Year of Yes: 10th Anniversary Edition
In this 10th Anniversary Edition, Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, and more, not only revisits her galvanizing New York Times bestseller but gives fans an extraordinary cache of brand-new stories that showcase the continuing power that saying YES has had on her life.
In Shonda’s own words: “This book is the same as before, but it also is not. It is brand-new. It has changed. Transformed. Evolved. Grown. Just like me.”
In 2015, Shonda Rhimes, the trailblazing creative force behind some of television’s most beloved series, took on a challenge that would change her life forever. She decided to say yes to everything for a year, and the results were exhilarating. Hailed as “honest, raw, and revelatory” (The Washington Post) and “as fun to read as Rhimes’s TV series are to watch” (Los Angeles Times), Year of Yes quickly became a New York Times bestseller, captivating readers everywhere and inspiring them to undertake their own YES journeys.
In this celebratory and expanded anniversary edition, you’ll find more wildly candid and transformational chapters that reveal how the mega-talented Shonda, once a self-described introvert, achieved badassery worthy of a Shondaland character—and how you can, too.
In Shonda’s own words: “This book is the same as before, but it also is not. It is brand-new. It has changed. Transformed. Evolved. Grown. Just like me.”
In 2015, Shonda Rhimes, the trailblazing creative force behind some of television’s most beloved series, took on a challenge that would change her life forever. She decided to say yes to everything for a year, and the results were exhilarating. Hailed as “honest, raw, and revelatory” (The Washington Post) and “as fun to read as Rhimes’s TV series are to watch” (Los Angeles Times), Year of Yes quickly became a New York Times bestseller, captivating readers everywhere and inspiring them to undertake their own YES journeys.
In this celebratory and expanded anniversary edition, you’ll find more wildly candid and transformational chapters that reveal how the mega-talented Shonda, once a self-described introvert, achieved badassery worthy of a Shondaland character—and how you can, too.
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Community Reviews
I have really mixed feelings about this book.
I really did enjoy the way it was written. It's witty and intelligent. You can clearly hear Shonda's voice in every line, and interestingly sometimes you also hear Meredith Grey and Olivia Pope's voices. Shonda is likable and the books reads casually like you're sitting down for coffee with an old friend. My favorite parts of the book was when she opens up to the reader like they are a friend, a part of her tribe, one of her "ride or dies".
The drawback for me is when the book begins to read like a resume and Shonda's narrative sounds like that what which you would hear in a job interview. "What's your biggest weakness?" "I just love work too much!" There is a very large part of this book which revolves around name dropping and spitting off accomplishments like it's a competition.
I don't have an issue with Shonda's pride in her accomplishments. In fact, the section on owning your own accomplishments, or as she calls is "bad-assery", and taking a compliment was one of my favorites int he book. But when she just goes on and literally lists every award she's won, every talk show she's ever appeared on, etc. it becomes really difficult to not only stay interested, but to relate. Sidenote: if you want to play a drinking game with this book, take a shot every time she mentions how she "owns Thursday night".
All in all, I would recommend this book to those who are familiar with Shonda's work. If you've been watching Grey's, Scandal, Private Practice, and How to Get Away With Murder, since they began airing, then you will highly enjoy this show. If not, a lot of the references might go over your head (they did for me since I only watched a few seasons of Grey's and have not watched How To Get Away with Murder). It's an easy read, and like I said, it's casual, witty, and honestly funny. Just don't go into it thinking you'll learn a lot about your own life. This is not a self-help book, it's not an advice book, it's an autobiography on a year and a half of Shonda Rhimes's life.
I really did enjoy the way it was written. It's witty and intelligent. You can clearly hear Shonda's voice in every line, and interestingly sometimes you also hear Meredith Grey and Olivia Pope's voices. Shonda is likable and the books reads casually like you're sitting down for coffee with an old friend. My favorite parts of the book was when she opens up to the reader like they are a friend, a part of her tribe, one of her "ride or dies".
The drawback for me is when the book begins to read like a resume and Shonda's narrative sounds like that what which you would hear in a job interview. "What's your biggest weakness?" "I just love work too much!" There is a very large part of this book which revolves around name dropping and spitting off accomplishments like it's a competition.
I don't have an issue with Shonda's pride in her accomplishments. In fact, the section on owning your own accomplishments, or as she calls is "bad-assery", and taking a compliment was one of my favorites int he book. But when she just goes on and literally lists every award she's won, every talk show she's ever appeared on, etc. it becomes really difficult to not only stay interested, but to relate. Sidenote: if you want to play a drinking game with this book, take a shot every time she mentions how she "owns Thursday night".
All in all, I would recommend this book to those who are familiar with Shonda's work. If you've been watching Grey's, Scandal, Private Practice, and How to Get Away With Murder, since they began airing, then you will highly enjoy this show. If not, a lot of the references might go over your head (they did for me since I only watched a few seasons of Grey's and have not watched How To Get Away with Murder). It's an easy read, and like I said, it's casual, witty, and honestly funny. Just don't go into it thinking you'll learn a lot about your own life. This is not a self-help book, it's not an advice book, it's an autobiography on a year and a half of Shonda Rhimes's life.
This is an interesting peek into the life of an African American TV writer who has produced numerous popular TV shows, adopted three children, and what happens when she gets out of her comfort zone to be more of a public person. The changes that happen professionally, personally, emotionally, relationally, financially and physically.
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