Super-smart, deliciously readable, achingly poignant ... A cogent mashup of studies and stats on self-esteem filtered through Nancherla’s personal experience ... Also much appreciated: Nancherla doesn’t offer the standard it-gets-better catharsis, which can insinuate that self-confidence comes standard with Nancherla-level success.
A glimpse into the brain of a woman who works very hard to take care of it ... [The essays] tell a story of struggle, skepticism and, ultimately, perseverance.
The structure allows Nancherla to do deeper dives into some topics while sprinkling shorter, lighter tension-breaking comic pieces throughout ... Throughout the collection, Nancherla offers a thoughtful and interesting peek behind the scenes at someone with a successful comedy career.
Nancherla presents honest, intimate, strikingly astute and well-researched essays about her mental state and overall psychological health, but be prepared for intermittent jolts of sarcastic, dark humor ... Overall, the subject of imposter syndrome... ends up not being the main focus of Nancherla’s journey.
The author astutely analyzes how systems of power have intersected to create her view of herself and her profession ... At its best, this heavily researched memoir is refreshingly perspicacious and darkly funny. Unfortunately, it also swings too abruptly between seriousness and humor, undercutting salient points with unnecessary jokes that jerk readers out of the main story.
