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How to Be a Person in the World
How to Be a Person in the World: Ask Polly's Guide Through the Paradoxes of Modern Life | Heather Havrilesky
In the spirit of Tiny Beautiful Things and How to Be a Woman comes a collection of new, unpublished letters and advice by Heather Havrilesky, the author of the popular advice column Ask Polly featured on New York magazine's blog, The Cut. Is there ever a right time to cheat on your spouse? How do you rein in an overbearing mother? Will you ever stop dating half-hearted assholes? Should you put off having a baby for your career? When is it time to get your shit together and start making your art? (Hint: right now). Heather Havrilesky is here to guide you through the "what ifs" and "I don't knows" of modern life with the signature wisdom and tough love her readers have come to expect. How to Be a Person in the World is a collection of never-before-published material, along with a few fan favorites from the archives. Whether she's responding to cheaters or loners, lovers or haters, the depressed or the down-and-out, Havrilesky writes with equal parts grace, humor, and compassion to remind you that even in your darkest moments you're not alone.
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Megabooks
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The “I‘m depressed” #bookhaul baby!

Thanks for the Rust recommendation @Reviewsbylola 😘 Thanks for the candle @Cinfhen 😘

crazyspine Sorry you're feeling down 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I'm sorry! Feel better soon! This is what I do when I'm depressed too! Go to Goodwill bookstore! 💛 💛 4y
TrishB Hope tomorrow is better. If not, more books ♥️ 4y
See All 11 Comments
Graciouswarriorprincess Feel better soon! I was depressed earlier this week. Sending hugs! 4y
Reviewsbylola You‘ve had a rough few months. ❤️ I hope things start to get easier. 4y
Cinfhen Hope the books ease some of your stress/ and the candle too!!! I read and liked Rust. Thinking of you xx 4y
BarbaraBB Take care 💚 4y
Megabooks @crazyspine @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TrishB @Graciouswarriorprincess thanks y‘all 💜😊 It feels good that there are people who understand how much joy a book can bring. Thanks for your support! 💕💕 4y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola I just keep waiting for my life to calm down. It‘s been nearly three years of upheaval now. Someday... 💕💕 4y
Megabooks @Cinfhen thank you! I love the candle. It‘s so pretty. 💖💖 4y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB 😘😘💜 4y
108 likes11 comments
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IselaKay
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Pickpick

This book is about how to navigate the rough waters, how to live through uncertainty, through pain, how to accept you made a mistake and move forward, how to work on yourself, and how to forgive yourself and love yourself. It‘s a book about asking for and receiving advice and it‘s uplifting, encouraging, and helpful.

I will say that it would be better to own this book and read at a slower pace if possible, when encouragement is needed.

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saguarosally
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I‘m doing some serious identifying with this question. I already made my first big leap. That put kids out of the equation. I‘m working on the second big leap. Will it all work out? Am I just watching forty go past me and not achieving what I should achieve?

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Wow, it‘s amazing how productive I am at 2 AM!

#bfc #bfcr2 #bookfitnesschallenge #goteam book 6/12

If you buy one advice book, make it Tiny Beautiful Things that I reviewed last weekend. HOWEVER, this is a fun advice book for people in their twenties and early thirties. Heather pulls no punches and believes strongly in exercise and bettering yourself mentally, perfect for the BFC! 👍🏻👍🏻

Emilymdxn Amazing!! 5y
Cinfhen Nice review but go get some sleep 💕 5y
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Megabooks @Emilymdxn Thanks! 😊 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Soon enough! Now that I‘ve finished the two books I wanted to, I‘ll probably calm down. 😘😘 5y
SW-T I have occasional bouts of insomnia and find the wee hours productive as well as peaceful. Hope you were able to get some rest! 5y
wanderinglynn Sounds like a great book for BFC! Thanks for sharing 5y
cobwebmoth Wow, I just realized that you've already read half of your books for the challenge! Good for you! 5y
Megabooks @SW-T Right? So peaceful. I love being alone, and I can‘t live alone now, so staying up late has become a compromise. 👍🏻 5y
Megabooks @wanderinglynn It was! 👍🏻💜 And you‘re welcome! (edited) 5y
Megabooks @cobwebmoth Thanks!! 😊😊 I‘ll probably up it, but I have a medical procedure a week from today that usually knocks me out for 5-7 days, so I‘ll regroup after that! 5y
cewilf That sounds like an awesome book! 5y
Megabooks @cewilf I really enjoyed it! 5y
80 likes1 stack add13 comments
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Megabooks
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Starting day 3 with this book. 👍🏻👍🏻 Life kept getting in the way of my reading this morning. 👎🏻👎🏻 #24b4Monday

BeansPage Hey sometimes life gets in the way. But that's okay you're still making great time and I can't wait to see your total! 😍 5y
Andrew65 A great total 👏👏👏 5y
56 likes2 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed these advice columns. Heather has great perspectives, and her writing has a great voice. 4⭐️

On a personal note, I‘ve found the above quote especially true. I‘ve had to upend my life about every 3 years since I was 17 due to illness and it seems like each time I lose a few more friends. Fortunately, I gain some too. Hugs to others on Litsy with chronic illness 💕

#MonthofRereads

85 likes2 stack adds
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Megabooks
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My cousin sent us this beautiful centerpiece today! It looks and smells divine. #ChristmasCountdown 🎄🎄🎅🏼🎅🏼

And I‘ve also included my #currentlyreading

CouronneDhiver Gorgeous! That‘s what I‘m planning to do for my parents this year too 5y
Megabooks @CouronneDhiver I‘m sure they‘ll love it! It was such a wonderful surprise for us. 5y
merelybookish Beautiful!! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Megabooks @merelybookish Thanks 😊 5y
Tanisha_A 😍 5y
Megabooks @Tanisha_A Thanks! 🎄 5y
88 likes1 stack add6 comments
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mynamerhymes
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Pickpick

Spent most of last week in the car, being cheered on and encouraged by this book. I am an absolute advice junkie and this was top notch. Funny, foul mouthed, honest, and exactly what I needed. Highly recommend to people in the world. 5 🌟.

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mikaylas
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Don't ask indifference to love you.

2 likes1 stack add
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Yogabrarian
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Pickpick

(Attempting) a bedtime read of How To Be A Person - if you loved Tiny Beautiful Things this one is a must

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

I really liked these collected advice columns. The author is funny and personal and gives strong advice.

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SarahK
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Pickpick

While these 2 were sleeping I finished this collection of Ask Polly letters. I really enjoyed all of them. Some I wanted to share with friends and I saw myself in some. I did notice that she likes to suggest exercising, a lot. Mostly though this helped fill the 'tiny beautiful things' place in my heart for honest advice giving.

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Megabooks
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I finished 2 #audiobooks this weekend and 1 #ebook. They were all good, but not great. How to Be a Person in the World wasn't as good as Dear Sugar as far as advice, but I enjoyed it. Horrorstor was fun. I liked The First Time She Drowned better the first time I read it, even though the narration is good.

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wanderaven
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Just bought How To Be a Person in the World from one of my favourite (and my local) #indiebookstores, The King's English in Salt Lake City. *Today* is their 39th birthday! #indiebookstore #getindie

Readaholics Lol I love their mantra: eat, sleep, read. 8y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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emmanoble
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#libraryhaul ! Feels so good to finally be home 📚

MrBook Niiiiiiiice! 😂👍🏻 8y
13 likes1 comment
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mdemanatee
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The original letter was making me nervous because I thought we were gonna support some "not like other girls" BS, but Polly is coming through.

9 likes2 stack adds
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Kat.Kao
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Compilation of the author's advice columns. Her writing is effusive and at times overblown, but the depth of insight and caring is worth it. Good especially for people in transitional periods--as a recently married, childless person in her early 30s who is still at an early career stage, I found it grounding and motivating.

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debcaletti
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Pickpick

Straight-up, tough talk. Thanks, Heather, I needed that.

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balletbookworm
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Pickpick

Not quite as awesome as Tiny Beautiful Things (❤️ Cheryl Strayed) but definitely a solid collection of advice columns from Ask Polly. (And I do hope the people who wrote in basically asking for permission to cheat on their partners got dumped. What tools)

CherylDeFranceschi 😻❤️! 8y
MrBook 😻😻😻 8y
cariashley Aww cutie 😸 8y
SusanInTiburon If you want permission, get it from your partner, duh. More importantly, your cat is way cool! 8y
Carol I've had this since the 24 in 48 readathon. Maybe this weekend I'll get to it. Too many 📚📚📚😂 8y
27 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Libshitz
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Yes!!!

2 likes1 stack add
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KtG
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Here it is! In all its BOLD millennial-advising glory!

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SarahEvonne
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Heart-burstingly good.

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SarahEvonne
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Reader, I borrowed it.

BookBabe 👍🏻 8y
5 likes1 comment
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balletbookworm
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Yes. Yes it is.

22 likes1 stack add
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Iindseyo
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Ask Polly on the plight of nice women. New manifesto. WITHOUT A SMILE. 👊

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BookishKateNYC
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#motivationmonday and I will definitely be taking notes.

2 likes1 stack add