Life's Too F***Ing Short: A Guide to Getting What You Want Out of Life Without Wasting Time, Effort or Money

by Janet Street-Porter

An indispensable guide for women to surviving in the 21st century. It shows how to combine work, relationships, friends, fashion, health, shopping, cooking, etc. without using up valuable time which could be spent enjoying yourself.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Biography

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Manasee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life's too f***ing short to spend time on this book.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun read. Janet's humor is injected into each page. Each page has character and details to enhance the feel of the page. Like you're looking through a personal scrapbook. She makes some excellent points to ponder. While at other times her cynicism paints a picture of a very lonely life. Overall, you can tell she's quite a sassy lady with some keen insight she is sharing. Life is too f***ing short, so take a read! It's an easy read and whether you enjoy her writing or not, her philosophy becomes quite clear. There are plenty of things of which we waste our time. Time to cut them loose!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you would expect from Janet Street Porter, this is highly opinionated and bordering on the offensive at times but I thoroughly enjoyed it and agreed with much of what was written.
I too have strong views and opinions myself but I think that I am a little more tactful or at least I hope I am!
This book is set out in an unusual and eye-catching way and is very easy to read.

[Sax · Rating 2 out of 5]

Previse reči "je*eno" za moj ukus, rekla bih da je to način da Dženet privuče pažnju. Sama knjiga, poput malo podužeg novinskog teksta. Prikaz teksta isto podseća na članak, određeni delovi su boldovani, istaknuti na razne načine, što utiče na čitanje i brzo me umara.

[Gabrijela Kermeci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for motivation and confidence boosting, but it seemed like it was directed at a very specific group of people. For instance, when I picked up this book, I didn't know that it was so middle-age-women oriented. I though it was a simple self help psychology book.
Now I am a child free person myself, but I feel that while writing, JSP didn't take into account women with kids or women who don't earn that much as her. Or did I miss the point of the book by saying that?

She seems to be overly aggressive towards men too. My dad is the type of man JSP described in her book as very annoying, and to be honest, he is. But I won't recommend this book to my mom, I don't want her to say, "Life is to fucking short," and divorce my dad. Some people just can't do that; it's not so simple; life is more complicated than that.

I also feel like that she is somewhat biased toward workplace environment. All of her life she had to compete with men as her line of work is male dominated. But I work as a nurse, which is a primarily women dominated field. I feel very comfortable there, so why should I be so aggressive towards my male coworkers? In my opinion that is just deepening the fault between the two genders.

And last, being a 21 year-old, her fashion advices don't really appeal to me.

[Vicky Ashwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say anything in this book was a revelation. I think JSP's target audience must have been shrinking violets with no ability to make an assertive decision or think for themselves. She does make some good points but on the whole it felt like she was shouting at me all the way through the book and I felt like I was constantly being patronised. JSP has some very strong views, many of which I disagree with but you had the feeling that she is the type of person who believes she is always right and everyone else is stupid. Amazed I finished it to be honest!

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a few good recipes. i suggest reading it in stages - as the whole life's too effing short gets a bit too effing much after a while.... all in all i thought it was a good read. I purchased it because i thought it would be a humorous book, however it is a serious self help type of book... not exactly what i had in mind but oh well..

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like people with opinions, and even though I disagreed with many of JSP's, I still enjoyed this book. She stresses striving for independence, individuality, and self-respect, and ironically, for someone who makes a living in the media, not believing the hype of media - and that I can agree with wholeheartedly.

[Janet Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, interesting and informative. She doesn't muck about. The fonts drove me a bit nuts but I'm old and it was probably aimed at a much younger audience. Seemed hippy-type to me but the information is first class and do-able.

[Uuttu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kokonaisuudessaan aika meh teos. Nappui sattumalta kirjastosta mukaan ja kyllähän tämän luki, kun samalla puuhasteli jotain muutakin.

Kirja on ihan perus-ok elämäntapamuutoskirja, mutta se on auttamattomasti vanhentunut. Huumori ei iskenyt minuun ollenkaan enkä pitänyt kirjan kevyestä, komentelevasta tyylistä. Itseäni myös häiritsi, miten ristiriitaisia ohjeet olivat: ei saisi antaa kenenkään määräillä itseään, MUTTA joka päivä pitäisi olla tunti aikaa kuntoilulle ja tehdä ruuat itse. Kokonaisuudessaan kirja on kirjoitettu vahvasti rikkaan näkökulmasta, mikä paistaa kaikista ohjeista.

Lienee ihan ok, jos sattuu J S-P:tä fanittamaan, mutta muussa tapauksessa kannattaa jättää hyllyyn.

[Noelani · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want to read a self help book geared toward women try "Women who run with the wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Don't waste your time with this one.

[Lizanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

On of my best and most fun reads in a while. Loved her wit, honesty and humour.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reality check.... Remember nearly all tv, magazines and newspapers are out to sell you something (advertising generates profit and copy).

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

JSP writes exactly as she speaks, very witty and opinionated. Sometimes you do wonder if she actually comes from the same planet, she forgets some people can't actually afford to shop at farmer's markets, nice if you can but it is a privilege that not everyone actually gets to experience - if you live alone or with 1 other person though then it is cheaper than the supermarket, it's only if you have a family to provide for that it gets prohibitive for most people. Don't always agree with what she says but she doesn't expect that. Very funny that she doesn't believe in following rules but the book is all about just that - following her set of rules. She's actually quite good at it despite the impression she gives out, but she's worked long and hard to be able to live by them and hasn't deviated from what she believes and I think that is the true message of the book - find what works for you and go for it.

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim at my favorite book haunt, the Salvation Army and it reminded me of a book I want to read called the "F#ck It Philosophy". It was a quick read and honestly could have been a magazine article really. While at times I thought it was funny, I couldn't relate to the whole world of personal stylists, decorators, etc..so I'm definitely the wrong demographic for this particular self help book. I understand the author is a well known 'larger than life' personality in Britain but I had no prior knowledge of her til I picked up the book. I needed brain candy this weekend though and it gave me that.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining read. I took it away with me to Madrid and it was good reading during siestas!

JSP is blunt and nearly always amusing when giving advice on living your life her style. I use the term 'advice' loosely as I think JSP would think you just need to "F****ING DO IT - DO NOT THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S NOT OPTIONAL, YOU MORON."
I love the fact that she manages to swipe at a few former colleagues, fellow journalists and family along the way.

I'm looking forward to reading her follow up to Baggage; Fallout which is the next installment of her autobiography.

[Veerlez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wat een boek, de eerste zin is dat JSP (wie?) in de kracht van positiviteit geloofd en vervolgens is bijna elke zin negatief. Ze commandeert ons lezers met wat we allemaal niet zouden moeten doen in plaats van richtlijnen die wel helpen. In het eerste hoofdstuk noemde ze al dat je relaties niet te diep moest laten gaan, omdat je er dan gekwetst uit zal komen. Dat is niet hoe ik wil leven. Toch heeft ze met sommige dingen wel gelijk, maar sta ik gewoon niet achter de manier van verwoorden. De vormgeving van dit boek is overigens geweldig! Veel kleur en overzichtelijke tekst vakken!

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like her or loathe her, JSP knows about food and cookery. A humourous, light-hearted serious book about life, the universe, the rip-off that is face cream and everything connected with being a woman, JSP-style. I don't suppose even she expects you to hang on to her every word, and I didn't, especially the bit about making up school qualifications on your CV. Know where she is coming from, tho. Worth a look. They've got it in GOMA Glasgow.

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sassy no-words-minced advice from a sassy woman! Read this many years ago but was inspired to read it again after seeing her on Celebrity Masterchef. Janet plays by her own rules and while I think perhaps you need to be a bit more flexible in life than she appears to be, I like her advice. She advocates setting your own agenda rather than being brainwashed by the media about what your life "should" look like.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never heard of her. A super quick fun read. All her opinion about things she's learned in 60+ years. I learned that my skin creams might stop working for me because my skin, like my hair, reacts to the same old same old and would like something new. Walk lots. Find a dressmaker/tailor. Use the personal shopping services of a good department store.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny little book covering almost everything in life from friends to furniture to food. It's a bit like an extended magazine article - easy to read, slightly inspiring at the time but you soon forget it all afterwards! It's comical in places and JSP is so opinionated - it's not a self help book - she is telling you what to do OR ELSE!!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lighthearted/tongue in cheek look at lots of modern day issues that we probably should worry less about written in Janet Street-Porters distinctive style. The kind of book you can read in one or two sittings, that is fairly entertaining and that you find yourself agreeing with quite often.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, full of commen sense. I like that it is not so much a self help book, but a book of advise on listening to your own induividual wants and desires, and do what you like, not what some expert tells you is right.

Recomended read

[Saritha · Rating 2 out of 5]

JSP is downright hilarious - much like a madcap aunt who tells you to stop stressing about your looks or your life and simply cut the crap.

I wouldn't buy the book, but it was a pretty good and breezy read as a library book.

[Rebecca Haslam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I now understand why this book was 50p in a clearance sale. I was so glad when I finally turned the last page. Don't get me wrong, there is some helpful advice and whatnot in here, I just don't plan on paying attention to any of it.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! I love JSP's no nonsense approach to everyday living. Too many people are quick to moan and complain about themselves but not prepared to help themselves. I think everyone needs a bit of JSP's get off you arse attitude!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the creative set up of the book which looks much like a scrapbook. It has a good message reminding us life is short and we often get caught up in the silly stuff instead of what is meaningful and lasting.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go Janet! Obviously written by a woman with no children who has been able to focus entirely on (herself) her career ... Hilarious, but completely ridiculous. Good for a laugh.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sassy advice from a sassy broad. Easy to read. Janet Street-Porter has a good sense of humor. And keeps her message simple.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

a short simply amusing afternoon read