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jonezeemcgee's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I am a giver that has problems taking, and problems asking. Due to being heavy throughout my life I understand having people seeing me and not being seen. I agree with the authors distinction between the two.
I can also relate to the author on how her marriage works in terms of both space and finance. I, too, have separate accounts from my husband, cherish having my own space and time apart, and have trouble asking him for help.
I was also once a busker, selling poems to people I would write for them right there on the street, and asking only what they felt the poem was worth under the stipulation that they could only keep the poem if they paid. Mostly I wrote them for free. I never busked in too bad of weather. I also gave up after being insulted one too many times. Chimes of get a job (I had one) amongst other things had me giving up altogether. Even the moments of pure joy I shared with strangers didn’t seem worth sharing my art in this manner. I was a HORRIBLE busker. Most likely because I never quiet learned the art of asking. As you can tell, many things in this book resonated.
Several things also made me uncomfortable and made me question that discomfort, and even changed my opinion. Still, I’m not on board with Amanda’s entire philosophy on crowd sourcing in the manner she does. The author and I clearly have a different set of ethics.
As far as the author, well I have followed her and her music since almost its inception. I’m a fan of the Dresden Dolls, Evelyn Evelyn and Amanda’s solo music. With that said... man she seems exhausting (lol). Wow! She is a bit too needy (the voyeurism and constant spotlight seeking screams look at me, not just see me) , a tad narcissistic, but overall I think her heart is in the right place and I like (for the most part) how she treats and sees her friends as family. That very much came across in the book. I feel
She does seek that connection with her fam base, though I’m not entirely sure who gets the most out of it. I’d venture to say her. I also think people give her too much of a hard time, but such is the times in which we live. Many casting stones because the internet ally is dark enough that no one can see your face to know who threw them. Not to mention we live in a time where everything seems to be made a political outcry.
I recommend listening to this on audiobook so you can get a feel for the authors personality and understand her better. Also because you get treated to her amazing music. I will say this could have been edited down a bit. It was a tad long winded. Still an interesting story overall.
I am a giver that has problems taking, and problems asking. Due to being heavy throughout my life I understand having people seeing me and not being seen. I agree with the authors distinction between the two.
I can also relate to the author on how her marriage works in terms of both space and finance. I, too, have separate accounts from my husband, cherish having my own space and time apart, and have trouble asking him for help.
I was also once a busker, selling poems to people I would write for them right there on the street, and asking only what they felt the poem was worth under the stipulation that they could only keep the poem if they paid. Mostly I wrote them for free. I never busked in too bad of weather. I also gave up after being insulted one too many times. Chimes of get a job (I had one) amongst other things had me giving up altogether. Even the moments of pure joy I shared with strangers didn’t seem worth sharing my art in this manner. I was a HORRIBLE busker. Most likely because I never quiet learned the art of asking. As you can tell, many things in this book resonated.
Several things also made me uncomfortable and made me question that discomfort, and even changed my opinion. Still, I’m not on board with Amanda’s entire philosophy on crowd sourcing in the manner she does. The author and I clearly have a different set of ethics.
As far as the author, well I have followed her and her music since almost its inception. I’m a fan of the Dresden Dolls, Evelyn Evelyn and Amanda’s solo music. With that said... man she seems exhausting (lol). Wow! She is a bit too needy (the voyeurism and constant spotlight seeking screams look at me, not just see me) , a tad narcissistic, but overall I think her heart is in the right place and I like (for the most part) how she treats and sees her friends as family. That very much came across in the book. I feel
She does seek that connection with her fam base, though I’m not entirely sure who gets the most out of it. I’d venture to say her. I also think people give her too much of a hard time, but such is the times in which we live. Many casting stones because the internet ally is dark enough that no one can see your face to know who threw them. Not to mention we live in a time where everything seems to be made a political outcry.
I recommend listening to this on audiobook so you can get a feel for the authors personality and understand her better. Also because you get treated to her amazing music. I will say this could have been edited down a bit. It was a tad long winded. Still an interesting story overall.
ailin2's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I need to say something about this book. While it did read like a first novel--a little awkward at times and sometimes simple--it was one of the most honest books I've read in a while. I'm a fan of Amanda's music, but I don't know that you have to be to enjoy this book. The connection she has with her fans is something I believe all artists aspire to have and this book just felt like a wealth of knowledge into how little and how MUCH it takes to cultivate that kind of relationship.
This book reads less like a book and more like Amanda is right there, reading you every word.
This book reads less like a book and more like Amanda is right there, reading you every word.
its_pam_ela's review against another edition
4.0
This surprised me, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I have mixed emotions about Amanda, but I respect what she does and her lady balls. It was really interesting to hear her tell her story and I loved all the sweetness about Neil Gaiman and her best friend. I feel like the second half of the book became almost all Amanda telling her side of all the controversy she's been involved in over the last 5 years. I didn't dislike it but I liked the first half better. It was more focused around her struggle to accept help, which I also struggle with.
Highly recommend the audio version of this. You don't want to miss her doing Neil's voice.
Highly recommend the audio version of this. You don't want to miss her doing Neil's voice.
erinbryce429's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to the audio version of this, which was really fun since the author read it herself and it was interspersed with bits of her music!
vintage_b's review against another edition
5.0
It is safe to say that I am now in love with Amanda Palmer. I did not really know who she was but was recommended this book by my therapist. I instantly fell in love with her as I started to learn more about her life, and her story. While not a typical self-help you do start to learn important lessons through her storytelling of her life and how she inevitably learned to ask for help and encourages others to do the same without feeling the built-in shame we are all made to feel with the asking. The audiobook had a bonus of music from the Dresden dolls and Amanda Palmer. I highly recommend this book to everyone struggling with knowing when to ask for help.
belwood303's review against another edition
3.0
My sister just introduced me to Amanda Palmer (via music videos not in person) and I was reading a lot of Brene Brown when I came across this book. I enjoyed it and even ended up listening to her CDs, what an interesting person, an interesting life, and interesting philosophy.
penchant's review against another edition
3.0
Amanda Palmer is both engaging and irritating, so is this book. The two plus years that it took me to read The Art of Asking speak to that irritation, the fact that I finished it speaks to the engagement.
sazzleberry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
floornaps's review against another edition
I looked up Amanda Palmer controversies, then when I went back to the book it seemed self conflated. Ruined it for myself.