Rating: 
Summary: More than a writing guide...
Review: More than a writing guide, this book is a life guide. All of the little anecdotes and advice on writing can also be applied to life.Upon graduating from university with an English degree, I found myself 400 miles from home at a job I dislike. Rereading "Bird by Bird" gave me perspective on my situation and also on myself. Writing and life are both difficult at times, and this book can help in the rough patches. It especially helps in the minefield of overanalysis. Read this once for the writing advice. Read it again for the wisdom.
Rating:
Summary: Irresistable affirmation
Review: All the published writers I know personally are happy and healthy. They have good domestic lives, pleasant childhood memories, and daytime careers that are just as satisfying as their prolific writing. Curses. But then there's Anne Lamott, possibly the most charmingly neurotic person I have ever "met" through a book. Bird by Bird is a story. It is a story about a particular life, and the role of writing in it. Anne shares the inspirations that have helped her struggle on, and they become our inspirations as well. Her "lessons on writing and life" do indeed apply to both. This is not a how-to manual on getting your book published. There is nothing in here about query letters and directories of agents. There is almost nothing specific about writing technique, except for the book's own style, which serves as an excellent lesson in itself. Instead, it is a book about how to live writing, or even just how to live, with writing as an inseparable part of that life. When the person who gave me the book asked how I liked it, I said, "Well, I have a crush on the author now. And I'm writing again."
Rating:
Summary: An inspiration!
Review: This book will set your imagination soaring. I have used it in writing my own children's books and would highly recommend it to anyone suffering from writer's block. Most writing books are a bit dry but this one really got my brain popping with new ideas. The author gives fantastic writing excercizes and examples. Caterina Christakos
author of How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less
Rating: 
Summary: Taking it bird by bird
Review: It's the handholding that makes this book worth owning. I have found myself flipping back through Bird by Bird to reread passages and returned to my writing fortified and soothed. This is an imperfect book, as Anne Lamotte herself is an imperfect person. The advice she gives is sound, though, and if one remembers can get past a few differences of opinion, you'll enjoy the bit of direction and companionship she offers. Lamott is an autobiographical writer and a great, big personality. Sometimes this book seems like close quarters. You may find yourself needing to put it down every 20 pages or so to get some fresh air. Readers who are put off by theological meanderings and over-sharing may find Lamotte's style so irritating that they won't be able to finish this book at all and will be better served by Barbara Ueland's book. Readers who are offended by her colloquialisms will not like this book either, but no matter. Readers who are afraid of a few little four letter words rarely become writers worth reading, and don't need to waste their time being offended by books about writers.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Annie Lamott is conversational and witty. Her book wraps you up and swallows you whole. It is an ESSENTIAL novel for any writer. Her encouragement and her sense of reality is refreshing. Totally enjoyable!
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic chronicle of the writing life
Review: This book speaks to writers at all stages, especially those struggling to find inspiration. I especially liked her chapter on perfectionism. This is one of my devilish traits--one that keeps from sitting down and writing. I enjoyed this book and would strongly suggest any one who is looking to broaden their horizons in the writing field to purchase it and put it in their library.
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: This book is about life, death, writing, jealousy, school lunches, voices in your head, and everything in between. Lamott is funny and witty and entertaining. I've never read any of her work before, and after reading Bird by Bird, I want to read all of her other books. Even if you're not a writer, this book is worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: No new insights
Review: I was assigned to read this book in an undergrad advanced creative writing class, and no one in my class was overly thrilled with it. Maybe that's because it was full of the same advice we'd heard from every writing professor; there were no brand new insights -- the kind that make you sit back and say, "ah, so THAT's the way it works." Maybe it would be a better choice for someone pursuing writing without in-person guidance. I did appreciate the oft-repeated advice to carry a notecard around to record those perfect lines that pop into your head or those moments that you know will fit perfectly into a story one day.
Rating:
Summary: A reminder of her powerful words...
Review: Once more, Lamott has applied a poultice for the soul with her words. She possesses the ability to make people laugh out loud, to incite a placid and mildly depressed reader to spew beef vindaloo over the pages of a book while discovering a hilarious passage from the pool of truth. This is an author who makes some of us queasy when one considers her first book, Hard Laughter, which was great and got great reviews and which was published at twenty-three, an age when most of us are trying to find a waitressing job in a fancy restaurant (at least I was). From then on she continued cutting her swath of Hell, with wonderful novels like Joe Jones and Rosie and All New People, which I've read three times. Ironically enough, this is a woman who has professed to know no cosmic reason why she should continue writing. If I, like all people created, am a part of God, and I've heard that I am, then I hereby decree that Lamott must continue to write books. Although she need not do it at breakneck speed, she must definitely do it. So there's your cosmic reason, Ms. Lamott. Additionally, any of you out there who consider yourselves Lamott fans but have not read the book or listened to the recording of Bird by Bird are not being completely honest... Read this wonderful book, and then listen to the recording, for Ms. Lamott's powerful messages resonate through her voice. I recommend you read all of her books. Read it all, preferably with a nice Indian takeout.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful
Review: This book has taught me more about writing and the best part is that this book ties in life's lessons as well. Lamott truely shines in this book because she shares a piece of herself with us. She doesn't exactly go over technique, because as a writer, it's important to have your own voice. Also, I would suggest taking some workshops if you are interested in writing in general. This book is a great companion for workshops and is even used as a part of the curriculum by certain Universities. This book is truely NOT a waste of anyone's time.
| 
