Note to Self: 30 Women on Hardship, Humiliation, Heartbreak, and Overcoming It All (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Thirty inspiring women share the enduring lessons they have learned from the defining moments of their lives.

Life rarely works out exactly as we plan. Rejection by a cherished friend, the onset of an unexpected illness, struggle with body image and self-perception -- these experiences may challenge us, but our triumphs come to define us. We find comfort, joy, tears, and laughter in the wisdom, insight, and empathy we gain.

In Note to Self, thirty dynamic women share their inspirational stories with writer, director, and television and film producer Andrea Buchanan. Celebrities such as Grammy Award-winning rock star Sheryl Crow and Emmy Award-winning actress Camryn Manheim join stuntwoman Stacy Courtney, football player Katie Hnida, seventy- year-old HIV-positive grandmother Beverly London, and alcoholic-turned-interventionist Candy Finnigan to reflect on their unforgettable stories of redemption. Punctuated by tears and laughter, these poignant tales are full of incredible strength, invaluable knowledge, insurmountable odds, helpful survival instincts, amazing willpower, humiliation -- sometimes on a national level -- and a hefty dose of humor.

These unstoppable women emerged stronger, wiser, and more successful from the often painful and humbling turning points in their lives. While none of their unique stories will fit neatly on a sticky note you can tape to your wall, each of them carries an indelible message that can.

About the Author

Andrea Buchanan is an award-winning filmmaker best known for her work on VH1's Behind the Music. She is an active writer, director, and producer in all forms of television and film. This is her first book. She and her husband live in Los Angeles, California.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416948767
• ISBN-13: 978-1416948766
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone!, January 6, 2009

By	ALC (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderfully moving collection of stories. It reminds us that no matter who we are, we will all go through emotionally and physically challenging times in our lives, but we can still survive and even be stronger as a result. Not only do these stories have uplifting and inspirational messages, they're funny and touching as well. This one is highly recommended!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully inspiring stories about women, January 27, 2009

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

* Resilient * Powerful * Determined * Unstoppable * Incredible * Strong * Amazing ... What wonderful words to use when you think about women.

Note to Self starts with Andrea's personal story of humiliation and growth that leads into amazing stories of women overcoming... .

These women, some are well-known like Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order, SVU), others are known in their own field. They all tell their stories of overcoming major bad things that happened to them: illness, injury, job-related, relationship-related, etc.

The stories show how strong and resilient women can be-of all ages, some who had nothing, and others who "had it all."

Several of the stories are about the men they married-and the good, the bad and the ugly things human do to each others. One's husband gave her AIDS and asked her not to tell anyone, even after he died. She could not even tell her or his children. That was when AIDS filled the nation with fear.

All I could think of when I read each story was: "You go girl!" I was rooting for their success or even for their life-changing ah-ha moments.

The 3Hs (humiliation, heartbreak and Hardship really sum up life, and the collection Buchanan has assembled is worth any woman's reading time, and this is true for younger women just dating as well. It is full of advice hidden within personal experiences.

One story was written by Candy, one of the professionals that do interventions on the TV reality show, "Intervention." Herself a recovering alcoholic, her story was so heartwarming about how drinking had filled her long hours alone with a musician husband on tour for weeks at a time. Then she got sober, and now helps others-many in the entertainment industry.

My surprising favorite, maybe because it made me laugh, was the stand-up comedienne Carol Leifer. She wrote about getting rid of her dad's things after he died, and how memories are tied to "stuff." But she reminded us that "we are not our stuff but the lives we touch."

Amen to that and all the wonderful women who shared their life's story. You'll be humbled just reading about these resilient individuals.

Armchair Interviews says: HIGHLY recommended for all women. WOW.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must have for every woman, January 8, 2009

By	Ce Finkle "hostess" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is about life and overcoming life's hardships. It is about strong women who are willing to share there deepest darkest moments and bring you along for their absolute triumphs.
Buy this book and give it to every woman you know. It is exactly the kind of book the world needs right now.