Shenanigans: A Memoir

by Abby Kenigsberg

SHENANIGANS is the story of a woman who became a successful media watchdog and a more sympathetic wife, mother, and daughter. Always surrounded by witty and strong minded people, especially her force-of-nature husband, Kenigsberg more than held her own. She pursued a serious career as a media critic and professor having earned respect from New York media. Kenigsberg delivers irreverent descriptions of college professors, corporate bigwigs and never-before-revealed encounters with Dan Rather, Leslie Stahl, Mike Wallace, and Alan King.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[Jenny Houle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does a memoir need struggle to be appealing? Will anyone care about your story if it's just that... your story?

Kenigsberg basically warns in the forward that, for the longest time, she back burnered this book because it didn't have a struggle, but I still found the overall book appealing. I love memoirs because our stories are all unique. And, despite her generally sunny disposition, she did have struggle, she just never let it get her down. As an MS warrior myself, her tiny blurb about her diagnosis and how she handled it was inspiring. Particularly because it was so clearly never the focus of her life (a concept foreign to me as my life tends to revolve around mine).

[BookTrib.com]

Abby Kenigsberg’s lively, funny book, SHENANIGANS, recounts her journey from marriage and motherhood to a groundbreaking career as a media watchdog in the news industry. It’s also a great book club choice with lots of topics for lively discussion.

In college, when a Wellesley professor asked Kenigsberg to define “biography,” she wrote that it was “one man’s opinion of another man’s worth.” She received a D on her essay; her social-history memoir, however, deserves an A+.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/07/07/shena...

[Lisa Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This lady had a successful career and a commendable marriage. I liked the anecdotes about the media celebrities who are, after all, only human. She really captured their strengths, skills, and flaws. The Alan King story of his masterful control of the audience was as well described as what I imagine his performance to be! I admire her brevity and concise writing, where no words are wasted. However, her memoir does not rise to the level of humor or even overcoming obstacles that a good memoir needs, in my opinion. Maybe she made it appear too easy. The privilege inherent in one whose mother attended Wellesley in the 1930’s would be a hard thing to overcome.

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir is mostly a fast, funny, flippant read, although there are poignant parts, such as when the author describes her husband interacting with their sons. I'm afraid I found the sections on her jobs, as well as the famous people she met, not too captivating, though. Finally, the house fire was frightening, and ironically happened shortly after her husband told her never try to save anything in a fire, just get out. But why in the world did she think she could put out an electrical fire with water?

(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the author.)

[Sally Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a witty, at times hilarious, and surprisingly touching memoir! Harkening back to the days when women were truly carving their way into the "men's club" of business and the media, Shenanigans reminds us all of how far the world has come in its treatment of women, but also how far it still has to go. Easy and enjoyable to read, Abby's story is a rare and refreshing glimpse into the life travels of one bright, sassy and determined woman. Loved it!

[Linda Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Kenigsberg writes of her childhood days, college days, and coupling experiences in a way that keeps you turning the pages until finished reading this memoir.

She breaks into a man's world with hard work and determination all while raising three sons and living with her husband, which she describes as tricky. It's an easy and funny read that makes you reminisce about your own life.

[Margot Tutun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and honest memoir about a young woman trying (and succeeding) to "make it" in the tv world in the last few decades. More than that. Scenes from her early childhood and days at 1950's Wellesley College give the mindset of the times and attitudes towards women.