{"product_id":"cool-calm-contentious-merrill-markoe-9780345518927","title":"Cool, Calm \u0026 Contentious: Essays","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"This is so well written.  When a book like this] comes along, it's, like, 'Thank you ' What a great way to spend an afternoon, an evening, reading these essays. . . . Absolutely great.\"--Jon Stewart\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\" Merrill] Markoe is easily as funny as David Sedaris. She's capable of manic riffs and acerbic skewering. Still, her good nature shines through.\"\u003ci\u003e--The Washington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In this hilarious collection of candid essays, including two pieces new to this edition, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author Merrill Markoe reveals much about her personal life--as well as the secret formula for comedy: Start out with a difficult mother, develop some classic teenage insecurities, add a few relationships with narcissistic men, toss in an unruly pack of selfish dogs, finish it off with the kind of crystalline perspective that only comes from years of navigating a roiling sea of unpleasant and unappeasable people, and--voil --you're funny  \u003ci\u003eCool, Calm \u0026amp; Contentious\u003c\/i\u003e is honest, unapologetic, sometimes heartbreaking, but always shot through with Merrill Markoe's biting, bracing wit. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"This has been a great year for funny women. . . . Let's call Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling exhibits A and B. Both owe a debt to those who came before, including Merrill Markoe.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"Markoe's goal is to find the absurdity in everyday life. That, coupled with her sharp wit, makes her writing sublime.\"--\u003ci\u003eBookPage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"Laugh-out-loud humor.\"\u003ci\u003e--Tampa Bay Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"Not only crazy-funny, but crazy-heartbreaking.\"\u003ci\u003e--The New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Merrill Markoe\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0345518926\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780345518927\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Villard Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/07\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.51lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.02h x 5.24w x 0.61d","brand":"Merrill Markoe","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44169650143487,"sku":"9780345518927","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e5d66d8b-a475-4cd6-8544-65834cbed6bf.jpg?v=1689654142","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/cool-calm-contentious-merrill-markoe-9780345518927","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}