Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

Photo source Crown Publishing

Did I know who Mindy Kaling was before listening to her book, yes and no. I knew she was on the hit show, The Office, and I also knew she had her own show, The Mindy Project. That was about it. What I didn't know I learned from her well-written, comedy memoir, essay book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns).

Mindy is exactly one month younger than me. I don't know why but this makes me feel like we could have been friends in university. She would have fit right in with our eclectic group of girlfriends. She writes (and reads) her book in a very accessible way for her readers/listeners. The short, essay style is easy to jump in and out of especially when commuting.

I won't say I admire her for being an average sized woman in the entertainment industry, what I will say is it's nice to see. She is in the industry because she's a smart, sassy, well put together woman. What her size does is allow her to make jokes other, more slender actresses can't make. I am also not skinny and I love to hear her wise-cracks on The Mindy Project (which I immediately binge watched after finishing her book).

It's hard to pick a favorite bit from her book but I really identified with the Irish Exits. I never knew this had a name! Read or better yet, listen to Mindy read her book. I realize I'm a few years behind on reading this book but it's better late than never, truly, I will be reading this again when I'm in need of a good laugh.