Permission Slips ~ A Book Review and Giveaway

I am not typically a fan of either self-help books or modern celebrity memoirs but Sherri Shepherd's Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break had me chuckling and thoroughly entertained! If you don't already know Sherri Shepherd is one of the current ladies of the extremely popular almost coffee-addictive morning talk show The View.

Sherri is a down-to-earth celebrity who feels less than celebrity status as she 's down on her hands and knees cleaning up the mess after her son has missed the potty just before she rushes off to work on one of America's favourite morning programs! It is this down-to-earth quality which makes Sherri so lovable and her memoir so relatable.

As a mom, a divorcee, and a regular woman who makes mistakes Sherri reveals truths women often choose to ignore. Sherri's honesty, forth-right and bold attitude and laugh out loud humour makes Permission Slips a book which will cause you to nod your head yes, laugh until you cry, and have you saying "right on sister" from the end of the very first page.

"Most men lead astonishingly guilt-free lives. I would love to be a man for one day, just so I could enjoy twenty-four hours of not being responsible for anyone else's pain.

My wife's mad at me? Well, she should stop being so emotional.

My dad's disappointed in me? Well, his expectations are too high.

I'm broke? Stupid economy.

That sounds like heaven. But if men don't take enough responsibility, women take on too much. Have you ever sat with your husband at a parent-teacher day-care conference, only to get chewed out by the teacher?

"You need to bring your son to school by 8am. When he's late, he misses out on the first art project of the day."

If you're Mom, you're instantly stricken with "bad Mother" guilt. But Dad, who thinks he deserves a medal for (a) getting his child to school before noon, and (b) even being at the meeting, will get insulted."

(shepherd 2009:2)

Men, Sex, Aging and weight, religion, career and parenting, Sherri covers it all. All with the premise "give yourself permission, permission to be who you are, permission to be less than perfect, permission to fail and try again! It's a message all us women could stand to hear! Meant as a personal memoir Permission Slips has become for many woman a self-help book, a ticket to forgiving themselves for their imperfections and a release from the everyday guilt they trap themselves in. Even if you don't agree with everything Sherri has written you will still chuckle and respect her tell it like she sees it style and gumption!

This is the perfect gift for any woman on your holiday list! And 5 Northern Mama readers will be receiving free copies!

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Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents. Giveaway closes November 27th, 2009 10:00pm CT. Read Giveaway Rules for details.