The hip and hilarious author of What the Dogs Have Taught Me returns with a comic approach to self-help and happiness, heroically undertaking the task of acting out the best "how to be happy" suggestions from the repository of wisdom on the subject, The 365 Days to a Happier Life desk calendar.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Markoe's spoof of self-help guides takes cliche-ridden advice and applies it in off-the-wall ways.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Markoe (What The Dogs Have Taught Me, LJ 4/15/92), has absolutely no qualifications as a mental health expert, but that doesn't stop her from adding her own tome to the already oversaturated self-help market. She promises that her 33 "happiness hints," arranged like a day-by-day calendar, will help depressed readers become happier without leaving "the comfort and security of [their] own private hell." For Happiness Hint #1 ("Take the time to improve your knowledge of another period of history"), Markoe suggests an evening at a Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Restaurant, complete with beverage wenches and manservant waiters. Happiness Hint #33 ("Extend a social invitation to someone you've always been afraid to approach") means a romantic date with Fabio. While funny in snippets, Markoe's book, read all at once, begins to wear thin like a TV sketch that has gone on too long. For larger humor collections.
Wilda Williams, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140233695
• ISBN-13: 978-0140233698
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,060,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Merrill Markoe graduated from UC Berkeley with a masters degree in art, then went on to use her degree in the most pragmatic way possible by becoming a writer of comedy for assorted venues, including television, movies and magazines,(when there still were magazines.) Along the way she won five Emmys for Late Night with David Letterman and a Writer's Guild Award for HBO's Not Necessarily the News.These days she is STILL writing books and making short films. To learn more than you probably need to know about her, visit Merrillmarkoe.com. And when I say "her", I mean "me." As far as I can tell, I'm the only one writing this.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A laugh out loud, brilliant commentary., November 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Be hap-hap-happy Like Me! (Hardcover)

Merrill Markoe shows why she was chosen to be the head writer for Late Night with David Letterman in this irreverant and often laugh out loud collection of satirical essays. Brilliant in its commentary on life in the 90's, How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me takes a refreshing look at the seemingly mundane experiences that all of us share. The book is tightly woven, easy to read and completely hilarious.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good stuff, April 29, 2000

By 

Katelyn (Morgantown, WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me! (Paperback)

I did not actually read this book, but listened to it in audio-book format during a drive to D.C. I enjoyed it so much, I listened to it again soon after. Markoe delivers laugh-out-loud commentary while still being smart, articulate and witty. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the finer (annoying) things in life. Markoe narrates the audio-book, which gives you an even better feel for Markoe's personality.

5.0 out of 5 stars Liked this so much I bought it again when mine was misplaced, January 25, 2011

By 

Laurie J. Jensen "LJJ" (San Clemente, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me! (Paperback)

Funny...esp about the part about trying to pay back dinner invitations. Dog lovers esp will love it. "Walking five dogs is like water skiing behind the Space Shuttle"