Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints

by Phyllis Diller, Bob Hope (Introduction), Susan Perl (Illustrator)

Signed by Phyllis Diller and Fang. Must have.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Self Help, Comedy

121 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Phyllis Diller was a Golden Globe-nominated American comedienne considered to be one of the pioneers of female stand-up comedy. She created a stage character persona that was a wild-haired, eccentrically-dressed housewife who made jokes about a fictional husband named "Fang" while smoking from a long cigarette holder. Another distinct characteristic is her cackling laugh, one of the best-recognized in comedy. Diller is given credit for opening the doors for the stand-up comedy field to women such as Rita Rudner, Totie Fields, Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Joy Behar, Rosie O'Donnell and Roseanne Barr.

Reviews

[Naomi Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my mother's, but I read it as often as she did. It has undoubtedly shaped my attitudes toward the womanly arts forever. And I am grateful.

[Ed Erwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been funny in 1966, but humor doesn't always age well. I like the art by Susan Perl.

[LINDA · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is hysterical! I was delighted to find it at an antique shop! Copyright 1966 with and introduction (which amounts to a roast) by Bob Hope, it is dedicated to all the ladies who would rather skip the housework.

It is full of humorous antidotes by Phyllis Diller, and many pages include humorous pen and ink drawings.

Some of my favorite advice from the book is found in the question & Answer section.

"Q. When things are really bad, what’s the best explanation?
A. Never try to explain the mess. Just buy a couple of get well cards and place them on the mantle. People will assume you've been sick and unable to clean."

This is a classic!

[Carla JFCL · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother gave me this book on my 16th birthday (many MANY years ago ... ) saying "I have a feeling you're going to need this." She was right. I'm pretty much allergic to housework and always have been, and I have actually implemented some of the hilarious tips in this book to help me get out of housework and get on with much more interesting stuff in life. I love it!

[Gaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this many years ago and laughed all the way through.
I hate housework! I equally hate a dirty house so I felt just
like she did but unfortunately for me, I have to do it because
otherwise I won't live in it.

[JoeK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Phyllis Diller. She's a great writer (I've read a few of her mystery stories that were quite clever), but this book only gets four stars. Diller (like Steve Martin) is was an amazing performer, but the jokes sometimes fall flat when they aren't being performed.

This is a problem I've always had with reading poetry or plays. Reading is just words and imagination, and maybe my imagination isn't up to snuff. I can read a Perry Mason novel or a Columbo mystery and Raymond Burr and Peter Falk are in my head reciting the dialog. I know the voices of Steve Martin and Phyllis Diller, but I don't hear them when I read their material. For me it's more like reading a script that the "talent" will bring to life later. (I would never make it in Hollywood. Every script I've read was terrible and unfunny, even for movies I love.)

Funny and worth the read, but it would have been better as an audio book read by the author.

Also the illustrator, Susan Perl did great things to illuminate the content and added another alyer of entertainment. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find out mush more about her.

[Jane]

This book, a gift from my husband, helped me laugh a lot during the years I stayed home to care for, laugh with, pull hair out over, teach life principles to help them get through, and love...two children.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I somehow found an original copy of this book at my parents house - a ripped up little paperback with a crazy 60's purple swirly cover. This is not literature. This is barely much more than a joke book - but it is FUNNY!

[Valerie]

Unfortunately, I've never owned a copy of this, but I remember it fondly.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like a long stand-up routine in book form. Hilarious! No wonder she had such a great career.

[Chris Brimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it over and over again as a child. Would love to get my hands on it again. Over the years I have stolen countless smart-ass remarks out of this book. Hysterical, fall down funny.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very underappreciated by most people other than the female comics that came after her, Phyllis Diller was nothing like her stage persona. She characterized herself as a dingbat, klutz and all around incompetent, yet she was a comedic genius. She wrote her own jokes, and her timing could be used as an educational tool. She always appeared holding a cigarette holder, even though she did not smoke. The cigarette in the holder was actually wooden. Her cackle laugh was also a signature feature.
Phyllis Diller was the first female comic to make it as a national star and the female comics that came after do not hesitate to pay tribute to her. The jokes in this book demonstrate her comedic acumen, for they appeal to women who find the role of neat and tidy homemaker to be frustrating. The jokes are all at the level of the sixties clean, all could have, and some did, appear on network television of the sixties.
A true comedic genius, Diller demonstrates in this book that she was an excellent writer of jokes about the lazy and incompetent housewife.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time finding this book after hearing about it on the podcast “By the Book,“ but finally found it through another library.

This book is full of very “helpful“ advice about housekeeping, entertaining, and raising kids. Example: have a messy sink? Put all the dirty dishes in it and no one will notice! The illustrations are also excellent.

And can we expect anything less from the great Phyllis Diller? It’s been rather a point of honor for people to look confused at my name and say “you know, like Phyllis Diller.“

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 1 sit read and was an utter delight! I laughed out loud several times and actually thanked myself for taking the time to request it though inter-library loan. Be sure to listen to the By the Book (a.k.a. How To Be Fine) podcast episode highlighting this gem. Hearing them live by Diller's instructions was hilarious!

[KC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was silly, but I enjoyed it anyway. Used to love watching Phyllis Diller on TV when I was a kid, and this book reminded me of performances. The book is written much like her stand-up style, a bunch of one-liners about Fang (her husband), keeping house, and raising kids.

[Jackalacka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-stop one-liners! Each chapter is dedicated to different things like parenting, cooking, shopping, etc. I’m sure in 1966 this was super blasphemous for a housewife to say. Good for her!!

[Phylwil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really dated but some of it is funny. Really quick to read. The ladies on “by the book” podcast lived by a few of these wacky hints and THAT was pretty funny!

[Sylvie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to laugh out loud!

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phyllis Diller is one of the greatest comediennes to ever crack jokes. This comedy book does not disappoint.

[Kirsten Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny as I thought it would be

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was FUNNY! With pictures!!!

[Tricia Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I owe my squalor living to this woman's advice

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

As funny on paper as she was in person, Diller is a natural at making women laugh!

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always a funny woman, so sad she is gone. I have loved this book every time I've read it since 1966 when I became a housewife. Made me feel okay about my own so-so housekeeping with kids.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the time it takes to open the book....