Auntie Jodi's Helpful Hints

Adler, in her debut, offers a book of not-so-serious advice for living.

This collection of witty one- and two-liners is aimed at helping readers navigate the modern world. Readers should probably exercise a healthy amount of caution, however, in actually employing Auntie Jodi’s tips, lest they offend and alienate everyone they know. Adler divides the book into four sections, one for each season of the year, and offers up advice on a variety of social situations and predicaments. The book tends to assume a certain amount of affluence, or at least high social standing, on the part of readers; overall, Adler comes off as a Miss Manners for the Hollywood set. The book’s quick snippets of advice can easily be read in a single sitting or in short doses when one needs a quick laugh. The humor tends to be dry and sarcastic: “Those darling little children of yours down with the flu? Simply go on an impromptu vacay with your hubby…by the time you come back, the kiddies will be healthy as can be.” Other times, the hints mock traditional manners with suggestions such as, “Conversation at a lull while you are at a formal dinner? Convince your table mates to do ‘the wave’ whenever the help enters with another course.” The book covers everything from advice on how to arrange one’s shoes (“by length of time you can actually walk in them”) to the etiquette of changing one’s mind about attending an inauguration or coronation (“always send a personal note of regret—or, if need be, make a quick, last-minute phone call”). The collection does tend to grow stale when finished all at once, but read occasionally, it will elicit a smile or two.

A volume of humorous hints that may be best suited as a gift for someone who’s tired of traditional advice books.