My thoughts on Bird by Bird
Bird by Bird stands as exemplar of the aphorism of laughter being the best medicine. Anne Lamott connects with the plight and joys of writing and presents it as the most dysfunctional, charming and wise friend you could have. This book will be read again and again. Not because I'm am a writer, but because I am human.
I spend three days a week in coffee shops all over Philadelphia. In the short time it took to devour such poingant prose invariably someone approached me to share what an amazing read her book was.
The many published works on writing I absorb reveal the same wisdoms repackaged - have your own space, take notes on life, publication is not the worthier goal, find a writing group and other ideologies to help writers pick up the quill and do what is most important in the process, just writing. Ms. Lamott does so with such sincerety, conviction, pathos and refreshingly self-depricating humor as to make the very world writers live in a better place.