Book Review: "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott

At ten years old, Anne Lamott's brother had left a school project - where he was to catalog a large number of birds - undone until the last minute. Seeing his son was in a panic, their father told him not to worry about how large the project was, and instead to take it "bird by bird". Lamott recalls this being the best advice on life and writing she has ever heard.

Although "Bird by Bird" is mainly a book about writing, the lessons in which Anne presents to the reader can be applied to almost any of life's undertakings. In short, to do something well a person must have "total dedication" to what they are doing.

Writing is not an easy undertaking. The writer must battle their own fears of what others may think. They will battle emotions and feelings that will arise during their writing process. They will fight against being unsure of themselves, days where their mind seems blank, or even boredom. Writing is not for the faint of heart.

But neither is life!

Life is overwhelming. Whatever we do we will always battle our fear of what others think, our emotions, or what we should do next. This is where we need to take it "bird by bird".

The important thing in writing, as in life, is to show up each day and do the work. Be dedicated to the process. It will not always be fun. It will not always be easy. Some days you will fail, and others you will succeed. The important thing is to show up and take life "bird by bird".

I rate this book: 4 out of 5.