Of course, anyone who knows me personally knows I am also extremely wary of self help books, so it took Bethenny Frankel to get me to pick up something as ridiculously titled as A Place Of Yes: 10 Rules For Getting Everything You Want Out Of Life
. I mean, really.The book, to be brief, isn't all that bad. I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone not already a fan of Bethenny, since it doesn't exactly contain any life-altering wisdom. Her personal anecdotes and memoir-type sections are lighthearted, sometimes poingant and full of the typical Bethenny wit, but her advice isn't much more than, "be true to yourself, follow your dreams." Ultimately, this book suffers from a Catch 22: people who aren't already fans of Bethenny probably won't enjoy it, but those who have been following her life on television will find her stories redundant.
Also disconcerting were the many lengthy paragraphs dedicated to her Skinnygirl product line, thinly veiled as business advice. While her business success (as demonstrated by her recent cover shoot for Forbes) is undeniable, it felt forced and almost offensive at times.
That isn't to say I wasn't entertained. Bethenny continues to be my favorite 'housewife' and 'Bravolebrity' (side note: if you can come up with a more vomitous word than 'Bravolebrity' please let me know) and her personal history is filled with fun stories. But if you're looking to change your life, I don't think this Skinnygirl is going to help.