Bird by Bird

Some Instructions on Writing and Life

By: Anne Lamott

Narrated by: Anne Lamott

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is "a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer’s world and its treacherous swamps" (Los Angeles Times).

“Superb writing advice…. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.” —The New York Times Book Review

For a quarter century, more than a million readers—scribes and scribblers of all ages and abilities—have been inspired by Anne Lamott’s hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne’s father—also a writer—in the iconic passage that gives the book its title:

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”

Critic reviews

“Superb writing advice. . . . Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“A warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writer’s world and its treacherous swamps.”
—Los Angeles Times

“One of the funniest books on writing ever published.”
—The Christian Science Monitor

“A gift to all of us mortals who write or ever wanted to write. . . . Sidesplittingly funny, patiently wise and alternately cranky and kind—a reveille to get off our duffs and start writing now, while we still can.”
—Seattle Times

“Bird by Bird would be worth reading just for Lamott’s ele- gant, moving, and often-hilarious prose. But the advice she offers is just as fantastic as the style with which it’s delivered.”
—Forbes

“Anne Lamott understands better than anyone that writers need help. . . . She writes so well, in fact, that it’s hard to believe that she, too, has trouble with writing. That’s what’s so deeply comforting about this book.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“Deftly and honestly explores the mental challenges of being a writer. . . . Lamott’s advice is, simply put, invaluable.”
—Bustle

“[Lamott] uses her writing exercises or lessons as a way to help us more deeply understand ourselves and the human condition in all its messiness. If you’re looking for sense-making and meaning during this deeply destabilizing time, this book is timeless.”
—Elise Hu, TED Talks Daily

“Delight[s] with insight and descriptive acumen. This humorous, insightful, no-nonsense approach will remind novices why they are writing.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Offers unique inspiration. . . . An honest appraisal of what it takes to be a writer and why it matters so much.”
—Library Journal

Rewarding, helpful with humor mixed in

I loved this so much because I was able to learn more about writing while also smiling and laughing. She’s such a gifted communicator.

Beautiful!

I laughed, I cried. Mostly I soared through it and was sad when it ended.

Appealing

This author’s work was highlighted as one of the best tools to get started writing my manuscript for my doctoral nursing scholar project. I believe that this was an exceptional suggestion to get started. The technique in which she chose to present her ideas on writing are the cure for writers block. She gives thought provoking ideas to writing. Also, the way in which she presented her information was humorous member of memorable and useful I actually became tearful at one point, because her writing style gave me encouragement

Writing is just telling your stories.

Made me laugh out loud during preview so had to buy audio. Great stories with life lessons.

Authentic

Lamott delivers exceptionally well. Her experience is easily understood and suggests there is hope and reason to write. Thanks.