Erma Bombeck Books

Of all the animals, man is only one that blushes -- or who needs
to. He is also the only one that laughs, or at least that's what
the naturalists claim. Perhaps it is because we humans are the
funniest of the animals, and who better to point that out than
the late Erma Bombeck?

In "All I Know About Human Behavior I Learned in Loehman's
Dressing Room", Bombeck shares some of the observations made by
the naturalists and then shows how humans are alike. The female
elephant, for example, carries her calf for 660 days before
giving birth and continues breeding until she is ninety years
old. But Bombeck doesn't feel too sorry for the elephant; after
all with her height she carries the extra weight quite well!

In the old days pregnancy was a real event in a woman's life; she
was told to give up exercise and could eat whatever she wanted.
Today, however, she has to exercise more than ever and everyone
is watching what she eats. Birth is so ordinary that a female

jockey delivered only a few hours after her third race. Surrogate
mothers made the old joke "Are you pregnant? No, I'm carrying it
for a friend" reality, and frozen embryos are part of the divorce
settlement!

Another notice tells of four dolphins who got lost and were
trapped in a New Jersey river. Of course we all know they had to
be men. Bombeck knows how to end all wars: "Let men give
directions on how to get there." Why don't men ask for
directions? It would compromise their masculinity.

Of course animals are involved in many laboratory experiments.
After wondering who got their permission, Bombeck continues: "I
have never been in a laboratory where mice are involved in
research. So when someone tells me they are being used to test
the effects of cigarette smoke and alcohol and the consequences
of too much sun, I have to believe there's a group of mice
sitting around the pool, smoking and drinking Mai Tais and
working on a tan."

When she thinks of animal speed, she thinks of the IRS cashing
your check (the fastest animal on earth) and giving a refund (the
snail is faster). When she reads about the devices that are used
to track animals in the wild, she remembers the various
electronic devices we have to stay in touch. What should you
record on that answering machine? "We're not home right now?"
That's obvious. "We'll return your call?" What if it is a
aluminum siding salesman?

This is not a connected narrative, but a series of sketches, each

based on a different piece of information about the animal
kingdom. As a result, you can read this in a hurry or stretch it
out. There are a few dry places, but this is a good book to bring
with you while you are waiting for your appointment with the IRS.

Heard the taped version of Erma Bombeck's ALL I KNOW ABOUT
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR I LEARNED IN LOEHMANNMN'S DRESSING
ROOM . . . this is a collection of 38 pieces where she compares and
contrasts animal behavior with that of the human species.

Not everything hit the mark, but those that did had me laughing quite
a bit . . . for example, when she compares the show-off behavior
of gorillas to the attention-getting ploys of Madonna, Howard Stern,
Roseanne, and other "professional exhibitionists, I kept thinking to myself
that there are indeed amazing parallels.

I also liked her observation about the fact that the female elephant
calf carries here calf for 660 days before giving birth and continues
breeding until she is 90 days old . . . however, Bombeck says not
to feel too sorry for the elephant; after all, her height enables her
to carry the extra weight quite well.

And then she tells the story of four dolphins who got lost and
were trapped in a New Jersey river. Of course, she contends, they
had to be men . . . which leads to the author's advice on ending
all wars: "Let men give directions on how to get there."

Bombeck, who died in 1996, was always one of my favorite
humorists . . . this book will help remind you just how funny she
was . . . narration by Barbara Rosenblatt was fine; however, I would
have preferred hearing the author herself.

I love Erma Bombeck. She is the best author I've read. This book continues that tradition. Every chapter is a laugh. The best part is, you can reread and reread the book and still laugh. Only Erma could do such a thing.

ANYONE WHO LIKES TO LAUGH WILL FOREVER ENJOY ERMA BOMBECK. SHE TAKES LIFE IN THE BURBS AND MAKES EVERYONE OF US LAUGH. SHE IS GONE BUT THANKS TO HER BOOKS NOT FORGOTTEN

Truly the best of Bombeck! A great addition to your bookshelf if you are a Bombeck fan!

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.

This is a concept book, as you might guess from the title. I didn't much care for the concept.Ten busy professional women, all initially diagnosed with Stage I or II breast cancer, were invited by McCarthy Medical Marketing and Innovative Medical Education Consortium, Inc. to form a focus group that would help to foreground the needs of their special category - busy professional women with breast cancer - for the edification of medical personnel and other cancer care providers. The resulting book, put together in-house by MMM and IMEC, "is intended to provide health-care professionals with insight into what makes this group of women 'different' and, in turn, to enhance their relationships with them." And how are these women "different?" The book explains, "For all ten authors, the diagnosis of breast cancer was a major inconvenience because...it interrupted their busy, active, and fulfilled lives." It turns out none of them felt comfortable crying in doctor's offices or losing control. Nor enjoyed the disagreeable task of "comforting distraught well-wishers" such as their friends and extended family. Nor - back to the title - easily found time for treatment and other medical visits. Why, one woman had the unimaginable experience of being put on hold 15 minutes for her lab results! Whew, what a relief that the rest of us don't have any of that to worry about. As the book progresses and this offensive start-off impression recedes into the background, the characters become more sympathetic and their medical and professional fates interesting. So I'm inclined to hope that these 10 authors didn't quite anticipate how the final draft would make them look. Every woman who has breast cancer has a right to our sympathy and concern. That goes for busy professionals too. Will appeal to: Obsessive fact-gatherers trying to assess their options and eager to learn what happened to other people with a similar lifestyle.

From the foreword written by Erma Bombeck:

I do not know nor have I ever met the ten women who authored this book.

But we share a common bond. All of us were watching our prime-time lives pass by when a voice announced, "We interrupt this life to bring you cancer." We didn't even have time to turn the dial.

I have read a hundred books on breast cancer - war stories of women who did battle with the most frightening adversary in their lives. But BREAST CANCER? LET ME CHECK MY SCHEDULE! is different. These are personal stories of ten women, all over thirty, who pursue careers outside their homes......the way they accepted their diagnosis, the decision sthey made, their approach to therapy and the way they coped all reflected their experience in the workplace.

I wanted to be part of this book mostly because of its title. It fits me to a "T." I too am a working woman complete with a little calendar that tells me when to have a headache. If it isn't penciled in, I don't have one. On April 23, 1992 under "Things to Do Today" I jotted down, "radical mastectomy, noon."

.........

As I read this book, I was hoping it would address the one emotion that all cancer patients rarely speak about: the uncertainty of our future. It did. We are a unique group who have been allowed to face our mortality, and oddly enough, it has made us better people for it. There isn't a survivor who doesn't admit she has changed. ........

I've heard women say, "I can't read cancer books. They're downers. BREAST CANCER? LET ME CHECK MY SCHEDULE is not a downer. How could it be when you enter the lives of these ten women who triumph over an invasion of their bodies. These are women with drive and purpose who aren't ready to give up. Cancer? It's a full week. I'll have my people call your people and set something up.

This book addressed one of the primary issues for me, as a newly diagnosed cancer survivor - how to keep up with my job while still taking the time needed for medical treatments and recuperation. The book focuses on ten fairly high-powered women with executive and professional jobs, but the preface notes that nowadays most mid-life women are working outside the home and have to balance work responsibilities with their personal needs. Many of us are single and self-supporting; employer-provided health insurance is essential to cover the considerable costs of treatment. So this book helped to answer my overwhelming need to know how to communicate with people at work and how to balance my work schedule with the time I needed to deal with the cancer.

Some of the technical information in the book is a little outdated, since the experience of some of the women went back into the 1980s and the book itself came out in 1997. However, I found the book enormously useful in addressing the work-related issues that often are given little attention in other cancer books I've read.

Younger Erma fans may have missed these older books by our most prolific female humorist, and this is a great way to get them all.

There is a reason an entire generation of young mothers now refer to her as "Saint Erma." She made "real life" cool. She taught us to laugh at ourselves while embracing the wonderful ordinariness of everday living and loving. This collection is among the best of the "Erma works" and anyone who is a fan, or soon to be, will enjoy this valuable collection of Bombeck wit.

Ms. Bombeck hits home with her housewife humor. From the legality of family vacations to stepmother's with bad PR, Bombeck keeps her readers laughing through tears and every emotion in between. A great book to include in any true Bombeck fans library. Ms. Bombeck will be dearly missed in her absence.

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.

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

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.

In this witty, laugh-out-loud funny effort, Erma details her attempts at self-improvement through her reading of recommended self-help books. From jaunty to bizarre, she sometimes pastiches and sometimes invents books that give advice on everything from guilt to meditation to penny-pinching - strategies which are applied and then discarded with hilarious consequences. While I don't think it's Erma Bombeck's best, it's certainly a worthwhile read and will no doubt be a treat for all her fans.

Thanks for asking, but I haven't read the book yet. My YET-TO-READ stack is quite large

My husband and I really enjoyed this book. It gave a lot of information and things to consider when chosing a name. Mr. Lansky chose fairly common names from recent popularity. So if your looking for a book that will give you an idea for that unusual or elusive name this isn't the book for you, but you might still enjoy it for it's other apects. There is an interesting segment on celebrity names.

I really enjoyed this baby name book because it was easier to read and didn't have 10,000+ names in it. If you are looking for more traditional names and variations, this is the book for you!

I have a huge collection of baby name books, and consider this one to be one of the most poorly researched. It contains a few articles at the beginning which are entertaining (but fairly standard, as baby name books go), but the meat-and-bones of this book is the list of names themselves. The origins and meanings of names in here are inaccurate more often than not. For example, it lists the name "Gladys" as being Celtic for "princess." In all my 20+ years of researching names, I can't even begin to fathom where that origin came from.

In order to make the claim of being the "very best" - it relies upon the number of names it has. However, that number is largely made up of coming up with bizarre spellings and strange nicknames for already existing names (like Kore for Kora, Imojean for Imogen...).

So, if you're simply looking for a list of names to choose from, this book is OK. If you're looking for actual factual information about name origins and meaning, stay far, far away from this one!

One of the oafish ladies in my wife's Big Readers Book Club recently had twins (one boy, one girl) and she could've really used this book before naming the screaming mutants "Cooleena" and "Rupappy". I suppose that's better than what her equally idiotic husband named their blue heeler ("Muttplug"). Lansky's book really could help a lot of people. Provided they receive it in time...

Nowadays, of course, the first question one asks upon hearing that friends are "expecting" is no longer, "Have you picked out a name?" but rather "Do you know whether it's a boy or a girl?" But then that makes the now second question all the more in need of a precise answer.

This once timely book has a breezy, easy-to-read and sprightly quality. It does not, unlike the more recent tomes by Rosenkrantz and Satran, claim to be the "last word on first names" ("Oh, wait, we take that back: the NEXT book will truly be the last word on first names, unless of course, it isn't and we have more to blab on about.") Bruce Lansky's book merely (somewhat self-mockingly) claims to be the BEST BABY NAME BOOK IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

I have the 1991 edition, which by rights should be already passe, for as Lansky himself writes, "...every decade a new group of names rises in popularity, as names associated with a previous generation of babies decline." So just how dated is the information on naming trends here? Well, 15 years is certainly a long enough time to see trends come and go. So the Top 100 Girls' and Boys' Names listed here have doubtless seen many comings and goings. Is "Jessica" still at the top of the heap? Have the "Ashleys" come and gone? Has the spate of "J" names so prevalent in the 70s and 80s finally sputtered. (Aside from the aforementioned "Jessica," there was, of course, "Jennifer," "Jason," "Joshua," and "Jared"--but not really "John," which by that point had morphed to its Irish form "Sean," but could be due for a comeback any time now.)

Lansky's approach is streamlined and eminently practical. Whereas Rosenkrantz and Satran become downright "prescriptive" at times, he prefers to offer points to consider: should you name a child "after" a parent or other relative; what about unisex names; the issue of popularity vs. uniqueness; stereotypes attached to certain names; the etymological meaning of a name (a less important concern for him than in many older books): and several other considerations.

Many prospective parents will find the sections on stereotypes and popularity of interest. Many of the stereotypical associations listed are no surprise: Adam and Brooke are attractive; Brian and Chris are athletic, etc. And did Madonna realize that daughter Lola might be stereotyped as "sleazy" at some point in her life. (Well, hey, it IS Madonna, after all--but then Lola's real name is "Lourdes," which is actually very Catholic and traditional, and ironically also very Madonna, verdad?)

Speaking of celebrity (and in keeping with the "image" question), there is section on celebrity name changes, which is worth perusing, but not all that surprising. Many of these, you are likely to have heard before (that Roy Rogers was born "Leonard Slye," for instance). Some "changes" are pretty obvious and not at all dramatic. Benjamin Antonio Gazzara became "Ben Gazzara"? Newsflash: he would have likely shortened it like that even if he had become a used car salesman. And I doubt very many people would think that Orenthal James Simpson's decision to go by "O.J." was a significant name change per se. (Although I'm sure there are many who nowadays might prefer that he be officially known as "California Prisoner #300810" or something on that order).

Certainly, no one will be surprised that the Marx brothers' real given names were NOT "Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo"--even if they can't tell you exactly what they were. And there are some actual errors here (I'm pretty sure). Lee Remick was born "Lee Ann Remick" not merely the simpler "Ann Remick" listed here. The equally unisex named Dale Evans was born "Frances Octavia Smith," not the unisex homonym "Francis" listed here.

But those are pretty minor mistakes. It's still a fun listing to peruse. And some of the other tid-bits of naming lore thrown in are hysterical. The "Truth Stranger Than Fiction" roster is a hoot and a half, including such monikers as: Dillon C. Quattlebaum, Lieselotte Pook, Peenie Fase and Lolita Beanblossom.

The actual roster of baby names for your condideration, with notes and definitions, is where things get a little loosey-goosey. Most of the definitions are accurate--and we've already seen that definitions are but one of many considerations. It's understandable that Lansky would not dwell on the etymologies as such. But if you're going to do it at all, be consistent and accurate. There are many names whose origins are disputed, true. In that case, it's best to list the various possible sources and suggest the most likely. Is "Alice" from the Greek "truth" or the Old High German "noble"?
And once you've established that, is "Allison" a variant of that name, as listed here OR (as listed under a separate entry) a name that is either from the Irish Gaelic for "truthful" (is Gaelic related that closely to Greek??) or Old German for "famous among the gods" (even better than being noble).

And when masculine names are feminized, does it make the feminine form all the more feminine? Names like "Carl/Charles" and "Andrew" have roots that mean "manly." They also gave rise to numerous feminine variants (the ones from "Charles" alone include: "Carol(e)," "Caroline," "Carolyn," "Carla," "Carlene,"
"Carlotta," "Charlotte," "Charlene" ad infinitum or nearly). But do these names mean "womanly"? No, they are feminine forms of a name that means "man" or "manly." That's the etymology, anbd you can't change it. That does not make them less feminine names. Many will consider them quite feminine, beautiful and almost regal. But that doesn't change the linguistic roots.

But in the last analysis, as Lansky suggests--and as other such as Rosenkrantz and Satran lay on with a trowel--it's really the sound and the image of a given name that counts. That's why "Cameron" is now popular for both sexes, even though its meaning (as cited here and elsewhere) is "crooked nose." Could be worse, though, Lansky gives the etymology of "Brendan," another popular name, as being Irish Gaelic for "little raven." I've seen it elsewhere as meaning "stinking hair." So much for that one--"Would Stinking Hair O'Rourke report to the main office please?" Yikes!

Overall a fun read, and a practical guide for parents.

In the 1950's there were a lot of women breaking free of the "housewife" reputation. Erma Bombeck was one of them. When Erma was a kid, she wanted to be a writer. She worked hard all through school to accomplish her goals. During this time she was a copygirl for a local newspaper. When she got to the point of college, she struggled to get in because she didn't have enough money. When she got in, she struggled to stay in. During her college experience, she advanced her writing. Erma strongly disagreed to `housewife' name give to women. She fought this title in the later years of her life. Erma was a writer and a humorist. This is a great book that gets inside the head of a woman for equal rights.
Erma Bombeck fulfilled her goals and dreams. She preserved all through high school and worked at a local newspaper as a copygirl. She did a great job balancing them. She struggled to get into college but when she did, she worked her butt off to stay in. She faced the challenges of college and surpassed them. Erma fought the image which men gave the world, that said all a woman was supposed to do was clean, garden, and take care of kids.
The author didn't make her actions seem good or bad. When she fought for women's rights, the author kept a clear head and didn't state whether she agreed or opposed the issue. Lynn Colwell didn't set the mood or environment to seem like Erma was a saint or demon. Lynn told the truth about every event in Erma's life.
It talks about a woman who accomplished a lot but wouldn't be recognized. She wrote many books including If Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries, Why am I in the Pits? Erma had a show series out called Maggie on ABC. She guest starred on many shows like The Cosby Show and Good Morning America.
In conclusion, Erma lived a good, full life. Lynn Hutner Colwell portrayed Erma Bombeck in a way which you can make your own opinions about her. Erma Bombeck is a great person to do a biography on because no one else would have noticed her even though she had and impact on how women are treated. A.Elliott