What do you think?
Rate this book
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety: Observations from a Reforming Neurotic
New York Times bestselling author Jen Lancaster is here to help you chill the hell out.
When did USA become shorthand for the United States of Anxiety? From the moment Americans wake up, we’re bombarded with all-new terrifying news about crime, the environment, politics, and stroke-inducing foods we’ve been enjoying for years. We’re judged by social media’s faceless masses, pressured into maintaining a Pinterest-perfect home, and expected to base our self-worth on retweets, faves, likes, and followers. Our collective FOMO, and the disparity between the ideal and reality, is leading us to spend more and feel worse. No wonder we’re getting twitchy. Save for an Independence Day–style alien invasion, how do we begin to escape from the stressors that make up our days?
Jen Lancaster is here to take a hard look at our elevating anxieties, and with self-deprecating wit and levelheaded wisdom, she charts a path out of the quagmire that keeps us frightened of the future and ashamed of our imperfectly perfect human lives. Take a deep breath, and her advice, and you just might get through a holiday dinner without wanting to disown your uncle.
When did USA become shorthand for the United States of Anxiety? From the moment Americans wake up, we’re bombarded with all-new terrifying news about crime, the environment, politics, and stroke-inducing foods we’ve been enjoying for years. We’re judged by social media’s faceless masses, pressured into maintaining a Pinterest-perfect home, and expected to base our self-worth on retweets, faves, likes, and followers. Our collective FOMO, and the disparity between the ideal and reality, is leading us to spend more and feel worse. No wonder we’re getting twitchy. Save for an Independence Day–style alien invasion, how do we begin to escape from the stressors that make up our days?
Jen Lancaster is here to take a hard look at our elevating anxieties, and with self-deprecating wit and levelheaded wisdom, she charts a path out of the quagmire that keeps us frightened of the future and ashamed of our imperfectly perfect human lives. Take a deep breath, and her advice, and you just might get through a holiday dinner without wanting to disown your uncle.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
7296 people are currently reading
13115 people want to read
About the author
Jen Lancaster
30 books4,493 followersJen Lancaster is the author of her own memoirs including: as Bitter is the New Black, Bright Lights, Big Ass, Such A Pretty Fat, Pretty in Plaid, My Fair Lazy, and the newest: Jeneration X.
She has also dabbled with fiction in her first book, If You Were Here.
She has also dabbled with fiction in her first book, If You Were Here.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 756 reviews
October 2, 2020
I was so excited when I saw Jen Lancaster's latest book was the Amazon Prime freebie for September that I almost squealed. I started in on it immediately on September first, and now, over a month later . . . I FINALLY finished it. What a drag! Could I have made a mistake? Are there possibly two Jen Lancasters out there? The Jen Lancaster who I thought wrote this book is funny and vivacious. She tells stories about clothes, and shoes, and trying to lose weight, her dogs, and her long-suffering husband Fletch. The Jen Lancaster who wrote this book can't possibly be the same person. This Jen Lancaster spouts facts and figures, then attempts to connect them to her own life, and if she was even attempting to be funny with this approach . . . she failed miserably.
Oy vey! This was bad. Almost career-endingly bad.
What a pity!
Oy vey! This was bad. Almost career-endingly bad.
What a pity!
September 7, 2020
Never thought I'd read another Jen Lancaster book- I liked several of her earlier books, but her fiction never wad my thing and in recent years, i just don't appreciate privileged snark the way I once did- add in a healthy dose of total irritation at any Republicans since 2016, and knowing she was a proud one made me just kind of stop following her books and career. This one, though was an Amazon free First Reads pick for the month, and because of the title and because I do indeed have all the anxiety, figured I'd give it a chance.
First off, she's no longer affiliated with the GOP, so...better. Secondly, this book's footnotes are ACTUAL sources being cited to show facts. Refreshing. And she's no longer punching down in her humor. She's growing. Happy sigh. Her writing is still conversational and funny, and I liked her and this book so much better after reading it.
That said, the book is a little disjointed. Her essays meander past her points sometimes, and sometimes I wonder if she's a little too early in her learning about white privilege and anti-racism to be writing about it with eloquence yet. Parts of reading thia were awkward, but the fact that it was written by someone who ao loved Reagan...I'll applaud the growth, but maybe not the book that much. 3 stars seems fair. She's back. Hope next one is a 4.
First off, she's no longer affiliated with the GOP, so...better. Secondly, this book's footnotes are ACTUAL sources being cited to show facts. Refreshing. And she's no longer punching down in her humor. She's growing. Happy sigh. Her writing is still conversational and funny, and I liked her and this book so much better after reading it.
That said, the book is a little disjointed. Her essays meander past her points sometimes, and sometimes I wonder if she's a little too early in her learning about white privilege and anti-racism to be writing about it with eloquence yet. Parts of reading thia were awkward, but the fact that it was written by someone who ao loved Reagan...I'll applaud the growth, but maybe not the book that much. 3 stars seems fair. She's back. Hope next one is a 4.
September 6, 2020
So -. .read it. . . .where is Jen Lancaster and who is this "woke" person who wrote this book? And what IS this book? Have been a big fan for a long time - but ugh . .so much of this 'wokeness' - a little humor mixed in but this felt like a textbook . with lectures and 'facts" to support the lectures. .no topic left unturned. .and wasn't expecting a "new road" (and had no clue from the 'coming soon' that it would be this way) but man - wish I had read a copy first before ordering 3. Wasnt a total waste but thought this was a Jen Lancaster memoir .with the snarkiness, with the footnotes on the page . and the genuine, from the gut laughter you were able to generate with your stories and words and messages within those stories. This entire book felt like a lecture, with the facts chosen - on almost every subject being discusess today - with the "wokeness" of your thoughts imposed and the implication of the rightness of the wokeness. Sorry really feels this was misrepresented - have been a faithful supporter and purchaser of MANY MANY MANY books for self and gifts but this was a disappointment.
September 4, 2020
I’m really not sure what I just read. Jen Lancaster used to be an author whose books I would buy based on just her name on the cover. That stopped awhile ago. But every time there’s a deal on one, I bite again. The Tao of Martha, Stories I’d Tell in Bars, and now this. I just don’t know what to say about what this book is. Is it a non-fiction essay on anxiety filled with footnotes/citations? It is personal stories related to anxiety (tangentially at best)? I’m not sure it was successful as either of those, and, for me it wasn’t successful as a combination of the two.
September 7, 2020
Let me start by saying I’m a devout Jen Lancaster fan. I have read EVERY SINGLE BOOK she’s written and I follow her on social media. I’ve seen her 3 times when she would travel on book tours, pre-COVID of course.
Set against the backdrop of Maslow’s hierarchy, I honestly don’t quite know what I just read. Jen says it’s not a memoir. It felt like a lecture, full of facts and references. While there were some funny lines, it’s not the Jen I know and love.
I love her snarky sense of humor which plays out well in her memoirs. I’m not really a fan of any of her fiction. And this book was a hot mess for me.
Set against the backdrop of Maslow’s hierarchy, I honestly don’t quite know what I just read. Jen says it’s not a memoir. It felt like a lecture, full of facts and references. While there were some funny lines, it’s not the Jen I know and love.
I love her snarky sense of humor which plays out well in her memoirs. I’m not really a fan of any of her fiction. And this book was a hot mess for me.
September 5, 2020
I picked this as my first read for September and hate myself for it.
I made it to 60 % and just couldn't torture myself anymore.
Life is too short to read a bad book and this is a bad book.
The writing is fine, the content was just dull.
Neurotic, absolutely, humorous not even close.
I made it to 60 % and just couldn't torture myself anymore.
Life is too short to read a bad book and this is a bad book.
The writing is fine, the content was just dull.
Neurotic, absolutely, humorous not even close.
March 13, 2022
Trite and unconvincing. Clever ideas -- such as updating Abraham Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" from 1943 to the present day -- flit by, sometimes with success, just as often not. I often felt that a Gen Xer who had "been to college" had to tell us all about it, whether the results were truly funny or not. Being lightly bitter about one's life situation does not equal a new Erma Bombeck, I'm sorry to say.
Yes, this is technically a non-fiction book, but hanging-chad facetiousness like attributing a footnote to her father serves no real purpose. I have no plans to read any more Jen Lancaster books.
Yes, this is technically a non-fiction book, but hanging-chad facetiousness like attributing a footnote to her father serves no real purpose. I have no plans to read any more Jen Lancaster books.
September 1, 2020
Intensely Personal Humorous Nonfiction
When I first opened this book, I loved the cartoon of Maslow's hierarchy at the beginning. Most of us who've been to college in the last 30 or 40 years are familiar with this pyramid of need. The book is broadly structured around this hierarchy. The author is a Gen-Xer like me, so much of what she related about her pre-tech childhood was very much like my life as well—before computers were in every home, when the internet was for academics only... and when social media and texting had not yet come into existence. The author writes in a witty, humorous tone—and it is labeled as Humorous Nonfiction in the First Reads newsletter—with many of her comments self-deprecating. I found her head an interesting one to be with, and for the most part, I enjoyed being along for the ride. By the way, there is some mild profanity in this book, but not overly much. I am one who usually has a problem with swearing in books, but it wasn't enough to bother me. Despite the all-encompassing sounding title, this is a very personal piece of nonfiction. We see the world through the lens of one woman's life and observations. So whether you like this book or not will depend on whether you appreciate that kind of intensely personal look at broader topics. Whether you like it may also depend on your generation. Millennials may not "get" some of what she is talking about.
This book was clearly written before our current crisis, and the author actually mentions right at the start of the book that she was in final edits when all of it started back in March 2020. I wonder if it would be a different book had she written it instead of edited it during this time. I don't know about you, but what I feel anxiety about has certainly shifted during what already feels like a long haul at nearly six months in. The things I might have had anxiety about last year are completely different now. This might sound paradoxical, but I presently feel anxiety about far fewer things because what is happening worldwide now has sharpened the focus and burned away what is unimportant. And, much of what she addresses as anxiety producing in the modern world is ultimately unimportant (which is part of the point she is trying to get across), so I give it far less thought now. In some ways, this book looks at a time when most saw the world quite differently as well. At points, it seems almost quaint. That made it fun, along with the humor, in its own way.
When I first opened this book, I loved the cartoon of Maslow's hierarchy at the beginning. Most of us who've been to college in the last 30 or 40 years are familiar with this pyramid of need. The book is broadly structured around this hierarchy. The author is a Gen-Xer like me, so much of what she related about her pre-tech childhood was very much like my life as well—before computers were in every home, when the internet was for academics only... and when social media and texting had not yet come into existence. The author writes in a witty, humorous tone—and it is labeled as Humorous Nonfiction in the First Reads newsletter—with many of her comments self-deprecating. I found her head an interesting one to be with, and for the most part, I enjoyed being along for the ride. By the way, there is some mild profanity in this book, but not overly much. I am one who usually has a problem with swearing in books, but it wasn't enough to bother me. Despite the all-encompassing sounding title, this is a very personal piece of nonfiction. We see the world through the lens of one woman's life and observations. So whether you like this book or not will depend on whether you appreciate that kind of intensely personal look at broader topics. Whether you like it may also depend on your generation. Millennials may not "get" some of what she is talking about.
This book was clearly written before our current crisis, and the author actually mentions right at the start of the book that she was in final edits when all of it started back in March 2020. I wonder if it would be a different book had she written it instead of edited it during this time. I don't know about you, but what I feel anxiety about has certainly shifted during what already feels like a long haul at nearly six months in. The things I might have had anxiety about last year are completely different now. This might sound paradoxical, but I presently feel anxiety about far fewer things because what is happening worldwide now has sharpened the focus and burned away what is unimportant. And, much of what she addresses as anxiety producing in the modern world is ultimately unimportant (which is part of the point she is trying to get across), so I give it far less thought now. In some ways, this book looks at a time when most saw the world quite differently as well. At points, it seems almost quaint. That made it fun, along with the humor, in its own way.
September 9, 2020
A good reminder why I stopped reading Jen Lancaster books. Started out amusing and fun, but quickly spiraled into nonsense rambling and stupid childhood stories. Thank God it was free through Amazon first reads. Woof.
September 3, 2020
I love when an author tries something new and writes in a new style. Jen Lancaster has proven that she can bring the facts and her sarcastic and witty point of view. While I will always love her snarky memoirs and tales of pop culture, I have room in my cold dark heart for books like Welcome to the United States of Anxiety.
September 22, 2020
Based off of the synopsis, I’m not sure I read the same book. This is not an advice book about anxiety but more of a unleashing of the authors thoughts. I found myself incredibly bored and skimmed a large portion of it. The synopsis is definitely not what I found in the book! This may have just been the authors form of therapy and not what i was looking for.
September 10, 2020
Solid read overall, but got a bit bogged down with information.
This is a slight departure from Lancaster's previous non-fiction memoirs. It's not a memoir as such, but she does incorporate quite a bit of her life and personal experiences as illustration. The over-arching concept is anxiety, the real anxiety we feel, the causes (some real and some created by our minds and by the collective minds of society), and some solutions.
Sprinkled throughout the book is Lancaster's snarky humor that her fans know and love. I laughed out loud quite a few times, but my biggest laugh came when she gave a list of do's and don'ts for engaging with political zealots. At the end of the list, she says--this was taken from Wiki-how list of what to do to avoid goose attacks, but whatever, it still applies.
The book does get quite information-heavy and there were times I found myself skimming through the statistics. There were also a large number of topics covered for all levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, so there were times I would put the book down because I got overwhelmed by all of the data. Overall though, I really liked her advice to step away from things that are causing too much anxiety, choosing kindness over anger, and engaging with people in person rather than online to create true connections. She gives real-life examples for everything so the reader isn't left wondering how on earth to accomplish these things, which is so helpful to me.
I do recommend this book, especially if you have anxiety about anything, because she probably addresses it and gives sound advice on how to alleviate some of that stress.
This is a slight departure from Lancaster's previous non-fiction memoirs. It's not a memoir as such, but she does incorporate quite a bit of her life and personal experiences as illustration. The over-arching concept is anxiety, the real anxiety we feel, the causes (some real and some created by our minds and by the collective minds of society), and some solutions.
Sprinkled throughout the book is Lancaster's snarky humor that her fans know and love. I laughed out loud quite a few times, but my biggest laugh came when she gave a list of do's and don'ts for engaging with political zealots. At the end of the list, she says--this was taken from Wiki-how list of what to do to avoid goose attacks, but whatever, it still applies.
The book does get quite information-heavy and there were times I found myself skimming through the statistics. There were also a large number of topics covered for all levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, so there were times I would put the book down because I got overwhelmed by all of the data. Overall though, I really liked her advice to step away from things that are causing too much anxiety, choosing kindness over anger, and engaging with people in person rather than online to create true connections. She gives real-life examples for everything so the reader isn't left wondering how on earth to accomplish these things, which is so helpful to me.
I do recommend this book, especially if you have anxiety about anything, because she probably addresses it and gives sound advice on how to alleviate some of that stress.
September 6, 2020
I gave up after the 1st Chapter!!
My goodness, she rambles on and on and says nothing. It was so boring that I decided to spare myself further pain and call it a day.
My goodness, she rambles on and on and says nothing. It was so boring that I decided to spare myself further pain and call it a day.
January 9, 2021
I recently came across Jen Lancaster in her socials and found her funny (especially her videos with her and her husband) she does snark very well, so that lead to me reading this book, she’s written many others but this is her latest offering.
With everything going on in the United States I gravitated to this book, even from afar I feel the anxiety and dread every time I turn on the news so I can only imagine the levels of anxiety running through everyone there at the moment, even if not usually prone to anxiety under these circumstances I’d argue that most people would be feeling some levels of extreme anxiety. I wouldn’t say this was the most life altering book but anyone that fees like life is a constant stream of stressful and anxiety inducing moments would find some elements of relatability. If your generally a calm person with their shit well and truly together this won’t be the book for you.
With everything going on in the United States I gravitated to this book, even from afar I feel the anxiety and dread every time I turn on the news so I can only imagine the levels of anxiety running through everyone there at the moment, even if not usually prone to anxiety under these circumstances I’d argue that most people would be feeling some levels of extreme anxiety. I wouldn’t say this was the most life altering book but anyone that fees like life is a constant stream of stressful and anxiety inducing moments would find some elements of relatability. If your generally a calm person with their shit well and truly together this won’t be the book for you.
September 4, 2020
Unfortunate timing with COVID. This felt superficial and not relevant for the times we are in.
September 7, 2020
Having just finished, I'm not even quite sure what I read. It was a series of not quite related personal stories that were loosely tied to Maslow's hierarchy of needs with over 200 citations of other works/articles/random side thoughts.
I didn't really learn anything about better handling anxiety. Much of the subject matter seemed wholly ill timed in today's world. I'm surprised the publisher didn't request rewrites beyond the page and a half writer's note at the beginning acknowledging the pandemic.
The book abruptly ended, which at first was jarring but then was met with relief that it was over.
This was my first exposure to Jen Lancaster and I did not enjoy her voice or writing style. It's pretty safe to say I will not be picking up another of her books.
I didn't really learn anything about better handling anxiety. Much of the subject matter seemed wholly ill timed in today's world. I'm surprised the publisher didn't request rewrites beyond the page and a half writer's note at the beginning acknowledging the pandemic.
The book abruptly ended, which at first was jarring but then was met with relief that it was over.
This was my first exposure to Jen Lancaster and I did not enjoy her voice or writing style. It's pretty safe to say I will not be picking up another of her books.
November 29, 2020
This was my first experience with a Jen Lancaster memoir. I liked her personal and anecdotal material, but felt a lot of the book was just her throwing facts our way. The footnotes didn't come in until the very end of the e-book (not sure if it was set up the same way in the print version) and it was too hard to go back and match each one up by that time. Jen said some things I could relate to, but I wish that the book was overall about her anxiety vs. what she researched.
While she has made me laugh while reading this book, I think our sense of humor is different most of the time. I still would be interested in checking out one of her earlier memoirs, as I've heard good things about them.
While she has made me laugh while reading this book, I think our sense of humor is different most of the time. I still would be interested in checking out one of her earlier memoirs, as I've heard good things about them.
September 11, 2020
How relieved was I when it turned out that this book was only 239 pages instead of 275? Very! The remaining pages were taken up by Acknowledgements, footnotes (yes, 20+ pages of footnotes, mostly references), and the author bio.
I've read every Jen Lancaster book except one, I Regret Nothing, because our local library doesn't have it and I refuse to pay $11.99 for it on Kindle. Hopefully eventually it will join her last two books, including this one, on the Kindle Unlimited list. It's unlikely the library will retroactively decide to order it, since the publication date is 2015.
So, okay, this is a book about anxiety, so I didn't expect Jen's usual level of humor. I also didn't expect a book based (loosely) on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Who knew? Those eleven years Jen spent getting her bachelor's degree finally paid off. (That's mean, and I have no right to point fingers, being an autodidact myself without any degree at all. But hey, if Jen can do it...)
If this book had been written by anyone except Jen Lancaster, I would have probably stopped reading about 20 pages in and consigned it to the DNF shelf. After her most recent effort (self-published), Stories I'd Tell in Bars, turned out to be something of a disappointment - funny but not up to the standards of her previous books - I was a bit wary of this one. With good reason, as it turned out. I really can't recommend this book to fans who like Jen's books for the humor (like me). And I don't believe there is a connection between the rise of the Kardashians and mass shootings in the U.S. Yeah, she makes the case for that. Bad behavior = fame. Criminal behavior on a large scale...nope, even though it does actually bring some fame, we have come a long way since Columbine. Shooters' names are not mentioned as often. Victims' names are emphasized. Maybe at one time fame was the primary motivation for mass shootings. I don't think that is the case any more. But that's just one person's opinion. I guess, however quirky it may be, Jen's opinion could be valid. Who knows?
Not all of Jen's theories in this book are as off-the-wall as that one. However, she does seem to wander all over the place at times rather than taking a straight line to get to the point. And when she does get serious, the book gets tedious. I took six days to read it because I took time out to read Max Brooks' Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre. That went much faster.
I've read every Jen Lancaster book except one, I Regret Nothing, because our local library doesn't have it and I refuse to pay $11.99 for it on Kindle. Hopefully eventually it will join her last two books, including this one, on the Kindle Unlimited list. It's unlikely the library will retroactively decide to order it, since the publication date is 2015.
So, okay, this is a book about anxiety, so I didn't expect Jen's usual level of humor. I also didn't expect a book based (loosely) on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Who knew? Those eleven years Jen spent getting her bachelor's degree finally paid off. (That's mean, and I have no right to point fingers, being an autodidact myself without any degree at all. But hey, if Jen can do it...)
If this book had been written by anyone except Jen Lancaster, I would have probably stopped reading about 20 pages in and consigned it to the DNF shelf. After her most recent effort (self-published), Stories I'd Tell in Bars, turned out to be something of a disappointment - funny but not up to the standards of her previous books - I was a bit wary of this one. With good reason, as it turned out. I really can't recommend this book to fans who like Jen's books for the humor (like me). And I don't believe there is a connection between the rise of the Kardashians and mass shootings in the U.S. Yeah, she makes the case for that. Bad behavior = fame. Criminal behavior on a large scale...nope, even though it does actually bring some fame, we have come a long way since Columbine. Shooters' names are not mentioned as often. Victims' names are emphasized. Maybe at one time fame was the primary motivation for mass shootings. I don't think that is the case any more. But that's just one person's opinion. I guess, however quirky it may be, Jen's opinion could be valid. Who knows?
Not all of Jen's theories in this book are as off-the-wall as that one. However, she does seem to wander all over the place at times rather than taking a straight line to get to the point. And when she does get serious, the book gets tedious. I took six days to read it because I took time out to read Max Brooks' Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre. That went much faster.
September 9, 2020
DNF @ 33%
Yeah, this just isn't what I was looking for. I thought that this book would go more along the lines of:
>things that make people anxious in society today,
>anecdote about how the author herself encounters this anxiety,
>some advice on how to cope and survive and maybe feel a little better.
But The United States of Anxiety is (as I should have garnered from the full title) literally just anxious observations. After almost one hundred pages of anecdotes that I frankly don't care about, I feel just as nervous about my existence as ever, if not more so because of certain topics broached which I otherwise hadn't considered.
Basically, this book might be helpful or relaxing or set the minds of some people at ease, but I don't feel like trudging through the memoirs to find out if this applies to myself. I really don't like memoirs.
Yeah, this just isn't what I was looking for. I thought that this book would go more along the lines of:
>things that make people anxious in society today,
>anecdote about how the author herself encounters this anxiety,
>some advice on how to cope and survive and maybe feel a little better.
But The United States of Anxiety is (as I should have garnered from the full title) literally just anxious observations. After almost one hundred pages of anecdotes that I frankly don't care about, I feel just as nervous about my existence as ever, if not more so because of certain topics broached which I otherwise hadn't considered.
Basically, this book might be helpful or relaxing or set the minds of some people at ease, but I don't feel like trudging through the memoirs to find out if this applies to myself. I really don't like memoirs.
December 31, 2020
I highly recommend not wasting your time with this book. I was very excited to read it and was heavily disappointed. The first half is entertaining, but then the author decides to comment on police brutality and how it’s “not that bad” while identifying as a white republican woman. She also uses several microaggressions through her book when commenting on racism in America. She describes a black individual as “sounding intellectual” while rooting her own horn for being a “woke” woman. She also conceptualize a anxiety as unhappiness and use them interchangeably when they are NOT THE SAME THING. And, very lazily, when citing research, sites the journal articles citing the research rather than crediting the actual scientists. Put your money to better use on another book not written by a Karen.
September 2, 2020
Not sure its a generational thing...
But everything in this work was so relatable, funny, and what I wouldve said if I could. After reading it I remembered to give myself permission to return to the calmer state of mind I had before I felt I had to always keep up, with the news, the neighbors and just about everything. The point really is to enjoy your life. And whatever contributions you make may not necessarily be anyone else's business. Thanks Ms Lancaster. A recommended read for the anxious and hypervigilant.
But everything in this work was so relatable, funny, and what I wouldve said if I could. After reading it I remembered to give myself permission to return to the calmer state of mind I had before I felt I had to always keep up, with the news, the neighbors and just about everything. The point really is to enjoy your life. And whatever contributions you make may not necessarily be anyone else's business. Thanks Ms Lancaster. A recommended read for the anxious and hypervigilant.
November 16, 2020
I have been reading Jen Lancaster’s books since I happened on her book of essays called Bitter is the New Black while shopping at BJ’s many, many years ago. I have always enjoyed her snarky wit and her boldness in the midst of social awkwardness.
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety is her new book of essays which sometimes reads more like a dissertation, but correctly points out the chaos and confusion of the new norms while trying to navigate social media which sometimes (well, most times) consumes our lives. Social media can take time away from your real life, although it feels like real life, it can also impede our daily life and cause anxiousness, even depression.
She rightfully explains how years prior to any type of social media one could make a mistake, dress improperly, have a disagreement with a friend and it would be over so quickly, you would forget whatever happened. Now, with social media, not only can a small incident turn into a major war, it can last for eternity where it can be brought up again and again.
Lancaster’s biting humor and sarcasm are still visible in these new essays, but she also backs up all her information with statistics which, given the age we live in now, seems extremely appropriate.
Her essay on The State of Our Stressed-Out Union, explains how social media has opened up a new world to people who grew up in an era where most things were private, where no one outside of the family had access to secret information and those who did would take it to the grave. Her parents, as most during that time of innocence, allowed their children to never wear seatbelts, never lock the doors, make no calls after 10 o’clock p.m., (way too expensive) or even… we have a prowler? Oh, probably a boy from the high school pranking..no worries! Everyone seemed to be of the same easygoing mindset.
Now, with social media, one can be influenced into what to eat, think, wear, feel or even which “influencer” that’s a thing too now, should influence YOU. Lancaster tells the story of being on Facebook and connecting with an old friend, only to find their beliefs might not exactly be the same and stressing out as to whether to block the person or just never go on Facebook again. Now this is a stress no one ever saw coming back in the 80’s or 90’s!
A powerful essay is how she had to distance herself from her mother, a relationship which was complicated to begin with, and how the power of social media actually became a tool her mother was able to use against her.
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety is a funny, sadly very true story of where we were, how far we have come and where we are trending. Now I need to go check twitter to see if anyone liked the last tweet!
Thank you #NetGalley #LittleA #WelcometotheUnitedStatesof Anxiety #JenLancaster for the advanced copy.
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety is her new book of essays which sometimes reads more like a dissertation, but correctly points out the chaos and confusion of the new norms while trying to navigate social media which sometimes (well, most times) consumes our lives. Social media can take time away from your real life, although it feels like real life, it can also impede our daily life and cause anxiousness, even depression.
She rightfully explains how years prior to any type of social media one could make a mistake, dress improperly, have a disagreement with a friend and it would be over so quickly, you would forget whatever happened. Now, with social media, not only can a small incident turn into a major war, it can last for eternity where it can be brought up again and again.
Lancaster’s biting humor and sarcasm are still visible in these new essays, but she also backs up all her information with statistics which, given the age we live in now, seems extremely appropriate.
Her essay on The State of Our Stressed-Out Union, explains how social media has opened up a new world to people who grew up in an era where most things were private, where no one outside of the family had access to secret information and those who did would take it to the grave. Her parents, as most during that time of innocence, allowed their children to never wear seatbelts, never lock the doors, make no calls after 10 o’clock p.m., (way too expensive) or even… we have a prowler? Oh, probably a boy from the high school pranking..no worries! Everyone seemed to be of the same easygoing mindset.
Now, with social media, one can be influenced into what to eat, think, wear, feel or even which “influencer” that’s a thing too now, should influence YOU. Lancaster tells the story of being on Facebook and connecting with an old friend, only to find their beliefs might not exactly be the same and stressing out as to whether to block the person or just never go on Facebook again. Now this is a stress no one ever saw coming back in the 80’s or 90’s!
A powerful essay is how she had to distance herself from her mother, a relationship which was complicated to begin with, and how the power of social media actually became a tool her mother was able to use against her.
Welcome to the United States of Anxiety is a funny, sadly very true story of where we were, how far we have come and where we are trending. Now I need to go check twitter to see if anyone liked the last tweet!
Thank you #NetGalley #LittleA #WelcometotheUnitedStatesof Anxiety #JenLancaster for the advanced copy.
March 21, 2021
I should have stopped reading at her crack on shiplap, because that was the last funny thing in the book despite her repeatedly reminding us that she's educated in comedy. I'm glad I didn't pay for this as a Kindle First. I dipped a toe into it last fall but decided I couldn't with all else going pear shaped in the world, and decided to pick it up again this week.
Like many of the other reviews, I used to love her stuff but what was funny or new in her late 30s just isn't in her 50s. Like she should have grown as a person and didn't, although she was aware she was supposed to - i.e. her comment on Poshmark resale of designer stuff.
I think I saw where she was trying to go with this, but the generation wars (and I'm late GenX) got old when she hit the avocado toast cliche, and this just didn't get any better. I'm not sure if she's changed or I have, but Jen Lancaster just doesn't do it for me anymore.
Like many of the other reviews, I used to love her stuff but what was funny or new in her late 30s just isn't in her 50s. Like she should have grown as a person and didn't, although she was aware she was supposed to - i.e. her comment on Poshmark resale of designer stuff.
I think I saw where she was trying to go with this, but the generation wars (and I'm late GenX) got old when she hit the avocado toast cliche, and this just didn't get any better. I'm not sure if she's changed or I have, but Jen Lancaster just doesn't do it for me anymore.
January 2, 2021
This book is hard for me to review. Normally, I really appreciate Jen Lancaster and her writing style. I like that she writes as though you are having a conversation with her, I imagine her thinking/speaking is in the same credence. I like her sass, her honesty and that she is from the Mid-West.
However, this one, I felt, really showed her privilege. She is pretty honest in her processing of the recent societal happenings. But, I think it is surface level only and she could have reached deeper. Maybe she is still processing and is working through this more since publishing? Or, is it possible her typical audience (what I am guessing to be suburban women) wouldn't yet be ready for more honesty? I appreciate that she admits to leaving the Republican party (or she describes it as the party leaving her) and she is very supportive of queer community. But, there are components that also highlight that she would never not be friends with someone due to differences of opinions. While that can be true at times, the topics she was discussing this with were more morality questions vs differences of how one takes their coffee. Not everyone has the luxury to have that viewpoint, and those of us that haven't been put in some of the situations she uses in her discussion, should be using our voice to highlight why we should NOT have those differences instead of saying we can view the world differently.
I appreciate that she continues to put herself out there, though. Her transparency in her books is refreshing and nothing of her life seems to be off the table. I do still think we could have fun coffee chats, but now, I think those chats would stay only talking about our love for Chicago, not some of the topics discussed in this book.
However, this one, I felt, really showed her privilege. She is pretty honest in her processing of the recent societal happenings. But, I think it is surface level only and she could have reached deeper. Maybe she is still processing and is working through this more since publishing? Or, is it possible her typical audience (what I am guessing to be suburban women) wouldn't yet be ready for more honesty? I appreciate that she admits to leaving the Republican party (or she describes it as the party leaving her) and she is very supportive of queer community. But, there are components that also highlight that she would never not be friends with someone due to differences of opinions. While that can be true at times, the topics she was discussing this with were more morality questions vs differences of how one takes their coffee. Not everyone has the luxury to have that viewpoint, and those of us that haven't been put in some of the situations she uses in her discussion, should be using our voice to highlight why we should NOT have those differences instead of saying we can view the world differently.
I appreciate that she continues to put herself out there, though. Her transparency in her books is refreshing and nothing of her life seems to be off the table. I do still think we could have fun coffee chats, but now, I think those chats would stay only talking about our love for Chicago, not some of the topics discussed in this book.
October 5, 2020
A poorly executed mashup of a memoir, undergraduate research paper, and rambling nonsense. This is my first book from Jen Lancaster and likely my last. I couldn't bring !myself to finish the book, not even making it to 100 pages. Each of her sections felt disjointed, trying to pair data with her real life experiences, which felt !like a stretch in a lot of areas. From what I have seen in other reviews, this is not a typical piece of work by this author and it feels like she really missed the mark with this concept.
March 24, 2021
I’ve had this one on my list for a while, and now I’m so disappointed that I attempted it for 2 weeks. I gave up on it 10 pages shy because I felt obligated to finish it and then realized how much I hated it because it wasn’t actually funny.
I love Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs so I was excited about the layout, but it just feels like an annoying memoir that gave me more anxiety (??). Also didn’t know the author used to be a raging Republican, which became clear with problematic takes throughout the book.
Looks like I’ve officially had my worst book pick of 2021 🙄
I love Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs so I was excited about the layout, but it just feels like an annoying memoir that gave me more anxiety (??). Also didn’t know the author used to be a raging Republican, which became clear with problematic takes throughout the book.
Looks like I’ve officially had my worst book pick of 2021 🙄
December 30, 2024
Are we still allowed to laugh? Seriously.
Because if we ARE still allowed to laugh, you should buy this book. And if we aren't, then you shouldn't. I'm no longer sure myself because while it SEEMS like a "humor" book to me and I laughed a lot while I read it, the people who are marketing it take it VERY seriously.
When I bought it, there was a tag beside it that read, "#1 New Release in Medical Psychology Pathologies." Maybe that one didn't grab people, because NOW the banner reads, "#1 Best Seller in Anxieties and Phobias." Is this a promotion or a "lateral move." Honestly, I haven't a clue.
The book is funny. It's the first one I've read by this author, but apparently she's written other books and has a large following. I'm always the last dog hung, but that's the beauty of of good humor writing. It's just as funny if you read it a decade later than if you grab it off the NY Times Best Seller list.
Several things struck me about this book. First, the torch has been passed and it's about time. For decades, we Baby Boomers were in charge of boring everyone one with stories about how PERFECT everything was in the 1940's and 50's. We keep our front doors unlocked. We ate what we wanted. We said stuff without worrying that someone would call the police on us for hurting their feelings. You know, the "Good Old Days."
Now this author (a Gen-Xer) is writing about how PERFECT things were when she was growing up in the 1980's. Unlocked front doors, white bread with pseudo-cheese slices, and free-range children. What just happened here? Has the generation that I'm still thinking about as "the young folks" gotten old? She calls herself a dinosaur, so what does that make me? Fossil fuel?
Furthermore, after years of rolling her eyes about Millennials, she took a comedy class and met some. Now she's gone all broody about them and thinks they're great young people and need to be encouraged. Exactly the way I am with Gen-Xers. This woman has no children, but she sounds positively motherly when she talks about her Millenial friends. Is maternalism hard-wired into females? Are those of us who are happily child-free destined to eventually "adopt" the next generation and nurture them?
I found some common points with this author, but some of her anxiety-inducing problems made me shrug - like social media. I don't DO social media and never have. This woman immersed herself early on in social media and assumes everyone else has, too. Much of the book is devoted to how social media feeds the anxiety she assumes we all have.
After much hand-wringing, she decides that social media is just a TOOL and it's up to us to use it wisely. The possibility of not using it at all isn't ever mentioned. I have a post-hole digger in the basement and the only time I ever touch it is when I move it to sweep. To me, THAT is "wise use of a tool."
I do have to wonder why a woman with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder - which means she agonizes about EVERYTHING) picked a career that's so high-pressure. She describes the stress of deadlines and book promotion tours. There ARE careers that are calmer, but maybe she enjoys her anxiety. Maybe she's actually proud of it.
It's not that she doesn't tackle some tough topics in this book, because she does. For example, she's concerned (as who isn't?) about mass shootings in America. She makes a vague case that this horrible phenomenon is somehow tied in with the rise of the Khardasians. Gun sales soared when Obama was elected and the Khardasian family became media idols. Her point (I think) is that watching them made young people believe that all that counts in life is being famous and that bad behavior is the quickest way to fame.
I have NO desire to defend the Khardasians, but the Rolling Stones rose to fame using the same technique. Bad Boys get more attention and (in show business) attention is money. They made it work, but it didn't set off a chain of mass shootings. And previous generations had famous people who were mainly famous for being shocking. Clearly, there's got to be more to the problem.
Then there's ecology, a source of worry to most of us which gets worse the more we know. Can we feel proud of "recycling" our used electronics now that we know they go to Third World countries and pollute the soil and water there? Are he helping the earth or only ourselves? How much good are good intentions?
I learned some stuff, like the acronym (probably very old) FOMO - fear of missing out. The author freely admits that much of her anxiety is tied to her unrelenting FOMO, but doesn't know what she can do about it. I learned that the male equivalent of a "Karen" is a "Kevin." Not sure how useful this information will be to me, but now I know.
She's a strange mixture of gloom and devil-may-care. She quotes every "scientific study" that's been done in the last twenty years as proof of our national anxiety, while freely admitting that some of those "studies" involved ten people in some country I can't pronounce and couldn't find on a globe. The last 15% of the book is given over to a "Notes" section in which she lists all the studies and gives links to them. Is she REALLY expecting us to take all this seriously enough to check them out or is she simply showing us that she's done her homework?
On the other hand, I was won over when she came to the top of Maslow's Pyramid of Human Needs: Self-Actualization. I had already decided to skip that one, having no patience for what my parents' generation referred to scornfully as "navel-gazing." So I was completely charmed when the author skipped it, too. She has a sense of humor along with her anxieties. Maybe that's what's kept her going.
I enjoyed this book. This author does what Mark Twain and James Thurber and Will Rogers did in previous generations - makes fun of stuff we don't like, but don't know what to do about. She's sensible enough to realize that many things are much better than they were in the past. So why are we so anxious? Well, some of us are more anxious than others, so there's that. And it's an election year and Americans tend to go a little crazy (OK, a LOT crazy) during election years. And then there's this pandemic thing and the economy has tanked (unless you're have $10 million-worth of stocks, in which case, you're FINE.)
Sadly, it's human nature to take prosperity for granted and to dwell on what doesn't suit us. There's no cure for that except to remind yourself to be grateful for your blessings. This author does that and I like her for it. She doesn't give us the Secret of the Pyramids, but she has found an easy way to make life a little better. Smile. Be patient with people. Over-tip those who work hard and don't make much. Maybe if enough of us try to be decent human beings, we can feel better about ourselves. And maybe feeling better about ourselves will make us calmer and more optimistic and less anxious. It's worth a try, isn't it?
She's a likable woman, as well as an intelligent person and a very funny writer. Now that I've discovered her, I'll be reading more of her books. I don't know about you, but I need all the laughs I can get.
Because if we ARE still allowed to laugh, you should buy this book. And if we aren't, then you shouldn't. I'm no longer sure myself because while it SEEMS like a "humor" book to me and I laughed a lot while I read it, the people who are marketing it take it VERY seriously.
When I bought it, there was a tag beside it that read, "#1 New Release in Medical Psychology Pathologies." Maybe that one didn't grab people, because NOW the banner reads, "#1 Best Seller in Anxieties and Phobias." Is this a promotion or a "lateral move." Honestly, I haven't a clue.
The book is funny. It's the first one I've read by this author, but apparently she's written other books and has a large following. I'm always the last dog hung, but that's the beauty of of good humor writing. It's just as funny if you read it a decade later than if you grab it off the NY Times Best Seller list.
Several things struck me about this book. First, the torch has been passed and it's about time. For decades, we Baby Boomers were in charge of boring everyone one with stories about how PERFECT everything was in the 1940's and 50's. We keep our front doors unlocked. We ate what we wanted. We said stuff without worrying that someone would call the police on us for hurting their feelings. You know, the "Good Old Days."
Now this author (a Gen-Xer) is writing about how PERFECT things were when she was growing up in the 1980's. Unlocked front doors, white bread with pseudo-cheese slices, and free-range children. What just happened here? Has the generation that I'm still thinking about as "the young folks" gotten old? She calls herself a dinosaur, so what does that make me? Fossil fuel?
Furthermore, after years of rolling her eyes about Millennials, she took a comedy class and met some. Now she's gone all broody about them and thinks they're great young people and need to be encouraged. Exactly the way I am with Gen-Xers. This woman has no children, but she sounds positively motherly when she talks about her Millenial friends. Is maternalism hard-wired into females? Are those of us who are happily child-free destined to eventually "adopt" the next generation and nurture them?
I found some common points with this author, but some of her anxiety-inducing problems made me shrug - like social media. I don't DO social media and never have. This woman immersed herself early on in social media and assumes everyone else has, too. Much of the book is devoted to how social media feeds the anxiety she assumes we all have.
After much hand-wringing, she decides that social media is just a TOOL and it's up to us to use it wisely. The possibility of not using it at all isn't ever mentioned. I have a post-hole digger in the basement and the only time I ever touch it is when I move it to sweep. To me, THAT is "wise use of a tool."
I do have to wonder why a woman with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder - which means she agonizes about EVERYTHING) picked a career that's so high-pressure. She describes the stress of deadlines and book promotion tours. There ARE careers that are calmer, but maybe she enjoys her anxiety. Maybe she's actually proud of it.
It's not that she doesn't tackle some tough topics in this book, because she does. For example, she's concerned (as who isn't?) about mass shootings in America. She makes a vague case that this horrible phenomenon is somehow tied in with the rise of the Khardasians. Gun sales soared when Obama was elected and the Khardasian family became media idols. Her point (I think) is that watching them made young people believe that all that counts in life is being famous and that bad behavior is the quickest way to fame.
I have NO desire to defend the Khardasians, but the Rolling Stones rose to fame using the same technique. Bad Boys get more attention and (in show business) attention is money. They made it work, but it didn't set off a chain of mass shootings. And previous generations had famous people who were mainly famous for being shocking. Clearly, there's got to be more to the problem.
Then there's ecology, a source of worry to most of us which gets worse the more we know. Can we feel proud of "recycling" our used electronics now that we know they go to Third World countries and pollute the soil and water there? Are he helping the earth or only ourselves? How much good are good intentions?
I learned some stuff, like the acronym (probably very old) FOMO - fear of missing out. The author freely admits that much of her anxiety is tied to her unrelenting FOMO, but doesn't know what she can do about it. I learned that the male equivalent of a "Karen" is a "Kevin." Not sure how useful this information will be to me, but now I know.
She's a strange mixture of gloom and devil-may-care. She quotes every "scientific study" that's been done in the last twenty years as proof of our national anxiety, while freely admitting that some of those "studies" involved ten people in some country I can't pronounce and couldn't find on a globe. The last 15% of the book is given over to a "Notes" section in which she lists all the studies and gives links to them. Is she REALLY expecting us to take all this seriously enough to check them out or is she simply showing us that she's done her homework?
On the other hand, I was won over when she came to the top of Maslow's Pyramid of Human Needs: Self-Actualization. I had already decided to skip that one, having no patience for what my parents' generation referred to scornfully as "navel-gazing." So I was completely charmed when the author skipped it, too. She has a sense of humor along with her anxieties. Maybe that's what's kept her going.
I enjoyed this book. This author does what Mark Twain and James Thurber and Will Rogers did in previous generations - makes fun of stuff we don't like, but don't know what to do about. She's sensible enough to realize that many things are much better than they were in the past. So why are we so anxious? Well, some of us are more anxious than others, so there's that. And it's an election year and Americans tend to go a little crazy (OK, a LOT crazy) during election years. And then there's this pandemic thing and the economy has tanked (unless you're have $10 million-worth of stocks, in which case, you're FINE.)
Sadly, it's human nature to take prosperity for granted and to dwell on what doesn't suit us. There's no cure for that except to remind yourself to be grateful for your blessings. This author does that and I like her for it. She doesn't give us the Secret of the Pyramids, but she has found an easy way to make life a little better. Smile. Be patient with people. Over-tip those who work hard and don't make much. Maybe if enough of us try to be decent human beings, we can feel better about ourselves. And maybe feeling better about ourselves will make us calmer and more optimistic and less anxious. It's worth a try, isn't it?
She's a likable woman, as well as an intelligent person and a very funny writer. Now that I've discovered her, I'll be reading more of her books. I don't know about you, but I need all the laughs I can get.
March 18, 2021
Having been completely unfamiliar with Jen Lancaster's work, I was thinking this might be more clinical in nature. I should probably go back and read the blurb that got me to choose this book, because while Lancaster cites plenty of references, the book is more about her humorous observations on how modern culture essentially primes us to feel perpetually lacking and how we often try to resolve that sense of less-than in any of a number of ways that only serve to exacerbate our anxiety. Organized around Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Lancaster works her way up Maslow's pyramid with an entertaining combination of personal stories and research on everything from the lack of nutrition in modern processed food to social media algorithms to theories on the motivations of mass shooters. I was going to knock off a star from the review, because I felt like the last two segments of the book petered out a bit -- one dealt with the Royal Family, which was probably more a case of unfortunate timing than Lancaster's observations and insight, and the other dealt with the modern state of stand-up comedy, which felt a bit pedestrian given that much of the book involves stories of Lancaster taking a class in stand-up comedy and developing strong friendships there. I kept the 5 stars though, because Lancaster got me to laugh out loud several times, as well as challenging some of my 'less reflective' tendencies, and openly discussing her own shortcomings and efforts at personal growth.
unfinished
November 16, 2020I'm being a little more particular about books I spend time with, and I don't think this one's for me. I'm putting it aside for now.
September 12, 2020
I’ve been a long-time reader and fan of Jen Lancaster’s books. Initially, I’ll admit, I was drawn to her snark and humor (no one does snark better than Jen Lancaster). However, in her past few books there has been a progression in her writing to include more serious topics (but still told with a bit of her signature humor) that I’ve really come to enjoy.
In the U.S. of Anxiety, Jen covers the anxiety that we are currently facing as a society, and dives deep into what those factors are. Nothing is safe—Facebook, parenting, the comedy circuit. Her book showed a flair for research and also presenting interesting information in a fun way. The backbone of this book was built around Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs (think of the food pyramid for safety, psychological, and the other things we need to operate as normal humans). Despite this research (and a surprising number of footnotes for her), she still entertains and educates. She also had a personal opinion on Maslow once she got to the top of the pyramid, which I found pretty funny.
Whether you are a Jen Lancaster reader or not it’s definitely worth the read.
In the U.S. of Anxiety, Jen covers the anxiety that we are currently facing as a society, and dives deep into what those factors are. Nothing is safe—Facebook, parenting, the comedy circuit. Her book showed a flair for research and also presenting interesting information in a fun way. The backbone of this book was built around Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs (think of the food pyramid for safety, psychological, and the other things we need to operate as normal humans). Despite this research (and a surprising number of footnotes for her), she still entertains and educates. She also had a personal opinion on Maslow once she got to the top of the pyramid, which I found pretty funny.
Whether you are a Jen Lancaster reader or not it’s definitely worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 756 reviews