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Anne Lamott

Goodreads Author

Born

in San Francisco, California, The United States

Genre

Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality

Member Since

January 2012

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Anne Lamott is an author of several novels and works of non-fiction. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her non-fiction works are largely autobiographical, with strong doses of self-deprecating humor and covering such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, and Christianity. She appeals to her fans because of her sense of humor, her deeply felt insights, and her outspoken views on topics such as her left-of-center politics and her unconventional Christian faith. She is a graduate of Drew College Preparatory School in San Francisco, California. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer and was the basis of her first novel Hard Laughter.

Lamott's life is documented in Freida Lee Mock's 1999 documentary Bird by Bird: A Film Portrait of ...more

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One of the experiences you share in your writing is that of having had an abortion—can you share some advice about discussing this topic compassionately with conservative Christian friends, who seem to prefer spouting talking points to engaging the (woman's) human cost in this topic?

Anne Lamott I don't personally find it useful to talk about abortion, Obamacare, immigration, or the environment with my conservative friends. We will NEVER chang…moreI don't personally find it useful to talk about abortion, Obamacare, immigration, or the environment with my conservative friends. We will NEVER change each others' thinking, and will ruin the meal or coffee or mood by trying. I ask myself frequently, "Would you rather be right, or would you rather be happy?". That settles for me.
People get to think what they want, and I do, too. But I hate arguments and debate--I always have since I was a little child. I do what I can to advance the causes I so passionately believe in, and I try to tell the truth, and then I have it to let it go at that.(less)

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I enjoyed your book "Bird by Bird" and found the advice to write about just one bird at a time, very helpful. It was a new idea for me, and very good advice. In today's writing environment, do you have advice for unknown authors to capture the interest of an agent? Building a platform before publishing a book is difficult, yet everyone seems to want a platform before they will even talk to a writer wanna be.

Anne Lamott Thank you. The modern reality is, in one very important realm, the same way it's always been: you have to write a terrific book that people will want …moreThank you. The modern reality is, in one very important realm, the same way it's always been: you have to write a terrific book that people will want to read, because you have labored over it to get it just right. You have poured your heart, soul and intelligence into it, for a long time. You have addressed important aspects of our lives--love, family, meaning,betrayal, aging, coming through hardship--whatever. And you have told us your version, in the truest, most reliable voice you can muster, so that we want to spend a week with you, every night after dinner or before bed. If you display a wonderful sense of humor, so much the better.
I've never actually heard the word "platform" in this context, so there are better people to ask, ie, people who know what the word means.
But first--write the best, most amazing book you can, the wisest, most honest, most human book you have inside: we are starving to death for this ina culture that mostly traffics in appearance and surface. Let a couple of friends read it and give you their opinion. Write the book one more. We used to call this putting in through the typewriter one more time." I'm talking about RE-TYPING it, so you can get to know it at the most intimate level--not gussying it up on the computer.
Then find someone who critiques and edits professionally--have garage sales etc to raise 1500 dollars. Sell the treadmill. Someone good will read it for $1500. If you think his or her comments are good, make the necessary changes.
Keep making the book better. Cut it by 1/4. (Sight unseen, I bet it is too long. Takes out half the details, descriptions, and lies.)
Have more garage sales. Hire a good editor to mark it up. Make the changes. Then send it out. I think if it is unique, interesting, well written, and ABOUT something, you'll find an agent.(less)

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Combine Editions
Anne Lamott’s books

Average rating: 4.02 · 354,874 ratings · 33,150 reviews · 73 distinct works • Similar authors

	Bird by Bird 4.24 avg rating — 106,706 ratings — published 1994 — 77 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith 4.14 avg rating — 48,087 ratings — published 1999 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year 4.18 avg rating — 25,805 ratings — published 1993 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 21,691 ratings — published 2012 — 33 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith 4.04 avg rating — 21,244 ratings — published 2004 — 31 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith 3.96 avg rating — 16,776 ratings — published 2007 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Almost Everything: Notes on Hope 3.86 avg rating — 13,688 ratings — published 2018 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace 3.88 avg rating — 11,960 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy 3.70 avg rating — 12,512 ratings — published 2017 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son by Anne Lamott (Goodreads Author), Sam Lamott 3.66 avg rating — 12,518 ratings — published 2012 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Anne Lamott…

Series by Anne Lamott

Rosie Ferguson (3 books)
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Anne Lamott (Goodreads Author)

3.50 avg rating — 17,015 ratings

If you want a great book recommendation (or three), here at Goodreads we have a tip for you: Ask an author! Not only are authors very...

Polls

Time to vote on our July August non-fiction poll. It will remain open until June 19th. If you vote and your choice wins be prepared to comment on your read. We need better discussion of the books we pick! Thanks

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption

by Laura Hillenbrand

11 votes, 37.9%

Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace

by Anne Lamott

7 votes, 24.1%

Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and the Science That Rescued Them

by Gina Kolata

4 votes, 13.8%

Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop

by Carol Shaben

3 votes, 10.3%

Femina

by Janina Ramírez

3 votes, 10.3%

The State Boys Rebellion

by Michael D'Antonio

1 vote, 3.4%

29 total votes

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