| Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 307 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1427
Category: Book
Author: Anne Lamott
Publisher: Anchor
Studio: Anchor
Manufacturer: Anchor
Label: Anchor
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 239
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0385480016
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.02
EAN: 9780385480017
ASIN: 0385480016
Publication Date: September 1, 1995
Release Date: September 1, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
"Thirty years ago my older brother, who wasten years old at the time, was trying to get areport on birds written that he'd had three months towrite. It was due the next day. We were out at ourfamily cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchentable close to tears, surrounded by binder paperand pencils and unopened books on birds,immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then myfather sat down beside him, put his arm around mybrother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy.Just take it bird by bird.'"
Amazon.com Review
Think you've got a book inside of you? Anne Lamott isn't afraid to help you let it out. She'll help you find your passion and your voice, beginning from the first really crummy draft to the peculiar letdown of publication. Readers will be reminded of the energizing books of writer Natalie Goldberg and will be seduced by Lamott's witty take on the reality of a writer's life, which has little to do with literary parties and a lot to do with jealousy, writer's block and going for broke with each paragraph. Marvelously wise and best of all, great reading.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 302 more reviews...
 Refreshing and Encouraging November 22, 2008
The pressure is tremendous. To write a review of a book on writing -- the review almost has to smack of winning a Pulitzer. Well, I'm no writer, so I'll do my best.
The frankness of Lamott is very refreshing. So many books on writing just cover the technical approaches and don't really address the psychological factors. And when they do address them, it's usually couched in too much politically correct bile. Not so with Anne -- she tells it like it is. A breath of fresh air.
Some sections in the middle of the book were a little slow. Maybe because those sections sound so much like many other books. Just skim through those sections. It's easy to spot parts that are intellectually and emotionally stimulating.
Will this book make you a writer? Who knows. But it will give you more confidence in expressing what you feel is important. If a book does that, then I think it is a success.
Great for writers, even more important for people just trying to get through this life November 21, 2008
I'm not sure how I heard about this book. It was one of those odd series of events that ends with something in your mailbox. I read a few quick things about it online and suddenly decided that I must read the book. I'm glad I did because this was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.
Anne has a casual but polished writing style that you can't help but to get lost in. She writes like a close friend speaks to you, eschewing ego and pretentiousness to deliver her simple, personal message. It started out a bit slow but the stories she told were very entertaining. By the time I reached the middle of the book, I was totally hooked and found the last half hilarious and very informative.
This book is, in the end, a guide on how to be a writer, not a guide on how to write. What I mean by that is you won't really develop your style or improve your sentence structure by reading this book. What you will do, however, is come to terms with a lot of the obstacles facing writers at every stage of their careers. Her humor and her honesty makes you feel really good about contributing, failing, hating yourself, and moving on.
Though I would definitely recommend this book to anyone writing their own book, I would recommend it even more to anyone living in this world and doing the best that they can. She talks a lot about failing and self-hatred and giving up and charging through. I found myself particularly centered after reading about her embarrassing reactions and consequent success over jealousy and writer's block. I learned more about my life and myself than I did about writing. I don't necessarily consider myself a writer but I explore my creativity in different ways and this book really speaks to all of them.
Pick this book up, read it, and feel better about just being yourself.
Attention Writers: Keep This Book on Your Shelf November 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Anne Lamott is an accomplished novelist and essayist, and she is also a writing teacher. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life contains not only her classroom lessons, but also her whole self. Lamott's witty, honest and at times self-deprecating style is all over these chapters and her empathy for writers of all levels is immediately apparent. When we writers take time off to read what we think are how-to books, often times we're stuck and we're looking for a friend. We find this in Anne Lamott.
That said, Bird by Bird is not a How-To book about writing. Instead it's more of a Who-Are-You look into your own writing process. It appeals to a wide audience--those just getting started and those with years of experience and published work. Anecdotal snippets from her life (fans of Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year will appreciate stories about her son, Sam) and clever prompting tips from her classroom (Broccoli anyone?) will make you laugh and make you get back to your writing project.
We writers owe Anne Lamott a great deal of thanks for this wonderful book.
Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club
Touching and funny October 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Anne teaches writing and this book is based on what she shares with her class. I love the personal stories she tells, especially about her son, Sam. Writers often talk of "voice", and I feel I know Anne through this book. I can hear her voice.
She makes the serious memorable, but also funny. Writing is important, but she does urge us to not take it all too seriously.
She talks about the thrill of seeing oneself in print, but then the raging doubt and the self-loathing that can come sometimes.
It is full of lessons, like seeing the world through a tiny window and just describing that bit - and then widening it. Don't start with a big project, just write a short assignment.
Writing is not just for publication - it is it's own reward. Commit to finishing. She is realistic, encouraging but without promising the world. Highly recommended!
 Beyond the book - "Real" Life Tips October 27, 2008
Yes, this is a book on instructions for writing, but of greater value are Anne Lamott's "real" life tips. These are "real" because they are very straight-forward, honest and humorous. Can you imagine saying to your friend, "I hate you"? You know you may have thought this at one time or another but Lamott says it. The question is whether she was serious or just allowing her inner voice to get some ink in "Bird by Bird".
From the perspecctive of advice on writing this book does contain worthy advice for all levels of writers. Her examples will tickle alive your thoughts and creativity. You will finish reading several pages or chapters and think, "I got it, I know what I can do". She helps you to let go.
Today's world is moving fast, very fast and most of us (not me) are frantically trying to keep up with every little detail. Stop! Pick up your copy of "Bird by Bird" and let your heart, mind and soul feel good.
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