Status
Available
Publication
[London] : Ebury Press, 2013.
Description
Essays. Family & Relationships. Nonfiction. Humor (Nonfiction.) HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this hilarious instant classic, the creator of The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood. “[Kaling is] like Tina Fey’s cool little sister. Or perhaps . . . the next Nora Ephron.”—The New York Times Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly! With several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? proves that Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka. Praise for Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? “Where have you been all our lives, Mindy?”—Glamour “Who wouldn’t want to hang out with Mindy Kaling? . . . [Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?] is like a mash note to comedy nerds.”—Time Out New York “Very funny.”—Boston Globe.… (more)
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Media reviews
Mindy Kaling is kind of a dork. And I like her all the more for it.
She and her new book, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns),” are an absolute delight.
Kaling is a very smart woman who has worked her way from the low-rent apartment days in New York to owning a home in L.A. and breaking in to Hollywood's brutal inner circle.
This is a fun, light read that will make you laugh a few times.
Kaling’s prose is at its brightest and most memorable when she recounts her experiences in the entertainment world. Her confirmation that former “Office” star Steve Carell is an indisputably nice guy manages to simultaneously express admiration and exasperation. After a failed attempt to
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engage Carell in a healthy round of on-set snarking, Kaling writes, “Later I would privately theorize that he never involved himself in gossip because — and I am 99 percent sure of this — he is secretly Perez Hilton.” Show Less
Her tale shares some of the relatable, comically mundane qualities of The Office, but without the cubicle-gray bleakness of the mockumentary. Instead, the story is pink, fresh, lively, and distinctly female—but it isn’t driven by sexual politics.
The anecdotes go down easy, but have little resonance beyond the chuckles and knowing smiles they induce. The book’s strongest sections are those where Kaling dives a little deeper, as in the titular chapter, where she traces the familiar adolescent experience of leaving the safety of a clique
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she had less and less in common with for a new friend who shared and nurtured her growing love of comedy. Her struggles as a big fish in the small pond of Dartmouth College emerging into a vast, scary ocean of failure upon moving to New York, or her self-effacing recollection of her less-than-memorable stint guest-writing on Saturday Night Live are similarly endearing, and more emotionally resonant than bloggish asides like “In Defense Of Chest Hair” and “Why Do Men Take So Long To Put On Their Shoes?” Show Less
And maybe that's another part of Kaling's charm: She gives off the vibe of the too-smart kid who's left her physically awkward days behind, but hasn't lost the outsider's conviction that popularity is wasted on the popular.
User reviews
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
With this book, Mindy Kaling writes a humorous memoir, which reads more like episodic little essays than a life story. Kaling talks a bit about her upbringing and her early career missteps and successes, but she also rambles on such inane topics as why men should have chest hair, dating a "boy"
Humor is a tricky thing, and one person's funny is not always another. To be fair, I don't really follow Kaling's projects, so I didn't know her humor particularly well going into this book. Some parts of the book definitely made me chuckle, but other bits didn't -- especially because it seems Kaling and I have different worldviews, particularly concerning traditional gender roles. So I couldn't always relate - or find funny - her idle observations on watching and loving "chick flicks," how men should always allow all women to enter an elevator first in order to be "chivalrous," and the "fun" of getting a mani-pedi before a second date with a guy. She also complains about being "fat" in Hollywood, without really 100% criticizing a system that allows a woman who wears a size 8 (below the national average of 12-14) to be considered overweight.
On the other hand, I was very glad to have read this book as an audiobook, with Kaling as the reader (with a couple of guest voices interspersed). Hearing her read her own words made everything seem more open and raw, so it felt very authentic and personal, even when I couldn't agree with her or find something particularly amusing.
Even though the book isn't that old, it actually feels a bit dated in places already, like when Kaling muses about how great an all-female Ghostbusters movie would be (check) and effuses on how great Amy Poehler and Will Arnett's marriage is (now divorced). The Office was still on the air, and The Mindy Project had not yet aired.
To sum up, I definitely found the book entertaining enough to elicit some smiles and chuckles while I listened along, although I also found myself occasionally shaking my head 'no' to some of her comments (like how "glamorous" a life the children of divorced parents have). I enjoyed the book enough for the light and funny break I needed from my darker and sometimes duller previous audiobook reads. But I'm not sure that I liked it enough to want to read her second book.
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versus dating a "man," what she does and doesn't want to happen at her funeral, and various nomenclature for calling a person fat, including the various connotations of these. Humor is a tricky thing, and one person's funny is not always another. To be fair, I don't really follow Kaling's projects, so I didn't know her humor particularly well going into this book. Some parts of the book definitely made me chuckle, but other bits didn't -- especially because it seems Kaling and I have different worldviews, particularly concerning traditional gender roles. So I couldn't always relate - or find funny - her idle observations on watching and loving "chick flicks," how men should always allow all women to enter an elevator first in order to be "chivalrous," and the "fun" of getting a mani-pedi before a second date with a guy. She also complains about being "fat" in Hollywood, without really 100% criticizing a system that allows a woman who wears a size 8 (below the national average of 12-14) to be considered overweight.
On the other hand, I was very glad to have read this book as an audiobook, with Kaling as the reader (with a couple of guest voices interspersed). Hearing her read her own words made everything seem more open and raw, so it felt very authentic and personal, even when I couldn't agree with her or find something particularly amusing.
Even though the book isn't that old, it actually feels a bit dated in places already, like when Kaling muses about how great an all-female Ghostbusters movie would be (check) and effuses on how great Amy Poehler and Will Arnett's marriage is (now divorced). The Office was still on the air, and The Mindy Project had not yet aired.
To sum up, I definitely found the book entertaining enough to elicit some smiles and chuckles while I listened along, although I also found myself occasionally shaking my head 'no' to some of her comments (like how "glamorous" a life the children of divorced parents have). I enjoyed the book enough for the light and funny break I needed from my darker and sometimes duller previous audiobook reads. But I'm not sure that I liked it enough to want to read her second book.
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LibraryThing member tinkettleinn
I think Mindy Kaling is cool, and I want to be her best friend. This is the main thing I learned from reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I feel it may have been her intention for writing this book: She wanted to make lots of strangers like her. Well, for me, it
Kaling’s debut memoir (?) is a collection of essays, stories, and, what she calls, pliests, which are “pieces” with a “list-y quality.” I absolutely fell in love with Mindy while reading, or, at least, I fell in love with the voice on the page, which I’m assuming is exactly like the real Mindy. (Look at me, I feel like I know her enough to refer to her by her first name.)
I’ve never encountered a voice in a memoir that I felt so directly reflects the personality of the actual person writing it. Even when writing their memoirs, writers seem to transform into something I can only describe as “other” to relive and relay their experiences; the voice just doesn’t seem like it could be the person at all. But reading Mindy Kaling’s book makes the reader really feel like they’re getting to know Mindy Kaling.
I laughed out loud at some parts. Like when she was a nanny in New York and ate through the family’s supply of junk food after she put the kids to bed. The one little girl took the blame when her mother asked her who’d eaten all the pizza bagels, and when she told Mindy this her reply was, “You can never tell [your mother] the truth.”
Even though the book was funny, I failed to see the point of it.
Memoirs, personal essays are meant to extend beyond the person writing them, to not only mention the culture at large but to make some claim about it that provokes readers to see it in a new light. Many of Kaling’s observations are, well, obvious, which made me think that this is something I could have written myself. “Why do people care about what Mindy Kaling thinks? I have these thoughts, too.” Oh, wait, that’s right. Mindy Kaling’s famous; I am not.
The book has a stream-of-consciousness structure that Kaling says is meant to reflect the way she thinks. It’s conversational, as though she’s relaying the story of her life to someone as chronologically as she can but stops to throw in stray thoughts she wants to touch on or bits she might have missed. It’s sort of like how Dickens interrupts the flow of a story to describe a chair for three pages, only when Kaling does it it’s funny as opposed to distracting.
I felt certain pieces were oddly placed, like a piece called “Karaoke Etiquette” that was squeezed into a section about Kaling’s early struggles in New York, but mostly I had no qualms with this.
There were a few pieces Kaling clearly thought were funny but weren’t, which made them painful to read, like her pliest for movies that someone is probably pitching in Hollywood. But her pliest on “Revenge Fantasies while Jogging” more than makes up for it.
I found the book entertaining the way I find a sitcom entertaining: It was great to read but my time could have been better spent doing other things. Still, I enjoyed the enduring theme throughout the book of how Mindy Kaling learned to be funny, and why humor has always been important to her.
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worked. I like Mindy Kaling even though I thought her book was like takeout Chinese: It’s delicious in the moment, but you find yourself hungry an hour later.Kaling’s debut memoir (?) is a collection of essays, stories, and, what she calls, pliests, which are “pieces” with a “list-y quality.” I absolutely fell in love with Mindy while reading, or, at least, I fell in love with the voice on the page, which I’m assuming is exactly like the real Mindy. (Look at me, I feel like I know her enough to refer to her by her first name.)
I’ve never encountered a voice in a memoir that I felt so directly reflects the personality of the actual person writing it. Even when writing their memoirs, writers seem to transform into something I can only describe as “other” to relive and relay their experiences; the voice just doesn’t seem like it could be the person at all. But reading Mindy Kaling’s book makes the reader really feel like they’re getting to know Mindy Kaling.
I laughed out loud at some parts. Like when she was a nanny in New York and ate through the family’s supply of junk food after she put the kids to bed. The one little girl took the blame when her mother asked her who’d eaten all the pizza bagels, and when she told Mindy this her reply was, “You can never tell [your mother] the truth.”
Even though the book was funny, I failed to see the point of it.
Memoirs, personal essays are meant to extend beyond the person writing them, to not only mention the culture at large but to make some claim about it that provokes readers to see it in a new light. Many of Kaling’s observations are, well, obvious, which made me think that this is something I could have written myself. “Why do people care about what Mindy Kaling thinks? I have these thoughts, too.” Oh, wait, that’s right. Mindy Kaling’s famous; I am not.
The book has a stream-of-consciousness structure that Kaling says is meant to reflect the way she thinks. It’s conversational, as though she’s relaying the story of her life to someone as chronologically as she can but stops to throw in stray thoughts she wants to touch on or bits she might have missed. It’s sort of like how Dickens interrupts the flow of a story to describe a chair for three pages, only when Kaling does it it’s funny as opposed to distracting.
I felt certain pieces were oddly placed, like a piece called “Karaoke Etiquette” that was squeezed into a section about Kaling’s early struggles in New York, but mostly I had no qualms with this.
There were a few pieces Kaling clearly thought were funny but weren’t, which made them painful to read, like her pliest for movies that someone is probably pitching in Hollywood. But her pliest on “Revenge Fantasies while Jogging” more than makes up for it.
I found the book entertaining the way I find a sitcom entertaining: It was great to read but my time could have been better spent doing other things. Still, I enjoyed the enduring theme throughout the book of how Mindy Kaling learned to be funny, and why humor has always been important to her.
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LibraryThing member Writermala
I have a confession. I don't watch TV - no I did not even watch Office. So,why did I read this book? It seemed like it might be funny. Yes, it was. Mindy Kaling is clever. She is funny in a clever sort of way and that tickled my funny bone.
Mindy is like the 'girl next door,' the girl who obeyed her
In short every page was something I could relate to and that's why I enjoyed the book so much; and yes, I'm going to read her next book too.
Mindy is like the 'girl next door,' the girl who obeyed her
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parents, did well in school, went to college, and yet succeeded on TV. That is probably every average girl's dream. Her description of not being a size zero is a relief to every size 10 woman. In short every page was something I could relate to and that's why I enjoyed the book so much; and yes, I'm going to read her next book too.
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LibraryThing member nmagel
This book is Bossypants’ cuter, younger sister in a frothy pink dress. Kaling does not take herself seriously, and that makes for an entertaining and laugh out loud funny read. She speaks to the readers like we are all good friends. She also pokes fun at herself, and makes true, hilarious
Kaling also has great essays on marriage tips, growing up the child of Indian parents, early beginnings in NYC with Matt&Ben, an Off-Broadway show she wrote/starred in which I loved when it came out, and funny stories about THE OFFICE.
I would recommend this book to fans of Tina Fey, David Sedaris, Chelsea Handler, Jen Lancaster or THE OFFICE.
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observations such as how men need to sit down ( & take forever) to put on a pair of shoes, or how to make an Irish Exit.Kaling also has great essays on marriage tips, growing up the child of Indian parents, early beginnings in NYC with Matt&Ben, an Off-Broadway show she wrote/starred in which I loved when it came out, and funny stories about THE OFFICE.
I would recommend this book to fans of Tina Fey, David Sedaris, Chelsea Handler, Jen Lancaster or THE OFFICE.
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LibraryThing member dpappas
I am a huge fan of The Office and was so excited when I heard that Mindy Kaling was writing a book. This is a relatively short book but one that is filled with funny. But let's be clear, this is not a how-to book, she doesn't teach you how to be some uber successful, gorgeous Hollywood star.
I would recommend this book to my friends and even some family. This is definitely a good read for fans of The Office and women of all ages.
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Instead it is a book filled with essays and lists about her life experiences (romances, her childhood, and her career). I was really excited to hear about her thoughts and opinions on The Office and was not disappointed when we came to that essay (although she does not go into extreme detail about it). Reading this book just felt like I was having a conversation with a best friend. I laughed, cried, and gasped throughout the book.I would recommend this book to my friends and even some family. This is definitely a good read for fans of The Office and women of all ages.
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LibraryThing member GraceZ
This book started slow, is very light and soft, and is still highly entertaining. I now have a new goal in life: get chummy with Mindy Kaling. We don't have to be BFFs, we could just hang out over the course of a few weeks, joke-argue about whose head is bigger, and then grow apart, no hard
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feelings. It feels good I finally have a purpose. Show Less
LibraryThing member Florinda
I’ve drifted away from regular viewing of THE OFFICE during the last couple of years, but even when it was Must See TV for me, Mindy Kaling’s character Kelly Kapoor was never one of my favorite parts of the show. However, I knew Kaling was also a writer and producer on the series, which was one
Aside from the Thursday-night NBC-comedy connection, there are other common factors that will lead people to compare Kaling’s book with Tina Fey’s BOSSYPANTS. Both are more in the personal-essays vein than outright memoir; while they follow an autobiographical outline, both women make a lot of topical detours and digressions. As a single, childless woman who’s succeeded relatively young in a very tough business, Kaling’s digressions tend to be into more personal subjects like food, shopping, and guys.
As I mentioned, I’m not a big fan of Kaling’s character on THE OFFICE...but I came away from this book quite impressed with Kaling herself, and I’d now say I’m a fan of hers. For one thing, It’s hard not to be amused by the fact that her first big career success was an award-winning Off-Broadway play she co-wrote with her best friend, Brenda Withers, called MATT AND BEN, in which they played best friends Matt Damon (Brenda) and Ben Affleck (Mindy). She’s justifiably proud of her Ivy League education, but comes across as an interesting mix of flighty and grounded; regardless of her consuming (pun intended) interest in shopping and fashion, deep down, she’s not shallow. And speaking of fashion: there is something deeply off-kilter in a world where a woman who looks like Mindy Kaling is considered “chubby.”
Another point of comparison between Kaling’s and Fey’s books is that, in the audio edition, Kaling also addresses the listener directly and makes reference to differences between the audio and print versions of the book. I’ve come to appreciate audiobooks that offer a little more than simply reading aloud, and I’m glad I decided to “read” IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME? this way. I think the only potential drawback to it is that the book is made up of short pieces, and in audio, the transitions aren’t always clear. Despite that, I really enjoyed Mindy Kaling’s company for a few days during my commute; she engaged my interest, enlightened me a little, and made me laugh.
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reason I didn’t roll my eyes and cringe when I heard she had a book coming out. Fortunately for us all, knowing Kelly is NOT the same as knowing Mindy.Aside from the Thursday-night NBC-comedy connection, there are other common factors that will lead people to compare Kaling’s book with Tina Fey’s BOSSYPANTS. Both are more in the personal-essays vein than outright memoir; while they follow an autobiographical outline, both women make a lot of topical detours and digressions. As a single, childless woman who’s succeeded relatively young in a very tough business, Kaling’s digressions tend to be into more personal subjects like food, shopping, and guys.
As I mentioned, I’m not a big fan of Kaling’s character on THE OFFICE...but I came away from this book quite impressed with Kaling herself, and I’d now say I’m a fan of hers. For one thing, It’s hard not to be amused by the fact that her first big career success was an award-winning Off-Broadway play she co-wrote with her best friend, Brenda Withers, called MATT AND BEN, in which they played best friends Matt Damon (Brenda) and Ben Affleck (Mindy). She’s justifiably proud of her Ivy League education, but comes across as an interesting mix of flighty and grounded; regardless of her consuming (pun intended) interest in shopping and fashion, deep down, she’s not shallow. And speaking of fashion: there is something deeply off-kilter in a world where a woman who looks like Mindy Kaling is considered “chubby.”
Another point of comparison between Kaling’s and Fey’s books is that, in the audio edition, Kaling also addresses the listener directly and makes reference to differences between the audio and print versions of the book. I’ve come to appreciate audiobooks that offer a little more than simply reading aloud, and I’m glad I decided to “read” IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME? this way. I think the only potential drawback to it is that the book is made up of short pieces, and in audio, the transitions aren’t always clear. Despite that, I really enjoyed Mindy Kaling’s company for a few days during my commute; she engaged my interest, enlightened me a little, and made me laugh.
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LibraryThing member Annesanse
As a HUGE fan of The Office, I was super excited to read this book. I already had the eBook when I saw that Mindy Kaling had actually narrated the audiobook version herself. (so cool! Lol) Anyway, it was exactly what I had expected it to be. Super funny and honest-feeling. It was also smart with
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some awesome references! Show Less
LibraryThing member zmagic69
For someone as talented and funny as Mindy is on the office, I have no idea how this book got published. about 1 % of this book is funny, the rest is who cares. This is a total chick lite book, but because it is not really a story, it becomes a really really long and boring story about Mindy. I
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don't know what it is about women in comedy who go on to write books, but other than Chelsea Handlers 1st book they all are boring, and not funny. Find a story in a magazine like People about Mindy Kaling and read that, but skip this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member ginap411
Was slightly disappointed. I love love love The Office and was expecting something along the lines of Chelsea Handler's memoirs, yet it didn't compare. No laugh out loud moments, and it was boring at times. Still enjoyed it to an extent, and liked hearing about her life outside of The Office as a
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normal, everyday human. Show Less
LibraryThing member ShandraNadine
This book was so much fun to read! Mindy Kaling is so relatable, and her book is full of interesting moments in her life (so far) and hysterical reflections on the world around her. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
I picked this one up at the library on a whim, because I remembered that someone else in the group had read it and said it wasn't half bad. I agree, it's not half bad, and for a "celebrity memoir", I'm sure it could have been much worse.
Half the book is written in memoir style, and the other half
I greatly preferred the memoir chapters, if only because I found Kaling's story of growing up (as a super awkward child with a tight-knit family) highly relatable, and the tale of how she ended up as a writer/actor/producer/director on The Office quite inspiring -- the whole thing came out of a series of failures, minor successes, subsequent setbacks, and a drive to keep pushing forward despite the times she failed. She seems like a very driven woman, sure of what she wants in life -- full of spunk, spice, and determination.
It wasn't great, but it was a good read for the sake of curiosity. After all, everyone has a story to tell, and Kaling's is just as interesting as anyone else's.
Half the book is written in memoir style, and the other half
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is written more as general commentary on various random things (life, love, showbiz, fashion, etc.). The chapters alternate in their focus, making the whole thing seem a little bit disorganized, but the linear storytelling of the memoir portions help to bring the book together as a cohesive whole.I greatly preferred the memoir chapters, if only because I found Kaling's story of growing up (as a super awkward child with a tight-knit family) highly relatable, and the tale of how she ended up as a writer/actor/producer/director on The Office quite inspiring -- the whole thing came out of a series of failures, minor successes, subsequent setbacks, and a drive to keep pushing forward despite the times she failed. She seems like a very driven woman, sure of what she wants in life -- full of spunk, spice, and determination.
It wasn't great, but it was a good read for the sake of curiosity. After all, everyone has a story to tell, and Kaling's is just as interesting as anyone else's.
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LibraryThing member mochap
It may be that I'm getting over a head injury and can't concentrate worth S@*, but I just couldn't get into this book. She focuses so much on her weight (which is clearly more an issue to her than I think it is in reality), that I just got aggravated. I love her work on The Office, so may try
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again, but not today! Show Less
LibraryThing member lisaflip
I love Mindy Kaling after reading this book! She is so smart and funny. She even went to Dartmouth "to study white people in North Face jackets." The book won't be a life changer but I'm so glad I read it and it made me laugh. I will look forward to Mindy's next book and other works from her in the
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near future. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Mindy Kaling is pretty hilarious. Though my love of The Office has waned in recent years, I still love that style of humor and this book provides more of the same. Kaling talks about everything from her childhood friends to her favorite moments in comedy. She mentions a brief stink as a writer on
I love that she starts out by referencing Tiny Fey’s book. Since everyone else will obviously be comparing them, she preemptively notes that Fey’s book is awesome and you should read it.
I’m not a big fan of Kaling’s character, Kelly, on The Office, but I also realize that isn’t really her, as Kaling herself points out many times. There are a few similarities, but Kaling is much smarter and funnier than her television counterpart. So if you think you might like this one, read it for a quick laugh and because you’ve already read Bossypants.
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SNL, her fluctuating weight, her parents, etc. She manages to make all of these things both funny and relatable. I love that she starts out by referencing Tiny Fey’s book. Since everyone else will obviously be comparing them, she preemptively notes that Fey’s book is awesome and you should read it.
I’m not a big fan of Kaling’s character, Kelly, on The Office, but I also realize that isn’t really her, as Kaling herself points out many times. There are a few similarities, but Kaling is much smarter and funnier than her television counterpart. So if you think you might like this one, read it for a quick laugh and because you’ve already read Bossypants.
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LibraryThing member kaelirenee
The stories of her growing up were hilarious, but once it got into her time as a writer, I got bored. Maybe if I watched the Office, I'd love it, but nah. I prefered the stories of the goofy chubby nerd. Those I can relate to.
LibraryThing member LauraS.
Full of fun quip and adorable humor, Mindy's book will make you smile, laugh, and shake your fist at the air. Mindy has a quirky personality that shines through in this book. You will not want to put it down.
LibraryThing member briandrewz
I have to say that after reading this book I felt disappointed. There were some amusing parts, but nothing laugh out loud funny. As a writer for The Office, I had hoped that Mindy Kaling would have put more effort into it. I found the book to be a bunch of random thoughts written in (what seemed to
Better luck next time Mindy.
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be) a very rushed style. I also wished that more of the book was devoted to The Office, giving us more of a glimpse "behind the scenes." The behind the scenes glimpses she did give (explosive arguments with her fellow writers, which got so bad she was sent home once) didn't endear me to her at all.Better luck next time Mindy.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
I listened to the audiobook of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. This audiobook was read by the author, which was, in this case, a good thing.
The author of this memoir is a staff writer and actress on the American version of The Office. I've seen maybe two
I was surprised how often I agreed with Kaling. Her views on marriage, for instance, struck a chord with me. And while Kaling is what I describe as "Hollywood fat" (meaning, possessing a body much thinner than that of the average American woman, but slightly larger than the typical Hollywood stick figure), her struggles with finding clothing that fits and flatters also resonated. On the other hand, when she talked about comedy, she lost me fairly quickly. I do have a sense of humor (I think...), but I don't always have the greatest appreciation for the kind of funny that's popular on mainstream TV.
There are a few drawbacks to listening to this, rather than reading it. For one thing, you miss out on any photos and illustrations. For another, I occasionally had a hard time figuring out when one essay ended and another began. Things that are immediately obvious in a book's formatting are less so when they're being read aloud. Was that line the title of a new essay, or another bullet point in the current one? I also felt that the reading pace was rushed at the beginning, but I quickly got used to it. I'd recommend this book in either format, with the caveat that audiobook listeners may want to briefly obtain a paper copy later to check on what they might have missed.
The author of this memoir is a staff writer and actress on the American version of The Office. I've seen maybe two
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episodes of the show, so pretty much any time she referenced things that happened on the show, or other actors from the show, I was in the dark. That was fine; there was a lot to enjoy in this audiobook even for people who, like me, are unfamiliar with The Office and Kaling's career in general. In the book, Kaling reminisces on her childhood, college days, and her rise from complete obscurity to her current position. As you'd expect from a sitcom writer, her observations are made with a great deal of humor. Interspersed with the personal history are essays and "listy-things" featuring Kaling's opinions on a wide variety of subjects. The content is generally lighthearted.I was surprised how often I agreed with Kaling. Her views on marriage, for instance, struck a chord with me. And while Kaling is what I describe as "Hollywood fat" (meaning, possessing a body much thinner than that of the average American woman, but slightly larger than the typical Hollywood stick figure), her struggles with finding clothing that fits and flatters also resonated. On the other hand, when she talked about comedy, she lost me fairly quickly. I do have a sense of humor (I think...), but I don't always have the greatest appreciation for the kind of funny that's popular on mainstream TV.
There are a few drawbacks to listening to this, rather than reading it. For one thing, you miss out on any photos and illustrations. For another, I occasionally had a hard time figuring out when one essay ended and another began. Things that are immediately obvious in a book's formatting are less so when they're being read aloud. Was that line the title of a new essay, or another bullet point in the current one? I also felt that the reading pace was rushed at the beginning, but I quickly got used to it. I'd recommend this book in either format, with the caveat that audiobook listeners may want to briefly obtain a paper copy later to check on what they might have missed.
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
I liked this better than Tina Fey's book because I identified with Mindy more. :) Laugh-out-loud funny!
LibraryThing member LaneLiterati
Relatable, and laugh out loud funny. A great balance of confidence and vulnerability.
LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
* Won't lie. I have never seen an episode of the office (which is strange cuz I totally have a crush on Steve Carell -- don't judge) but am going to be buying the first season of it this weekend solely based on this read
* She made me LMAO on so many occasions it was hell to pick
* Self deprecating, quirky, sweet and honest - Call me Mindy we would totally have fun hanging out!
* Is obviously thankful for the chances she has been given, her friends and her family -- this is very refreshing
* Loves her parents -- see people parents are not always douche-bags (Yes Jake and Jesse remember that!)
* Her zest for life is so nice to read about and very motivational
* She's honest about her mistakes and her "faults"
* Doesn't get all nasty gossipy about people. Extremely classy
* Love the bits on the fights between her and her co-workers. Hilarious! The part about Carell was cute
* The Chapter on "Best Friends Rights and Responsibilities" is funny and so very true
The Not So Good Stuff
* I wanted more -- just not long enough for me
* Made me snort with laughter while on bus and people stared at me like I was some kind of freak
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"And if you're older than twenty-eight, than just kissing someone doesn't count for crap and is not even worth mentioning. Unless you're Mormon, in which case you're going to hell."
"If I had to testify under oath, I would admit, no, I don't believe Mac Teegarden is psychic. I've just been made too aware of people like Car Sagan and basic science and stuff. I am certain, though, that Mac Teegarden provided and enormous amount of comfort to people who unexpectedly lost loved ones. I don't know if it was psychic, but it was cathartic, and therapeutic, and it helped people."
"My mom's a doctor, but because she came from India and then Africa, where childhood obesity was not a problem, she put no premium on having skinny kids. In fact she and my dad didn't mind having a chubby daughter. Part of me wonders if it even made them feel a little prosperous, like Have you seen our overweight Indian child? Do you know how statistically rare this is? It will then not come as a surprise to you that I've never been thin in my life - except the day I was born, when I was six pounds."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
* This is perfect for anyone who just needs a smile and a laugh
* Fans of The Office and obviously of Mindy Kaling will enjoy
* Not for those with no sense of humour -- and seriously if you are one of those why the hell are you reading my blog
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review -- thanks guys for now making me want to watch ANOTHER TV show LOL!
* Won't lie. I have never seen an episode of the office (which is strange cuz I totally have a crush on Steve Carell -- don't judge) but am going to be buying the first season of it this weekend solely based on this read
* She made me LMAO on so many occasions it was hell to pick
Show More
only 3 quotes for my favorite quotes section* Self deprecating, quirky, sweet and honest - Call me Mindy we would totally have fun hanging out!
* Is obviously thankful for the chances she has been given, her friends and her family -- this is very refreshing
* Loves her parents -- see people parents are not always douche-bags (Yes Jake and Jesse remember that!)
* Her zest for life is so nice to read about and very motivational
* She's honest about her mistakes and her "faults"
* Doesn't get all nasty gossipy about people. Extremely classy
* Love the bits on the fights between her and her co-workers. Hilarious! The part about Carell was cute
* The Chapter on "Best Friends Rights and Responsibilities" is funny and so very true
The Not So Good Stuff
* I wanted more -- just not long enough for me
* Made me snort with laughter while on bus and people stared at me like I was some kind of freak
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"And if you're older than twenty-eight, than just kissing someone doesn't count for crap and is not even worth mentioning. Unless you're Mormon, in which case you're going to hell."
"If I had to testify under oath, I would admit, no, I don't believe Mac Teegarden is psychic. I've just been made too aware of people like Car Sagan and basic science and stuff. I am certain, though, that Mac Teegarden provided and enormous amount of comfort to people who unexpectedly lost loved ones. I don't know if it was psychic, but it was cathartic, and therapeutic, and it helped people."
"My mom's a doctor, but because she came from India and then Africa, where childhood obesity was not a problem, she put no premium on having skinny kids. In fact she and my dad didn't mind having a chubby daughter. Part of me wonders if it even made them feel a little prosperous, like Have you seen our overweight Indian child? Do you know how statistically rare this is? It will then not come as a surprise to you that I've never been thin in my life - except the day I was born, when I was six pounds."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
* This is perfect for anyone who just needs a smile and a laugh
* Fans of The Office and obviously of Mindy Kaling will enjoy
* Not for those with no sense of humour -- and seriously if you are one of those why the hell are you reading my blog
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review -- thanks guys for now making me want to watch ANOTHER TV show LOL!
Show Less
LibraryThing member LizPhoto
I loved "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns). i found this book hilarious and entertaining. Half the book is written in memoir style and the other half is mostly conversation and Kaling's thoughts. Kaling is funny and smart and uses it to her advantage in real life and her
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imaginary one. She doesn't hold back on laughing at herself and others which makes her even better. Her chapter on religion is the best. I see her as the next Sam Bee not Tina Fey. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jenners26
THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION
Brief Description: Probably best known for playing Kelly Kapoor on The Office, Mindy Kaling is also one of the writers for the show. In this humorous memoir, she talks about her life growing up, her experiences as a female comedy writer, working on The
My Thoughts: This was a fun and pleasant listen. Kaling narrates the book herself, and she has a girly conversational speaking voice that makes you feel like you’re having a long lunch with a good girlfriend who scored an awesome job. She’s down-to-earth and frank about herself. She endeared herself to me by talking about her issues with weight and dating dilemmas. I thought the best part of the book was when she talked about growing up as the child of immigrant parents, which gave her a work ethic and drive that probably played no small part in where she is today. Although she dishes a little bit about The Office, there is nothing too juicy. It is a fun and fluffy listen, and perfect when you’re looking for an audio to keep you company while doing something unpleasant (like exercising or housework). Still, there isn’t much to it so if it is going to cost you a lot of money to purchase it, you might want to take a pass.
Brief Description: Probably best known for playing Kelly Kapoor on The Office, Mindy Kaling is also one of the writers for the show. In this humorous memoir, she talks about her life growing up, her experiences as a female comedy writer, working on The
Show More
Office, dating and general girl talk.My Thoughts: This was a fun and pleasant listen. Kaling narrates the book herself, and she has a girly conversational speaking voice that makes you feel like you’re having a long lunch with a good girlfriend who scored an awesome job. She’s down-to-earth and frank about herself. She endeared herself to me by talking about her issues with weight and dating dilemmas. I thought the best part of the book was when she talked about growing up as the child of immigrant parents, which gave her a work ethic and drive that probably played no small part in where she is today. Although she dishes a little bit about The Office, there is nothing too juicy. It is a fun and fluffy listen, and perfect when you’re looking for an audio to keep you company while doing something unpleasant (like exercising or housework). Still, there isn’t much to it so if it is going to cost you a lot of money to purchase it, you might want to take a pass.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rayneofdarkness
After seeing previews for The Mindy Project and seeing this book in the story I rented it from the library. I enjoyed the book, got through with it in one night and laughed out loud a couple of times. I didn't expect this to be a great, well put novel I expect some quirky, awkward stories in a
Show More
comedy fashion. I got it and loved the book! The pictures helped too to put names to faces! Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
222 p.; 20 cm
ISBN
9780091957179