Book

Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say

📖 Overview

"Tell Me More" explores twelve essential phrases that shape human connections and relationships, as identified by author Kelly Corrigan through her experiences as a daughter, mother, wife and friend. Each chapter focuses on a different phrase - from "I don't know" to "I was wrong" to "tell me more" - examining its role in navigating life's complexities. Corrigan structures her memoir through personal stories that demonstrate the power and necessity of these key expressions. The narratives span decades of her life, including her relationships with her parents, her marriage, raising her daughters, and her close friendships. Through these interlinked stories and reflections, Corrigan reveals the impact of both saying and hearing these crucial phrases at pivotal moments. The book illustrates how the willingness to be vulnerable, admit uncertainty, and truly listen can transform relationships and deepen human understanding. The work serves as both memoir and meditation on communication, exploring how the words we choose - or fail to choose - shape our connections with others. It suggests that mastering these twelve phrases may be essential to living an authentic and fully engaged life.

👀 Reviews

Readers connect with Corrigan's candid reflections on grief, parenting, and relationships through her 12 key phrases. They appreciate her humor when discussing difficult topics and her ability to make everyday moments feel meaningful. Likes: - Raw honesty about loss and family dynamics - Relatable stories that validate readers' experiences - Short, digestible chapters - Balance of humor and emotional depth Dislikes: - Some found it less impactful than Corrigan's previous books - A few readers felt certain chapters wandered or lost focus - Some stories hit too close to home for those grieving "Reading this felt like talking with a close friend" appears in multiple reviews. Others note it helped them process their own losses. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 (89 ratings) The audiobook version, narrated by Corrigan herself, receives particular praise for adding emotional depth to the stories.

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🤔 Interesting facts

🔖 Kelly Corrigan has been called "the voice of her generation" by O, The Oprah Magazine and "the poet laureate of the ordinary" by HuffPost. 📚 The "12 hardest things" in the book's title include phrases like "I was wrong," "Tell me more," and "No," which Corrigan presents as essential but challenging expressions for meaningful relationships. 💫 The book was inspired by the sudden death of Corrigan's friend Liz, which prompted her to reflect deeply on the power of words and what truly matters in life. 📖 Before becoming a bestselling author, Corrigan worked as a nonfiction writer for various nonprofits and foundations, using her storytelling skills to raise money for good causes. 🌟 The audiobook version is narrated by Corrigan herself, adding personal emotion and nuance to stories that span from her father's final days to everyday moments with her teenage daughters.