Customer Reviews

How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me!

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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"

"Do you want to learn how to make big money in a safe legal profession that will never leave you bored?" With a sentence like that, is it any wonder I enjoy Merrill Markoe's (enhanced) description of her life?

Markoe takes scenes from her own life- job hunting, dog walking, dating, sex, interior designers, television, parents, and then enhances them to the outrageous with laughable results. Her insecurity about everyday life is delightful, causing her ridiculous optimism or resulting in her rush to instantly improve her life by embracing the next best thing to come along.

"QUESTION: How many times should you allow a guy to slam your head into the wall behind your bed before your officially declare it "bad sex" and attempt to abort the proceedings? ANSWER: Two. The first time, it is still possible it was only an accident.

Her take on conversations with her dogs should be required reading at any pet training session. Given that this book is a collection of her columns, the writing still felt choppy and out of sequence. I did also feel this book was very dated.

"For example, the other night it began to occur to me that I seem to be the only semineurotic woman in America who was never an incest victim - or that maybe I really am and the horrifying flashbacks just haven't come to me yet. At least that's what the 250,000 different incest victims that I've seen interviewed on Oprah, Phil, Geraldo, Sally Jessy, "Hard Copy," "Inside Edition," "A Current Affair," "60 Minutes," "20/20," and "MTV's House of Style" all said. And if it does turn out that I am the only remaining person in America who never had sex with her father, what does that say about me? What am I, chopped liver?"

Easy to read a chapter at a time but not Markoe's best.

Merrill Markoe is a very funny author - but I do not recommend this book. It's like "Merrill Light" very watered down and never fills you up. Try one of her other books instead - or find this at your local library.