I wanted to share this book that I have recently finished reading. It is unlike any book I have read and while I am inclined to call it an autobiography, I think a better name for it would be a self portrait. Written by Amy Rosenthal, An Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is written alphabetically. As a writer, Rosenthal realized that her crisp, to the point and somewhat obscure writings were anything but ordinary but did they fit into “typical” autobiography mold? Instead of putting together a book chronologically or even somewhat “flowing”, she decides to take a different road.

She incorporates charts, diagrams, pictures, copies of documents and meticulously pieces it together, like a collage. It is easy to pick up, flip to a random page and learn a small piece about this woman’s thought process, her past, her opinions, her life now and so forth. It’s fresh, creative, intriguing, deep and humorous.

So for all of us writers and readers who need motivation, a good laugh, an idea or just something to read that won’t make you feel overwhelmed with the endless pages, I would strongly suggest to pick up this book. In between the homework, the new Grey’s Anatomy episode, dinner and sleep, read this. We don’t read enough as it is. Take some time, please? For me?