Asking for a Friend: Three Centuries of Advice on Life, Love, Money, and Other Burning Questions fro

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. From the publisher - A delightful history of American's obsession with advice and--from Poor Richard to Dr. Spock to Miss Manners Americans, for all our talk of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, obsessively seek advice on matters large and small. Perhaps precisely because we believe in bettering ourselves and our circumstances in life, we ask for guidance constantly. And this has been true since our nation's earliest days: from the colonial era on, there have always been people eager to step up and offer advice, some of it lousy, some of it thoughtful, but all of it read and debated by generations of Americans. Jessica Weisberg takes readers on a tour of the advice-givers who have made their names, and sometimes their fortunes, by telling Americans what to do. You probably don't want to follow all the advice they proffered. Eating graham crackers will not make you a better person, and wearing blue to work won't guarantee a promotion. But for all that has changed in American life, it's a comfort to know that our hang-ups, fears, and hopes have not. We've always loved seeking advice--so long as it's anonymous, and as long as it's clear that we're not asking for ourselves; we're just asking for a friend.

This was an absolutely fascinating book ... it was dry at first when dealing with the 1699s in England but once we hit Benjamin Franklin and the Poor Man's Almanac things began to ZING! The section on diet books made me laugh out loud at times as so many bookstores, online and brick-and-mortar sell those left, right and centre depending upon the latest fad - Paleo, Kale, Alkaline, etc. etc. etc. These days people "google" almost everything (Including good old "Dr. Google") and don't think to ask for advice beyond those websites and above said diet books. and groups on Facebook where you can follow the latest diet/nutritional groups (there are thousands!) for other people's "advice". I totally LOVED the section on Ann Landers and Dear Abby: those women were vicious to each other and to their readers. Identical twins Ann and Abby took no b.s. and didn't care if they hurt ANYONE's feelings as they completely lacked empathy. Th book states "they could be intolerant, cruel and mocked people in distress, Abby especially." yet people loved them to the point where Ann Landers had thirteen assistants going through her mail. And Dr. Spock? I remember my own mother reading that book as if it were a bible!! Miss Manners' section made me laugh as life has changed so much one has to wonder (and ask), say, is my new husband's step-son my step-step-son?? How do I word the invitation to my wedding and deal with the fact that my parents cannot even be in the same room without shouting at each other?? Life is tricky and we all need and want advice --- this book is a great way to see how advice, in general, has changed. This book is a fascinating history and treatise on the subject and completely, utterly, readable and fantastic!!!