Helping Me Help Myself - Beth Lisick

When I cracked open Helping Me Help Myself my first thought was "Oh, this is EXACTLY the same as Jennifer Niesslein's Practically Perfect in Every Way." While the premise is identical - woman decides to get her act together via self-help books and write a book about it - the voices of the two are very different. Equally as amusing and Niesslein, Lisick takes a crack at getting her finances together, clean up her house, exercise and stop her son's tantrums. Unlike Niesslein, Lisick and her husband have a much more precarious existence. She is mouthier, louder, ruder and much more likely to take the gurus' advice with a huge helping of skepticism and sarcasm. Unlike Niesslein, Lisick not just reads the books but also goes to many seminars hosted by the self-help authors. If anything, the chapter on going on the Richard Simmons cruise is worth a read.

"Hi Ladies," he says as he approaches. "I'm just coming through to see if everything's all right." ...As he strolls around, he pauses next to me and Jan, leans in between us, and says slyly, and only to us, "Is this the hooker table?" Then he abruptly turns and walks away. Jan and I burst into laughter, and knowing we're still watching him, he flips up the flaps of his little shorts, flashing his butt cheeks without turning his head. The man is a genius.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake - Essays by Sloane Crosley

Let me first say this, if you are a die-hard midwesterner with no experience or interest in the East coast, I'm fairly certain Crosley's up-state (Westchester), private -school, Jewish essays will make you crazy. I myself found them immensely amusing. Crosley's book meanders from stories of being the only Jew at a Christian summer camp, her first (and truly horrid) real job, failed attempts at a one-night-stand and an essay on being roped into being a bridesmaid for a girl she hadn't seen in years. Funny, sarcastic, slightly neurotic and thoroughly amusing.

...I had the one thing that would carry me through the mundane small talk of the rest of the night. I had the one thing that would make my brain hurt less when I struggled to recall amusing anecdotes about Francine for her relatives from Missoula, the one thing that would allow me to tolerate Francine smacking my hand when I bit my nails... I had her new initials. F.U.

Built by Hand - Vernacular Buildings Around the World - Bill Steen, Athena Steen, Eiko Komatsu, Photos by Yoshio Komatsu

This book is a massive collection of hand-built homes and buildings from the around the world. Loosely grouped by material and use, the photos and brief text show a world of housing totally unlike anything we see in the US. Using common and available materials, even the poorest of families make unique and beautiful living spaces. Structures are built to fit and serve the environment - inverted roofs to catch water, wind-catchers on roofs, low entrances to protect against enemies, floating island to grow vegetables and gigantic pots to store grain. Be sure to check out the Yemeni bathroom built over the top wall of the house. Everything evaporates before it hits the ground