One of my favorite book genres is comedian memoirs. I don’t particularly enjoy memoirs as a primary genre, but I really enjoy when sharp-witted people indulge in self-deprecation. They are some of the most delightful reads because comedians tend to refrain from self-flattery. To them, it’s all about crafting a hilarious story.
As much as I love comedy, I’m ashamed to admit that I only have a shallow experience with Tina Fey. My clearest memory of her work was her side-splitting portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. (The clips still make me laugh to this day.) I never watched 30 Rock and I haven’t regularly followed SNL since the Farley days. So going into Bossypants, I was venturing into unknown territory.
The only thing I knew about Tina Fey was that everyone in the industry raves about Tina Fey. She’s a singular talent in sketch comedy and has the Emmys and Golden Globes to prove it. So, her memoir seemed like a safe bet.
And yup, pretty much. Bossypants is a very funny and delightful read, even when I had zero frame of reference. Fey is a playful narrator and she never leaves the reader out in the cold. Her stories are reverent and engaging. I enjoyed learning about her backstory, from growing up as an awkward teen to becoming the big boss lady.
I think my favorite part of the book was learning about the behind-the-scenes drama during her stint as Sarah Palin. Not in the sense of politics, but as a very busy mom who was thrust into the role when a lot of other things were happening. Fey was dealing with a high-profile guest appearance on 30 Rock while also planning a birthday party for her daughter. The life-juggling madness was hilarious and relatable.
At no point did Bossypants feel like a humble-brag. If anything, Fey’s ascent to S-tier comedy seems to have surprised her as much as it did everyone else. In many ways, the book is a long string of “well that just happened” events that created the Tina we know today. It’s a raw and honest reflection on a messy-to-charmed life.
As memoirs go, Bossypants has a great balance of relatability, spectacle, and self-awareness. And to no one’s surprise, the comedic tone is superb. It’s an easy recommendation to anyone who appreciates humor and the talented people who wield it. And now that I know all the juicy details, perhaps it’s time to dive into 30 Rock.
