Why Not Me?

FromtheauthorofthebelovedNewYorkTimesbestsellingbookIsEveryoneHangingOutWithoutMe?andthecreatorandstarofTheMindyProjectcomesacollectionofessaysthatareashilariousandinsightfulastheyaredeeplypersonal.InWhyNotMe?,Kalingsharesherongoingjourneytofindcontentmentandexcitementinheradultlife,whetherit’sfallinginloveatwork,seekingnewfriendshipsinlonelyplaces,attemptingtobethefirstpersoninhistorytoloseweightwithoutanybehaviormodificationwhatsoever,ormostimportant,believingthatyouhaveaplaceinHollywoodwhenyou’reconstantlyremindedthatnoonelookslikeyou.In“HowtoLookSpectacular:AStarlet’sConfessions,”Kalinggiveshertongue-in-cheeksecretsforsurefireon-camerabeauty,(“Yournaturalhaircolormaybeappropriateforyourskintone,butthisisn’tthelandofappropriate–thisisHollywood,baby.Outhere,adark-skinnedwoman’straditionalhaircolorishoneyblonde.”)“Player”tellsthestoryofKalingbeingseducedanddumpedbyafemalefriendinL.A.(“Ihadbeenreplacedbyayoungermodel.Andnowtheyhadmatchingbangs.”)In“UnlikelyLeadingLady,”shemusesonAmerica’sfixationwiththeweightofactresses,(“Mostwomenweseeonscreenareeithersothinthatthey’rewalkingclaviclesorsohugethattheironlyscenesinvolvethembreakingfurniture.”)Andin“SoupSnakes,”Kalingspillssomesecretsonherrelationshipwithherex-boyfriendandclosefriend,B.J.Novak(“Iwillfreelyadmit:myrelationshipwithB.J.Novakisweirdashell.”)Mindyturnstheanxieties,theglamour,andthecelebrationsofhersecondcoming-of-ageintoalaugh-out-loudfunnycollectionofessaysthatanyonewho’severbeenataturningpointintheirlifeorcareercanrelateto.Andthosewho’veneverbeenataturningpointcanskiptothepartswhereshetalksaboutmeetingBradleyCooper.,