The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl's Guide to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery

by Veronica Chambers

Book Overview

In a society that puts so much emphasis on perfection, Chambers mischievouslycasts aside the guilt-inducing litany of shoulda, coulda, woulda that seemsto define modern-day life and replaces it with a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385512120
• ISBN13: 9780385512121
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 237 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Inspired me to write a book

I was instantly sold on the title of this book before I even held it in my hands. It was everything I expected and more. There were so many things that I related to that I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. The one thing that I took from this book is the confidence to not be good at something...and doing that something for the simple joy of doing it. The day after I read this book, I went out and bought a new journal (I had been going through some serious turmoil) and began writing. And writing and writing. I wrote the entire first draft of my memoir by hand in nine days. This started on April 9, 2006 and my memoir (Swimming With Wild Cats) went into print March 1, 2007. That's serious inspiration. She teaches you that it's okay to be quirky, clumsy, and bad at things that you love doing.

If You've Got It Why Not Flaunt It?

I really liked this book because Veronica Chambers approaches life in a can-do kind of way. Problems, what problems. In a one man's junk is another man's treasure kind of way, Chambers embraces the notion of problems only being problems if you perceive them to be. Her solutions vary but ultimately they come down to learning to be thoughtful, choosing your battles, knowing that this too shall pass and that trouble don't last always. Far from being a treatise on approaching life wearing rose colored glasses, "The Joy of Doing Things Badly" urges us to face life head on and enjoy it.

great guide for changing life

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (7/06) In "The Joy of Doing Things Badly", Veronica Chambers has shared herself with the reader and has come out as an unlikely role model. She is unlikely because in our world, perfection is everything. We all strive to be the best and live in constant comparison to others. Ms. Chambers encourages us to live the exact opposite way. She says to go ahead and fail, and to learn from it. She says to live life in an enjoyable way, not live it as a constant quest towards perfection that nobody will ever achieve. She firmly believes that life should be lived full of laughter, love, friends and travel. Much of this laughter is at her own expense. She laughs at her inability to sing, yet does not let that stop her from belting out a song whenever the mood strikes. She accepts that rejection is a part of her career, and admits that she hates it. However, she does not let the inevitable rejections she will receive stop her from looking forward to the times her work is not rejected. Ms. Chambers writes from the heart, and opens herself up to the reader. This book is a collection of anecdotes and examples of failures and triumphs. It is filled with inspiration and hope. It is truly inspiring to read of a person who lives life so fully. Throughout the pages of "The Joy of Doing Things Badly", you see a person who is committed to living life on her own terms as much as possible, and to enjoying every minute of life. There is hope for all of us who are not yet able to laugh at ourselves, but wish we could. The most pervading emotion running throughout this book is joy; joy at having fun with life; joy at laughing at our own expense; joy at giving up on the quest for perfection and accepting that life will be full of mistakes. It is up to us how we react to those mistakes. "The Joy of Doings Things Badly" reads as smoothly as a conversation, yet subtly guides us on how to change our thinking just enough to get a bit more enjoyment out of our daily lives. If we could all take a page out of this book and put it into practice, our lives would be enriched and we would all learn to find much more happiness.

lose something every day

veronica's book is a delight. wonderful anecdotes. personal failures and triumphs alike. this is an incredibly gratifying read. i didn't want it to end. she is an inspiration. in order to gain perspective, we have lose things along the way. we have to fall apart. we have to be rejected. veronica shares her world with us and it helps to know you're not alone. insightful and brave. read the book!

A great "non self help" self help book

This book was great company on train rides home. I like the way Chambers gives her wisdom, but admits when she is clueless about something. In the "I did it, so can you" vain, I found some of her advice to be cliched, but she is savvy enough to say, "this is going to sound like a cliche", which reminds us that there are reasons these things stick around: they are true. I've never read any of her fiction, but I will now!