I'm FineAnd Other Lies

A good read for humbling ourselves, realizing we don’t know as much as we think we do, that we aren’t better than anyone else, and we definitely can never know what someone else has gone through in their lives. With all the left and right, liberal and conservative stuff going on, and blindly following one side with way too much fervor, we really have to stop and actually have a conversation with people who think differently than we do. Also it was hilarious, which is a plus. I love Whitney Cummings, why did they have to cancel her show?

Love Whitney Cummings, and her humor comes across in her writing as well. Very funny writing and I was very entertained throughout the book. However, I wasn't expecting this much of detail of her life in this book and I am not sure if I really want to know that much about her. Love her shows, would go and watch it live in a heat beat. I even bought this book because I like her humor. But sometimes it's better to not know much about your favorite person. A bit of mystery is good.

I also bought the audiobook because I love Whitney. I had no clue she had gone through all these things. This book has made me laugh, I cried with Whitney while she did when telling her body image and control struggles. I completely identified with her because I myself have codependency and anxiety issues. I love how genuine and authentic she has been in this book. Whitney, you are helping a whole generation of women who fear opening up about their struggles to do so and helped me understand that I am not alone and there’s others out there who have felt and feel like they are abnormal. Your advise has helped me soooo much. This is a well written poignant, funny and very helpful book for everyone.

Poorly written, redundant and and tries too much to be witty. Cummings seems to need someone else to solve her problems. Actually a lot of someone's .......... I did not find any helpful insights. Reaching self awareness by learning from your mistakes is an important path to a happy, full filling life. So put on you big girl pants already.

Poorly written, redundant and and tries too much to be witty. Cummings seems to need someone else to solve her problems. Actually a lot of someone's .......... I did not find any helpful insights. Reaching self awareness by learning from your mistakes is an important path to a happy, full filling life. So put on you big girl pants already.

I wasn’t even sure who Whitney Cummings was. Her book was mentioned in a recent article I read about current autobiographies, one of my favorite types of reading material, so I made a note of it. I finally got around to getting the book, and simply put, it’s superb! Look, there are many autobiographies that I start and never finish because they don’t hold my interest. Whitney’s writing is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Apparently, she wrote for the 2 Broke Girls series which I did not care for so did not watch. And I never got interested in her own tv show “Whitney” she starred in. Plus the reboot of Roseanne she was producer and writer for was lame. Yet, “I’m Fine” is the kind of book I read that I don’t want to end, and wish Whitney was my neighbor or best friend to carry on conversations with. “Bossypants” by Tina Fey is one of the best books I ever read, and I read tons. “I’m Fine and Other Lies” is in the same caliber as Tina’s book. Whitney’s interesting, accurate and fascinating observations about different avenues of life cover every page. Love it!

This review is written by my wife on my account.
Her book was so interesting and really funny. I was impressed how readily she shared some very personal and sometimes very painful experiences that most people would soon forget let alone write about. I am sure there are a few tidbits of advice in there for everyone to take home. I read her book in one sitting. I usually read books over a couple of months, sometimes even longer. Thank you for sharing your life with us.. Great job Whitney!

*Yes, I know this is a book review but....We went to see Whitney live outside of Philly and really enjoyed the evening. After the show Whitney signed our books and spent a few minutes chatting with anyone willing to hang around. She was so sweet and even took the time to make an adorable video with my daughter. She was so personable and "real", it made the evening that much more special.

I expected funny stories from the first book by the brilliant comedienne, Whitney Cummings. What I didn’t expect was a self-help guide and medical school education to be thrown in for free! We’re all a little screwed up. But Whitney apparently has had first hand experience with about 40 percent of all physical and psychological maladies known to mankind. This book tells the story of Whitney’s journey to improve herself, sharing some very personal anecdotes, while also translating her life experiences into useful advice and wisdom for the reader. The price of this book is far less than the money you’ll save in therapy! “I’m Fine…And Other Lies” is the greatest cure for what ails you (without a prescription). As a bonus, you’ll gain valuable insights into Whitney’s psyche, and fans of comedy will learn about her evolution to become the renaissance woman we see and admire today. Most importantly, the Carmen Electra Roast jokes finally see the light of day.

I borrowed the audio version of this book from my library because I am broke right now, sorry Whitney, but I just wanted to get on here and say that this book has made me realize a lot about myself. I don't have co-dependency problems at all, actually, quite the opposite. Whenever I feel weak I get SUPER ANGRY and verbally abuse people. AWESOME.... anyways...

I feel weird saying this, but, listening to her on audiobook talk so openly about her issues made me realize that a lot of the sh*t I don't like about my relationships and the world is actually because of me. I don't know... she talks about a lot of therapy she has gone through and I just didn't realize how much it could really help. She convinced me to start addressing my anger issues and start seeing a therapist let's just put it that way.

Is there a condition that this woman does not have? The whole book is just her telling you about all the things that she either has been diagnosed with or thinks she should be diagnosed with. I listened to most of the audiobook, but it just became too much. I was hoping for some entertaining stories about her childhood, her teen years and the portion of her life where she was getting started in comedy. The book was really just a description of her doctors appointments. I was very disappointed with this one.

“I’m Fine... And Other Lies” is what I personally needed to read for myself.
What a Phenomenal and entertaining twist of Whitney Cumming’s own life and situations from Codependency, to the “people-pleasers”, survival mechanisms we use in protecting ourselves, addictions, and working on our priorities to understand who is and what is. Whitney has experienced first-hand all of these types of situations and ends up coming out of situations like a boss, while straightening her crown. Whitney’s addition of straightforward humor and self-help tips lies in this book.

I cried reading “I’m Fine... And Other Lies” just to realize that -it’s okay to shape yourself through socially embarrassing events, I’m not the only one, stop trying to please everyone-start loving yourself, keep being a warrior, be straight-forward, and no one ever died from laughing while crying either.

You’ll experience while reading symptoms of knowledge, relationship tips, love, laughter, honesty, and much more!!!

-Namastay Believin’
Brianne ?

This review is long overdue as I finished Whitney’s book within a week of purchasing it. It was amazing and I highly recommend it to everybody. Honestly, I expected a book mostly about Whitney‘s career with a few blurbs about codependence and poor choices, but it was so much more than that. Whitney‘s vulnerability and self-awareness is downright sexy and inspiring. One major theme of the book is to be authentic and as challenging as that is, this book inspired me to strive to be more authentic. “Risk being seen in all your glory.”
As a 35-year-old male, I was able to relate to every single chapter!! Even the boob chapter, covering issues with body image, freezing her eggs and even thinking I can save the world. I am fine… And other lies is such an honest and entertaining piece of writing that anyone can learn from it and I recommend it to anybody and everybody.

Who said women aren’t funny? Apparently a lot of people, most of men, but I digress.. I laughed from the dedication of the book to the end! And so did my husband!! “I’m Fine...and Other Lies” isn’t a memoir. It’s an electrifying blend of humor, introspection and critical thinking for a new generation. I could continue with a quip or two in this review by quoting her jokes, or stories but I think that instead, you should probably run out and buy this book. Or go to your computer and purchase it because who really “runs out and buys books” at bookstores anymore. Well I actually do, but maybe that whole concept seems exhausting or you’ll forget so just click and purchase the book already!

I listened to this on Audible over the weekend and since Whitney is one of my favorite comedians I assumed her book would be mostly laughs with a few poignant moments thrown in like most comedians memoirs. I was right that it was funny...but this book is so much more than funny. The way Whitney dives deep within herself and talks about her issues with mental health, eating disorders, her attraction to bad men, etc. is not only relatable in a humorous way but it forces you to look within yourself and helps you to come to terms with your own issues in a meaningful and thoughtful way. I swear this book was more helpful than my current therapist. I don't know quite how to adequately explain how much I loved this book except that I have been recommending it to anyone who will listen and I just bought the paperback edition even though I already listened to the audiobook.

Honest, insightful, and downright funny. I'm Fine...And Other Lies is a rewarding read filled with tales of Cummings' deepest moments and takeaways all told unfiltered and with courageous vulnerability. What makes this read worthwhile is its emotional intelligence and applicability. Fundamentally, every human is dysfunctional and Cummings, with incredible self-awareness, reveals how she too is far from perfect and shares her strategies for coping and thriving in today's society. Although anecdotal, there are universal truths nested in the outrageous personal stories that will keep you glued to the page. For anyone interested in an amusing accord of being human or the inner-workings of a brilliant comedian, this is a book you must explore.

I'm a huge fan of humorous nonfiction, particularly when written by no-holds-barred women. I hope hilarious confessionals like this help these brave, funny women work through their pain. From books like "I'm Fine", I get the triple pleasure of laughing my arse off, feeling hopeful for a super lady I'd love to have a whiskey with, and luxuriating in several "there but for the grace of the gods go I" moments. May the sharing of all recovery be so much fun!

Ladies- this audio book is for you! Whitney Cummings is one of my favorite female comedians and she keeps it real. She talks about her eating disorders, co-dependence issues, and low self esteem. Basically, she talks about all the common issues most females will experience at one time or another. Think of it as a self help-inspirational audiobook but with a female comedian perspective. I’ve been using the store audio to listen to books like these. I have a list of my favorite inspirational books at lindsayshealthyliving.com

This woman is amazing - hilarious, beautiful, and smart as a whip! Loved her show "Whitney", which was a unique sitcom centered on a couple with real issues that real people deal with. So naturally, I had to read this book. I related with her on so many things, had similar life experiences. Almost every page had something written that made me laugh out loud. She opens up, not afraid to share true stories of her imperfect life, unlike just about every other female celebrity out there. She's real... and really nice! So refreshing to see someone that cares about her fans and genuinely wants to help people. Which this book absolutely accomplishes. I feel like I got a year's worth of free therapy and a new friend! Read her book...she's fine, just like the rest of us.

I absolutely loved this very comical helpful book. I think everyone, especially women, can relate to some of Whitney's stories in this book.

Think of this as your personal very private therapist who you don't have to be ashamed of looking in the face when you divulge your life's problems.

Thank you, Whitney but where the hell were you when I really needed you in my 20's to stop me from doing so many stupid things??!!! It's alright though because after reading your book, now I'm fine.

I was really excited by her message in the beginning. And, I would like to extend my thanks for some of the emotional retraining she offers. However, her writing style is too rough for me: often crass; jarring syntax; racist. The line that ended my reading is on page 140. She is speaking of the lack of appeal of Disney princesses when she writes, "They all seemed whiny and victimish to me, always waiting around to be saved by a handsome white blond guy Hitler would have jerked off to." Crass, problematic syntax, and racist. Yuck.

Whitney is raw, open and brave in writing this book! She shared some heavy and downright embarrassing stuff, in a time when people can tear you down so easily online and in anonymity. Few things are braver than that. I'll also state that obvious that it's hilarious and at the right moments. I was lucky enough to meet Whitney at a "meet and greet" for the book and aside from funny, she's sweet too!

Very surprised at how forced & unfunny the jokes were in this book. And she writes about going to healers & psychics & explains codependence as if it were 1970, not 2018. Zillions of books have by now touched on these subjects. I also don't believe that someone with her incredible success so early in such a cutthroat industry could be such an alleged neurotic mess. I think she wrote this with an eye to what she thought would sell & make her a quick buck. This is self-deprecation as one long humble brag.

The slight psychological plot of this woman's life for those who will listen, is one of a moderately successful stand up comedienne, owning just enough talent to make her way out of the clubs and into the television medium. seemingly possessed of a myriad of miserable issues deemed psychically savage enough to sustain comedy tour material and now a book chronicling her inner and outer, personal and private disintegration. But when one casts a deeper look into her life, something more sinister is brought to light about not only the subject in question, but of the dark environment that allows such low and unoriginal humour makers to prosper in the first instance.
The key to understanding the true psychic health of this woman is presented to us on the books front cover. as most people appreciate, water (and bodies of water and oceans in dreams) is the accepted symbol of the unconscious and of the collective unconscious. that is, when people fall into a neurosis, or even worse, a psychosis, one can say they have been swallowed up or flooded (drowned) by the contents of the unconscious or collective unconscious. The cover of this book depicts the author eerily smiling and fully dressed and clearly physically up to her neck in a body of water that one suspects is ever rising. the gesture and fearful message is immediate. the use of water on a autobiographical book cover as an accurate indicator of the actual psychological health of its writer, is now a common one. I Blame Dennis Hopper by Ileana Douglas also shows a woman walking on a watery (precarious) psychological path, and I suggest the use of the symbol of water as an indicator of nearing, inner peril is now becoming a universal archetype for such peculiar women. But more of the psychological significance of this book cover later on.
A person who possesses even only an introductory understanding to the process of analysis, will know those who seek help or who need help can be placed into two classifications: The neurotic or the psychotic. here we see in this grim literary exercise into what Jungians might describe as "swindle" analysis, is a monument to a never ending need to engage in and share the pseudo analysis of the banal elements of her life, relationships and career. in other words, a women who is evidently lost to a lasting neurosis. as we all know, a neurotic form of behaviour erupts as a result of something in the unconscious self that one can not admit to, or acknowledge at the conscious level. the neurotic power can not be destroyed at the unconscious level and must therefore find expression somewhere else. and this becomes the neurotic illness at that conscious level. Whitney Cummings appears to be, from what is offered in this book, a neurotic and full of contradictions .
She informs the reader many times that she has been willing to pay considerable amounts of money to be listened to and helped by therapists she hopes can help to ease or end her inner pains. Each form of psychological assistance is given its own heading, a layman's description and then what uniformly turns out to be yet another instance where the therapy in question simply fails to bring about any lasting form of psychological help for Cummings. and of those who require the same sympathetic ear from her? they are more than once referred to as "time vampires". So much for the seemingly endless section describing her co-dependency where the writer insists it is a generational long obligation for her inner need of helping other people at all costs. here we see those time vampires contradict the powerful nature of this hereditary trait.
But why the term swindle therapy? as many people know, when a person has many inner issues but no actual desire to find lasting, independent relief from them, they seek out all manner of psychotherapy. for the gullible and enablers in that persons life, it looks like a valiant effort to get help, but it is nothing of the sort. more than likely it is done simply to capture therapy buzzwords and theories that can be used by the patient as ammunition against others and themselves. Cummings illustrates this twice early on in her book. she explains she even uses Carl Jung's association test as a shallow tool to not only eliminate potential suitors who, to her great powers of assessment, may give the wrong answers to progress in a relationship with her, but to also gauge those men who might pose a physical danger. further, a risky and juvenile game of presenting a false persona to therapists in order to calculate whether or not the analyst can spot the pseudo character; and if unable, they do not receive a second session from Cummings, is all part and parcel of this swindle. the person who has no real ambition to come to terms with any of their inner struggles and thus find lasting relief, behaves like this. and thus the neurotic impulse is never confronted from within the unconscious life, and is therefore never healed. but why should she?
apart from the dangerous game she plays with her own psyche and the waste of time and money all of this indicates, it is evident that Cummings has no real intention of ever finding lasting psychological peace. because if she does, she must either locate truths about her psychic self that are too painful to confront, or she must admit that most of her life is built upon a very frightening fantasy world, that grows every day around her. or, like the dangerous waters of the unconscious that are so accurately, if inadvertently, depicted on the books cover. plus the presentation of her never ending self lacerating issues, are lucrative for her. but more of that later.
Cummings may be able to send suitors packing for selecting (by her own codification) alert making words in an association test, that she sees to be signs for errant behaviour, or mock the therapists she visits, but this is all part an parcel of the contradictory neurotic. They will stack up a private library of psychoanalytical theories and slogans, not in an effort to heal, but to be used as weapons against herself and against others; thus conveniently finding the empirical and justified distance from reality that her behaviour in the book suggests she needs. and what of the "time vampires" and people she deems to be too off their head for inclusion in her life? this book indicates many such people are discarded to the road side of her life with the appropriate psychological jargon attached as an excuse to deny any obligation for fault of her own. Cummings clinically lists many cases where she overcomes that great co-dependency she asserts forces her to do so much good for so many, and to what great lengths. in other words, her deeds and words simply don’t match up.
What then are the primary issues confronting this confusing and shallow layman of the psychological therapeutic experience? it is obvious that she suffers from three issues that attack her inner self and thus outer life: a powerful negative father complex, animus possession and shadow projection. and what is more, she is evidently and wholly unaware of this despite her many hours with many types of therapists and now even a book that she claims the temerity of being partly written with the intention of helping the reader.
As most are aware, all men have a feminine side in their psyche and this we call the anima. you can tell anima possession when men become moody, bitchy and effeminate. for women their counterpart to this is a male element to their psyche, called the animus. you can see signs of animus possession when a woman has a highly negative view of herself, no man is good enough for her (and will even construct convenient tests to oust suitors from her life. sound familiar?) and she will adopt a masculine image in both dress (t shirt and jeans…) and pseudo assertiveness. especially in male dominated arenas; case in point, the male dominated world of stand up comedy.
in other words, the male feature of her psyche has over developed in order to survive what was probably a very tortured childhood and here is the inroad to her next issue; chiefly the powerful father negative complex. we see unfortunate evidence of this on nearly every page of this book. men are almost always to blame for her ills and none of them seem to stack up or become someone she could marry or be with for a life long relationship. in other words, the powerful negative father complex, which I would argue Cummings is unaware of, has now become so entrenched in her life that no man will probably ever be allowed to seek out and reach through to the real woman. And any woman who can say of her childhood memories of her father, having left her with a "deep fear of failure" and "this could have been very damaging to my psyche and ability to trust men." demonstrates this case of a lasting negative father complex, in point.
Of course she is mostly unaware that it is more than merely bad luck that so many of her partners were unsuitable; she must at all costs of her ignoring inner prompts and what small happiness she has in life, make men carry all of her psychological baggage for her, in lieu of real peace in her life. which is why she swindles the therapists, gains slogans as ammunition and sadly, why she only fools herself. at some point in her childhood the dominant masculine figure in her life was deemed in her unconscious self not safe enough to be trusted. and the bruising effect this had on her inner child life now echoes down through out her adult life. she must dominate in comedy, because men graze there and she must conquer them in lieu of conquering her childhood relationship with her actual father. her partners, her career in comedy and her unhappiness is mostly down to these three factors of her unconscious world.
We all possess an inner shadow self. the shadow is that petty to dark or evil side of us that we don’t like to admit to, but all have. it can possess both an individual, a group or a nation. hence those who join in with mobs or movements, like with the Nazis in 1940's Germany. Cummings projects her shadow self onto people who merely remain quiet in conversation. her irrational side will even change the tenure of a comedy performance if she sees someone "cringe" at a joke. she projects her smallness and irrational side always outwards to others. again, this then excuses her the obligation of inner investigation and courage. For example, she claims to be an expert at crying yet demonstrates a poor understanding of her female spirit and what can be gained for women while they are crying. Namely, she merely states that crying releases stress making chemicals, this materialists view of the benefits of crying shows her poor understanding of the unconscious nature of her inner self. were she possessed of the right knowledge and not merely gaining analytic ammunition, she would know that many women have a great inability to say what they actually feel. it is often only when they cry that their real truth is unlocked and emerges. this is one reason why men should not prevent women from crying, because it is then the goods are revealed. Cumming only states the cheap chemical value of this event. here is the shadow projection at work.
When Cummings meets yet another man who she does not like, another situation she finds unpalatable or another cause to rally against, here she reveals a shadow projection. meaning that we often hate the most that which we possess within ourselves, but can not admit to. and it sits mostly unconsciously inside ourselves. Chiefly, when we see people on marches against politicians they say they hate, they don’t; secretly, they march because they hate themselves, but can not admit to it. it is easier to call a suitor or men crazy, than it is to admit you are crazy or posses those qualities you say "so and so" does.
And your personal shadow, if you are unaware of it, loves to help you along in those instances. it loves to help you blame and hate the world, men and this and that. when in actual fact its those unacknowledged elements of yourself you hate, but you merely request those targets hold your psychic baggage for you. why? because as Cummings demonstrates, she has no real ambition in both understanding her true unconscious self and thus improving her life and would rather live life as a neurotic filled with many contradictions. when you are blind to your shadow projection, you can only marvel and wonder at how many negative situations and men the world throws at you; what bad luck again! with no real idea that it is actually you that seeks them out to reinforce this obligation in the first instance.
but none of this is a surprise when you consider what errant psychological blueprints she suggests she was exposed to as a child, and this is the great sadness about someone like Whitney Cummings. And now we see the real nucleus of the neurotic Cummings at work. the water is indeed reaching danger point. her feet, or psychological footing rest upon a fantasy land with an ever rising tide on the march. the cover of this book depicts the contents of the potentially dangerous unconscious, are nearing submergence of the head of the writer; in other words, her mind or psyche or real self. if this happens and she as no real trust in the skills of proper annalists (as shown) and no professional help to assist her navigation of these choppy and uncharted waters, she may well be drowned by their contents. this might mean a potential psychotic episode. note this eerie smile of Cummings on the cover. note being fully dressed while standing in the water. note also that the gaze of her eyes does not quite directly meet with those of the readers and what this might mean in terms of psychological avoidance into her real unconscious self. if Cummings herself had some say in this cover design, or at least liked it enough to give it the green light, then she should be concerned. because this cover is almost certainly a warning from her unconscious self that potential danger lurks and she should do something to avert it at once. her true inner self sees the writer for who she really is: the swindle therapy is known as the games and nonsense it really is. I wonder what calls to Cummings in her dreams? It is no surprise to me that hardly any dream material makes it into this book. as is known, dreams are a direct communication to us from the unconscious and this is something Cummings must avoid; the contents of the unconscious never lie. Does Cummings suffer from insomnia? but I predict sooner rather than later, real, even if painful, genuine psychotherapy will have to be engaged with to solve and forgive the issues of Cummings; if she is to not only find real peace in life, but also side step potential psychological danger.
After what feels like a seemingly endless chapter on co-dependency, Cummings makes various remarks that indicate some growing awareness of her psychological landscape and hints at maturity. for example being able to say no to people with out the resulting guilt, making lists to find a more suitable mate and her rewarding and confidence building relationship with her therapist. but for an astute reader who knows that deeds and words rarely match in her life, Cummings does not disappoint in this matter. she says towards the conclusion of this endless chapter: "Today I still have co-dependent impulses and thoughts, but I rarely act on them", "since saying no can still be challenging for me", "I occasionally still feel my default wiring kicking in, telling me to mirror the people around me and give more energy than I have", "today if someone calls me strong, it almost feels like an insult." And here we see at last, Whitney Cummings greatest secret in action. namely, nothing has truly changed for this woman and it never will. With out being fully conscious of it, those animus issues and shadow projections erupt again and again only to take away any hope of lasting genuine change, and remind the reader (and Cummings) " you know, until you deal with me, you are the same forever ". it is her one true secret in life.
Note also, that preceding a very laborious but succinct chapter called Sexism, Cummings tells of a wholly crass episode where her shadow influenced jokes make another woman cry and flee the reading room, at the production stage of a television comedy programme. A scant attempt at empathy for the target of Cummings unedited shadow self, is indicated at the end of this chapter, but one feels less than convinced by Cummings in this case. Here we see at once that Cummings, constantly willing to empower herself in life, does not seem to owe her fellow sisters any such courtesy. And when an actual chapter about sexism follows, we can then see the unconscious dark elements of her psyche at work. For example, noisy masculine muscle bound men waking her from sleep, must be put in their place by her, rather than to allow for hotel security to settle the matter. This episode is another sign of her negative father complex and animus possession at work; that she must dominate all encounters with men, even years after the fact and in her book. As for her comments concerning men who do not like her (masculine) take it or leave it jeans and t shirt outfits, must either then be "gay. or very gay", in terms of shadow projection this speaks volumes about what might sit at the heart of Cummings spirit, but I shall leave that for her own powers of inner deduction to decide upon. nothing in the life of a hypocritical neurotic rarely allows for deeds and words to match up, and above we see some very painful evidence for this.
Only a few chapters into this book, and the mostly remorseless and seemingly oblivious and inaccurate psychological introspection about herself, allows for a jarring effect on the reader. but it is a wholly fascinating process in action. although superficially broken into a chapter structured autobiography, this book is nothing of the sort and is actually one continuous, withering and peculiar, fantasy monologue. the chapter headings merely act, one suspects, as psychological roadmap reminders for Cummings; that she must now talk about this and that subject. like her stand up comedy and sitcoms, one must ask, early on, who is this book really written for? as proclaimed early by the writer, I disagree that it can be used by a reader as a sort of do this and don’t do that, help manual. rather, like her comedy and sitcoms, this book is really only intended for herself. the material benefits aside, for Cummings, her stand up comedy is only for her. a sort of public message board that not only pays her well, but has an accompanying, locked in audience who must and will hear every word. the same can be said for the mostly low and unoriginal sitcoms she has been responsible for. so what function does all of this serve for Cummings and why is she so successful?
Her pleasing profile aside, a slightly above average talent level comedienne, like Whitney Cummings, is allowed above average success because she actually serves a rather eerie function within a society about to crumble or drastically change. Many years ago, in the UK, members of the public were allowed to pay for tours of Bedlam and other such hospitals where they could view from safety, people suffering from various serious psychiatric issues. although this is deemed unacceptable by today's standards, but since human nature never changes, this cruel level of voyeurism of the inner sufferings of others, must take place on social media and in live comedy. and this is why Cummings and many other puzzling and issue riddled comediennes and comedians prosper. There exists a modern "there but for the grace of God", level of motivation from an audience who wish to peek, briefly, behind the dark psychological curtains that Cummings offers to the world. and if it sells, then people will pay her well for this. and continue to offer her employment for the privilege of experiencing the darkness of content from her psyche and the promise that nothing is ever solved. lest the material becomes too light and thus of no use to those ghouls who seek out this soul wrenching genre. same for those who enjoy dark and violent horror films. darkness sells and it always has. the fact we can see the person stand live in person, on a modern day speakers corner, in a darkened environment to aid our anonymity, only adds to the ghostly immediacy of the two way event. one way to prove if this is correct is to try for a year, only happy and light and positive humour and see if one is as bankable. misery sells. and now we have a book that also acts as a sort of literary monologue of endless theories and swindle slogans that simply don’t match up. is Cummings aware of this? I suspect she is only partly conscious of this fact; she even claims that negative comedy would not get laughs and succeeds in making an audience feel uncomfortable, but this is her life and it pays well. but, her unconscious self is not only deeply awake to this, but the autonomous and vast nature of this side of her true self, will have even designed her life and comedy to be this way. proof? if this was not the case, she would never have even ventured near a comedy club, let alone persevere long enough to make a success of herself within the comedic form. the shadow and animus nature of her "roast" jokes and humour, dark enough to make an actress cry and leave the room, were born years in advance of her first walk up onto an open microphone stage event. They wield far more power in her psyche than any other force at work within the spirit of Cummings. she asserts as much herself in a very sad passage where she indicates her humour was a defence mechanism against a family that saw no objection in cruelly, verbally attacking Cummings as a child. why not share the hurt with others, both for financial profit and for revenge? Note the graphic heart and chest ripping sequence that accompanies her recent stand up video "I love you". a very recent tour that also indicates that nothing has changed for this women at the unconscious level and therefore at the necessary level for actual change and relief from her issues.
A harrowing chapter concerning the freezing of her eggs so that at some later, more reasonable time, she can become pregnant is for the psychologically astute reader the most demanding chapter of this entire book. why? because those literate of an understanding of depth psychology, appreciate that women who share a similar inner structure as Cummings, rarely if ever have children of their own. that is to say this book is haunted by an autobiographical omission of something so dreadful, its loss casts an emotional shadow over the entirety of the book and her. I will not say what I believe it to be, but can we be assured, something somehow has been deliberately left from this book? I believe so. and as Cummings states while writing of an assault by a former partner, there are areas of content she is unwilling to write about; there is a precedent for omissions with this writer. as we read of her enduring procedure after procedure to capture eggs, one can not help but feel it is lip service for a comedian with little real understanding of who she actually is and will not and can not make change in her own life.
and on and on the book proceeds. the effect is exhausting. it is a reading experience, as I hinted at earlier, quite unlike anything else. but one follows it along, if only to marvel at the never ending monologue dedicated to a life both in search of answers but also from running from the necessary pain these replies will bring.
Therefore, as a result of the material presented in this book, I shall make two tentative predictions about Whitney Cummings. One, she will never sustain a proper lasting relationship with a man (the gender she evidently has so many issues with.) and will never start a family of her own. Until she learns to acknowledge her real issue and thus heal enough as person, a family of her own will elude her. Two, if individuation as a person escapes her, she will simply continue on and on with her stand up comedy, project her unacknowledged issues onto men and a society that seems "somehow" never to understand her. She will seek but not seek information to a question (and what is ultimately her most powerful motivation) she already knows the dark and unfortunate answer to: namely, her comedy, her books, her relationships, her swindle therapy, her life is all a quest to find a way to cope with the dark realisation, sadness and rage of that omitted information I suggest haunts this book. with the accompanying neurosis this manifests in her conscious self. Finally: I shall leave Whitney Cummings with a quote from Carl Jung the man who gave her the savage association test to use against men. I believe she will find it meaningful if I am right about the contents of this omission. " I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become…"

Made my summer vacation nicer! Its a funny but realistic approach to things we face in our lives. It shows you, you are not alone.
To me it was a reminder that I am actually fine, and many decisions I have made are right on point.
I took out great conclusions, and learned a few fun tricks to apply to some 'mysteries' in life!

I absolutely loved this very comical helpful book. I think everyone, especially women, can relate to some of Whitney's stories in this book.

Think of this as your personal very private therapist who you don't have to be ashamed of looking in the face when you divulge your life's problems.

Thank you, Whitney but where the hell were you when I really needed you in my 20's to stop me from doing so many stupid things??!!! It's alright though because after reading your book, now I'm fine.