Bouncing Back: How to Survive Everything...and I Mean Everything

by Joan Rivers

Book Overview

A fiercely honest and moving story of how Joan Rivers, one of comedy's greatest stars, survived the worst that life could throw at her, how she hit bottom and then made it back to the top. "There are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060178213
• ISBN13: 9780060178215
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 231 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Bouncing Back helped me cope after seeing my Daddy die.

The audio book version of "Bouncing Back" is WONDERFUL! It's read by Joan Rivers herself, the way she intended for it to be read :-) Her moving message of survival comes through loud & clear & of course FUNNY! What a lady! What a TALENT! THANK YOU Ms. Rivers for being so forthcoming with us. Your story is truly INSPIRATIONAL!

Hurray for Joan!

I can't believe that those who are putting down this book have gone through much of a crisis in their lives. Having gone through the fire myself with losing a father, nephew, and son in addition to illnesses and financial troubles, I found this book to be very inspirational. This may be because Joan was echoing what I have come to believe on my own, but sharing it with the world takes a huge amount of courage. I never cared much about her as a comedienne but a person's work does not necessarily reflect who they are inside. I felt very sorry for her when her husband committed suicide and, at the time, I remember wondering if she was just going to shrink into herself and go off on her own to lick her wounds. Well, she didn't and I say, bravo, Joan! Edgar is gone but you and Melissa are still here and to keep plugging away at life takes strength. I have had so many people ask me how I go on and say they couldn't do it. Well, you have two choices: you either give up or you go on. We are big on humor in our family and a bit of black humor does come out now and then. I am just very careful as to who I allow to hear it. You need to separate Joan from her work to get what she is saying in this book. And, if you can do so, and if you can learn from it, you will go on and you will be stronger. Those who nitpick specifics like decorating your house and all will be well are totally missing the point. What she is saying is to find what makes you feel better and get up off your bum and do it. Don't sit and wallow in self-pity and pain. Believe me, when a loved one is no longer there in your life, just vegetating can be SO attractive. It takes a huge amount of strength just to get out of bed in the morning. Who says we aren't supposed to laugh after someone dies? My son loved to laugh and to not do so would be to dishonor his memory. I know he is out there laughing with us just as Joan's Edgar is applauding her efforts to get on with her life.

Inspirational!! Joan is a gutsy woman worth listening to!!

I am still surprised by how many idiots there are out there who confuse courage and guts with meanness! The narrow minded, tight bunned portion of the public, who enjoy their martyrdom, will get nothing out of this book because of all many prejudices they have already gleaned about Joan from the supermarket tabloids! As for me, this book came along just when I needed it! Joan flies in the face of convention - and encourages the reader to survive - no matter what you have to do! She asks you to ponder questions like, "what do you really WANT to do now?", and then encourages you to indulge yourself - but only so far. Then you are required to pick yourself up and take the next step! Some of it I have heard before, but only Joan told me it was OK to "do it my way". I devoured the book in one day - and felt an instant relief.In the last year I have faced the death of a close family member, a destructive divorce (my second), car reposession, instant poverty (OK - so what do I DO with a food stamp?) forced head-of-household status with an 8 and a 3 year old. I was diagnosis with TWO incurable, crippling diseases, had to move 1600 miles from everything I have ever known, lost all my worldy possessions, had a business failure, lost my self esteem and the will to live!! This book is the only thing that has reached me at all! I am not seeing stars and smelling roses yet, but I am out of bed and moving - Joan says "keep moving" no matter what! She also says, get up every day, dress, put on your makeup, and be ready for your life, just in case today is the day it starts again! She makes the unconvential OK - and encourages you to live a personalized life - DO IT YOUR WAY, AND GET TO IT! But don't do it without this book!

JOAN RIVERS IS AN INSPIRATION!

I was stunned to read all the negative reviews others have posted regarding this book! I found it one of the most inspiring things I have come across in a long time. I actually have the audio version of this book, which might make quite a difference. I try and listen to it at least once a week. To hear Joan's familiar and unimitable voice recount her tragedies and how she fought her way back to happiness give "Bouncing Back" a much more personal touch. I will be the first to admit that most of the psychological advice is standardized info that could be obatined in any of thousands of other self-help books. But to listen to Joan's unique voice and hear her apply these psychological theories to her own experiences makes what otherwise be just another self-help book a truly uplifting journey. THANKS JOAN!

Survive, be happy, live and love again - wise words

...which summarize Joan Rivers' little book. She explains her own life's problems - very significant difficulties from near bankruptcy, professional pariah-hood to the suicide of her husband of nearly 30 years and bulimia.Some may not like the occasionally flippant tone which is Rivers' hallmark but there's no doubt in my mind of her sincerity, depth of determination and that she grew through the horrible suffering she felt at the suicide of her husband. She describes some very personal difficulties with style and candor.She does not advocate the currently fashionable "society of victimhood" and cites as one example a woman who witnessed the tragic shootings at Kent State in 1970. This woman's view in 1995: "my life stopped" - Joan's view: "Get over it - that was 25 years ago! How can your life stop?" Sounds flippant but if you read the book you'll see that becoming a self-pitying zombie helps no one and there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you.Excellent book, uplifting, interesting and unpretentious (Joan mentions she doesn't have a PhD she has an IBTIA [I've been through it all]).I highly recommend it even if you aren't going through a crisis - it will help you understand someone who is.