It's Not Me, It's You: Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic, Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman [Hardcover]

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor has never been one to take the easy, conventional route. In her latest work It’s Not Me, It’s You, she unabashedly showcases a life well lived, ignoring all wisdom, but yet somehow, coming out on top. Combining her trademark biting wit and straightforward common sense, the anticipated comedic memoir delivers outrageous tales from all periods of her life and family history.

From Taylor’s outlook on working hard (audition for a game show instead) to getting her husband to propose (forget The Rules: try nagging and physical violence) these stories venture beyond daycare, sure to entertain both parents and non-parents alike.

Covering a wide range of topics that explore the anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion that accompany the rewarding, comical, awe-inspiring, and life-altering roles of parent, teenager, wife, and daughter, It’s Not Me, It’s You offers readers an escape, empathy, and plenty of laughs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"And you thought my life was outlandish." -- Tori Spelling

"More fun than an all little person nativity scene." -- Chelsea Handler

Review

"And you thought my life was outlandish." -- Tori Spelling

"More fun than an all little person nativity scene."-- Chelsea Handler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416954147
• ISBN-13: 978-1416954149
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is the author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I Had to Learn as a New Mom (Simon & Schuster 2006) and Naptime Is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down (Simon & Schuster 2008) which were based on her prominent blog "Baby on Bored" that has been entertaining thousands of mothers since 2005.
On television she acts as the go-to parenting expert for NBC's "The Today Show" where she has appeared numerous times giving practical humorous advice. She's also been featured on Dr. Phil, Your World with Neil Cavuto and even Oprah (via taped interview but she's still hoping to one day sit on the couch!). As a comedian she has performed on Make Me Laugh, Evening at the Improv, Comedy Central. Her third book, It's Not Me, It's You: Subjective Recollections of a Terminally Optimistic, Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman is out July 2009. Stefanie keeps herself very busy with twin toddler girls, a preschool age daughter and an active online poker addiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strange ending to a candid and witty memoir, July 9, 2009

By 

Holly K. Lee (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Not Me, It's You: Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic, Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The latest book from Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is her own memoir. She takes us through growing up, all the way through carrying her twins in a high risk pregnancy.

One of the things I like most about her writing is her -holds nothing back- style. She talks openly and candidly about life situations and her reactions to them. She obviously has a knack for humor as well. Her father was a bit of a deadbeat, a stand-up comedian who walked out on the family early on, but left Stefanie with sharp wit.

I am not surprised at all that she is friends with Chelsea Handler, the two have very similar styles of writing and story telling. Naturally if you like the two books by Chelsea Handler you will really enjoy what Stefanie Wilder-Taylor writes about.

My biggest complaint about the book would be the ending, or lack thereof. The book just kind of stopped. I actually wondered if I was missing some pages. I think that the book needs an additional chapter at the end to wrap things up. They way that it is currently left off is strange.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A female Augusten Burroughs - Couldn't put it down!, July 8, 2009

By 

Raging Moderate "Bart" (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's Not Me, It's You: Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic, Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman (Hardcover)

I'm pretty picky within this genre, but I read this funny, poignant memoir in two sittings!

If you've ever been young in a big city, or grew up in a fractured family, you will recognize most of the situations that this author finds herself in. Coming from a dysfunctional family with a semi-famous dad who wanted to be fully famous, she had some screwed up situations in childhood to deal with, but clearly came out with sense of humor fully intact. There are sad junctures in some stories , but the author brings each one around to integrate them into her central theme of crafting a functional, happy adulthood out of a fractured chaotic start. The non linear story telling works nicely with this theme being the spine that binds it together.

I read mostly political stuff, but am also a big Austen Burroughs fan, and like some Sedaris. This reads like Burroughs early edgy stuff. A must read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut, Sometimes You Are, July 5, 2009

By 

Kim Cantrell "Soap Box Bandit" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's Not Me, It's You: Subjective Recollections from a Terminally Optimistic, Chronically Sarcastic and Occasionally Inebriated Woman (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

From moving cross country to Los Angeles at the young age of 18 to becoming a mom of twins, author Stefanie Wilder-Taylor details the crazy antics of her life in her newest release It's Not Me, It's You.

Wilder-Taylor makes no secret of the insane situations she been in and the hilarious consequences that follow.

And let's not forget to mention her endless job hopping until on a whim(and the help of a list of her "qualities") she decides to be a Hollywood producer - which, by the way, she does successfully.

This book was more than appropriately named based on the author's personality and lifestyle.

One line from this book sums up Wilder-Taylor: "In AA they call it sharing; I call it dinner conversation."

There's nothing I love more than a book wherein the author doesn't seek to speak of their perfections but of their numerous flaws (as we all have) and can laugh at themselves as you chuckle along with them.

If you've ever been a screw-up (and haven't we all be at some time?), then be sure to pick up It's Not Me, It's You - it'll make you feel better about yourself! ;)