Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2011), 272 pages
Description
"Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood"--Publisher's description.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ASKelmore
If this weren’t written by Betty White, who I adore, this would probably get two stars. And all I can think is that if I don’t have something nice to say about such a lovely person’s writing, I just shouldn’t say anything at all. I’m having flashes to when the Friends would go see
I think this book is meant to be a cute gift book, a stocking-stuffer with some Betty White reminisces with a few words of wisdom thrown in. It was less than three hours as an audio book but still took me nearly a month to finish because I just wasn’t that interested. And it pains me to say that.
The chapters where she discusses her love of and experience with animals were quite sweet, and some of the stories from when she was first starting out were quite cool. But I can’t bring myself to recommend this.
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Joey’s play and say things like “the costumes were GREAT.” “The lighting, whew, spot on.”I think this book is meant to be a cute gift book, a stocking-stuffer with some Betty White reminisces with a few words of wisdom thrown in. It was less than three hours as an audio book but still took me nearly a month to finish because I just wasn’t that interested. And it pains me to say that.
The chapters where she discusses her love of and experience with animals were quite sweet, and some of the stories from when she was first starting out were quite cool. But I can’t bring myself to recommend this.
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LibraryThing member Glenajo
If You Ask Me: (And of course You Won’t), is the first Betty White book that I have read. It was fun and interesting, written in a style that makes the reader feel like Betty is right there having a chat. She discusses a variety of issues in her life today and throughout her life such as her
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husband, Saturday Night Live, and her animals. She is an amazing woman and the book was a quick fun read. This is not a work of literary greatness, but merely a good chat with a fun friend. Show Less
LibraryThing member lisa875
Listened to this on CD and ended up finishing it on Betty White's 90th birthday which was cool. I liked listening to her experiences from when tv was just starting out. The animal and stuffed animal stories were great. She's very funny and entertaining to listen to. She's has great insights into
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her own aging without being preachy at all. It was a great book. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
I picked up this book thinking it would give insight into her years on The Golden Girls, one of my favorite shows but it did not cover this topic. Apparently she wrote an earlier biography that covered her years in television. This instead was a series of short essays on random thoughts. It's so
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sweet that you may get a cavity. I especially enjoyed all of the reminiscing about animals at the end. I was fortunate enough to go to the Georgia aquarium last summer and it is as wonderful as she describes. The only thing that really annoyed me was the underlying of certain words throughout the book. No matter though. Betty can do no wrong in my book. She is the grandma everyone wishes they had. Show Less
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
Betty White likes animals. That's the main thought I came away from this book with.
LibraryThing member debbieaheaton
Betty White, the seven-time Emmy winner, lets her wit and wisdom flow as she tackles topics like friendship, romance, aging, television, fans, animals and what it means to be a celebrity. This book commemorates a lifetime of lessons learned through observations and humorous stores. The book focuses
A must read for all Betty White fans.
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on the last fifteen years of her life and career.A must read for all Betty White fans.
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LibraryThing member kaulsu
No Pulitzer material here, but a nice enjoyable read by a nice woman. Her interviews on TV mostly turn raunchy, so it was nice to hear the woman--the icky sweet one--I 'knew' prior to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Will the real Betty White stand up? Doesn't matter--like most of us, she is probably a
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mixture of many parts! I hope we get to enjoy her for another decade, at least! Show Less
LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I'm a Betty White fan – I like her slightly wicked sense of humor, the way she lives her life, and her exuberance. This latest book of hers is a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours. It is sweet, sometimes funny, and generally a feel-good book. Just don't expect any amazing revelations,
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any huge insights. The books is comprised of snippets of her life and philosophy. Most chapters are short, as little as 4 or so paragraphs. The writing is choppy, a bit of this and a bit of that. There are lots of great photos but a little too much underlining. Still, it is a nice respite from those bigger, more complex books that can cause brain overheating. Show Less
LibraryThing member jeffsdfw
Quick read, good for her for still writing in longhand! Hope I am as active at her age. Hell, I hope to make it to her age! Good for you Betty!!
LibraryThing member knahs
An easy to read book about the amazing Betty White. I think the thing that amazed me the most was the story about her visits with Koko - the gorilla who knows sign language. Betty is a brave lady in her interactions with Koko. A fun book.
LibraryThing member Mathenam
I listened to this audiobook because Betty White won a Grammy for her narration. I was curious to find out what audiobook could beat Bossypants, by Tina Fey. I can see why, in the literary world, Betty won the Grammy. However, it wasn't as funny as I thought it would be. Betty is fantastic, and of
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course I, like so many other people, just love her. I thought that this was more like a thank you to all the people who have helped Betty in her career. The chapters were short, and the stories were very brief. She's too classy to dish any dirt on anyone. If you enjoy Betty's work, you will enjoy this audiobook just by accepting it for what it is. She is the first one to say that she is an actress, not a comedian. You'll laugh because she is funny and witty by nature, but don't expect to be doubled over with laughter. Show Less
LibraryThing member preetalina
I love Betty White. Unfortunately I missed her birthday special recently so instead, I watched a ton of Youtube videos of her, in current and old roles, on Inside the Actors Studio, on old game shows, etc.
This book was a short, cute read about her life, written in 2011. It was a very quick read but
I am glad I read this though - it definitely gives you a window into White's mind. She is an amazing, inspiring woman, still going strong at 90. If I could have even half of her energy I'd be happy!
Some of my favorite parts/quotes:
[Advice given to Betty from her mother, something we could all use:]
"Bets, you can lie to anyone in the world and even get away with it, perhaps, but when you are alone and look into your own eyes in the mirror, you can’t sidestep the truth. Always be sure you can meet those eyes directly. Otherwise, it’s big trouble, my girl."
Okay, so I’m weird. At least I am in good company.
[This is something I'd say:]
The trainer, whose name is Dennis Christian, asked if I would like to meet their beluga whales. How is that for the silliest question ever?
[Flashes of her humor:]
All my life, even as a kid, I have preferred men older than I am. Unfortunately, today I don’t think there is anyone older than I am! Even at this age, once in a while I meet a man who seems a trifle more interesting than usual. Nothing untoward—just someone who might be fun to know a little better. I’ve even thought (to myself) that it might be nice if he asked me to lunch or dinner, perhaps. Then reality kicks in and it cracks me up. This guy is probably a much younger man—maybe only eighty—and not about to even look my way.
This book was a short, cute read about her life, written in 2011. It was a very quick read but
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I really felt myself wanting more. I wanted more substance as well as more of her humor in the writing, and while there is some, it fell short of my expectations. That's probably the problem: my expectations.I am glad I read this though - it definitely gives you a window into White's mind. She is an amazing, inspiring woman, still going strong at 90. If I could have even half of her energy I'd be happy!
Some of my favorite parts/quotes:
[Advice given to Betty from her mother, something we could all use:]
"Bets, you can lie to anyone in the world and even get away with it, perhaps, but when you are alone and look into your own eyes in the mirror, you can’t sidestep the truth. Always be sure you can meet those eyes directly. Otherwise, it’s big trouble, my girl."
Okay, so I’m weird. At least I am in good company.
[This is something I'd say:]
The trainer, whose name is Dennis Christian, asked if I would like to meet their beluga whales. How is that for the silliest question ever?
[Flashes of her humor:]
All my life, even as a kid, I have preferred men older than I am. Unfortunately, today I don’t think there is anyone older than I am! Even at this age, once in a while I meet a man who seems a trifle more interesting than usual. Nothing untoward—just someone who might be fun to know a little better. I’ve even thought (to myself) that it might be nice if he asked me to lunch or dinner, perhaps. Then reality kicks in and it cracks me up. This guy is probably a much younger man—maybe only eighty—and not about to even look my way.
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I wish I could say that this book had me in stitches, but… it didn’t. The Betty White in print is definitely not quite the Betty White as shown in movies and on TV. Is she sweet? Sure. Nice? Sure. She comes across as a very down-to-earth, grandma sort of person, but what I thought would be a
Don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing wrong with either of those things. It just didn’t make for very fun reading, and definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. Actually, the best part of the book were the photos that were included.
I think part of it was my fault – I should have looked to see if she’d written anything before this book (she has), but I didn’t. Instead, I got a lot of essays about the show she is in currently (that I haven’t seen), and just a few mentions here and there of The Golden Girls (a show I absolutely love).
Another upside to this book is, if you are looking to pad that book count, I think this one took me about an hour to read. Short and sweet essays, lots of pictures, these things add up to a quick and easy read.
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funny set of essays was more of a grandma’s advice on how to live life, and a lot of admonitions on taking care of animals.Don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing wrong with either of those things. It just didn’t make for very fun reading, and definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. Actually, the best part of the book were the photos that were included.
I think part of it was my fault – I should have looked to see if she’d written anything before this book (she has), but I didn’t. Instead, I got a lot of essays about the show she is in currently (that I haven’t seen), and just a few mentions here and there of The Golden Girls (a show I absolutely love).
Another upside to this book is, if you are looking to pad that book count, I think this one took me about an hour to read. Short and sweet essays, lots of pictures, these things add up to a quick and easy read.
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LibraryThing member tealightful
This wasn't really what I was expecting. It was just a smattering of gentle, quiet, warm-hearted 2 page stories about life and mostly about pets. I really enjoyed all the photos and it is hard to not get the warm/fuzzies when thinking of Betty White, so I still enjoyed it.
The only thing that
The only thing that
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bothered me was the constant underlining, almost every page had a few words that were underlined. It was like a cute old lady quirk. I think I'm going to have to pick up one of her earlier books to see if she writes any sassy quips in them. Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
A recent press release from Penguin Audio announced that Betty White has been nominated for a Grammy for the audio edition of this work. It's not hard to imagine that. The print (or in this case Kindle) edition is just as much fun as I imagine the audio would be. Penguin tells us:
In If You Ask Me
Featuring all-new material, with a focus on the past fifteen years of her life, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and to the point – just like Betty.
We downloaded this ebook from our library's Overdrive program to test our new Kindle e-reader. The process was painless, and turned out to be a really fun. Betty White is a tell-it-like-it-is lady whose long and noted career in TV is only one aspect of what makes her tick. She actually reads and answers her own fan mail, confesses to be totally inept with computers, has loads of interesting friends - male and female- and as everyone knows, is absolutely devoted to the cause of humane treatment of animals. Stories of her interaction with dogs, dolphins, chimps, cats, snakes, and humans all bring smiles to the reader. Her easy, breezy style of writing gives the reader an experience similar to sitting down by the pool to sip lemonade together. The e-book worked very well, even showing the numerous black and white pictures in sharp clarity. I'm betting the audio was a definite winner given Ms. White's natural sense of timing and comedy
In If You Ask Me
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(And Of Course You Won’t), Betty’s wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven-decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty’s candid take on everything from the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs, to her beauty regime (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), to the Facebook campaign that helped persuade her to host Saturday Night Live despite having turned down the hosting job three times.Featuring all-new material, with a focus on the past fifteen years of her life, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and to the point – just like Betty.
We downloaded this ebook from our library's Overdrive program to test our new Kindle e-reader. The process was painless, and turned out to be a really fun. Betty White is a tell-it-like-it-is lady whose long and noted career in TV is only one aspect of what makes her tick. She actually reads and answers her own fan mail, confesses to be totally inept with computers, has loads of interesting friends - male and female- and as everyone knows, is absolutely devoted to the cause of humane treatment of animals. Stories of her interaction with dogs, dolphins, chimps, cats, snakes, and humans all bring smiles to the reader. Her easy, breezy style of writing gives the reader an experience similar to sitting down by the pool to sip lemonade together. The e-book worked very well, even showing the numerous black and white pictures in sharp clarity. I'm betting the audio was a definite winner given Ms. White's natural sense of timing and comedy
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LibraryThing member briandrewz
This is one of those books you read if you're looking for a good pick-me-up. Betty is the perfect tonic to a dreary day. Her humor and wit will instantly put a smile on your face. Don't walk...RUN...to a bookseller near you and pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.
LibraryThing member mzserena
I enjoyed this book far more than I really thought I would. I enjoyed reading about different parts of Betty White's life. It was more conversational than most autobiographical novels are, which I enjoyed immensely. I've read other autobiographies that were not so conversational, that were cold and
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they didn't do anything for me.If you're interested in Betty, give this a read. It's worth it. Show Less
LibraryThing member tiptoetotown
uninspiring and unorganized prideful ramblings. humor was attempted and was not achieved.
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Quick ear-read, narrated by Betty White, herself. Interesting to hear this phase of her life -- the year of the Superbowl Snickers commercial, SAG award, and Saturday Night Live. Also interesting to hear her thoughts on being an actress, vs being a comedian.
LibraryThing member E.J
I love Betty White. I thought this would be funny but it was more about her philosophy on life. I learned a lot. Thank you for being a friend, Betty.
LibraryThing member sriemann
I really like Betty White (along with millions of others) - loved Golden Girls, always appreciated her bits on Letterman [such a professional] - so of course I enjoyed the book, written entirely in her voice with her comic timing and sincere goodness. A very quick read, I think the font was sized
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up a bit, and the margins were definitely quite generous, but I didn't mind that, and I liked that there were many pictures in it. It's not an autobiography or anything close, but she has already written books that fill that purpose. It was just some nice time with a really nice person sharing some stories. Show Less
LibraryThing member untitled841
My first Betty White book and I was pleased to learn so much about her!
LibraryThing member melissarochelle
Listened to from December 23 to 27, 2011
Betty is just as sweet reading her book as she is on TV, but I kind of expected a little more of the saucy Betty we've seen over the last couple of years. I think had I been reading this, I would have imagined her being sassier than she was reading it. But
Betty is just as sweet reading her book as she is on TV, but I kind of expected a little more of the saucy Betty we've seen over the last couple of years. I think had I been reading this, I would have imagined her being sassier than she was reading it. But
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then I would have missed those moments when you could hear the emotion in her voice, especially when talking about her late husband and her beloved pets. Show Less
LibraryThing member lindap69
What's not to like about Betty White? Quick read and fun.
LibraryThing member dukefan86
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, especially since it was narrated by Betty White, herself! I'd forgotten what an animal lover she is, and her sense of humor shines throughout the book.
Awards
Grammy Award (Winner — 2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011-05-03
Physical description
272 p.; 8.99 inches
ISBN
0399157530 / 9780399157530