Three Black Skirts : All You Need To Survive

Rating:
Summary: All you need to survive? I don't think so.
Review: Anna Johnson's style is fun and flamboyant, but you can't expect to get a basic grasp on important life skills from a two-inch-thick book. I'm only 20 and as a college senior, I already know most of this. The book may be helpful for younger readers, but some of her information is misguided, vague, or just plain wrong. If you really want to give your daughter a grasp on life skills, try one of many books devoted to each important subject. For example, a good basic cookbook such as Joy of Cooking or a Good Housekeeping book is indispensable, and describes how to entertain, set the table, and cook basics (often with pictures). I love Cheryl Mendelson's "Home Comforts" - it covers not just cleaning, but buying items for your home, meal planning, and legalities, and is even well-suited to apartment dwellers. It's not as fun to read as this book, but far more useful. I see many people leave college without any idea how to maintain their home and finances; few people leave without a concept of fashion. Basic finance books abound, and although I can't think of any fashion books offhand, anyone can pick up a magazine. Without any disrespect to Miss Johnson, her book reads as though she spends more time shopping than maintaining her office or home life.

Rating:
Summary: All you need to survive? I don't think so.
Review: I bought this book because it was on sale at my local bookstore, and I'm definitely glad that I did! This book covers a wide range of topics, from taking care of your body and fixing things around the house to caring for your soul and giving back to your community. I'm 16, so a lot of this stuff doesn't apply to me yet, but I'll definitely keep this book around with me for a while! There's also a nice bibliography at the back for other books that you may be interested in, especially since I feel that it doesn't really cover enough of some topics (I pretty much knew about all those "love myths") and is a bit one-sided on others (I'm sure I'd be a happier 20-something without bright ruby-red lipstick, thank you)

Still, this book is awesome, and is very readable. Unlike traditional self-help books, which can seem condescending sometimes, Anna Johnson gave me a feeling that she'd been through all this and can "feel the pain", instead of being like "If you meditate for an hour (that you don't have) a day like I have since I was 12, you'll be more at peace with yourself"

Rating:
Summary: Adorable
Review: I have lent this book to many of my girlfriends when they were feeling down. They all loved it. I love it because it covers so many fun topics and makes me feel glad that Im a girl! Yes, it is whimsical and silly, but that seems to be what the author is attempting to convey, that life shouldn't be taken too seriously. I think this is a charming book with many great ideas on how to balance your life with fun, responsibility, humor, and style. I recommend this book as a novelty gift.

Rating:
Summary: The most beloved book of a bookworm
Review: I was given this book in my last year of college, which is exactly when I needed it most. She's wise, and funny, and gave me hope that my wildly out of control life could be calm and interesting and together.. mostly by giving me the advice that I needed to get going. It's been a couple of years, and I'm considering ordering the book in bulk for christmas presents. It might keep my sister from stealing mine. Having this is a lot like having a fascinating friend who's just lived through her twenties, and gives funny advice about it. She taught me how to unplug a drain, what should be in my toolbox (and reminded me to get hands on about decorating, instead of just shopping) got me started on a great wardrobe (which was really helpful when I started my career), showed me that even really disorganized people can get their finances together.. and work life, social life & even love life. In most ways, she's obviously not trying to write an exhaustive manual, and will tell you how to find really good books that do focus on one topic, such as Suze Orman's great books on finances. However, some of the advice she gives can't be found in any other books I've read. The advice on friendship, and learning to live happily on your own is obviously hard won, and she handles both with the care and thoughtfulness they each deserve. Give this as a gift to your favorite young woman, especially if that's yourself.

Rating:
Summary: read for a few tips and entertainment
Review: In fact, that's my advice for the entire glut of books on the "quarter-life crisis" that authors are hailing as a problem for women (but not men) in their 20s. Most of these books are written by 20-somethings themselves --- shouldn't they live through their 20s first before telling others how?

Luckily, the author says so herself in the prologue -- that she herself doesn't have 3 black skirts. That no one has a life that is blossoming in every area at the same time. This honesty made me like her and continue reading.

This book is cute and the money advice and career advice is sound. The chapter on decorating for small spaces is relevant to many urban-dwelling young women for many years, rents being what they are!

However, the chapters on personal issues are lame: motherhood, relationships, sex, spirituality. Each of these topics need an entire book devoted to them, and even then you still have to figure most of it out on your own. That's life, ya gotta live it yourself. But it's nice to have something fun and vaguely helpful to read while you're at it.

Rating:
Summary: Smart, funny, usually practical
Review: Let's face it, girls: no amount of book-reading is going to magically transform the person that you naturally are into a cool and collected bombshell who looks like a million dollars in classy heels at all times and says the right thing in every situation, whether she's volunteering at a soup kitchen, breaking up with her partner, or whipping up something truly magnificent for dessert.

That said, it's easy enough to make simple changes to help yourself become more organized, take control of your life, feel more beautiful, improve your skills, and find joy in the simple things.

Anna Johnson's smart and sassy little pink guide is perfect for helping women everywhere do just that. She covers finances, entertaining, spirituality, happiness, tools, wardrobe, friendships, dating, jobs, careers, homes, depression, body image, love, and the responsibility to give back to our world. She's funny, her retro drawings are irresistably cute, and her savvy advice pulls no punches. Read it, think about how it works with who YOU are, and see how much fun you can have.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Guide for Twenty-Somethings
Review: The book itself is adorable. Cute pink cover, fun illustrations.
The writing is well done, clever, engaging. The subject matter is extensive (the author covers quite a few topics).

So...the book is an enjoyable read.

However, if you are out of your twenties, you won't find much here that you don't already know.

I'd suggest this as a nice gift for anyone in the twenty-something age bracket. (Older women looking for fashion advice, well, keep looking!)

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing here....
Review: This book is quite light on content...not a lot of anything except admonitions to make your 20's your best years...WHAT?!?! I did not realize it was aimed at 19 year olds. It is. Anyone older than 19 already knows everything in this book -- and a whole lot more. Waste ot money.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Bk ever!
Review: This is the best book ever. My bud and I used to schedule a weekly meeting where we'd sit down and discuss a chapter of the book. Reading more than one chapter a week is not a wise idea, as it is a bit overwhelming but if you take it slow, this work is a wonderful collection of tips and tricks to live a healthy and successful life. I especially appreciate the parts of the book where the author talks about how being single is okay. . . I highly recommend this book. Okay, so it can be heterosexually-oriented, but it does incorporate some experiences for and about lesbian women. :)