I’m No Philosopher, but I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us

In this humorous volume, actor Chenoweth (A Little Bit Wicked) opines on how to handle life’s hurdles. She uses personal anecdotes to frame her meditations on anxiety, failure, love, and work, as when she describes accidentally wearing a designer tube top as a skirt and remarks that readers should “do what works for you” regardless of the expectations of others. Expounding on the benefits of humility, Chenoweth recounts how her college singing professor asked her to perform for the class as a contrast to the more refined upperclassman who sang immediately after her, and she explains that the humbleness she felt afterward motivated her to improve. The connections between the author’s stories and the morals she draws from them can feel strained, as when she discusses her struggle with vertigo and urges readers to keep close friends who can help one deal with the “many kinds of personal vertigo” that cause one to spin out (though the dizzying design of the chapter—with portions printed sideways and in wavy fonts—is a fun touch). However, this benefits greatly from the author’s effortless charm, plucky attitude, and humorous candor. Chenoweth’s fans will be enchanted. (Jan.)