Join today and start reading your favorite books for Free!
Rate this book!
Write a review?
I really liked this book, and I'll try to explain why. When I started reading it, I expected it to be just endless jokes. But it really wasn't. In fact there are only about two or three real jokes in here. What it actually is is Stuart Smalley writing a years worth of daily affirmations. Unfortunately he isn't very good at writing and it quickly devolves into a diary. Strangely, though, the diary is fascinating. His family, his editor, his friends are all so real, that it feels like a real diary...
Al Franken does it again. Here, Franken revises his role as Stuart Smalley, the self-help guru from his SNL days. Stuart Smalley documents each day as he tries to beat his insecurities, his inner demons, and his abusive relationships. His musings would appear moronic to any actual therapist, but are so funny that they will make you forget your own insecurities and inner demons, or at least deem them as not nearly as bad as they once were.
This book gives me even more reason to love my new senator. It's funny, of course, but also touching. I think this and the movie work much better than the sketch on SNL. You laugh at Stuart, but also see yourself in him.
Eh, it was okay. I really liked this SNL sketch, so I guess my expectations were higher. Not as funny as I thought it would be yet, oddly enough, it made me feel much, much better about myself which, if you think about it, is supposed to be the purpose of a "real" self-help book. And, surprisingly, the ending was sort of happy after all. Probably not one I'll read again (it felt like it dragged on and on at times), but it's not the worst thing I've ever read.
One of my students gave this to me to read right after we got done reading both The Alchemist and Tuesdays with Morrie as a class, so this parody of self-help books was especially entertaining! Although it is technically a "daily affirmation" book, the narrator (Stuart Smalley) goes into so much detail that it kind of ends up telling a complete story and therefore reads like a novel. Good, mindless reading that got many a laugh out of me!
Purchased at Boder's off the sale rack for $1.99. Looked interesting & enlightening.Sometimes Stuart’s “stinking thinking”, dysfunctional life, and multiple 12 step program got to me. Although I do think his year ended on an upbeat note! There were some funny parts and mottos that Stuart coined, but overall I had to push myself to finish the book. Wirtten in a daily diary format, it is easy to read a few pages when you have a short timeframe.
This book is very similar to the movie "Stuart saves his Family". I saw the movie a long time ago. In a way, the movie was better.You can't help but feel sorry for Stuart. He has to overcome so much when dealing with his dysfunctional family. Fortunately, he does have quite of bit of success for having low self esteem that does help even things out for him. A funny read for anyone who ever had to deal with any family issues.
Loved this: “…I have to remember that I am a valuable employee! I should be, I’m a codependent! I think I’ll put that on my resume. ‘Codependent – 1951 to present.’ Will work too hard, be over responsible, and you can pay me nothing. I’ll resent you for it. But that’s okay. I’ll be too scared to say anything.”
I have seen the movie but hadn't read the book. It was cute, a little over the top (of course) but funny. Also sad. It may or may not have affected my speech patterns for a few days, but that's ok, because I own it.
I always loved this character on SNL. I love how Stuart constantly repeats little phrases that you hear in AA and other 12-step programs. They sound so corny, and Stuart is so sincere when he says them. I laughed very hard several times.
I was just waking up and suddenly remembered reading this book like ten years ago. I remember it was written like a journal and was kind of funny. The story was based on the SNL character. It is possible that some of the humor went over my head.
A friend and I were joking about Stuart Smalley's Daily Affirmations, so it occurred to me to look for this on audible. I enjoyed it, but then I've always enjoyed every single thing Al Franken has ever done.
This book made me laugh so hard so many times.It's a touching journal of sorts of a year in the life of Stuart Smalley, Al Franken's well-meaning but unfortunate character from Saturday Night Live. Poor Stuart, lucky us.
If you're a fan of Stuart Smalley then you will enjoy this book.
I loved this book. It was sweet and smart and made me laugh so much. It's even a great self-help book. Daily Affirmation: Next time I visit my family I will rent a car! A true learning tool.
Al Franken cracks me up. A self-help book by the one character who should not be trying to help anybody!
I read this because my sister bought it for me for $2 on clearance. It is rather entertaining...a great bathroom read.
Love it! I loved Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live. I've read it a few times and I think it's time to read it once more.
Really hilarious. When I read this, I was heavily involved in the recovery movement. I did and still do daily readings. This book poked fun at all that without being mean or degrading.
This book did not require me to think at all. It was the perfect treat for this time in my life. Not for everybody, but there were parts of it that caught me off guard and really made me laugh.
Gifted to me way back when by my now Republican-but-coming-back-somewhat-to-the-center brother.
This book is funny but then it tries to be a serious book about alcoholism. It's a weird mix, but funny. Mostly. Sometimes.
So fantastic! Stuart is my hero...
a really great self help book that starts out as a joke.
Funny and useful too.
Hilarious short book. It makes fun of all of those meditation books. I have it as an audiobook which just adds a whole new layer of comedy. Wonderful!
I wasn't actually a fan of Franken's character on SNL, but I find his writing amusing. This is a little too much in character, it got old quick.
This book is hilarious, I love to re-read it.
I've never enjoyed the drawn-out nature of SNL sketches so I'm sure why I keep reading entire books based on them.
Mildly entertaining parody of guided meditation.