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Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal by [Amy Krouse Rosenthal]

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Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal Kindle Edition

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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The bestselling author of Encyclopedia an Ordinary Life returns with a literary experience that is unprecedented, unforgettable, and explosively human.

Ten years after her beloved, groundbreaking Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, #1 New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal delivers a book full of her distinct blend of nonlinear narrative, wistful reflections, and insightful wit. It is a mighty, life-affirming work that sheds light on all the ordinary and extraordinary ways we are connected.

Like she did with Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, Amy Krouse Rosenthal ingeniously adapts a standard format—a textbook, this time—to explore life’s lessons and experiences into a funny, wise, and poignant work of art. Not exactly a memoir, not just a collection of observations, Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a beautiful exploration into the many ways we are connected on this planet and speaks to the awe, bewilderment, and poignancy of being alive.

“…a groundbreaking new twist on the traditional literary experience… Textbook is a delightful collection of interesting scenarios that directly point to life lessons. Rosenthal manages to spotlight grand moments and everyday moments with equal curiosity, proving that it can be both a privilege — and petrifying — to peek into one’s humanity.”—Associated Press

“Rosenthal is a marvel… a talented storyteller with an experimental flair for formatting… This engaging, playful, and clever glimpse into one woman’s life offers lots of photographs, graphic illustrations, and diagrams, resulting in a book that will make readers smile as their notions of story delivery expand.” —Booklist

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Dutton
Publication date

August 9, 2016
File size

21764 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a groundbreaking new twist on the traditional literary experience… Textbook is a delightful collection of interesting scenarios that directly point to life lessons. Rosenthal manages to spotlight grand moments and everyday moments with equal curiosity, proving that it can be both a privilege — and petrifying — to peek into one’s humanity.”
—Associated Press

“[Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal is] as beautiful, thrilling, brief, sad, and quotidian as a sunset.”
—Fast Company

"Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, subtitled Not Exactly a Memoir, is quirky, rambling and funny, as befits a children’s book author. Poems, photos, drawings and musings add up to a charming but gently incisive experience—and the most simply exquisite ending."
—Family Circle

“Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal: Not Exactly a Memoir leaps beyond traditional books in structure and offers engaging views of life that are relatable, intriguing and enlightening… Rosenthal’s vivid wondering and quirky views present a textbook case of someone who understands that her next adventure is just around the corner.”
—Raleigh News & Observer

“...episodic, funny, and highly visual” —EntertainmentWeekly.com
“Rosenthal is a marvel… a talented storyteller with an experimental flair for formatting… This engaging, playful, and clever glimpse into one woman’s life offers lots of photographs, graphic illustrations, and diagrams, resulting in a book that will make readers smile as their notions of story delivery expand.”
—Booklist

“Part memoir, part art instillation... More than an intriguing concept, [Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal] is an artful arrangement of image and text and a compelling read. An abundant use of white space reveals that Rosenthal is unafraid to take breaths between thoughts. In doing so, she gives her audience the same generous opportunity, pairing the best of what print and digital have to offer: narrative for contemplation and online interaction for community. Readers will want to return to this book again and also share it with those they love best.”
—Library Journal

"Part memoir, part interactive art piece, part, well, textbook, children’s author Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s latest grown-up offering delights the reader with a series of musings, drawings, photos, music, graphs, and even a bracket bracket where [ ] faces off against { } under section headings like Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math."
—RealSimple.com

About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal wrote more than thirty picture books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers I Wish You More and Dear Girl (cowritten with her daughter, Paris Rosenthal). In addition to Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Amy is also the author of the groundbreaking memoir Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, which Amazon named as one of the top 10 memoirs of the decade. She was a contributor to National Public Radio, a TED collaborator and speaker, a filmmaker, and the creator of a specialty line of keepsake journals. Amy raised her three children with her husband on a treelined street in Chicago. For more about Amy’s life and work, and to donate to the Foundation formed in her memory, please see www.amykrouserosenthalfoundation.org. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01839Q5BM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton (August 9, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 9, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 21764 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #674,100 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #140 in Humor Encyclopedias
- #969 in Creativity Self-Help
- #3,161 in Self-Help & Psychology Humor

Customer Reviews:
125 ratings

About the author

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Amy Krouse Rosenthal

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Amy Krouse Rosenthal liked to make things.

Some things she made:

Children's books.

Grown-up books.

Short videos.

Speeches.

Salads.

Connections with the universe.

Something out of nothing.

Wishes.

According to The New York Times, Amy's award-winning children's books "radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting."

Her 30+ books for children include UNI THE UNICORN, I WISH YOU MORE, EXCLAMATION MARK, LITTLE PEA, SPOON, CHOPSTICKS, DUCK!RABBIT!, PLANT A KISS, and DEAR GIRL, with more books still to come.

Amy’s alphabetized memoir ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFE was named one of Amazon’s top 10 memoirs of the decade.

Amy was a contributor to public radio, YouTube (THE BECKONING OF LOVELY, THE MONEY TREE) and TED (7 NOTES ON LIFE).

Her final essay, YOU MAY WANT TO MARRY MY HUSBAND, was published in the New York Times Modern Love column ten days before she died in March 2017. It immediately went viral, becoming one of the most-read essays to date.

Amy raised her three children with her husband, Jason, on a treelined street in Chicago. For more information about Amy’s life, work, and the Foundation formed in her memory, please see www.amykrouserosenthalfoundation.org.

Customer reviews

5 star		73%
4 star		12%
3 star		8%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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how cool is it that an author wants to engage with ...

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2016

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Ok, how cool is it that an author wants to engage with her readers. Amy Krouse Rosenthal does just that with her newest book TEXTBOOK: Not Exactly a Memoir. Throughout this witty banter of a book, Rosenthal shares moments where the reader can literally text her. She provides a subject so that you know there is going to be a reply and assuming some form of further conversation about what she has written. My favorite one is she hopes to have readers join together and who knows, maybe form a group of sorts. Like one big book club made up of digi-pals who might aspire to form a deep friendship, or take a trip together – the world will be your oyster thanks to Krouse Rosenthal. It’s like Textbook.com. Love it.

Her ideas are brilliant – she gives you little exercises of pure delight. So simple yet so powerful. I found myself highlighting everything, taking furious notes. The ‘experiments’ are not just sweet but fun. And funny.

Rosenthal delivers amusing wisdom of the everyday, and pinpoints things that we all think about but probably don’t write down unless we keep a journal and take the time to re-read it or talk out loud and laugh at ourselves. Yes, there is texting and yes, we post on Instagram and laugh at our witty selves. But somehow sharing all those sweet, tender and hilarious moments with others in a way that is meaningful. And, not just relegated to your kid’s first day of school adorableness (although I know he/she is so cute!), your dog’s latest trick or that incredible cocktail that you must post, but real life goodness – things that you wish for, things that you can try to achieve, observations in the small things that really matter, something that you find so funny or so coincidental or so truly astounding you need anyone who will listen to know about this because it is that amazing that it might start a movement.

Krouse Rosenthal is the friend you want to have and the writer you want to keep writing. Jump on the TEXTBOOK bandwagon.

25 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jenny C

A quick read that'll brighten your view of humanity

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2019

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Whoever left the review to "buy two copies because you'll be compelled to give one away" is telling the truth! I eventually bought two copies so I can freely loan one copy to someone without hounding them like a meth addict needing a fix.

Amy's writing is so personal and qualifies as a "light read," yet her thoughts and observations are moving and delve into the deep issues of humanity. I learned so much from this book, not only about Amy's life, but about my own, and what I want my impact to be on others. Her unique structuring of this book inspired me to write my own "sort-of" travel memoir, freeing me from the restrictions of formatting. You can read this book in a day, but you may want to savor it for a lifetime.

In terms of timing: I'd just read about the Purple Flower moment when her NYT's piece in Modern Love was published and I'd found out she'd passed away. That became my Purple Flower moment. I honestly cried. Even though I didn't know her, I had felt her impression on this world like a huge thumbprint, and I believe the world would be a much better place with more AKRs living in it.

Thus: read this book. Love better, laugh better, and take heart that humanity still holds such glittering beauty.

3 people found this helpful

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J. Serling

Totally unique and entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018

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Although I don't typical read memoirs, this book is so wholly original that calling it a memoir seems rather limiting. It's literally a "text book," meaning you can text the author, or an automated version of the author, and interact with her via additional material that she sends you, my favorite of which, a piece of music, accompanied the very beautiful ending. There are also opportunities to go online and view galleries of art, writing and other ephemera from other readers, and to contribute your own. I think of this as the perfect Sunday book, a read to cherish without an agenda and with time on your hands to go done a lot of unexplored and unexpected paths.

2 people found this helpful

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M. Carroll

A Unique and Unforgettable Not Exactly a Memoir...

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2017

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Textbook is so many things, including a cute play on words. I've never read anything quite like it and maybe because I am such a fan of AKR's writing, I loved all of it.

I bought this book shortly before the author died and finished it after attending a celebration of her life in Chicago, which may explain why it was so very moving to me to read her last work.

I recommend reading Textbook with your phone in hand, and please follow all the text prompts and links. Especially, listen to the soundtrack while reading her end notes and keep tissues handy.

I'm sad this book isn't more popular and sadder that Amy's voice is gone from this world. She left us a lovely and inspirational goodbye letter.

#Makethemostofyourtimehere

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

WS

Goodbye, I love you, Thank you....

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2017

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Amy Krouse Rosenthal has a special ability to connect with people and put into words life's joy and meaning without telling people what to do. Her work reminds me of what an angel would say to me at the gate. In a way it is a reflection on life in a way people don't really talk about daily. This is unlike anything I have ever read! And the last page and the last words hurt knowing she has now past....goodbye, I love you, thank you. Thank you for reminding me what actually matters in life.

7 people found this helpful

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ANON

oh my what a good read

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2021

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Read this all within a few hours on Shabbat night. Loved it. I honestly mourn this author more than some of my deceased loved ones, I feel guilty to say. What a beautiful, sensitive mind. My favorite author.

Helpful

Annie

And get ready for April 29th this year and every year to tell someone you love him or her and do something lovely for Amy's ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2017

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Please read and buy a copy or two to share with a friend or stranger! And get ready for April 29th this year and every year to tell someone you love him or her and do something lovely for Amy's birthday and in her honor. And do it for you.

6 people found this helpful

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Dianne Carr

Rather confusing. Jumped too much from topic to topic. It was for a book group. Meeting tomorrow evening so I might get additional insights about the book and the author.

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2021

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A few of her writings were amusing or insightful, others were confusing and downright silly, confusing or not really of interest to me.

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Top reviews from other countries

Katie66219

A love letter extolling the joys of everyday life.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2016

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This book is difficult to describe. It is like a guided discussion between the author and her readers. There are amusing anecdotes to illustrate points. There is space provided to write your own thoughts and and musings. This is not a self help book. It is not one of those books which tells you what you are doing wrong and how you should fix it. It is a book which points out the obvious and the not so obvious. Mrs AKR speaks directly to her readers in this book. For those in America; there is a unique texting component. For those elsewhere, there is a dedicated webpage. Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a heart warming and inspiring book. I will be thinking of this book with a smile on my face and a giggle in my belly for many years to come.

2 people found this helpful

Susan

Unusual and thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2017

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Amy is such a brilliant author. Unusual kind of book and very thought-provoking. Definitely worth the investment. I would recommend it to anybody.

Hayley

Very good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2020

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Really enjoyed this book, so sad that Amy died about 2yrs ago RIP lovely lady.

D. Brown

Lovely, quirky, meaningful

Reviewed in Canada on March 13, 2017

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I learned of this book after reading AKR's NYT's article on Mar 3, 2017. It was such a lovely, quirky, and unconventional read that has even more meaning now that Amy is, sadly, very ill. She is a beautiful communicator who has made me slow down to appreciate the little things, as well as make me want to become a better writer myself.

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