I will leave you with one last piece of advice, which is: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. And if you don’t got it? Flaunt it. ’Cause what are we even doing here if we’re not flaunting it?
Why Not Me?
By Mindy Kaling
2015
228 Pages
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
First thing’s first- if Mindy Kaling wrote an entire book, or made an entire television show about Latin teachers at an upscale Manhatten high school, I would read that in a heartbeat. Please Mindy, do it. When The Mindy Project comes to an end (as all things must) you know what your next project should be. Please?
Alright, now that that begging is over with we can get to the actual book review. Why Not Me?, which is sort of a combination autobiography/advice book, is penned by Mindy Kaling of the aforementioned The Mindy Project fame. If that doesn’t ring a bell, she cut her writing teeth both penning for and acting in the American version of The Office.
I have struck out with a couple of previous comedian-penned semi-autobiographies, so despite being a huge fan I was apprehensive to even pick this one up. But it all worked out! Why Not Me? is clever, sarcastic, and at many points laugh out loud funny.
Kaling tells stories from her past, both personal and professional, but does so in a way that hops all over the place to keep things fresh. Rather that work in a straitforward birth to present narrative, she jumps around to small moments that create not only hilarious stories, but meaningful messages as well. In between the anecdotes the writers muses on subjects like beauty, friendships, and love, creating a charming look at one woman’s life and the philosophies that she lives by.
If you couldn’t already tell, I enjoyed the hell out of the book. It might not be a male reader’s cup of tea (an observation that Kaling herself makes near the opening of the text) but for me it was uproariously funny, strikingly introspective, wonderfully motivating, and left me wanting more.
Also, watch The Mindy Project on Hulu, cause it’s wonderful.
Summary from Goodreads
The Laurenest 