Product Description

Remember "Coffee Talk," the Saturday Night Live skit with the Barbara Streisand-loving, constantly verklempt character portrayed by Mike Myers, who encouraged listeners to "talk amongst themselves"? Linda Richman was the inspiration for her. (Myers is her son-in-law; a sharp sense of humor apparently runs in the family.) Like the "Coffee Talk" lady, Richman teaches people how to handle suffering through laughter. She's so good at it that she teaches a seminar on the topic at the posh Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Arizona. But she speaks from some harrowing experiences. Several friends and relatives have battled cancer. Her 29-year-old son died in a car crash. Her depressed, institutionalized mother died a few days later after falling into a coma (her final words to her daughter: "Linda, you got fat"). In case you're thinking, "Sheesh, how depressing, who wants to read about that stuff?" think again. Her friend Rosie O'Donnell, who wrote the foreword, raves about "Linda-isms." Richman is a modern-day Norman Cousins, but she talks like your best friend--a very witty, resilient friend--offering an inspiring tribute to the power of humor. (Or is it denial?) Heck, what difference does it make, when Richman's "pity party" has you laughing and crying so hard simultaneously?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #162427 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Amazon.com Review
Remember "Coffee Talk," the Saturday Night Live skit with the Barbara Streisand-loving, constantly verklempt character portrayed by Mike Myers, who encouraged listeners to "talk amongst themselves"? Linda Richman was the inspiration for her. (Myers is her son-in-law; a sharp sense of humor apparently runs in the family.) Like the "Coffee Talk" lady, Richman teaches people how to handle suffering through laughter. She's so good at it that she teaches a seminar on the topic at the posh Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Arizona.

But she speaks from some harrowing experiences. Several friends and relatives have battled cancer. Her 29-year-old son died in a car crash. Her depressed, institutionalized mother died a few days later after falling into a coma (her final words to her daughter: "Linda, you got fat"). In case you're thinking, "Sheesh, how depressing, who wants to read about that stuff?" think again. Her friend Rosie O'Donnell, who wrote the foreword, raves about "Linda-isms." Richman is a modern-day Norman Cousins, but she talks like your best friend--a very witty, resilient friend--offering an inspiring tribute to the power of humor. (Or is it denial?) Heck, what difference does it make, when Richman's "pity party" has you laughing and crying so hard simultaneously?

From Publishers Weekly
Best known as the mother-in-law of comedian Mike Myers and the inspiration for his "Coffee Talk" character on Saturday Night Live, Richman plays it for real in this rambling autobiographical summary of her spiritual journey (through psychotherapy, psychics and a trip to the Holy Land) after she was unhinged by the death of her son, Jordan, at age 29, in a car accident. Richman has had more than her share of hard knocks: her father died when she was eight and her husband had a gambling habit, leading her to become an agoraphobic, unable to leave her home for 11 years. Delivered in a flat, New York tone, Richman, now a lecturer at the posh Canyon Ranch spa (and prone to name-dropping), stresses the importance of making time for fun in one's life ("Fun is better than no fun"). However, she also emphasizes that it's important to accept and embrace the bad. When sadness becomes overwhelming, Richman recommends a two-day, in-bed "pity party." Practical, poignant and funny, this selection leaves listeners feeling as though they have spent an afternoon with a bossy, albeit well-meaning friend. Simultaneous release with the Warner hardcover (Forecasts, Jan. 1).

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Richman, mother-in-law of comedian Mike Myers and lecturer at the Canyon Ranch spa in Arizona, comes across as an acquaintance you can only take in small doses. She has indeed had a tough life: she lost her father at age eight and her mother to hospitalization shortly thereafter; her husband was a compulsive gambler, and her son died in a car accident. However, after a few chapters, it starts to sound as if she is making excuses for her own behavior. The writing is disjointed, rambling, and raging, and it reads as if she wrote this for a personal cleansing, relieving and reliving her shock and anger. Despite the title, the emotions are still near the surface and raw. All in all, she has three ideas worth investigating: a pity party, where you allow yourself to grieve; the skill of "catastrophizing"; and listening to your own "red flags" of impending depression. "Do you need a book to tell you this?" she asks. This reader says no. However, she'll be a hit on talk shows, and therefore public libraries will get requests.
-DSusan E. Burdick, MLS, Reading, PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Just like buttah
She's hysterical! Unless you've done your own "work" there are things ya just won't get. But that's okay and who knows it might plant a seed to do your own. I found myself cracking up in places where others might see morbid. But that's the point. When you've come up against tragedies you have no control over you can choose to roll over and die, or laugh your way back to living. I really like her list at the end of the book. Good common sense stuff. Of course it's not meant to be a cure all and refreshingly not written by a shrink, or new age self-helper or pseudo psychologist (dr. phil, p'tooey). Linda is real and has a gift, more so than a lot of degreed professionals in practice so take this treasure and enjoy!

Poignant and engaging
I appreciated Nancy's humor and wit. She is an inspiration and has gone on with life even when it didn't seem like living. As a person who has lost a child and had other challenges in life, I was able to relate and admire her will and tenacity.

Laughing through my tears
I first read Linda Richman's wonderful book about 3 1/2 years ago, six months after my 31 year old son died. I never thought I would smile again, let alone laugh but Linda made me laugh. I also learned that I was stronger than I thought after reading how nutty she became. I have reread sections of the book many times, whenever I am feeling particularly down.

I also loved Rosie O'Donnell's introduction. I am not a Rosie admirer but her intro to the book was priceless.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a child and is in the depths of despair. Linda is definitely inspirational and she helped me more than she will ever know.