I Know What I'm Doing - and Other Lies I Tell Myself

By: Jen Kirkman

Narrated by: Jen Kirkman

Length: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author and stand-up comedian Jen Kirkman delivers a hilarious, candid memoir about marriage, divorce, sex, turning 40, and still not quite having life figured out.

Jen Kirkman wants to be the voice in your head that says, "Hey, you're okay. Even if you sometimes think you aren't! And especially if other people try to tell you you're not." In I Know What I'm Doing - and Other Lies I Tell Myself, Jen offers up all the gory details of a life permanently in progress. She reassures you that it's okay to not have life completely figured out, even when you reach middle age (and find your first gray pubic hair!). She talks about making unusual or unpopular life decisions (such as cultivating a "friend with benefits" or not going home for the holidays) because you don't necessarily want for yourself what everyone else seems to think you should. It's about renting when everyone says you should own, dating around when everyone thinks you should settle down, and traveling alone when everyone pities you for going to Paris without a man.

From marriage to divorce and sex to mental health, I Know What I'm Doing - and Other Lies I Tell Myself is about embracing the fact that life is a bit of a sh*t show, and it's definitely more than okay to stay true to yourself.

©2016 Jen Kirkman (P)2016 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic Reviews

"Standup comedian Jen Kirkman shares stories about her life in a blunt, highly amusing way. She adds intention and purpose to each account of her love life and career with a pleasing, enthusiastic tone. Her sprinkles of sarcasm are delivered with a natural charm that is reminiscent of her standup persona.... The highlight of Kirkman's narration is her hilarious sendups of her mother's loud voice and Waspy accent as she depicts their quirky relationship." ( AudioFile)

Now that's entertainment

An awesome read that was funny, enjoyable & entertaining with a mix of truth and some hearty felt stories. I love a comedian who gives you a real glimpse into their life and can laugh at the parts that may have not been funny at the time.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that lives their life with an open mind and can talk about t it.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not your normal comedian book

Though the book is humorous, it's also insightful into many things we think only we think and feel. Recommend!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fantastic story full of humor and insight!

Jen is my hero. So much more cost efficient than hours on a therapist's couch too!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

highly entertaining

highly entertaining book from a highly entertaining comedian. Finished at 2.2 speed over a weekend. highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Jen is brilliant & hilarious

Big Jen Kirkman fan here, so it was a little tough to adjust to her "reading" voice as opposed to her typical level of energy during her podcast or standup performances.
Great stories - simultaneously funny, insightful, and empowering. "Go girl!"

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

"Ya don't seem very funny, tell me a joke"

You are a master of words Jan Kirkland, and I'm one of your biggest fans. You were in my town last week but I didn't know you were coming. I wish you had other books or maybe even a podcast or something. I hope you make it big someday.

Well written, well-spoken, lots of laughs, and lots of cringey moments just like this one.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

3.25 Stars: If You Have Friends, Or A Sister--

You can just hang out with them, and you'll wind up talking about everything Kirkman talks about... without using an entire credit. It's not bad at all, quite amusing and chucklesome actually. But I guess I'm used to thinking that comedians are super intelligent (and Kirkman is!), have penetrating insight, and bring to the fore that which you wouldn't think of yourself. "I Know What I'm Doing--and Other Lies I Tell Myself" is stuff you and your buddies would talk about anyway. There are LOADS of truly amusing observations, but no real and hilarious insights.
It's kind of like "Eat, Pray, Love", only with gray pubic hairs and sad cougar sex. There's a divorce, lots of thinking, and plenty of friends. It's about "coming of middle-age" in a brave new world where, when he doesn't call, you hit his Facebook page, discover reality, and have the courage to Unfriend him. It's about being true to yourself despite your orthodontist's admonishments that you'll someday regret being free, independent, and childless (all that AND you still have to make your co-pay?!?).
There's LOADS of humor here, plenty to make you titter. And I do think Jen Kirkman is a witty, witty woman. It's just that the book kind of is just that: the witty ramblings of a witty woman.
And, sadly, not much more...

17 of 24 people found this review helpful

very easy listen

Jen is awesome. always loved her on Chelsey Lately. a good read for us 40 year olds. :)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Entertaining and truthful

Slow at times but many laugh out loud moments and quotes I loved so much I texted to friends

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Hilarious!

This book was very funny, I really enjoy Jen Kirkman's writing. I would definitely recommend this book

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Great Read but a Better Listen!

I was generously sent this book for review by the publisher and I am so glad that I was because this was a thoroughly enjoyable read! I have to admit that I hadn't really heard of Jen Kirkman's stand up until I heard about this book and then I took to Netflix and watched what she did. I am pretty glad that I watched her stand up before reading this book because I think that it set the tone for what the book was going to like. There was limited crossover so there will definitely be new material in here for die-hard Jen Kirkman fans.

This book is structured like a series of anecdotes about life and love and what is really great about it is that you wouldn't have to read this one chronologically because it isn't written that way. Jan offers witty takes on aspects of life that wouldn't normally have any humour in them, such as divorce and break ups, and adds her own dry sense of humour to them. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted because Jen really doesn't hold back when she offers her opinion on something and that's another thing that I really loved about this read.

I think that this book would be great for anyone who hasn't seen Jen's stand up but I think it is a really good companion for her shows that are currently on Netflix, or is you have been to see her live. I wouldn't necessarily say that this book is for younger readers, just because the life experiences that are mentioned wouldn't necessarily seem relevant, and its helps if you have been through some of the things she has been through as it will make it easier for the reader to relate. I don't like putting ages on books, but I would say that mid twenties would be a good starting point with this one!

I actually downloaded the audio book version of this one because I cannot begin to tell you how much I love hearing authors reading their own memoirs and this definitely fell into that category. It was great hearing Jen tell stories in her own words and her own voice and she puts on an accent to imitate her mother, who has a strong Boston accent and i think that really adds something to the book. I am glad I have a physical copy too though, because this is definitely one of those books that I will go back and dip into again. I haven't read Jen's first book but I will definitely be adding it to my TBR and you should definitely do the same with I Know What I am Doing!

Jen Kirkman is a rich bitch

I love this lady. She helps me so much with her ancedotes about her life, neurosis and loves.