The Purse-driven Life: It Really Is All About Me

by Anita Renfroe

This collection of estrogen-driven essays takes a look at a womans mid-life (mid-section, mid-kids, mid-crazy) through a comedic grid.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Womens

141 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2005

About the author

It's been a wild decade going from "stay-at-home-mom" to "YouTube comedic Phe-mom-enon" but Anita Renfroe doesn't mind. With her unique brand of estrogen flavored musical comedy and blend of sass, edge and slightly offbeat takes on All Things Female, audiences at her comedy concert tours, viewers of Good Morning America appearances and the YouTube masses who enjoyed her William Tell version of everything a Mom says would say that Anita just tells it like it is. Some would say she just says what everyone else is thinking, but won't say out loud.

"I'd rather people laugh because they relate to something I say than because I wrote a clever punchline, " Anita says. "All my stuff is about my life – it's real and it connects people - and that's a wonderful thing."

Renfroe and her husband John live in Atlanta and have three children, Calvin, Austin and Elyse.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in an hour and a half one night. I felt like I was reading the rambling thoughts of a woman who had some funny ideas but had had too much caffeine to sit still and talk about any one of them very long. Each chapter jumped around from thought to thought... all tied in various ways to things women experience throughout life (purse size, family, menopause, etc) and then related back to faith and God. It was a quick read with a few really funny exerpts, but overall, too rambling and disjointed to really be enjoyable.

[Sophie Lott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too churchy for my liking but I liked how it was funny and short. It is a pretty old book so it being so dated made it not as relatable to me. I highlighted some quotes that were really important to me but honestly couldn’t highlight much.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's short and a bit rambly but if you can just sit back and enjoy it for what it is it is actually quite funny.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read, true life with true humor!

[Karissa Sjaarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember much about this book. I got it from my step-mother's bookshelves.

[Susan Frazier-Kouassi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author was not that funny, maybe she is better in a live show!

[Geizel Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much very fun read

[rivka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anita Renfroe made it 'round the Net a while back because of her Momsense video, which is awesome. I expected this book to be along the same lines: an irreverent, funny look at motherhood and womanhood. And there IS some of that in here. But it is drowned out by the constant references to Jesus. Including some really odd ones, at least from my outsider's perspective.

Nothing really wrong with that, except there's no clue in the blurbs I saw for this book. As opposed to some of her others, which were clearly heavily evangelical. So I felt rather bait-and-switched, and that made it hard to enjoy even those bits that were as advertised. And there were definitely some bits I really liked. But mostly, I just wasn't the target audience at all.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anita Renfroe is much better live than in book form. I saw her a few years back at a women's Christian conference and had the entire place in hysterics. I was hoping she had her purse routine in the book, as that was especially funny. It is not in this book. Also, she goes on and on and on about aging and trying to fight it and how she doesn't look good anymore and blah blah blah blah blah. It gets old, isn't that funny to begin with and doesn't help women readers who have self-image issues.

The mammogram part and the poem she quotes, "Buttprints in the Sand" were good, but not much else really grabbed me in a positive way. 2.5 stars

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed until I wheezed! This book is a must read for any woman over 40. Anita Renfroe isn't afraid to laugh at those things we are all suffering through- perimenopause, men, widening waistlines. and more. Her message is clear: God loves us as we are. That's a message we all need to hear from time to time.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anita Renfroe's book was the first book I think I've read where I actually laughed aloud so frequently. This Christian comedienne/vocalist has concocted a treat so delicious you'll read it all in one or two sittings!

[Sarah Chacon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I were over 40 and married with children. However, I thought the humor was played-out and lame. I will say, though, that under all that, there are some great messages about loving your uniqueness and being the type of friend you want to have.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a literary classic this is NOT it BUT if you are looking for a chuckle, a quick read, or need some girlfriend time this is the perfect book! Anita sums up the life of a woman and makes you want to be her best friend!

[Dyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I didn't give this one a 5 rating is that I didn't realize how many passages there were from the Bible - I thought it was just a comedy, although it was added in very well.

It is a very good book and every woman will identify with it!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun read......good message!

[Gene-a Salvati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laughed out loud! I only hope that I can put into practice her thinking of life.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Brenda]

I am beginning it this on Labor Day weekend!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

America's Funny Lady! Anita is hilarious!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book - very lighthearted. Good read if you need a smile on your face :)

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Renfroe's first attempt, and plan to check out more from her.

[Wltmstr]

So far this is very good!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, uplifting read.

[Dee Tighe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and the excellent use of scripture.