Title: Permission Slips
Author: Sherri Shepherd
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publications Date: October 5, 2009
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-0446547420
Genre: Autobiography

From the Publisher’s Website:

Covering topics such as “It’s Jesus or Jail,” “Marriage, the Hard Way,” “Children: The Gift You Can’t Give Back,” and “All the Things I Don’t Know…And All the Things I Definitely Do,” stand-up comedienne, actress, and ABC’s The View co-host Sherri Shepherd comically chronicles her struggles to keep up with the many roles-professional, wife, mother, daughter, and friend-that women must play in today’s world. Sherri urges women to pursue their most important dreams and to never give up, but also let’s readers know that it’s okay to give themselves “permission slips” when things don’t always work out the way they want them to. As her many fans know, Sherri is never hesitant to speak from the heart, and her bubbly personality shines through in this delightful autobiography.

My review:
When the opportunity arose for me to review Permission Slips I did not even hesitate, I adore autobiographies and memoirs. It was not until I began reading Permission Slips that I learned who Sherri Shepherd is, I had never heard of her, and it is quite possible that I am the only one. What I do very little of is watch television and never during the day, I read. So I was extremely surprised to read such a candid book by a woman so famous and currently in the public eye daily on The View. To be sharing with other women some of her most intimate details of her life. Permission Slips is a very fun and delightful read and I found myself laughing and nodding at many of the lessons Sherri learned and wanted to share. Sherri’s sense of humour is infectious and one cannot help but read this and wish she were your friend. Throughout the book Sherri talks about things she did, why she did them and what she learned from them. These little lessons are what she refers to as permission slips. The message is for women to stop trying to be someone they are not, to let go of an ideal, and be who you are. Sherri wants women to know it is okay to struggle, to doubt, we all do it and some talk about their messes, frustrations, and mistakes while others try to hide and be even more perfect, which is not obtainable. Permission Slips offers up fantastic advise, permission slips, designed for all women, especially for young women, new mothers, and those who are struggling in a marriage or through a divorce. Permission Slips is a fun, quick read for any woman who needs to learn how to give herself permission to be human, flawed, and imperfect.

About the author:

Sherri Shepherd currently serves as a co-host on ABC’s The View, which airs five days a week on ABC affiliates nationally and consistently draws more than 3 million viewers per show. She also plays a recurring character on NBC’s 30 Rock. Sherri has had a long career as a regular cast member on some of America’s best-loved shows, including Suddenly Susan, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and her own show, Less Than Perfect. Sherri has also been in countless other TV shows and films including Beauty Shop, and Guess Who.
Sherri currently resides in New York with her son.

I received a copy of Permission Slips to review from Hachette. My receiving a copy of this book has not influenced my review.