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Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work
On the runway of life, Tim Gunn is the perfect life coach.
You've watched him mentor talented designers on the hit television show Project Runway. Now the inimitable Tim Gunn shares his personal secrets for "making it work"—in your career, relationships, and life. Filled with delightfully dishy stories of fashion's greatest divas, behind-the-scenes glimpses of Runway's biggest drama queens, and never-before-revealed insights into Tim's private life, Gunn's Golden Rules is like no other how-to book you've ever read.
In the world according to Tim, there are no shortcuts to success. Hard work, creativity, and skill are just the beginning. By following eighteen tried-and-true principles, you can apply Tim's rules to anything you set your mind to. You'll learn why Tim frowns on displays of bad behavior, like the vitriolic outburst by Martha Stewart's daughter about her mother's name-brand merchandise. You'll discover the downfalls of divadom as he describes Vogue's André Leon Talley being hand-fed grapes and Anna Wintour being carried downstairs by her bodyguards. And you'll get Tim's view on the backstabbing by one designer on Project Runway and how it brilliantly backfired.
Then there are his down-to-earth guidelines for making life better—for yourself and others—in small and large ways, especially in an age that favors comfort over politeness, ease over style. Texting at the dinner table? Wearing shorts to the theater? Not in Tim's book. Living a well-mannered life of integrity and character is hard work, he admits, but the rewards are many: being a good friend, being glamorous and attractive, and being a success— much like Tim himself!
He is never one to mince words. But Tim Gunn is always warm, witty, wise, and wonderfully supportive— just the mentor you need to design a happy, creative, and fulfilling life that will never go out of style.
You've watched him mentor talented designers on the hit television show Project Runway. Now the inimitable Tim Gunn shares his personal secrets for "making it work"—in your career, relationships, and life. Filled with delightfully dishy stories of fashion's greatest divas, behind-the-scenes glimpses of Runway's biggest drama queens, and never-before-revealed insights into Tim's private life, Gunn's Golden Rules is like no other how-to book you've ever read.
In the world according to Tim, there are no shortcuts to success. Hard work, creativity, and skill are just the beginning. By following eighteen tried-and-true principles, you can apply Tim's rules to anything you set your mind to. You'll learn why Tim frowns on displays of bad behavior, like the vitriolic outburst by Martha Stewart's daughter about her mother's name-brand merchandise. You'll discover the downfalls of divadom as he describes Vogue's André Leon Talley being hand-fed grapes and Anna Wintour being carried downstairs by her bodyguards. And you'll get Tim's view on the backstabbing by one designer on Project Runway and how it brilliantly backfired.
Then there are his down-to-earth guidelines for making life better—for yourself and others—in small and large ways, especially in an age that favors comfort over politeness, ease over style. Texting at the dinner table? Wearing shorts to the theater? Not in Tim's book. Living a well-mannered life of integrity and character is hard work, he admits, but the rewards are many: being a good friend, being glamorous and attractive, and being a success— much like Tim himself!
He is never one to mince words. But Tim Gunn is always warm, witty, wise, and wonderfully supportive— just the mentor you need to design a happy, creative, and fulfilling life that will never go out of style.
258 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2010
136 people are currently reading
5530 people want to read
About the author
Tim Gunn
16 books192 followersTimothy M. Gunn is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was chair of fashion design at Parsons The New School for Design from August 2000 to March 2007 and is well-known as on-air mentor to designers on the Bravo reality television program Project Runway. Gunn's popularity on Project Runway led to his spin-off show, Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, as well as his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 795 reviews
August 9, 2012
So the secret is out. No, not about Gunn being gay. No, not the one about him not having had sex for decades after a bad breakup/AIDS scare. Nope, the biggest secret that I think Gunn has been keeping is this...
Tim Gunn is a genuinely nice guy. Really!
While reading this book, his tips for life, that's the one thing that keeps coming through again and again. After all, we've got chapters here like "Take the high road" and "Niceties are nice". Gunn is never the snarky queen that most would expect here. He is sincere in his offerings of how to make one's way through life, but he's also honest as well. (I love the title of the 2nd chapter, "The world owes you...nothing"!)
Gunn gives some background regarding his trials and tribulations, and those are nice examples of what he's talking about. He has taken the high road himself several times, even though he's been sorely tempted to be just as nasty in return. He's just got a nice style to his writing, one that makes it seem as if you'd totally be able to have a conversation if you happened to meet him on the street. He's the gay everyman, I suppose. And he's just about as worried as I am about where the youth of today are headed. In Chapter 5, he's talking about students who say they're not "inspired", and that they need "inspiration" but don't know where to find it. Gunn responds "Look around you!... Look out the window. Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Go to a museum. Go see a show. Read a book. Go to the library.... Have a conversation." THANK YOU. It seems like too many young people today expect the world to just give them what they need. Wake up! You need to look for these things yourself - which makes them more meaningful in the long run. Sigh.
I definitely recommend this book. It's short, it's sweet, and he's got some very good advice. If you're not going to pick it up, here are the rules to live by, and I would agree that they are some very good rules for life.
1. Make it work
2. The world owes you...nothing
3. Take the high road
4. Don't abuse your power - or surrender it
5. Get inspired if it kills you
6. Never underestimate karma
7. Niceties are nice
8. Physical comfort is overrated
9. Talk to me: there's always another side to the story
10. Be a good guest or stay home (I won't judge you - I hate parties)
11. Use technology: don't let it use you
12. Don't lose your sense of smell
13. Know what to get off your chest and what to take to the grave
14. When in Rome... I still wouldn't eat monkey brains
15. When you need help, get it
16. Take risks! Playing it safe is never really safe
17. Give back (but know your limits)
18. Carry on!
Tim Gunn is a genuinely nice guy. Really!
While reading this book, his tips for life, that's the one thing that keeps coming through again and again. After all, we've got chapters here like "Take the high road" and "Niceties are nice". Gunn is never the snarky queen that most would expect here. He is sincere in his offerings of how to make one's way through life, but he's also honest as well. (I love the title of the 2nd chapter, "The world owes you...nothing"!)
Gunn gives some background regarding his trials and tribulations, and those are nice examples of what he's talking about. He has taken the high road himself several times, even though he's been sorely tempted to be just as nasty in return. He's just got a nice style to his writing, one that makes it seem as if you'd totally be able to have a conversation if you happened to meet him on the street. He's the gay everyman, I suppose. And he's just about as worried as I am about where the youth of today are headed. In Chapter 5, he's talking about students who say they're not "inspired", and that they need "inspiration" but don't know where to find it. Gunn responds "Look around you!... Look out the window. Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Go to a museum. Go see a show. Read a book. Go to the library.... Have a conversation." THANK YOU. It seems like too many young people today expect the world to just give them what they need. Wake up! You need to look for these things yourself - which makes them more meaningful in the long run. Sigh.
I definitely recommend this book. It's short, it's sweet, and he's got some very good advice. If you're not going to pick it up, here are the rules to live by, and I would agree that they are some very good rules for life.
1. Make it work
2. The world owes you...nothing
3. Take the high road
4. Don't abuse your power - or surrender it
5. Get inspired if it kills you
6. Never underestimate karma
7. Niceties are nice
8. Physical comfort is overrated
9. Talk to me: there's always another side to the story
10. Be a good guest or stay home (I won't judge you - I hate parties)
11. Use technology: don't let it use you
12. Don't lose your sense of smell
13. Know what to get off your chest and what to take to the grave
14. When in Rome... I still wouldn't eat monkey brains
15. When you need help, get it
16. Take risks! Playing it safe is never really safe
17. Give back (but know your limits)
18. Carry on!
April 19, 2011
A lot of reviews I have read on various sites for this book mention that Tim Gunn rambles on and on and jumps from one this to another. Yes he does, but I love it. I love it because I feel that he and I are meeting for lunch and he is sharing with me all these interesting things that have happened to him or around him. He is very open and genuine in this book and I didn't get the feeling at all that he was making any of this up or needed to punch up the excitement so embellished things, like other celebrities seem to do with their own memoirs.
What I especially loved about this book is that it isn't just anecdotes from his life. He often uses these anecdotes to preach a much needed message for this day and age: politeness and integrity. For most of my life, I have worked to be as polite and appropriate as possible because it is important to me and I felt like the world needed a little more sincere and polite people in it. Of course I have failed and not been as polite as I should have been, or I handled something in a way I regret, but I have also had the problem of not standing up for myself because I thought that it might be construed as rude. Tim Gunn's book has opened my eyes to a better way of being polite without being a pushover. The anecdotes really illustrate what he says. The title of the book includes his famous motto "Make it work!" Here, it doesn't just mean, "Make your outfit work," it means "Use what life throws at you, turn it around, and make it work!" I am so glad that someone has taken the time to write a book like this to encourage people in this day in age to be a little kinder rather than be a cutthroat. Too many people are stepping on other people's toes to get where they want to go and people hardly ever give others the time of day anymore, especially in big cities.
What I especially loved about this book is that it isn't just anecdotes from his life. He often uses these anecdotes to preach a much needed message for this day and age: politeness and integrity. For most of my life, I have worked to be as polite and appropriate as possible because it is important to me and I felt like the world needed a little more sincere and polite people in it. Of course I have failed and not been as polite as I should have been, or I handled something in a way I regret, but I have also had the problem of not standing up for myself because I thought that it might be construed as rude. Tim Gunn's book has opened my eyes to a better way of being polite without being a pushover. The anecdotes really illustrate what he says. The title of the book includes his famous motto "Make it work!" Here, it doesn't just mean, "Make your outfit work," it means "Use what life throws at you, turn it around, and make it work!" I am so glad that someone has taken the time to write a book like this to encourage people in this day in age to be a little kinder rather than be a cutthroat. Too many people are stepping on other people's toes to get where they want to go and people hardly ever give others the time of day anymore, especially in big cities.
December 23, 2010
I'm probably waaay over thinking my reaction to Gunn's Golden Rules. I was entertained and amused, even a little bit edified. But it still strikes me as an odd, even inconsistent book.
Presumably the draw for most fans of Project Runway's congenial but incisive mentor figure Tim Gunn (certainly for me) is the promise of some juicy insider chat, which Gunn delivers a good bit of. You might hope for Gunn to dish about fashion world figures like Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley (yes), assorted Project Runway contestants (yes), Parsons (oh my, yes, that bridge is burnt), and Heidi, Micheal, and Nina (not a chance).
But Gunn is, I think, too sincerely principled to want to produce a gossip-centric volume, and what results is a peculiar mish-mash of gossip, memoir, and Gunn's (as the subtitle puts it) "[Life's] Little Lessons for Making It Work." Gunn's guidelines are reasonable, pithily expressed and ably supported (his suggestions for giving design critiques are particularly useful). There's nothing holier-than-thou about it, either; Gunn is not all reticent about criticizing himself. But the general tone of the volume is distinctly anti-snark, so there's a slight tension between the book's message and its contents. At times I almost felt like there was an implicit quid pro quo: eat your healthy precepts, then you can have your catty gossip.
My vague unease with the book was exacerbated by the absence (largely) of Gunn's distinctive voice. Project Runway's editors leave in many instances of Gunn's vivid and precise vocabulary (he's a use-exactly-the-right-word kind of guy), and my ideal of a Tim Gunn book would send the less erudite portion of the readership scurrying for a dictionary at least a few times. But Calhoun (I suspect) has largely excised Gunn's most flavorful language. On page 74 I found a glimmer of what I felt was lacking ("Every corpuscle of every society in the history of this globe has religion at its core!" I brayed at him.), but moments like those are thin on the ground throughout.
Warning: from time to time you may be overcome by a strong desire to give Tim Gunn a hug and say, "there, there."
Presumably the draw for most fans of Project Runway's congenial but incisive mentor figure Tim Gunn (certainly for me) is the promise of some juicy insider chat, which Gunn delivers a good bit of. You might hope for Gunn to dish about fashion world figures like Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley (yes), assorted Project Runway contestants (yes), Parsons (oh my, yes, that bridge is burnt), and Heidi, Micheal, and Nina (not a chance).
But Gunn is, I think, too sincerely principled to want to produce a gossip-centric volume, and what results is a peculiar mish-mash of gossip, memoir, and Gunn's (as the subtitle puts it) "[Life's] Little Lessons for Making It Work." Gunn's guidelines are reasonable, pithily expressed and ably supported (his suggestions for giving design critiques are particularly useful). There's nothing holier-than-thou about it, either; Gunn is not all reticent about criticizing himself. But the general tone of the volume is distinctly anti-snark, so there's a slight tension between the book's message and its contents. At times I almost felt like there was an implicit quid pro quo: eat your healthy precepts, then you can have your catty gossip.
My vague unease with the book was exacerbated by the absence (largely) of Gunn's distinctive voice. Project Runway's editors leave in many instances of Gunn's vivid and precise vocabulary (he's a use-exactly-the-right-word kind of guy), and my ideal of a Tim Gunn book would send the less erudite portion of the readership scurrying for a dictionary at least a few times. But Calhoun (I suspect) has largely excised Gunn's most flavorful language. On page 74 I found a glimmer of what I felt was lacking ("Every corpuscle of every society in the history of this globe has religion at its core!" I brayed at him.), but moments like those are thin on the ground throughout.
Warning: from time to time you may be overcome by a strong desire to give Tim Gunn a hug and say, "there, there."
March 10, 2013
OK, I admit it. I'm a Project Runway fan, and the main reason is Tim Gunn. This book was an impulse buy, and has been sitting on the shelf for a while. I'm glad I finally picked it up. Great literature it's not (but then, you didn't expect that, did you?); what it is is a fun, straightforward narrative that tells us exactly the kinds of things we would expect Tim Gunn to tell us--that working hard, being nice, and having good manners are important, and that laziness, meanness, and lying are to be avoided at all costs. Not a bad set of guidelines for living a good life.
There's much good gossip--told with a candor that's surprising, if one wants to maintain certain types of relationships in the business world--yet the stories don't come across as mean-spirited. If anything, you agree with Tim, since his examples are of people behaving inappropriately (high-handedly, as in Anna Wintour of Vogue being carried down stairs by her bodyguards after a fashion show, or Isaac Mizrahi throwing a fit because someone dared to wear brown in his presence).
Ultimately, the book seemed much like Tim himself--or at least how Tim comes across in the media--a bright, nice, no-nonsense kind of guy with high standards that translate into a strong work ethic and personal integrity. Pretty good company for a few hours' reading.
There's much good gossip--told with a candor that's surprising, if one wants to maintain certain types of relationships in the business world--yet the stories don't come across as mean-spirited. If anything, you agree with Tim, since his examples are of people behaving inappropriately (high-handedly, as in Anna Wintour of Vogue being carried down stairs by her bodyguards after a fashion show, or Isaac Mizrahi throwing a fit because someone dared to wear brown in his presence).
Ultimately, the book seemed much like Tim himself--or at least how Tim comes across in the media--a bright, nice, no-nonsense kind of guy with high standards that translate into a strong work ethic and personal integrity. Pretty good company for a few hours' reading.
September 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this. Reading this book was like having a long afternoon chat with a very good friend.
October 26, 2017
Delicious!! Organized around 18 rules for living life, this is full of wise nuggets and tv and fashion industry dishing of the highest order (my favorite part!). Organized may not be exactly the right word, because this was completely stream-of-conscience, as if he was across the table telling me about himself, his life and his philosophy in no particular order. Often I asked myself "what rule are we on?", but who cares?! I just kept moving forward. I already love Tim Gunn from being a die-hard Project Runway fan and I love him even more after reading this book. It's so fun that Season 16 is on right now. I will watch with an added layer of appreciation.
This is the November pick for our art museum book club, and I'm eager to see what art they will connect with it and what others have to say about their reading experience.
This is the November pick for our art museum book club, and I'm eager to see what art they will connect with it and what others have to say about their reading experience.
November 9, 2010
pleasing to read, & actually full of good advice. people who know me would not necessarily describe me as "nice"...well, there's no "not necessarily" about it, actually. no one has ever described me as nice in my entire life, whether they knew me or not. much of tim's advice is about generally being polite, which many people mistake for nice, but i think there is an important distinction, & it is well-drawn here. i am very polite. i don't point out mistakes that people can't change, i am gracious with my "please"s & "thank you"s, i tip well, etc. but i am not nice. i love to gossip, i won't compliment someone just to make them feel good (unless i mean it), & i am very outspoken & critical when the situation calls for it.
so, i loved this book, because it seems like tim is the exact same way. there were some weird stories in here which seemed to deviate a little bit...like one about holiday dinner. a guest stage-whispered to her husband that the conversation was really dull, & tim threw down his napkin, made some scathing acknowledgment of the stage whisper & stormed off. i think this kind of outburst is actually arguably more rude than the initial stage-whisper. but tim insists that there is a difference between taking the high road & allowing yourself to be abused, so maybe he thought he was sticking up for himself? who knows?
there's plenty of dishy stuff in here about tim's personal life, backstage on "project runway," various new york celebrities & charity functions, etc. some of it was interesting, but i was really more interested in the life philosophy elements. the only thing that gave me pause was the remark about how women over thirty generally should avoid having hair long past their shoulders. i am a woman over thirty & my hair is down to my waist. sometimes it gets in the way, but i don't think its length is really an etiquette issue.
i really wish some former friends of mine would read this book. there's some good stuff in here about seeking out help when you need it (including mental health help), which is in keeping with my refrain of "get it together & keep it together". i can't deal with people who can't handle their problems in life. too exhausting. there's also good stuff about learning to say no, the world doesn't owe you anything, being a good houseguest, etc. better than i expected, by far!
so, i loved this book, because it seems like tim is the exact same way. there were some weird stories in here which seemed to deviate a little bit...like one about holiday dinner. a guest stage-whispered to her husband that the conversation was really dull, & tim threw down his napkin, made some scathing acknowledgment of the stage whisper & stormed off. i think this kind of outburst is actually arguably more rude than the initial stage-whisper. but tim insists that there is a difference between taking the high road & allowing yourself to be abused, so maybe he thought he was sticking up for himself? who knows?
there's plenty of dishy stuff in here about tim's personal life, backstage on "project runway," various new york celebrities & charity functions, etc. some of it was interesting, but i was really more interested in the life philosophy elements. the only thing that gave me pause was the remark about how women over thirty generally should avoid having hair long past their shoulders. i am a woman over thirty & my hair is down to my waist. sometimes it gets in the way, but i don't think its length is really an etiquette issue.
i really wish some former friends of mine would read this book. there's some good stuff in here about seeking out help when you need it (including mental health help), which is in keeping with my refrain of "get it together & keep it together". i can't deal with people who can't handle their problems in life. too exhausting. there's also good stuff about learning to say no, the world doesn't owe you anything, being a good houseguest, etc. better than i expected, by far!
April 11, 2012
Yo, I totally forgot to review this. Oops. Well, I'll attempt to do so now.
So, first of all, Tim Gunn is the man. He's just adorable and awesome, and I love him. I've been a Project Runway addict since I was 13 or so ... so, for like six years or something like that. Tim is one of my absolute favorite parts of the show. I love his comments ... I love the way he gets all red in the face when he's about to tell someone he hates their design. It's just hilarious. But seriously, he seems like such a nice guy and he gives such good advice to the contestants.
I found it entertaining to read all his insights––not just about Project Runway, but about life and creativity. It was really interesting to find out, first of all, how the TV show came into being and how no one really expected its success. I didn't know how much of an influence Tim Gunn had on making the show the way it is, so that was cool.
Now, I'm not a designer, but I think anyone who is interested in any kind of art/creativity could find inspiration from Tim. He gives good advice about persevering and finishing everything you've started, even if you think it sucks. (As he always tells the Project Runway contestants, "Make it work!")
The only thing that bothered me about this book was that it felt rather disjointed. It had a lot of good advice and a lot of really funny stories in it, but sometimes not all of it went together. Sometimes the subject would completely change between one paragraph and the next and it would be like ... what? Where did that come from? But ... oh well. I guess Tim is a fashion expert and not really a writer. Still, I enjoyed his jumble of rants and stories that made up this book. Over all, it was quite entertaining.
So, first of all, Tim Gunn is the man. He's just adorable and awesome, and I love him. I've been a Project Runway addict since I was 13 or so ... so, for like six years or something like that. Tim is one of my absolute favorite parts of the show. I love his comments ... I love the way he gets all red in the face when he's about to tell someone he hates their design. It's just hilarious. But seriously, he seems like such a nice guy and he gives such good advice to the contestants.
I found it entertaining to read all his insights––not just about Project Runway, but about life and creativity. It was really interesting to find out, first of all, how the TV show came into being and how no one really expected its success. I didn't know how much of an influence Tim Gunn had on making the show the way it is, so that was cool.
Now, I'm not a designer, but I think anyone who is interested in any kind of art/creativity could find inspiration from Tim. He gives good advice about persevering and finishing everything you've started, even if you think it sucks. (As he always tells the Project Runway contestants, "Make it work!")
The only thing that bothered me about this book was that it felt rather disjointed. It had a lot of good advice and a lot of really funny stories in it, but sometimes not all of it went together. Sometimes the subject would completely change between one paragraph and the next and it would be like ... what? Where did that come from? But ... oh well. I guess Tim is a fashion expert and not really a writer. Still, I enjoyed his jumble of rants and stories that made up this book. Over all, it was quite entertaining.
November 7, 2010
I got this book not knowing what it would be about. I wasn't sure if it would only be about designing or the industry. I found this book to be very helpful, a fun read and easy to understand. I enjoyed learning about Tim Gunn's life along with the lessons he passes on to the reader. I found him likable, entertaining, thoughtful, smart and someone I would love to have over for dinner. Although after reading his book you will find that he would probably not want to come for dinner and would just send a nice note instead. The lessons in the book are perfect for any age group. I would say this is a must read for any college student about to enter the work force. Of course all of us can use a little reminder of his basic life lessons of being honest yet thoughtful when we respond to others, holding the door for others as well as saying thank you to those who hold the door for you, and of course sending some kind of thank you for any gift you receive! I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick read filled with fun gossip and helpful tips for enjoying your life.
September 25, 2010
I love Tim Gunn, but he proves himself to be a bit of an old fogey with this book. "Uncle Nag" is right! I mean, a woman over thirty shouldn't have hair well past her shoulders? O rly, Tim? I did enjoy the insight into his life and his family and the gossip bits were great. Buuuut if you were truly taking the high road wouldn't you not gossip? Like, at all?
September 23, 2010
Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn seems to be a great paradox. As a TV personality, he’s both persnickety and charming; he’s particular about things and yet very accommodating in making others feel comfortable with social interaction. This little book is filled with his witticisms, celebrity gossip, show insight and social etiquette. There’s not much else to this book but Tim (and his ghostwriter Ada Calhoun, who gets graciously thanked in a very thorough Afterward). Tim just sits and rattles off stories; they’re supposedly based around his ten “rules” about proper etiquette and gracious living. But in truth, these chapters are a deft collection of his anecdotes from his WASP upbringing, his work in high fashion, his famous friends, and his successful foray into reality television.
Tim does have some very good rules (which he breaks, like he says that you don’t need to tell people stuff they don’t need to know, and then he tells us all about his celibacy.) He’s also very funny and, despite his admittance of hermit-like behavior, his voice his very gregarious and generous. You can hear his distinct baritone while reading the book. In short, it’s a fun, breezy read, totally worth the couple hours it will take you.
By the way, Orlando designer Jesse Lenoir is mentioned in the first chapter. ;-)
It feels ridicules to complain about a call from Bette Midler, but I feel like I can, because it’s not like she ever calls just to chat. It’s always about an event. Not long ago, she called to invite me to a fund-raiser for the New York Restoration project, her tree-planting initiative here in New York City. Well, it wasn’t really an invite so much as an order. “You are coming to this even I’m having, aren’t you?” she said. “And you are buying a tree, aren’t you?”
I did go, and I bought two trees, and it was all perfectly charming—but also, like all these things, a little painful. I was sitting next to Martha Stewart at the dinner, and the second Bette stood up to speak, Martha vanished. I turned around and she was gone, without a trace.
“Where’d she go,” I whispered to someone at the table.
“When she knows she’s about to get hit up for money, she does a disappearing act,” the person replied.
I should have her teach me that trick, I thought.
Tim does have some very good rules (which he breaks, like he says that you don’t need to tell people stuff they don’t need to know, and then he tells us all about his celibacy.) He’s also very funny and, despite his admittance of hermit-like behavior, his voice his very gregarious and generous. You can hear his distinct baritone while reading the book. In short, it’s a fun, breezy read, totally worth the couple hours it will take you.
By the way, Orlando designer Jesse Lenoir is mentioned in the first chapter. ;-)
September 21, 2010
Let's get this over with. I love Project Runway. I always have. I've also always loved Tim Gunn, both as an entertainer and as a teacher. Now, normally I don't read a lot of nonfiction and I never read self-help or advice books. I believe in independence. Still, as time goes on I find that there's nothing wrong with getting a little help when you need it. Tim's book, thankfully, reads more as an analysis of why we're so grumpy as Americans, than it goes some turn-your-life-around guidebook. It also helps that the book is riddled with many entertaining stories about his personal life and the fashion industry. Of course, the advice he does offer up is of the top notch as far as I'm concerned. Anyone who has an interest in Tim, or Project runway, or who thinks people are just way too damn rude, should definitely read this. I loved it.
February 27, 2012
I'd actually give this book 3-1/2 stars but I just rounded up.
Cons: The writing was all over the place. Most frustrating for me was that I often had to go back and reread paragraphs to trace his thought development. And despite several rereads of particular sections, sentence structure at times seemed confusing at best, or self-negating at worst.
Pros: The book reflects his public image as a mild-mannered cultural savant who is also an approachable and personable gentleman. His anecdotes were laugh-out-loud funny as well as heartbreakingly sad, resulting in this reader to foster a sense of endearment towards, and nostalgic familiarity with, the author.
Conclusion: Tim Gunn is the proper, nervously loquacious, dapper uncle-figure that everybody should be so lucky to have in their lives, or at least get the chance to meet (if only through a book or TV show).
Cons: The writing was all over the place. Most frustrating for me was that I often had to go back and reread paragraphs to trace his thought development. And despite several rereads of particular sections, sentence structure at times seemed confusing at best, or self-negating at worst.
Pros: The book reflects his public image as a mild-mannered cultural savant who is also an approachable and personable gentleman. His anecdotes were laugh-out-loud funny as well as heartbreakingly sad, resulting in this reader to foster a sense of endearment towards, and nostalgic familiarity with, the author.
Conclusion: Tim Gunn is the proper, nervously loquacious, dapper uncle-figure that everybody should be so lucky to have in their lives, or at least get the chance to meet (if only through a book or TV show).
July 31, 2016
I love Project Runway and Tim Gunn's catch phrase: "Make it work."
This has some nuggets of minding your manners as well as some nice stories involving some of the industry's elite.
A quick and enjoyable read.
This has some nuggets of minding your manners as well as some nice stories involving some of the industry's elite.
A quick and enjoyable read.
September 26, 2011
I’m a fan of Project Runway and who doesn’t adore Tim Gunn? He’s the uptight yet charming and adorable mentor who has definite rules about what he likes and doesn’t like. However he delivers those criticisms with such an engaging manner that you can’t help but love him even as he so charmingly tells the designer it’s all crap. That kind of dichotomy is on full display in his Guide to Making it Work.
Though this is technically an etiquette book and filled with rules on manners, the main take away message is always be polite, the writing is more memoir style than anything. Gunn’s internal voice wanders frequently, injecting stories and memories into chapters that sometimes reflect the rule he’s trying to teach but mostly are just stories he wants to share. Sometimes the story dovetail perfectly as an example, such as showing how failing to be polite can bite you in the ass, but sometimes the stories come off as slightly weird and out of place, such as the whole tidbit about Hoover in drag.
While this may not be the most focused, cohesive narrative, it’s absolutely one I loved and couldn’t put down. Gunn’s voice is instantly engaging and he comes across as a real gentleman, one of the last remaining polite people around. He shows how he breaks his own rules yet struggles to do the right thing each time. He may not always succeed and he’s guilty of breaking his own rules within the pages of his book but overall his infractions are minor and to the reader’s benefit.
There is a lot of personal information about Gunn offered when he talks about his difficult family relationships, his one attempt at a relationship that failed and he’s never had another lover, coping with his sexuality and lack thereof, and above all his belief in himself and contentment with his life. He doesn’t necessarily advocate his lifestyle and choices to others, but he explains the inherent benefits they’ve given him and why he’s happy alone. He talks about how being polite is never a wrong choice and how it’s literally led him to his success.
While Gunn is a great storyteller, abet a bit unfocused and all over the place, he comes across as somewhat pandering in a few places. I don’t hold this against him in anyway because I simply love his voice and good nature, but he does simplify a lot of problems people face with the advice of taking the high road or simply being nice. It’s a great idea and theory and Gunn does show how he frequently struggles with such advice himself but he keeps the tone intentionally light and thus the impact of his advice is similar to a virtual pat on the head at times.
However this again is a very minor complaint against a book filled with entertaining stories and good insight. Gunn is truly the consummate gentleman and even when offering gossipy backstories he maintains his dignity and never gets nasty. He’s just a little bit salacious while maintaining an innocent expression. It’s delicious and creates a book you simply don’t want to end. It’s a small book but one that I’ll likely give to everyone I know.
Though this is technically an etiquette book and filled with rules on manners, the main take away message is always be polite, the writing is more memoir style than anything. Gunn’s internal voice wanders frequently, injecting stories and memories into chapters that sometimes reflect the rule he’s trying to teach but mostly are just stories he wants to share. Sometimes the story dovetail perfectly as an example, such as showing how failing to be polite can bite you in the ass, but sometimes the stories come off as slightly weird and out of place, such as the whole tidbit about Hoover in drag.
While this may not be the most focused, cohesive narrative, it’s absolutely one I loved and couldn’t put down. Gunn’s voice is instantly engaging and he comes across as a real gentleman, one of the last remaining polite people around. He shows how he breaks his own rules yet struggles to do the right thing each time. He may not always succeed and he’s guilty of breaking his own rules within the pages of his book but overall his infractions are minor and to the reader’s benefit.
There is a lot of personal information about Gunn offered when he talks about his difficult family relationships, his one attempt at a relationship that failed and he’s never had another lover, coping with his sexuality and lack thereof, and above all his belief in himself and contentment with his life. He doesn’t necessarily advocate his lifestyle and choices to others, but he explains the inherent benefits they’ve given him and why he’s happy alone. He talks about how being polite is never a wrong choice and how it’s literally led him to his success.
While Gunn is a great storyteller, abet a bit unfocused and all over the place, he comes across as somewhat pandering in a few places. I don’t hold this against him in anyway because I simply love his voice and good nature, but he does simplify a lot of problems people face with the advice of taking the high road or simply being nice. It’s a great idea and theory and Gunn does show how he frequently struggles with such advice himself but he keeps the tone intentionally light and thus the impact of his advice is similar to a virtual pat on the head at times.
However this again is a very minor complaint against a book filled with entertaining stories and good insight. Gunn is truly the consummate gentleman and even when offering gossipy backstories he maintains his dignity and never gets nasty. He’s just a little bit salacious while maintaining an innocent expression. It’s delicious and creates a book you simply don’t want to end. It’s a small book but one that I’ll likely give to everyone I know.
December 28, 2010
I enjoyed Tim's first book even more than I thought I would so I had high hopes for this one. I find Tim's gentle, mannerly civility very appealing. A book on how to get me some of that seemed to be the perfect antidote to a world that feels decidedly rude and sub-casual.
And it would have been but this was not that book. While Tim talks a great deal about a kinder, gentler, more thoughtful approach to our interactions with others he frequently tells unflattering tales about his famous friends and colleagues. Now, I'm not opposed to a little light-hearted gossip but it becomes a little unsavory when it's served between courses of admonitions to be nice.
That said, what is Alexis Stewart's deal? And, I'd pretty much always suspected that about Padma, hadn't you?
Tim does his most discomfiting skewering right up front which leaves the rest of book open for both more humor and more personal asides. About three chapters into the book I'd given up trying to figure out the structure and just pretended I was having coffee with Tim. Well, not with Tim. He'd never have coffee with me. More like next to Tim while he was gossiping with a friend and I listened to every word. The lack of cohesiveness was less annoying that way and I was able to enjoy the rest of the book with its personal revelations (his father was J. Edgar Hoover's ghost-writer, that made for some interesting stories) and tidbits about the show.
Interestingly, every once in a while I caught a glimmer of an almost Log Cabin-ish attitude from Tim. Talk about core curriculums and not being owed anything and frustration over union issues at Parsons and whatnot. I think Tim is a repressed Republican and just not ready to come to terms with the person he really is. I look forward to the day when an openly gay man who works in the fashion industry can embrace his conservatism without shame or fear of retribution. Only then will we be able to say that we are truly liberated.
And it would have been but this was not that book. While Tim talks a great deal about a kinder, gentler, more thoughtful approach to our interactions with others he frequently tells unflattering tales about his famous friends and colleagues. Now, I'm not opposed to a little light-hearted gossip but it becomes a little unsavory when it's served between courses of admonitions to be nice.
That said, what is Alexis Stewart's deal? And, I'd pretty much always suspected that about Padma, hadn't you?
Tim does his most discomfiting skewering right up front which leaves the rest of book open for both more humor and more personal asides. About three chapters into the book I'd given up trying to figure out the structure and just pretended I was having coffee with Tim. Well, not with Tim. He'd never have coffee with me. More like next to Tim while he was gossiping with a friend and I listened to every word. The lack of cohesiveness was less annoying that way and I was able to enjoy the rest of the book with its personal revelations (his father was J. Edgar Hoover's ghost-writer, that made for some interesting stories) and tidbits about the show.
Interestingly, every once in a while I caught a glimmer of an almost Log Cabin-ish attitude from Tim. Talk about core curriculums and not being owed anything and frustration over union issues at Parsons and whatnot. I think Tim is a repressed Republican and just not ready to come to terms with the person he really is. I look forward to the day when an openly gay man who works in the fashion industry can embrace his conservatism without shame or fear of retribution. Only then will we be able to say that we are truly liberated.
September 13, 2011
I adore Tim Gunn on PROJECT RUNWAY, so I gladly took up the chance to get a free copy of his book and get it signed by him at Fashion Night Out last week.
This is a rather wacky book.
It's structured as an advice or etiquette guide, complete with life rules like "Make it work" and "Carry on." And it's written in Mr. Gunn's crisp, considerate voice, instantly recognizable from PR and all his other appearances. (He had a ghostwriter, whom he thanks generously, but it was obviously put together from his direct writings or interviews.)
But what it really turns out to be is a somewhat meandering memoir of his life experiences and anecdotes about being part of the fashion world -- and he doesn't hesitate to make snarky remarks or share unflattering details about EVERYONE, including Nina Garcia, Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart (who apparently leaves charity galas before they start asking for money), J. Edgar Hoover (whom he believes he once met dressed in drag), and his father (whom he speculates was actually Hoover's lover). He himself isn't spared -- he talks frankly about falling in love in his twenties, having his heart broken, and not having another relationship since then.
I found it a quick, entertaining, and enjoyable read, often laughing out loud at its matter-of-fact impolitics. And I still would like Tim Gunn to come in and tell me what to do in many areas of my life, most especially my wardrobe. But even more than I suspected from PR: He's an unusual duck. And bless him for it.
This is a rather wacky book.
It's structured as an advice or etiquette guide, complete with life rules like "Make it work" and "Carry on." And it's written in Mr. Gunn's crisp, considerate voice, instantly recognizable from PR and all his other appearances. (He had a ghostwriter, whom he thanks generously, but it was obviously put together from his direct writings or interviews.)
But what it really turns out to be is a somewhat meandering memoir of his life experiences and anecdotes about being part of the fashion world -- and he doesn't hesitate to make snarky remarks or share unflattering details about EVERYONE, including Nina Garcia, Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart (who apparently leaves charity galas before they start asking for money), J. Edgar Hoover (whom he believes he once met dressed in drag), and his father (whom he speculates was actually Hoover's lover). He himself isn't spared -- he talks frankly about falling in love in his twenties, having his heart broken, and not having another relationship since then.
I found it a quick, entertaining, and enjoyable read, often laughing out loud at its matter-of-fact impolitics. And I still would like Tim Gunn to come in and tell me what to do in many areas of my life, most especially my wardrobe. But even more than I suspected from PR: He's an unusual duck. And bless him for it.
November 14, 2010
Gunn's Golden Rules perfectly distills the essence of Project Runway's breakout star, Tim Gunn, within its instructive pages. It's impossible to read a single paragraph without hearing Gunn's distinctive voice in every arch phrase.
Unfortunately, entertaining as Gunn's anecdotes can be, his ghost writer and collaborator has done absolutely nothing to give shape or even the illusion of structure to what's supposed to be a light-hearted biography-cum-book of modern etiquette. Gunn's stream-of-thought ramblings pingpong from one topic to another, such as a gossipy tidbit about Martha Stewart here, to incoherent and unfinished reminiscences about second-grade classmates there, to what Ashton Kutcher tweeted about Brittany Murphy, to what input setting on Gunn's HDTV one must use in order to watch cable channels (it's 'component,' if you're sleeping on his apartment futon, which you won't be, since he hates overnight guests)—often all on the same page.
Taken in small, chapter-sized doses, Gunn's Golden Rules is a little like having quick pick-up lunches with one's favorite reality TV star. Read in larger chunks, it's akin to being caught in a trapped elevator with a fussbudget who's not shy about sharing at length his many particularities.
Unfortunately, entertaining as Gunn's anecdotes can be, his ghost writer and collaborator has done absolutely nothing to give shape or even the illusion of structure to what's supposed to be a light-hearted biography-cum-book of modern etiquette. Gunn's stream-of-thought ramblings pingpong from one topic to another, such as a gossipy tidbit about Martha Stewart here, to incoherent and unfinished reminiscences about second-grade classmates there, to what Ashton Kutcher tweeted about Brittany Murphy, to what input setting on Gunn's HDTV one must use in order to watch cable channels (it's 'component,' if you're sleeping on his apartment futon, which you won't be, since he hates overnight guests)—often all on the same page.
Taken in small, chapter-sized doses, Gunn's Golden Rules is a little like having quick pick-up lunches with one's favorite reality TV star. Read in larger chunks, it's akin to being caught in a trapped elevator with a fussbudget who's not shy about sharing at length his many particularities.
April 11, 2021
I adore Tim Gunn and really enjoyed reading this. This book is partly a memoir and partly an anecdotal guide to manners and decency.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“You can be too rich and too thin, but you can never be too well read or too curious about the world.”
“I am a stickler for good manners, and I believe that treating other people well is a lost art. In the workplace, at the dinner table, and walking down the street--we are confronted with choices on how to treat people nearly every waking moment. Over time these choices define who we are and whether we have a lot of friends and allies or none.”
“I don’t believe in texting while dining, sending one-word e-mails in lieu of formal thank-you cards, wearing shorts to the theater, or settling for any of the modern trends that favor comfort over politeness, ease over style. Manners are simply about asking yourself: ‘What’s the right thing to do?’”
Some of my favorite quotes:
“You can be too rich and too thin, but you can never be too well read or too curious about the world.”
“I am a stickler for good manners, and I believe that treating other people well is a lost art. In the workplace, at the dinner table, and walking down the street--we are confronted with choices on how to treat people nearly every waking moment. Over time these choices define who we are and whether we have a lot of friends and allies or none.”
“I don’t believe in texting while dining, sending one-word e-mails in lieu of formal thank-you cards, wearing shorts to the theater, or settling for any of the modern trends that favor comfort over politeness, ease over style. Manners are simply about asking yourself: ‘What’s the right thing to do?’”
July 24, 2012
I had never heard of the author before reading this book, and have no interest at all in fashion. But that's okay as he pretty much uses any fashion-related incidents to make larger points.
Overall, I'm so impressed I could go on gushing about what a nice guy he is, though I'm sure his detractors (he mentions "falling out" with various people) have some points as well. His points about how to present one's self and treat others seemed like common sense to me, but there are jerks out there who behave badly.
If there's a single sort-of-glaring negative (that took the fifth star with it), that'd be Too Much Information regarding his personal life. Doesn't stop me from declaring this one Highly Recommended though!
Overall, I'm so impressed I could go on gushing about what a nice guy he is, though I'm sure his detractors (he mentions "falling out" with various people) have some points as well. His points about how to present one's self and treat others seemed like common sense to me, but there are jerks out there who behave badly.
If there's a single sort-of-glaring negative (that took the fifth star with it), that'd be Too Much Information regarding his personal life. Doesn't stop me from declaring this one Highly Recommended though!
March 22, 2013
I love Tim Gunn, I do. I find his quirkiness endearing and enjoy his exchanges with the contestants on Project Runway. I expected to see more of that Tim Gunn in this book. I was mildly disappointed.
His talent, obviously, is in his styling and sewing skills, and less in his writing, what seemed off to me was his "voice" seemed so unlike his real voice. It was as though someone else had edited him away. There are still stories that may or may not appeal to you, and as an author he is an improvement over many popular authors.
I particularly enjoyed the stories of his youth and his relationships with his family.
March 3, 2020
I think Tim and I would be great friends
September 13, 2014
This is a light and frothy confection, more a rambling collection of Tim's musings on many topics than an etiquette manual, which is his claim for the book. So it was a little disappointing. However, we do get a sense of Tim Gunn the human, his likes, dislikes, values, and morals.
There are entertaining anecdotes, like the time he was flying back from Asia and a baby broker was on board with more Asian babies than he could handle, so volunteers were solicited and Tim had a baby on his lap for 14 hours. (The baby spent a lot of time tearing up magazines. Unrecorded is whether, or where, and by whom, all these babies had their diapers changed. Enquiring minds need to know!)
There's also the story of when Tim's father, a high-ranking special agent for the FBI, brought home a pre-release, top-secret copy of the Warren Commission report. He hid it, but Mrs. Gunn found it and began to read it in the bathroom. As this was a big no-no, Mr. Gunn was forced to break down the bathroom door with an axe.
Then there's the tale of the green room before a Vogue fashion panel discussion, where Andre Leon Talley, reclining on his back with his arms at his sides, wearing a bib, was fed grapes and cubes of cheese by an assistant, like a baby bird in a nest.
If you are a Project Runway fan, best of all is the gossip about the contestants. Which ones hated or disdained Tim, which ones Tim developed a lack of affection for, or whose designs he scorned. Kenley Collins, for example: Tim did not like her dresses. They didn't move. (The way a dress moves or doesn't move on a runway is a big deal in fashion.) I enjoyed Tim's putdown of Emilio Sosa, who lived near the Cloisters on Manhattan's Upper West Side but had never bothered to visit, because he didn't believe in anything that had to do with religion.
I confess, I am not at all religious myself, but I had to grasp onto a support to keep from toppling over with incredulity.
"Every corpuscle of every society in the history of this globe has religion at its core!" I brayed at him. "We're not talking about converting. We're talking about walking a few blocks to look at some of the greatest art of all time. Why would you shut yourself off like that?"
In spite of Tim's extreme buttoned-upness, he comes across as very down-to-earth. Eschewing cabs, he takes the subway everywhere. He cooks himself mostly pasta and meatloaf, and he's not above serving Tollhouse cookies made from supermarket frozen dough to guests. Most important, he believes (as I do) that etiquette is merely about treating people well. Saying please and thank you, holding doors, not having your nose in your phone when you should be paying attention to what's going on around you.
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September 18, 2016I can't review this book...
I completely totally love Tim Gunn. He's awesome. He knows fashion. He genuinely seems like a great person. He writes well.
I mistakenly purchased this book thinking that it was an autobiography. Part of it was...the rest read like a self help / manners book. I like how-to books (quilting, quilling, origami, etc. ) I just don't particularly care for the self helps...
It's very well written. Quite an easy read. He has a lot to say, I just wish it was all autobiography.
My bad.
I completely totally love Tim Gunn. He's awesome. He knows fashion. He genuinely seems like a great person. He writes well.
I mistakenly purchased this book thinking that it was an autobiography. Part of it was...the rest read like a self help / manners book. I like how-to books (quilting, quilling, origami, etc. ) I just don't particularly care for the self helps...
It's very well written. Quite an easy read. He has a lot to say, I just wish it was all autobiography.
My bad.
September 12, 2010
This is an instance where my Kindle is the best thing ever. I pre-ordered Gunn's book and boom! there is was on the day it came out. Love that.
This book is subtitled Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work. Naturally. As an avid fan of Project Runway, I often wish I had a Tim Gunn in my life. With this book, I kind of do. Gunn is a huge advocate of manners and I'm a somewhat less huge advocate of manners. We both agree that technology is getting in the way of people interacting with each other. People now live in their own little bubble that they forget there are humans around them and whoops, that was a human they just ran into without so much as an "Excuse me". Gunn realizes that he probably sounds like a schoolmarm and I do too. It's not that hard to just pay attention to the people around you, although it obviously IS that hard now.
Gunn shares many many behind the scenes stories, not just of PR, but of the fashion world. God bless the dishy man. He talks about his family, about how Make It Work came to life, and how to navigate the world ... nicely. While most of me agrees with him, I recognize that I suffer no fools and have no filter on my mouth. I have gotten much better at taking the high road in life, but I'm still apt to take the low road on occasion. A lot of Tim's advice I knew to be true. Yes, things would function so much better if people did have manners. Things would function better if I had better manners (although in today's society, I'm probably a schoolmarm too).
Tim is very frank about his past relationships and current single status. As one perpetually and happily single person, I want to give him a hug. Like he said, it's perfectly fine and normal to be happy and single. I've been preaching that for years!
I love fashion but often look like a clown dressed me, so I admire it from afar. Gunn is my mentor into the fashion world. May he keep writing books and being on my television to make this middle of Indiana girl feel like she can be fashionable and polite.
This book is subtitled Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work. Naturally. As an avid fan of Project Runway, I often wish I had a Tim Gunn in my life. With this book, I kind of do. Gunn is a huge advocate of manners and I'm a somewhat less huge advocate of manners. We both agree that technology is getting in the way of people interacting with each other. People now live in their own little bubble that they forget there are humans around them and whoops, that was a human they just ran into without so much as an "Excuse me". Gunn realizes that he probably sounds like a schoolmarm and I do too. It's not that hard to just pay attention to the people around you, although it obviously IS that hard now.
Gunn shares many many behind the scenes stories, not just of PR, but of the fashion world. God bless the dishy man. He talks about his family, about how Make It Work came to life, and how to navigate the world ... nicely. While most of me agrees with him, I recognize that I suffer no fools and have no filter on my mouth. I have gotten much better at taking the high road in life, but I'm still apt to take the low road on occasion. A lot of Tim's advice I knew to be true. Yes, things would function so much better if people did have manners. Things would function better if I had better manners (although in today's society, I'm probably a schoolmarm too).
Tim is very frank about his past relationships and current single status. As one perpetually and happily single person, I want to give him a hug. Like he said, it's perfectly fine and normal to be happy and single. I've been preaching that for years!
I love fashion but often look like a clown dressed me, so I admire it from afar. Gunn is my mentor into the fashion world. May he keep writing books and being on my television to make this middle of Indiana girl feel like she can be fashionable and polite.
October 26, 2013
What a fun treat it was to read this book! A friend was reading it, but it wouldn't fit back in her suitcase, so she left it for me. I love Project Runway, and have gotten to appreciate Tim Gunn more thru reading this. There's actually not a lot about PR in here - it's more or less a compilation of lots of good practical advice for a happy, productive life, "making it work." For Tim, that means using what you have on hand to transform a difficult situation.
He talks a bit about Runway. Each season takes place over 30-31 days, and there's actually 5-6 hours from when we see the outfit on the runway to the time when Heidi says who's in and who's out. He names a few people who didn't respond we'll to critiques, and said its often that they were self-taught and hadn't been used to hearing negative things about their work.
Tim really came across as a nice guy, I thought. He reported that he grew up as a stutterer and actually tried to commit suicide when he was 17. His comments about his sexual orientation were well done. His dad was in the FBI and was a ghostwriter for J Edgar Hoover. Interesting anecdote about Hoover/Vivian Vance!
Much of the book revolved around good manners. The skills to excel he states as patience, innovation and diligence. Good sense of humor helps. Having a good education and being exposed to culture is also important. There was also an interesting section on inspiration.
So, for a quick, inspiring, fun read - this is it!
He talks a bit about Runway. Each season takes place over 30-31 days, and there's actually 5-6 hours from when we see the outfit on the runway to the time when Heidi says who's in and who's out. He names a few people who didn't respond we'll to critiques, and said its often that they were self-taught and hadn't been used to hearing negative things about their work.
Tim really came across as a nice guy, I thought. He reported that he grew up as a stutterer and actually tried to commit suicide when he was 17. His comments about his sexual orientation were well done. His dad was in the FBI and was a ghostwriter for J Edgar Hoover. Interesting anecdote about Hoover/Vivian Vance!
Much of the book revolved around good manners. The skills to excel he states as patience, innovation and diligence. Good sense of humor helps. Having a good education and being exposed to culture is also important. There was also an interesting section on inspiration.
So, for a quick, inspiring, fun read - this is it!
February 6, 2011
Non-Fiction. Tim Gunn is adorable, and for the most part so is this book. A mix of fashion industry gossip, life advice, and biography, it can ramble at times and the segues from one subject to another feel like unexpectedly stepping off a high curb, but it's both sweet-tempered and impassioned and sounds just like the Tim Gunn we know from Project Runway.
I don't always agree with what he says or the way he says it (there's an unfortunate Asians Eat Weird Things!! anecdote, also, did you know, Being Fat Is Unhealthy), but I feel like I could explain why, for example, a woman might feel pandered to when men hold doors open for her, and he might put that hand on his chest and say, "Oh dear, that's not what I intended at all!" So we disagree on some things, but Tim Gunn is a classy guy with strong opinions about manners and I know he'd listen to another point of view with respect.
Gunn's surprisingly candid when discussing his personal life. He's open about being gay, but also reveals that he has always been "kind of asexual," a fact that he accepts as easily as his dedication to sending thank you notes. Let's hear it for self-confidence and non-traditional role models. Tim Gunn. <3
Three stars. Kind of breathless in its transitions, but definitely read it if you're a fan of Gunn and want to know more about the man behind the suit and the "make it work" catch phrase.
I don't always agree with what he says or the way he says it (there's an unfortunate Asians Eat Weird Things!! anecdote, also, did you know, Being Fat Is Unhealthy), but I feel like I could explain why, for example, a woman might feel pandered to when men hold doors open for her, and he might put that hand on his chest and say, "Oh dear, that's not what I intended at all!" So we disagree on some things, but Tim Gunn is a classy guy with strong opinions about manners and I know he'd listen to another point of view with respect.
Gunn's surprisingly candid when discussing his personal life. He's open about being gay, but also reveals that he has always been "kind of asexual," a fact that he accepts as easily as his dedication to sending thank you notes. Let's hear it for self-confidence and non-traditional role models. Tim Gunn. <3
Three stars. Kind of breathless in its transitions, but definitely read it if you're a fan of Gunn and want to know more about the man behind the suit and the "make it work" catch phrase.
December 31, 2011
I like Tim Gunn (having loosely followed "Project Runway" through the years), but I didn't set out to read this book because I needed lessons in manners or wanted to read his autobiography. I think I just stumbled on it because A)I was killing time at Green Apple Books and B) it was face out on a shelf. The cover's not even that great or inviting (Tim looks a little too smug, in my opinion). Still, this book won me over completely because the man has a great voice (captured perfectly on paper) and speaks so much common sense (which isn't all that common these days)! The best parts are when he dishes on well-knowns in the fashion world like Anna Wintour (being carried down 5 flights of stairs from a fashion show because she dislikes riding elevators with other people!) and when he shares interesting tidbits about his personal life (his father was in the FBI and worked closely with J. Edgar Hoover). He's got a great command of vocabulary, and his stories are highly entertaining and funny (and you know I love any book that makes me laugh out loud). This book was a fun read, and it really made me respect Tim more because of all the hurdles he's overcome to be where he is today. Even if you already live by the majority of the "rules" he shares, they still serve as nice reminders--especially when you feel a little lost or uninspired. As Tim is known to say, "Make it work!"
August 31, 2010
If you are watching Project Runway this season and especially the team challenge* recently, you know that there is another side to Tim Gunn. His admonishment to the losing team about letting a team member control and bully them may have seemed harsh to some people, but when you read this book you will realize that Gunn has a brutally honest side and isn't afraid to show it.
In essence, this is a modern day etiquette/life coaching book that has 18 principles you can apply to any situation in your life. The difference between this and an Emily Post or a Dr. Phil tome is that Gunn peppers each lesson with very personal stories from his personal and work lives.
What I Liked: I'm sure Tim Gunn frowns on the word gossip, but the dishy stories he included about such fashion notables as Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenburg are hilarious and telling. I also liked that he included lots of his own background, allowing us to see a side of him that Project Runway doesn't show.
What I Disliked: Nothing really. I pretty much loved every word.
*Sidenote: This is my favorite episode of the season. Lots of drama. I've already watched it twice and may watch it again today if time allows.
In essence, this is a modern day etiquette/life coaching book that has 18 principles you can apply to any situation in your life. The difference between this and an Emily Post or a Dr. Phil tome is that Gunn peppers each lesson with very personal stories from his personal and work lives.
What I Liked: I'm sure Tim Gunn frowns on the word gossip, but the dishy stories he included about such fashion notables as Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenburg are hilarious and telling. I also liked that he included lots of his own background, allowing us to see a side of him that Project Runway doesn't show.
What I Disliked: Nothing really. I pretty much loved every word.
*Sidenote: This is my favorite episode of the season. Lots of drama. I've already watched it twice and may watch it again today if time allows.
March 6, 2012
In full disclosure, I love Project Runway and have adored Tim Gunn as the designers’ mentor. His famous line “Make it work!” is often quoted in my house. Gunn’s Golden Rules includes his lessons for life (part manners, part inspiration) with plenty of his personal stories that kept me hooked and laughing out loud. Tim dishes on some PR designers along with some of the divas of fashion (for example, he suggests the devil really does wear Prada). Some of the personal stories don’t necessarily relate to his rule for the chapter, but I didn’t mind that. Tim’s advice is wonderful, and I loved that a New Yorker talked about being nicer to others. All of us have something in life we can complain about, but we need to just “Make it work!” and do the best we can with whatever circumstances surround us.
I know Tim Gunn better through this book and now want to be adopted as his niece. I’m only two degrees away from him, so maybe I’ll be introduced to him one of these days….
I know Tim Gunn better through this book and now want to be adopted as his niece. I’m only two degrees away from him, so maybe I’ll be introduced to him one of these days….
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