Yes Please is an autobiography of the acclaimed comedian and actress Amy Poehler, written in 2014 and first released in hardcover in the United States in October of that year.
Many know Amy Poehler as the beloved Tracy Jordan of Saturday Night Live, or as the hilarious mother in Parks and Recreation, but there is much more to her than her on-screen roles. With Yes Please, Amy Poehler sheds light on her life, career and the various joys, challenges and experiences that have made her the person she is today.
Beginning with a recount of the various embarrassing moments of the author’s youth, Yes Please looks back at Amy’s upbringing in a middle-class Massachusetts town. As a part of a tight-knit family, Amy has a strong set of core values that guide her in her choices and life decisions. In addition to her perspectives on family and friends, Amy also offers up stories about her time in the comedy world including working on Saturday Night Live and the Improv Olympics. As she reflects back on her journey thus far, she shares with the reader her successes, failures, and important lessons she has learned along the way.
In the book, Amy also introduces the reader to some of the people in her life and pays tribute to those who have shaped who she is and the direction of her career. Throughout her career, Amy has relied heavily and drawn great inspiration from the numerous and diverse women in her life. She effortlessly blends observations, lessons, and funny anecdotes to offer up valuable lessons on being a woman in the comedy world and beyond.
In addition to offering advice and thoughts on work, Amy makes sure to devote a section to the importance of friendship and vulnerability. Complimenting her already hilarious writing, she shares stories of how silly, wonderful, and sometimes embarrassing moments have translated into meaningful, lasting friendship. With her signature wit and humor, Amy candidly reflects on the various downfalls, trials, and emotions that collide while in the pursuit of one of life’s most important goals—finding your place in the world and, at the same time, being happy with who you are.
Yes Please is an entertaining, diverse, and incredibly inspiring book. An honest, humorous, and emotionally engaging look into the life and career of one of our generation’s great comic minds, there’s an abundance of valuable and thoughtful life lessons, perspectives, and reflections to pick up from Amy Poehler’s first book. As we journey through Amy’s honest reflections, we can’t help but become inspired to be better and strive for a more meaningful life. As the author herself would say, “Yes, please!”
