Book Description
A cherished family reunion sets the stage of Erma Bombeck's predictably hilarious recollections of raising a family. Her conclusion: you can't live with them, you can't live without them...or can you...? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Always Hilarious!!
Erma Bombeck is the best.Family life is challenging, but Erma gives it to you straight...there's comedy in everything.Each of her books shares stories with the others, but from different points of view.If you're up for a good laugh, read this book!

Erma Bombeck in all her glory
Quite amusing, not every single chapter great, but funny enough to keep me going.

Wonderfully funny!
I grew up reading Erma Bombeck. I have always loved her columns and her books. My parents and I would sit around the dinner table and discuss her columns ~~ but now as a mother and a wife, I have a much better appreciation of Erma's writing.

This one is about her kids coming home in 1987 and one of them announced that he's moving back in permanently ~~ and it's a rundown of all the things that family members do. Sometimes, it's funny and sometimes, it's annoying. But what are you going to do? Throw them out on the streets? Erma had me laughing all night while laying in the hospital bed with a sick preschooler. She's been there and I am going through it. It's a honest, refreshing look at parenting and marriage ~~ everyone should read Erma. She gets her points across with humor and statire.

I am reading three others of her books ~~ and can't wait to read them. She's the perfect medicine for this housewife!

5-11-06

Bound and Gagged
One of the funniest humor columnists of all time, Erma Bombeck has scored again with this funny snapshot of family life.

It's 1987, and all three Bombeck children have come home for a visit (one of whom has decided to make his visit permanent). Not only does Erma provide us with a timeline of the events of this particular weekend, she also delves back into her memories of the years gone by as she routinely attempts to defend her parenting skills (or lack of them) to us.

It's been several years since Erma Bombeck passed away. But her books continue to be as funny and relevent today as they were back then. "Family - The Ties That Bind and Gag" is no different.

Erma does it again:)
Just the thought of a family re-union sends Erma Bombeck reliving her family's past. And it is _hilarious_!

This is a great book if you ever had or currently have a family or know somebody who has a family. It makes you laugh out loud. ... Read more

Book Description
Join Erma Bombeck as she travels the world with family in tow. A giddy guided tour of the global village, this is travel writing as only Erma Bombeck could write it.

A Publisher's Weekly audio bestseller.

A 1991 Grammy Award nominee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Trying Too Hard
The first few chapters got me laughing, yes. But later on, I felt like I was reading a stand up comedian's script. It made me feel that everytime she goes on a vacation, she turns every moment as an oppurtunity to make it derogatorily funny. A bit too pessimistic for me.
i liked however how she pointed out the 'usual' members of a travel group and the confinement of travelling with a group.
sometimes the accounts are too exagerrated, bordering on slapstick: (when she decided to travel and not be a house-sitter anymore, she held up her hands to declare this, clutching the neighbor's hamster).
This is a book that may be enjoyed by people who travel so that they could be reminded of how things are all better 'back home'. People who genuinely love to travel (for love of culture and other purposes) may find it a waste of time reading this.

The most humorous book I have ever read!
This is the first book I've read by Irma Bombeck and I bought it because of the rave reviews from other readers.I was more than pleasantly surprised.I am recovering from a broken ankle and needing a "little cheering up".This book did the trick.I was laughing nonstop.I would highly recommend it!

LIfe turned comedy through the words of Bombeck
The title at first hadnt seemed so appealing to me, but the contents of the novel is what matters the most. My mother had urged me to read this book saying it was both witty and funny. A optimistic novel, turning lifes issues into comedy. In her book " When you Look like YouPassport Photo" she writes about her travel experiences which you can both laugh with and at the same time relate to. It starts off with her never having left her home town, to renting the smallest and most unpractical home RV in the world to deciding to leaving her children home to explore Europe. Even if you havent traveled you can laugh at the way she describes even the weirdest things and if you have relate to the tour guides and horrible food services. The memeroable husband always thinking that there are consipiracies going on in the system. The Hotel rationing the same piece of hard roll for every serving. Then there is always your typical bus groups. The health fanatic upfront, the photo mania and your typical drunk always singing at certain stops. I found it funny when she explaned that she had more children than she had window seats and just basically how she compared her life to things. IN her book, she gives tips and rules on travel issues. I havent read a book that made me laugh from page to page liek this one, this is a book no one should miss reading. Her perspective is always fresh, always giving her own ideas her own opinios. " Food for the dangerous" isnt this a catchy yet dangerous phrase. Erma describes all things with a different look. I heard that the authot died a few years ago and i praise her. Having suffering so much illness and even althrough this, having the ability to narate such an optimistic and hilarious book.

True, so true!
Erma's funniest book yet!Every time I'm on a car trip and I'm stuck behind an RV, I think of her experience driving the "rig" with her hands clamped to the wheel, etc.I think of her regretting having more children than she had backseat windows and paying a fortune for a cruise only to spend half the voyage throwing up into a sink shaped like a seashell.Erma took mundane real life for mothers/wives and made it funny.

I've never read a Bombeck book I didn't like.......
& this was the best. You can litterally place yourself in her shoes & experience comical things you could never have imagined happening to yourself. The way she narrates really grabs you into the book & won't let you go, & when your finished you need another of her books or you'll go into withdrawl syndrome. It was a horrible loss she died & took her comical genius that no one else has mastered with her. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Erma Bombeck occupied a seat of honor in the homes of millions of Americans. Hers was inevitably the column you read aloud at the breakfast table, the piece you tore out on the bus to send to your mother, or the clipping you stuck on the fridge as a chuckling reminder of our modern lives' sublime ridiculousness.Bombeck had an eye for our common experience and a knack for throwing it into touching relief; we laughed because we saw ourselves in her work. She died last April, and this collection--the profits of which benefit her favorite charities--pulls together some of her best loved columns. The columns span Bombeck's career and the book includes tributes delivered at her memorial service. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Erma is my hero!
I bought this book recently in honor of Erma's birthday. The stories bring me back to my childhood. I remember reading the columns when I was younger, and now that I have my own children I can really relate!

A must for forErma fans
I loved this book. Erma wrote about every day happenings that you will recognize instantly. While reading the book I got the feeling that Erma must have spied on me! You are left with a lovely feeling that someone understands you. Many were the times I actually laughed out loud. I truly recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor!

A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO A POWERFUL LADY
When it comes to humour, there is no one who could pack a more powerful punch than Erma Bombeck.In this collection of essays, Erma tackles children, motherhood, fatherhood, neighbours, family gatherings and then finds the humour in life's most ordinary events.Five days before her passing, Erma wrote her final message and still, she faced life with amazing courage and wit.

As the years pass by, we still miss Erma deeply.She became a part of our own family and mothers could read her words of wisdom and come to the conclusion, "It puts my mind as ease to know that I am not the only one who fells this way about...."

Erma was a lady ahead of her time and a primary lesson we learn from her is "don't fret the small stuff; look at each day as a new experience and enjoy it to the fullest.Soon, our children will leave the nest; we will grow older and develop wrinkles but become more tolerant and accepting of ourselves.Even in her last days, she managed to find the beauty and humour in life...what better legacy could she leave us?The book, like Erma, is deserving of a thousand twinkling stars.No wonder the Heavens shine so brightly.

Why we loved Erma
Why we loved Erma and miss her is right here. She made you feel good about your mistakes. Suddenly being a fallen human made you feel superior to those who were too perfect to admit it!

Erma wasn't the best, she was the only.
I loved Erma Bombeck from the beginning. Her ability to make you laugh without being mean or crude, to see the humor in any situation, to be dignified and tolerant without being forceful about it. These make her a unique person.

This is a collection of some of her best columns. She knew the world could be mean, cruel, bitter, and unfair, yet she never was any of these things. She was a great writer and a great person.

I love the tribute section of this book, though the story from her husband made me cry. It was April 22, 1996 and the ride was over. ... Read more

Book Description

In this lovingly hilarious look at her 44-years-and-counting marriage to a man she wouldn't trade for anything in the world -- who would finish her sentences? -- Erma Bombeck offers observations as only she can, on:

• The true test of compatibility: buying a house that "needs work"

• Surviving parenthood, and the nest that won't stay empty

• How times of struggle are a piece of cake compared to handling success

• Elevating guilt to a sacrament

• What to do with a man who saves instruction manuals; thinks a fishing license makes a great anniversary gift; and, thanks to the remote control, has never seen a television commercial

• Frazzled mothers wondering who they have to sleep with to get fired from the job

• Facing maternity, mortality, and metamorphosis together

This entertaining portrait of an American marriage is Erma Bombeck at her most intimate, and her funniest.

Customer Reviews (6)

Laugh out loud funny....
This book is full of wit and one liners from a woman who knows family. I myself only have a husband and no kids but her writing is still hilarious to me. It reminds me of things my own mother used to say in her own funny and sacastic way. When she talk about her husband and his "ways" of packing a suitcase or talking about the kids I laughed out loud while reading in bed and scared my husband. I sure do miss her and only wish she could have spent a little more time on earth to make us laugh. I bet God is having a ball with her in heaven.

Never too tired to read Erma's books!
I miss Erma. I really do. I miss her style of writing, her humor and her wit. She is probably the only writer from my childhood that I have read faithfully of. Her columns were the highlight of our day when it appeared in our newspapers. Reading this book is like going down memory lane. I remember some of her stuff, but not all of them. This one is a honest and true look at marriage.

Marriage isn't happily ever after. We spend our lives changing our partners, resisting the changes that life throws our way, staying married through thin and fat, through children, through illness and career changes ~~ through death, death of a father and friend. It's a wonderful little book full of wisdom and insights. I love her chapter titles: A House Morally Divided Cannot Stand Each Other or Living on Love.

She offers insights to her own life and marriage oftentimes, poking fun at herself and her family. She is never mean but instead she is inspiring. She makes you think even while laughing at some of the silly things we all do in our own lives. I have not been married as long as she has but already, I see some of the things she has pointed out such as trying to change your husband.

If you're looking for a wonderful book to read ~~ don't miss this one. It's beautifully written and so poignant in some places. Erma writes about life because she has lived it. Her stories are still true today as they were fourteen years ago.

5-11-06

Ah, nostalgia- for those poor souls of the
"silent generation", between the "greatest" & the "boomers".
They can relive raising kids,borrowing from your in-laws, sex 50's style, dealing with the 60's etc., all with the wit & wisdom of Erma Bombeck.
This is more like a memoir, probably the last in a series, that rings true sometimes, of course, with exaggeration to humorous effect.
Not much to complain about here. She is a good writer who started small had an understanding, supportive husband & achieved national celebrity.
If you are of a certain age, you will laugh.

Marriage Made in Heaven or Too Tired for an Affair
I have always enjoyed Erma Bombeck when she had a column, but the children were small and I never had much time to read. Had I gotten a book like this one, I could of breezed through raising children and marriage with much less guilt. It is one of the funniest (because it's so true) books I've ever read. I am now a collector of Erma Bombecks books. Chapters titled,; "How Much Happiness Can We Finance?" The book for me was filled with memories from the 50's and 60's, and how it used to be. I found myself laughing outloud and shaking my head at the humor, yet truthfulness, that Erma shares with her readers. I'm getting two more of her books for Christmas, and am getting several others on auction. If you need a laugh, kick out some of those endorphins that need to come out and lighten you up, don't miss Erma Bombeck's, "Marriage Made in Heaven or too Tired for an Affair." It's fantastic!

One of the last and best
The chronicle of Erma Bombeck's married life, this is a sweet, funny, and realistic view of timeless marriage.

Ms. Bombeck starts on the weddingday, when she and husband Bill were married by a priest who spoke Latinwith a Polish accent. She moves on to their children, their multiple homes,a saddening chapter about her tragic miscarriage, the chronicles of hermorality arguments with her kids, and finally, her career.

She spentyears as a housewife. But Ms. Bombeck's now famous writing started in alocal paper, and she warmly describes how emotionally supportive herhusband was when her columns became well-known. Touring can't have helpedtheir marriage much, but apparently they both didn't let it hurt it.

Shesatirizes her own under-par household skills, the weird little quirks thatcome in with age, nd the glories of growing old together. She doesn't sayanything about that last one, but it glows throughout the book.

Bravo,Erma. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1979, someone asked humorist Erma Bombeck, "If you had your life to live over, would you change anything'" Her immediate answer was no, but once she thought about it, she changed her mind. The result was a classic column full of Bombeck"s signature wit and warmth. Now the beloved column that has hung on hundreds of refrigerator doors has been cheerily illustrated and designed as a handsome gift book, Eat Less Cottage and More Ice Cream. In it, Bombeck gently reminds us of what is really important in life:"If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more."I would have cried and laughed less while watching television . . . and more while watching real life."But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it . . . look at it and really see it . . . try it on . . . live it . . . exhaust it . . . and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it. . . . "Long-time fans of Erma Bombeck will be thrilled to have this favorite column in the form of a beautiful keepsake. Readers discovering Bombeck for the first time will become fans instantly. Eat Less Cottage and More Ice Cream offers wisdom to inspire all of us.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Typical Bombeck Humor
While I was not sure of the type of book I was ordering I loved the title and after all it was Bombeck, so how could I go wrong. I even ordered copies for friends.I was delighted with the content but wished for more.It seemed like so little when I wanted to continue to enjoy the humor I remember from Erma Bombeck. Guess I will have to buy more Bombeck books.

Not the best of Erma
This a cute coffee table book, but I didn't realize that it was just a few words per page.

Good for what it is
I had hoped that this book would be another collection of Bombeck's columns or pieces from several of her books... It is a little gift book edition of some of her best phrases. With whimsical illustrations and a lovely design, this makes an excellent small present for a true Bombeck fan or for someone who enjoys a little escape and encouragement. ... Read more

Book Description
"Her audience is everyone who has ever married, had children, gotten to middle age, owned a dog or a duck."
DALLAS TIMES HERALD
In this book Erma comes out--out of the kitchen--with these gems:
No longer will she be the only woman on the block to wear a slip under a see-through sweater, or feel guilty if the sun sets on an empty crockpot, nor will she care that she flunked her paper towel test. Our Erma is on her way to becoming a sub-total woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Erma presents a soul makeover
This is my favorite from the queen of family humor. Here's what hilarity happens when the ordinary human tries on psychology fads as if they were dresses on a bargain rack.

Self-help book of a self-help book addict
Erma Bombeck chronicles a year in the 80s when she devoted her time and energy to self-help books, like the "Total Woman."

A readerboth feels sympathy for Erma's somewhat bumbling attempts to become whatthese books demand of her, and for her harried husband, who must have wokenup every morning to wonder who his wife is today. She is pressed by anapparently lunatic friend to read "The Sub-Total Woman",attempting to act sexy and wifely to save her marriage, but only ends upweirding out her husband and burning up her nightgown.

Other chaptersinvolve Transcendental Meditation, thrift, the guests from hell, astrologyguilt, other people's middle-aged pregnancies, jogging, and the ultimatefrontier: satisfaction. You'll want to jeer at the bizarre ladies at theend of this, but you definitely won't regret buying it.

Need a self-help book?Here's one with humor!
Erma Bombeck is on a quest to perfect herself in this book. As she searches for the greatsest self-help book she can find, she searches to become more sexy, smarter, thinner, and all together more perfect. I don'tknow if she reaches her goal, but she does decide to like herself anyway! This book is hilarious!"I don't want to participate in any sportthat has an ambulance at the bottom of the hill". Enjoy thiswonderful, humorous book . . . and take a second look on what it means tobe happy! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

PLEASE-give Erma to future generations!
Erma Bombeck will always be one of my heroes. I still have her picture from the cover of Time magazine hanging on my "Wall of Fame" in my laundry room, along with my college diploma, a picture of the first woman to run for Vice-President, and various cards with special significance from family and friends. When I was a young mom, her writing always reminded me that laughter is better than tears. Whenever I thought that I could not possibly survive this child-rearing thing, I would pick up one of Erma's books and find out that she already survived the same hair-raising incidents and still had brain power. I still treasure many quotes I have picked up from her books. She wrote an article once about children becoming the parents to their own parents. She stated that she knew that was happening the time she hit the brake on her car and instinctively put out her arm in front of her mother who was riding in the passenger seat. How that image tugged at my heartstrings when it happened with my own mother. She wrote about everyday life, common to most of us with humor, poignancy, and great love. I will be giving her books to young parents as long as I live. Her words should be treasured by every generation.

Great collection
Truly the best of Bombeck! A great addition toyour bookshelf if you are a Bombeck fan! ... Read more

Book Description
"See if you can read a paragraph without laughing out loud."
Art Buchwald
The enchanting lady of laughter has done it again--this time taking a hilarious swipe at husbands, honeymoons, tennis elbow, marriage, lettuce, the national anthem, and a host of other domestic dilemmas.
"It's fun from cover to cover."
THE HARTFORD COURANT ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

If life is a bowl of cherries, this must be the pits
Lovely to catch up with one of Erma Bombeck's books.Loved her when I lived in America and it is sad she had to check out so early.She always brings a smile to my face and the afternoon flies by when I have my nose in one of her books.

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits
The book arrived in a timely manner and was in excellent condition.I gave the book as a gift to a sick cousin.

You'll Laugh Out Loud
Don't get on a bus, train or plane and read this book because you will laugh out loud and people will want you to explain your laughter.I love this book I had it in the 70s it was funny then and it is funnier now.

Funny, warm and true!
I am on an Erma Bombeck kick ~~ and to be honest, this one is my favorite. I have rated all the others a five but if I could rate this one a ten, I would. It's funny, it's warm and it's loving as well as full of statire. I love statire. It's not the mushy warmth you'd think you're getting. Even if it is a bit dated (I grew up in the 70s & 80s) ~~ the insights are still true today.

This book made me laugh and made me cry. I think my absolute favorite chapter would be: I am Laughing So Hard that I Can't Stop Crying. I think I cried and laughed throughout that whole chapter. There's one where the father grumbles about the grass being torn up because of the wading pool, the sledding parties and beach parties. Then there's the one where it says, I love you enough to say no .... truths that my parents have always said to me and truths that I plan to pass onto my kids.

This book is heartfelt and witty. I wish there are more writers like Erma still out there. Sometimes, it seems like not everyone has a sense of humor anymore about life ~~ and even though life was hard, Erma made it all worthwhile. It still rings true today.

5-15-06

If LIfe Is a Bowl of Cherries What Am I Doing in the Pits?
Funny and relevant to anyone who has a life and a family!!! ... Read more

Book Description
"She goes a long way with her book to prove that humor is the best -- possibly the only -- way to keep the world on an even keel."
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Remember the things Mother used to say? Erma Bombeck remembers them all and now she's using them on her own kids! With clever illustrations by Bob Keane, these really funny, too-true observations on family and kids and why it shouldn't work but does, is a wonderful antitdote to the daily problems and crises that every family faces. With Erma Bombeck in your corner, laughter is the best coach you can have.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Just Wait Til You Have Children of Your Own
Erma Bombeck is great!If you have children, or even if your children are grown and gone like mine, you will still get chuckles and remember when!

so funny and witty.......
For anyone is a parent of a teenager, or anyone who is interested in reading more about that complex, and turbulent dynamic, this book is for you.I first read this book when I was eleven years old, and it just got me reading and enjoying more of Erma Bombeck's unique and broad brand of humor.To top that off, the little comic interludes, illustrating themes and common day-to-day interactions between parents and children, are drawn beautifully by Bil Keane, who went on to illustrate the successful comic strip, "Family Circus," for years.

Whether Erma Bombeck is taking on housekeeping, driving lessons, or hairstyles, she is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.Granted, this book was originally written in the 1970s and there is a slightly dated hippie quality to the look of the teenagers in this book, the themes ring true today, as much as thirty years ago.Parents and their teenage children speak different languages, diverge greatly in their tastes in music, friends, romantic partners and lifestyle.Yet, God has put them together, to teach one another lessons in adversity, communication (or lack thereof) and exasperation!

Bombeck's talent shines brightly here.I also reccomend you check out "Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession," "The Grass is Greener Over the Septic Tank," "If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits?", and "When You Begin to Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home."They are also great examples of her comedic writing, and warm insight into life and its day-to-day mini-disasters!

A little dated
The book was first published in 1970 and the text and the illustrations are showing their age. Let's face it, the kids who where teenagers in it are now in their mid to late 40s. Of course with the 2000s being into the 1970s retro look and sound, maybe what's old is new.

That's not to say it wasn't a quick and enjoyable read and Bil Keane's illustrations are humorous too. I recommend flipping through the book once just to enjoy his illustrations. Imagine the Family Circus kids as hippy teenagers. Actually come to think of it, the Family Circus kids probably are actually in their mid to late forties as well.

It means "no worries" for the rest of your days!
I've been a fan of Erma Bombeck since *long* before "The Grass is Always Greener.." and teaming her yolks with Bil Keane was a stroke - of genius. Never picturing the Keane children before in a post-pubescent manner, the effect on the text was stunning. Did Jeffy really grow mutton-chop sideburns? Was Dolly suffering emetophilia as Ms. Bombeck suggests? In so many ways, this book is like Disney's "The Lion King," only without the Uncle Scar, and the part with the hyenas. I'd recommend it highly for the witty text, but the binding was a problem as the pages tend to slip out if you bend the book open too far.Still, four stars for Mrs. Bombeck and Bil!

A great combo
Pairing Bil Keane (Of "Family Circus" fame) and Erma Bombeck was a stroke of genius. These two work very well together - it's a shame they didn't do more work together.

Of course, the title is the "mother's curse" - if you had a mom, you may remember her using that line on you. I often wonder if that's why some people don't have children.

This book takes you thru "expert" advice - and than shows you how the situation plays out in the real world. If you are a parent of a teen, you may want this book just so you can remember they don't stay teenagers forever (they _don't_ , really - tho sometimes it's hard to believe).

So get this book, find a quiet spot (HA! what's that, the bathroom?) and enjoy - it's cheaper and more fun that psychotherapy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

I Want to Grow Hair Hair, I Want to Grow Up and I Want to Go
My son was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 8 years old with three brain tumors. We were told her would die in surgery and if he did live he would be a vegetable. The doctor was wonderful and he lives and is doing wonderfully! I have been involved deeply with brain tumor suppport now for 11 years. I talk to families at least once a week.This book gives great insight into how the kids feel about their disease and the experience that goes with it. The most important part of this book is the section that the fathter's discuss their feelings. Dads have a very difficult time knowing how to help and "fix" it as they think they must! This chapter is priceless. Good Book, Good Information, Important learning here!

Only Erma Bombeck Could Make It Work
Erma Bombeck became renowned by highlighting the amusing aspects of the terrene.She did not usually make what are typically called "jokes"-just offbeat observations.Her columns more often initiated a satisfying smile than a hearty belly laugh.But even on the occasions that she was painfully funny she showed respect for her subjects and her audience.It was the proud acknowledgement that she was one of us that allowed us to chuckle at family life, grocery shopping, housework, and all the other quotidian errands that compose the bulk of our lives. Regardless of the subject she found some aspect that was good for a "laugh with" not a "laugh at."

How about the subject of children battling cancer?The thought of jocularly treating such a topic sounds comparable to the depraved entertainment regurgitated by the likes of Howard Stern.Surely, Erma Bombeck-the avatar of wholesomeness-would never approach such a subject.No, but it approached her.She was asked to write this book, and at first the thought of it repulsed her.Momentarily dropping her guard, she allowed herself to be talked in to attempting this work.We should all be thankful that she caved. The result is a reverent; inspiring read that has had a propitiatory impact on many, many children and adults battling cancer---not to mention legions of us who are blessed with good health.

Treading with great veneration for her subject, she produced a book overflowing with warmth, encouragement, and-as unbelievable as it may seem-tasteful mirth.It stands a proud addition to her rich legacy.

Wonderful!
Having grown up in an era when "the 'C' word" meant a death sentence, I was taken aback when a friend of mine suggested this little-known work of Erma Bombeck's.Why would a humerous writer tackle such a depressing subject?Kids with cancer?The book was not depressingat all.Sure I cried, but they were tears of joy.I laughed at the anticsof some of the kids. I praised the professionals who dedicate their timeand money to these kids.Cancer is no longer necessarily a terminaldisease.People beat it all the time.I was unaware of this until I readthis book, and no one could do it like Erma.I highly recommend this bookto anyone, but it is especially uplifting to someone who has a friend orfamily member with cancer.

I Laughed, I Cried, and then I Laughed Some More
This book is a wonderfully humorous and insightful look into children's experiences with caner.Although it certainly is not a humorous subject,the book really shows the powerful spirit of children and demonstrates theimportance of humor in illness.And no matter what they go through, kidsare still kids.I read this for the first time in college, and now I am apediatrician.

It will touch your heart and lift your spirits
This book is by far my favorite of all Erma Bombeck's books.I suspect this book is not as popular as her other writings because it's about kids with cancer, but Bombeck does an amazing job of taking such a heavy subjectand finding the bright side of it all. ... Read more

Book Description
"America's irrepressible doyenne of domestic satire."
THE BOSTON GLOBE
Madcap, bittersweet humor in classic Erma Bombeck-style. You'll laugh until it hurts and love it! "Any mother with half a skull knows that when Daddy's little boy becomes Mommy's little boy, the kid is so wet, he's treading water. What do you mean you're a participle in the school play and you need a costume? Those rotten kids. If only they'd let me wake up in my own way. Why do they have to line up along my bed and stare at me like Moby Dick just washed up onto a beach somewhere?" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A little too choppy in its setup and delivery.
"At Wit's End" was the first Erma Bombeck book I read. I've been told that I write like her, so I was curious about what she had to say.I found the set-up rather choppy and her flow severly erratic.Her humor was chuckle-worthy, but I felt she was writing more towards herself, expecting the readers to fully grasp her humor.Even if you're not a wife or mother, you can still enjoy what is being said about such topics.I "sorta" recommend.

Erma Bombeck, 101
This is Erma Bombeck's first book and you can see all that talent, all that material ready to make its mark on the world.

But it doesn't read as a "first book" - all the stuff is there - the kids letting you know on Sunday night they need a costume for the school play - this happens in 2002 just the same as it happened in the 1970s - and of course, mom has no idea what she's supposed to do about a costume. That part is worht the price of admission alone.

So find a quiet spot, maybe after the kids have gone to school and you're wondering if you relaly should have sent them since it's snowing and school will probably close early - get a cup of coffee and read about what it's really like to be a mom.
Oh, and keep the radio on, too - they'll be announcing the school closings for you - and of course, the bus won't be available to pick them up;)

Still the truth all these years later . . .
I used to occasionally pick up my mother's Erma Bombeck books when I was a young teenager and read some of it -- I found it funny but didn't quiteunderstand it.

I am now the stay-at-home mother of a three year old withthe second baby on the way.What she writes about is as true in 2000 as itwas in the 1970s.The environment may have changed -- not nearly as manystay-at-home moms, and the ones that are tend to be working from home, etcetera.

But there are still husbands who decide to fix the plumbingthemselves, there are still kids who want cupcakes and a costume for theschool play on Sunday night, and there are still women with collegeeducations who haven't gotten to read a book other than the Dr. Seussseries since before the kids were born.

I understand now.I comprehendfully why my mother told me, when I asked as a naïve teenager what was sofunny about Erma Bombeck, I'd understand later.There is no better authorto make mothers feel like they're not the only person in the world thatputs up with this . . . because their kids and husbands haven't noticedyet.

A one-year look at the "average" housewife!
This was Erma Bombeck's first book, and it is hilarious!It takes her through a one-year period, with all the trials and tribulations of housewivery. She tells a great story . . . and explains who she wrote thisbook for!It is a marvelous pick-me-up book. Read it!"My childrenhave an imagination straight from the pages of Frankenstein. Once they puta live hamster on my chest to wake me up in the morning. As I boltedupright, my throat muscles paralyzed by fear, they asked, "Can we havethe cardboard that comes with Daddy's shirts?" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

laugh it all away
This one is guaranteed to make you feel great about your chosen profession. As you laugh away the Purgatorial moments you realize how much you love your kids.

Wonderful, hilarious and insightful ~~ a must read!
If it wasn't for someone raving about Erma's books ~~ and her insights, I would have never thought of picking her books up again. I remember very vividly reading her columns in my hometown newspaper every day till I moved to college. She is what I consider to be part of the American scene, Mom, Apple Pie and Erma Bombeck.

This book, which I read in one day over this past weekend, is just as wonderful as her other books. It made me laugh and roll my eyes (I don't have teenagers yet) and cry. The one chapter that made me cry the hardest is the letter from a mom whose son is a criminal. I had studied a little bit of criminals and their families in sociology in college, and that letter hit home. I love the letter from a teenager asking how did moms get their bionic and super powers. I love her insights on traveling and coming home. Let's face it, I just love Erma. She really is a woman who has her finger on the pulse of the nation's heart.

This is a wonderful must-read for all moms and their children. This is a book to read in different stages of your life too. I plan to read it again in several years when my two are tweens and again when they're teenagers. I am sure her insights will still help me grow through rocky patches. This is a timeless book. And one that I plan to share with the new moms in my life.

5-15-06

the wonderful, hilarious and insightful Erma Bombeck.....
The title, alone, says it all about this book.As long as there has been creation, there have been mothers.The combination of rich humor and sensitive insight keep you entertained, all the while, shedding new light on the joy and rapture of motherhood.

Bombeck leaves a wonderful legacy behind, with this, one of her most well-loved books.Other Bombeck books I would definitely reccomend include:The Grass is Greener Over the Septic Tank, Just Wait Till You Have Children of Your Own!, When You Begin to Look Like Your Passport It's Time To Go Home, and Family:The Ties That Bind (And Gag).

Required reading for Mothers Day and everyday
Erma Bombeck was the best humorist of the domestic American scene. This book, focused on her best subject - mothers, is a gem. Both humorous and wise at the same time, it will give you valuable insights one minute and have you rolling with laughter the next. If you are a mother, planning to become one, or want to gain some insight into your own mother, this is the book for you.

While reading this book, I heard two people quote from it. One was a radio food guru and the other was one of those heart-warming emails that someone I know decided to forward to everybody in their online address book. Read this book and you may find yourself quoting from it someday.

MOTHERHOOD & ERMA BOMBECK - This says it ALL!!

Erma Bombeck is as far as I'mconcerned the best writer of thiscentury!!I love ALL her books, but I especially love, MOTHERHOOD: TheSecond Oldest Profession", the best!

It is in my opinion HER VERYBESTWORK!!And should be considered aclassic!!

This book will makeyou laugh, itwill make you cry, it will make youthink, and above allelse it willmake you take a second look at yourlife...and rejoice init!

Erma Bombeck's book, "Motherhood:The Second OldestProfession", is aMUST for all parents, guardians, and care-takers ofchildren to read!!! It is not only heart-warming - it is about life itself.

Erma Bombeck had a very unique andtalented knack of getting right to the heart of any matter - and making people see it in a whole new perspecitive...and to see it through the eyes of laughter and love...

Erma Bombeck - IS - the best writerof this century, and all her books [and especially this one] simply ARE the best stories and articles you willever read!And all her work should be considered as classics...

VERYSincerely -Kathyrn L.M. Reynolds ... Read more

Book Description
When it first appeared in Erma Bombeck's Mother's Day column in 1974, When God Created Mothers was an instant success, clipped from newspapers, tucked into purses, and tacked onto refrigerators all over America. Now in this beautiful keepsake edition, Bombeck's moving words are paired with original art that bring to life the warm portrait of motherhood contained within.

An angel marvels at the detail and overtime that the good Lord is putting into his creation of mothers. Despite the six pairs of hands and the three pairs of eyes that every mother needs, the angel thinks she has discovered a flaw:

"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"It's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a tear."

"What's it for?"

"It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride."

"You are a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

Every mother will treasure this moving tribute, penned by America's most beloved expert on motherhood.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT TALES!
I really like this book, she is a great american story teller. Stuff is real life, if you enjoy a good laugh, i reccomend this book at anyone!

a wonderful example of Bombeck's great brand of humor.....
This book diverges from Bombeck's usual subject matter--family--to take on other compelling topics, like diet and the self image of American women.One of the greatest stand-out examples, for me, of her warm humorous take on crash diets and extreme weight loss measures, is when she talks about a case study done with laboratory rats.As part of the experiment, the rats modelled different kinds of clothing.For example, if a rat wore vertical stripes, he was more likely to look longer and leaner than his counterparts.Also, if a rat was having a dialogue with another rat, he stood on the curb, or the stairs, so he was always on a higher platform from his friend.This gave the illusion that he was taller and skinnier.I remember the first time I read this. I was rolling with laughter.

God bless Erma Bombeck.We are so lucky that her comedic gift lives on in her wonderful books.These books are best described as "slice of life" vignettes of the day-to-day experiences of American identity, through the eyes of one of the most influential people in the world---a mother. ... Read more

Product Description
At Wit's End, Aunt Erma's Cope Book, The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank and If Life is a Bowl of Cherries What am I Doing in the Pits? ... Read more

Book Description
"A truly wise and funny woman; a laugh-till-you cry book."
LIBRARY JOURNAL
Erma Bombeck has learned a few things about children and family over the years--and in a way that is uniquely and wonderfully her own, she shares everything she knows with her readers. Whether it's cleaning up after the kids and him, or expendable mothers-in-law, Erma Bombeck gets to the heart of the matter and makes us laugh through our tears. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Humor writing at its best....
Erma Bombeck was, hands down, the funniest humor columnist to ever grace newspapers and bookstores. Even now, years after she passed way, her writings are still funny and topical.

In "I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression," as with most of her books, Erma Bombeck takes snippets of her life, her husband, and her three kids and relates them to us in a way that only she can. Everything from her husband's inability to start a fire in the fireplace to her own inability to cope with turning 40, nothing is sacred or forbidden when Erma writes about her life.

This book is funny, witty, relevant, and an easy read. If you're life is busy and complicated, take some time out to read this book. Erma has a way of making your life seem not so bad. If nothing else, it's a great way to spend a few minutes each day. ... Read more