The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl's Guide to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery

Chambers, Veronica

ISBN 10: 0385512120 / ISBN 13: 9780385512121

Published by Broadway, 2006

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 4.4M_MN_H00066UB

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Joy of Doing Things Badly: A Girl's Guide to Love, Life and Foolish Bravery
• Publisher: Broadway
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0385512120
• ISBN 13: 9780385512121
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

In a society that puts so much emphasis on perfection, Veronica Chambers mischievously casts aside the guilt-inducing litany of “shoulda, coulda, woulda” that seems to define modern-day life and replaces it with a resounding call to live with “foolish bravery.” Refreshingly open about the personal failures and limitations that once weighed her down with shame, Chambers describes how she turned her less-than-perfect qualities into sources of delight and satisfaction. From belting out off-key renditions of torch songs while washing the dishes to seeing even the most unlikely career opportunity as a chance to spread one’s wings, Chambers shows that a willingness to fall flat on one’s face heightens the joys of everyday life and opens a new, wonderfully liberating perspective on work, motherhood, aging, friendship, failure, and success.

With a winning combination of lighthearted anecdotes and heartfelt musings, Chambers encourages readers to follow her example and do the things that tickle their fancies and fire their imaginations—no matter what other people (and that little voice inside) may say. Like Chambers herself, they’ll discover that “what we consider our failures have a surprising ability to charm . . . we are loved for our imperfections—for our funny faces and walks and dances and songs.”

About the Author

VERONICA CHAMBERS is the author of When Did You Stop Loving Me (aka Miss Black America), Having It All?, and Mama’s Girl. She was formerly the culture writer for Newsweek, a senior associate editor at Premiere, and an executive editor at Savoy. Her writing has appeared in many magazines, including Glamour, Vogue, Esquire, New York Times Magazine, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She lives in California with her husband.

Visit Veronica at VeronicaChambers.com. To receive her Joy newsletter, send an e-mail to joyofdoingthingsbadly@yahoo.com, with I want some JOY! in the subject line. For college lectures and Joy workshops, please contact Veronica’s lecture agents at www.soapboxinc.com.

SUJEAN RIM is a freelance illustrator and shoe designer living in Brooklyn, New York.