‘Yes Please’ is Amy Poehler’s first book. She has written scripts, sketches and acceptance speeches but never a book. Until now. Where her regular comedy partner Tina Fey’s book ‘Bossypants’ is funny, smart and chronological Amy’s is funny, smart and haphazard. Some of the chapters are written by fellow comedians (Seth Meyers) and family (her mother writes of Amy’s birth – which is fair enough as she remembers is in more detail than Amy). It’s a great insight into the irreverent humour of Amy Poehler.
This is not just an autobiography, this is like a highly detailed scrapbook in which Amy shares great photos from her career and childhood, alongside large motivational messages on bright coloured paper such as “If it’s not funny, you don’t have to laugh.” Fortunately this book is funny and you will laugh.
You might also blush, as you might expect this woman is not particularly shy. Sex and drugs and famous friends are all mentioned without shame. Which is probably about right. Though you might want to begin this book in private rather than on a crowded train, unless you have no problem with fellow commuters peering over your shoulder to see “I have the Angelina Jolie of vaginas” as a large pull quote in the book you are reading. Why not, you didn’t write it and I suspect it is a fact to be proud of.
The book charts Amy’s friendships, old and new, learning how to improvise and her family life. We learn about Amy’s time on Saturday Night Live, which she began in September 2001, not long after the attack on the World Trade Center and a time when America didn’t feel like laughing.
Amy is not afraid to write about personal matters and the story of her first pregnancy and the birth of her son Archie is both funny and charming. She also touches on the subject of her divorce from Will Arnett, cleverly using other people’s questions and unsolicted opinions to both address the divorce whilst avoiding detail.
The book’s press release describes an ideal world in which “we’d all be friends with Amy Poehler”. This book is definitely written by someone who seems to be generous, hilarious and a lot of fun to hang out with. She’s not our best friend but this book is a great way to spend some time with one of the funniest comic actors of today.
‘Yes Please’ is published by Picador. You can buy Amy Poehler’s ‘Yes Please’ on Amazon here.
