Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Riverhead Books (2018), Edition: First Edition, First Printing, 208 pages
Description
"I am stockpiling antibiotics for the Apocalypse, even as I await the blossoming of paperwhites on the windowsill in the kitchen," Anne Lamott admits at the beginning of Almost Everything. Despair and uncertainty surround us: in the news, in our families, and in ourselves. But even when life is at its bleakest--when we are, as she puts it, "doomed, stunned, exhausted, and over-caffeinated"--the seeds of rejuvenation are at hand. "All truth is paradox," Lamott writes, "and this turns out to be a reason for hope. If you arrive at a place in life that is miserable, it will change." That is the time when we must pledge not to give up but "to do what Wendell Berry wrote: 'Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts.'" In this profound and funny book, Lamott calls for each of us to rediscover the nuggets of hope and wisdom that are buried within us that can make life sweeter than we ever imagined. Divided into short chapters that explore life's essential truths, Almost Everything pinpoints these moments of insight as it shines an encouraging light forward. Candid and caring, insightful and sometimes hilarious, Almost Everything is the book we need and that only Anne Lamott can write.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Beamis12
Reading Lamott is a balm to my spirit and my soul. She writes about so many of the things I think about. In this book she writes the things she wants her grandson to know, including the paradoxes of life.
"Here is so much going on that flattens us, that is huge, scary, or simply appalling. We're
And yet, outside my window, yellow roses bloom, and little kids horse around, making a joyous racket."
She writes with humor, with Grace and with a huge amount of u destanding and common sense. I read her and find myself highlighting so many passages. I always end up buying her books because they always include so many thoughts, so much encouragement about life, fear, hurts, but always also reminders of looking for the positive. Her books are books that one can read over and over and marvel at something newly discovered with each reading.
"But all truth really is paradox, and this turns out to be a reason for hope. If you arrive at a place in life that is miserable, it will change ,and something else about it will also be true. So paradox is an invitation to go deeper into life, to see a bigger screen, instead of the nice, safe lower left qundrant where you see work, home and country. Try a wider reality, through curiousity, awareness and beath. Try actually being here. What a concept"
She reminds me to look around, cherish what I have, find hope in the darkness, and to realize that I can't control everything, can't change people. They need to do it for themselves, and even in the blackest of times, there is light to be found.
ARC from Edelweiss.
"Here is so much going on that flattens us, that is huge, scary, or simply appalling. We're
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doomed, stunned, exhausted, and over caffeinated. And yet, outside my window, yellow roses bloom, and little kids horse around, making a joyous racket."
She writes with humor, with Grace and with a huge amount of u destanding and common sense. I read her and find myself highlighting so many passages. I always end up buying her books because they always include so many thoughts, so much encouragement about life, fear, hurts, but always also reminders of looking for the positive. Her books are books that one can read over and over and marvel at something newly discovered with each reading.
"But all truth really is paradox, and this turns out to be a reason for hope. If you arrive at a place in life that is miserable, it will change ,and something else about it will also be true. So paradox is an invitation to go deeper into life, to see a bigger screen, instead of the nice, safe lower left qundrant where you see work, home and country. Try a wider reality, through curiousity, awareness and beath. Try actually being here. What a concept"
She reminds me to look around, cherish what I have, find hope in the darkness, and to realize that I can't control everything, can't change people. They need to do it for themselves, and even in the blackest of times, there is light to be found.
ARC from Edelweiss.
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LibraryThing member alanteder
Review of the Audible Audio edition.
I've been a fan of Anne Lamott's world-weary but hopeful wisdom since her writing memoir "Bird by Bird." Her annual musings have become a standard for me and there are always experiences and observations that come through as starkly true and immediately
I'm giving it a 3 star rating only because on audio it sometimes comes across as a bit too weary and tired whereas I think on the page it would read as more inspirational and hopeful. Probably a print edition would get a 4 star rating as seems to be the average from the other Lamott readers here.
I've been a fan of Anne Lamott's world-weary but hopeful wisdom since her writing memoir "Bird by Bird." Her annual musings have become a standard for me and there are always experiences and observations that come through as starkly true and immediately
Show More
identifiable that cut right to the bone.I'm giving it a 3 star rating only because on audio it sometimes comes across as a bit too weary and tired whereas I think on the page it would read as more inspirational and hopeful. Probably a print edition would get a 4 star rating as seems to be the average from the other Lamott readers here.
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LibraryThing member MyPenNameOnly
The problem with practically every individual when something goes awry is an instinctive feeling of gloom and doom. The essence of what the author is trying to do in this is to have her readers rethink their situations and everything connected to it.
The problems which exist in almost everything
The subtitle for this book, “Notes on Hope”, practically tells in all in regards how we can better ourselves. In regards to the spiritualistic/religious aspects of hope we can look at
English Standard Version 1 Peter 3:14-15
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Considering how Ms. Lamott has written, if I were asked what kind of person she is, I would have to say she’s like Nellie in South Pacific when she sings “Cocked-eyed Optimist”:
When the sky is a bright canary yellow
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen,
So, they called me a cockeyed optimist
Immature and incurably green.
For wanting to give her readers HOPE in regards to ALMOST EVERYTHING, I’m happy to give Ms. Lamott 5 STARS for having written this supportive book.
NOTE: I received a print copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway they had on GoodReads, and the above has been my honest opinion.
The problems which exist in almost everything
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sometimes in due to our priorities being askew and out of line. Much of what Ms. Lamott is writing about deals with the use of meditation in resolving the “negative” things which are going on. Her somewhat scatterbrain approach in getting things done I feel is unique since it allows things to more forwards. The subtitle for this book, “Notes on Hope”, practically tells in all in regards how we can better ourselves. In regards to the spiritualistic/religious aspects of hope we can look at
English Standard Version 1 Peter 3:14-15
“But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Considering how Ms. Lamott has written, if I were asked what kind of person she is, I would have to say she’s like Nellie in South Pacific when she sings “Cocked-eyed Optimist”:
When the sky is a bright canary yellow
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen,
So, they called me a cockeyed optimist
Immature and incurably green.
For wanting to give her readers HOPE in regards to ALMOST EVERYTHING, I’m happy to give Ms. Lamott 5 STARS for having written this supportive book.
NOTE: I received a print copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway they had on GoodReads, and the above has been my honest opinion.
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LibraryThing member jphamilton
There times in your life when something that you wouldn't normally find pleasure in, is a delight, an unexpected bright moment. I have read a number of fiction and nonfiction books by Anne Lamott over the years, some have impressed me, some not as much. As I find myself living in a profoundly sad
The book is written in short chapters and reflects perfectly the mind of the author. It is highly spiritual, humorous, very personal at times, and has the ability to be most profound without being the least bit preachy. As an atheist, I often times find myself immediately turned off by followers of western religions telling me about God this, and God that, but not within this book's covers.
Ever since Vicky's death, I'm much more unsure about my own thoughts, yet I was very forgiving for the expected heavy religious content here. It could well be because of Lamott's humorous and casual style, and the way her mind seemed to comfortably move between subjects, family, politics, and more — like a butterfly checking out different flowers in a garden. She kept a lightness through most of the book that felt soothing. I let the book flow over me, and it seemingly tickled my skin as the butterfly's wings touched me and awakened my thoughts and feelings.
I plan to reread the book very soon, to look into its structure and style, to see, if I can, how it worked so well to reach me, and the broken heart within me.
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and unsettling period of my life, and after reading a number of favorable reviews, the time was ripe to take this slim volume home from Mrs. Dalloway's.The book is written in short chapters and reflects perfectly the mind of the author. It is highly spiritual, humorous, very personal at times, and has the ability to be most profound without being the least bit preachy. As an atheist, I often times find myself immediately turned off by followers of western religions telling me about God this, and God that, but not within this book's covers.
Ever since Vicky's death, I'm much more unsure about my own thoughts, yet I was very forgiving for the expected heavy religious content here. It could well be because of Lamott's humorous and casual style, and the way her mind seemed to comfortably move between subjects, family, politics, and more — like a butterfly checking out different flowers in a garden. She kept a lightness through most of the book that felt soothing. I let the book flow over me, and it seemingly tickled my skin as the butterfly's wings touched me and awakened my thoughts and feelings.
I plan to reread the book very soon, to look into its structure and style, to see, if I can, how it worked so well to reach me, and the broken heart within me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member billsearth
I find this book to be mostly arm waving, personal opinion, and increasingly trying to tie Jesus to dubious history. However, the author does have a pleasant humorous frank style. If you are deep into Jesus and anti-science you might enjoy this book better than I did.
LibraryThing member Paul-the-well-read
I have enjoyed most of Anne Lamott's previous books except her last one prior to this one. She writes witty and entertaining thoughts, cleverly leading the reader through sometimes deep ideas. Her wit and humor are on full display in this volume, too, and she is at her best in the chapters on
The excellent writing is not enough to overcome the content which is pretty standard. The topics she covers are the big topics we all face about life and spirituality: hope, hatred, resentment, anger, despair, God, spirituality, immortality and even addiction. Whereas her handling of death and of writing were quite good, I did not feel that she offered anything new or especially insightful about these other topics. Perhaps I am jaded or sated with having read so much by so many on these various topics, so much that I have finally abandoned reading about them any more, but even then, I felt a lot more like rushing through this book rather than absorbing its content.
Nevertheless, for someone who has not read widely in areas of spirituality and its many attributes, this volume entertains more than it inspires.
It is good. It is enjoyable. But it is also ordinary.
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writing and on death. The excellent writing is not enough to overcome the content which is pretty standard. The topics she covers are the big topics we all face about life and spirituality: hope, hatred, resentment, anger, despair, God, spirituality, immortality and even addiction. Whereas her handling of death and of writing were quite good, I did not feel that she offered anything new or especially insightful about these other topics. Perhaps I am jaded or sated with having read so much by so many on these various topics, so much that I have finally abandoned reading about them any more, but even then, I felt a lot more like rushing through this book rather than absorbing its content.
Nevertheless, for someone who has not read widely in areas of spirituality and its many attributes, this volume entertains more than it inspires.
It is good. It is enjoyable. But it is also ordinary.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Paul-the-well-read
I have enjoyed most of Anne Lamott's previous books except her last one prior to this one. She writes witty and entertaining thoughts, cleverly leading the reader through sometimes deep ideas. Her wit and humor are on full display in this volume, too, and she is at her best in the chapters on
The excellent writing is not enough to overcome the content which is pretty standard. The topics she covers are the big topics we all face about life and spirituality: hope, hatred, resentment, anger, despair, God, spirituality, immortality and even addiction. Whereas her handling of death and of writing were quite good, I did not feel that she offered anything new or especially insightful about these other topics. Perhaps I am jaded or sated with having read so much by so many on these various topics, so much that I have finally abandoned reading about them any more, but even then, I felt a lot more like rushing through this book rather than absorbing its content.
Nevertheless, for someone who has not read widely in areas of spirituality and its many attributes, this volume entertains more than it inspires.
It is good. It is enjoyable. But it is also ordinary.
Show More
writing and on death. The excellent writing is not enough to overcome the content which is pretty standard. The topics she covers are the big topics we all face about life and spirituality: hope, hatred, resentment, anger, despair, God, spirituality, immortality and even addiction. Whereas her handling of death and of writing were quite good, I did not feel that she offered anything new or especially insightful about these other topics. Perhaps I am jaded or sated with having read so much by so many on these various topics, so much that I have finally abandoned reading about them any more, but even then, I felt a lot more like rushing through this book rather than absorbing its content.
Nevertheless, for someone who has not read widely in areas of spirituality and its many attributes, this volume entertains more than it inspires.
It is good. It is enjoyable. But it is also ordinary.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ms_rowse
It's not my favorite Lamott book, but even still, I found lines in almost every chapter that resonated. I feel like there is some recycled material here--or at least enhanced/revised from FB posts I've seen from her the past couple of years--and to that I say "whew I'm not the only writer who does
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that" and also "yay I have that one quote from her in a book now and don't have to hunt for it via Google." I read the first half in bits and pieces over a couple of months, then knocked out the rest of it today. Glad I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
"I am stockpiling antibiotics for the Apocalypse, even as I await the blossoming of paperwhites on the windowsill in the kitchen," Anne Lamott admits at the beginning of Almost Everything. Despair and uncertainty surround us: in the news, in our families, and in ourselves. But even when life is at
In this profound and funny book, Lamott calls for each of us to rediscover the nuggets of hope and wisdom that are buried within us that can make life sweeter than we ever imagined. Divided into short chapters that explore life's essential truths, Almost Everything pinpoints these moments of insight as it shines an encouraging light forward.
Show More
its bleakest--when we are, as she puts it, "doomed, stunned, exhausted, and over-caffeinated"--the seeds of rejuvenation are at hand. "All truth is paradox," Lamott writes, "and this turns out to be a reason for hope. If you arrive at a place in life that is miserable, it will change." That is the time when we must pledge not to give up but "to do what Wendell Berry wrote: 'Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts.'"In this profound and funny book, Lamott calls for each of us to rediscover the nuggets of hope and wisdom that are buried within us that can make life sweeter than we ever imagined. Divided into short chapters that explore life's essential truths, Almost Everything pinpoints these moments of insight as it shines an encouraging light forward.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0525537449 / 9780525537441