If You Ask Me

A recent press release from Penguin Audio announced that Betty White has been nominated for a Grammy for the audio edition of this work. It's not hard to imagine that. The print (or in this case Kindle) edition is just as much fun as I imagine the audio would be. Penguin tells us:

In If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t), Betty’s wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven-decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty’s candid take on everything from show more the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs, to her beauty regime (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), to the Facebook campaign that helped persuade her to host Saturday Night Live despite having turned down the hosting job three times.
Featuring all-new material, with a focus on the past fifteen years of her life, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and to the point – just like Betty.

We downloaded this ebook from our library's Overdrive program to test our new Kindle e-reader. The process was painless, and turned out to be a really fun. Betty White is a tell-it-like-it-is lady whose long and noted career in TV is only one aspect of what makes her tick. She actually reads and answers her own fan mail, confesses to be totally inept with computers, has loads of interesting friends - male and female- and as everyone knows, is absolutely devoted to the cause of humane treatment of animals. Stories of her interaction with dogs, dolphins, chimps, cats, snakes, and humans all bring smiles to the reader. Her easy, breezy style of writing gives the reader an experience similar to sitting down by the pool to sip lemonade together. The e-book worked very well, even showing the numerous black and white pictures in sharp clarity. I'm betting the audio was a definite winner given Ms. White's natural sense of timing and comedy show less

From the book jacket - Seven-time Emmy winner Betty White’s wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity.

My Reactions
I feel a little mean not liking this more. I love Betty White, and some of the essays in this book are spot on perfect. But it’s pretty lightweight in substance, and I felt a little like I was on one of those obligatory visits to an elderly relative when I was a kid … I sat politely and tried not to fidget, but all I could think of was when I’d be able to go play. It’s a very fast read, and includes several photos.

Still, giving credit where credit is due, White is a lovely woman and has a show more keen sense of humor. There were sections that were completely delightful. I’d love to have her at my table at a dinner party! It just didn’t satisfy what I look for in a reading experience (yes, even from a celebrity memoir). I’ll continue to watch and enjoy her performances, but I’ll read something else. show less

Betty White is a legend. And listening to her narrate her own audiobook was like sitting there with her as she gabbed about her love of acting and animals. I think I enjoyed this as much as I did was because it felt like listening to my grandma's stories. And I miss her dearly.

Betty has done some great credible things, even in recent years despite a decades-long career already under her belt. All of the stories were short and sweet. Some are famous, others were new. I highly recommend opting for the audio version though.

Not too many of us make it into our 90's, let alone doing so at the top of our game. Granted, Betty White wrote this book when she was a spritely 89, but it was still amazing to hear her lecture about success -- and how her greatest fear is screwing things up when they are going as good as ever before. For someone who had a long, successful show biz career, the notion that the "golden years" have been the best for this lone surviving Golden Girl is a testament to her strength and continued wit.

If you're looking for an acerbic Betty White from some of the TV comedy specials, you'll be a little disappointed (frankly, I think this is what I was expecting). Here we have some recent memoirs from an icon, as well as some insight as to what show more it's like to be an elderly star. We learn, for instance, one of her fears is that she will die and leave her study a complete mess.

We hear stories about others, too...nothing particularly juicy. One gets the impression she would join you for a beer if you just ask, and would probably be endlessly entertaining with her reserve of stories. It was a cute book; if you like Betty, you learn more anecdotes about her by reading this book. show less

If you Ask Me: And of Course You Won't narrated by the author, Betty White, is simply delightful.

She talks about all kinds of different subjects, but the majority of them involved animals and how much she loves them. And I love that about her.

The only flaw I found with this is that it was too short. I love you Betty, but I needed more!

If you adore Betty White, then I highly recommend you listen to her narrate this audiobook!

This is a delightful meander through memories and daily life by the delightful Betty White. It's organized topically rather than chronologically, and covers the wide range of Ms. White's interests, including acting, writing, her family and friends, and of course her dedication to helping animals.

Some of the reminiscences included are working on the three hit tv shows that have defined her acting career--The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland. She also talks about her entirely unexpected and at first not entirely welcome guest host stint on Saturday Night Live, as the result of a spontaneous, popular Facebook campaign. In the end she enjoyed the experience, but initially she dreaded it, because she's just not show more accustomed to the kind of comedy that defines SNL.

Ms. White's many fans in the animal rescue world will be pleased that she also includes several reminiscences about her own pets and some of her pet rescue activities--although in a typically modest way that belies her impact.

It would be wrong to say anything more about this book. It's an enjoyable read, and if, as I did, you listen to the audiobook, Ms. White herself reads it in her own thoroughly engaging style.

Recommended. show less

I couldn't get this in audio here in Australia - which was my first choice - but I did run across a used copy of the hardcover at a sale, so I was finally able to read this.

It's a very fast read, made up of individual essays covering what is, I'm guessing, the most popular topics she's asked about. Her stories regarding her career and her celebrity were interesting and sometimes laugh out loud funny, but I was really in it for the stories about her involvement with animals. I was not disappointed.

I admit Betty White didn't interest me one way or the other until she became the fully employed actress in her 80s that she is (was - she's in her 90s now); she has become the poster woman, along with my mom, Betty White's contemporary, for show more how to age with grace and independence. I hope I'm lucky enough to have my mom's health and Ms. White's humour and enthusiasm for life when (if) I hit my 80th decade and beyond. show less