Happy to Help

Co-host of the award-winning podcast What Fresh Hell, Amy Wilson takes an insightful look at the mixed messages, empty promises, and overcommitments that keep women off balance--and the times she tried to do things differently. Spoiler: It didn't always go so well.

For decades, Amy Wilson was happy to say "yes" whenever anyone needed help. Yes, she could do that. Yes, sign her up. Sure, no problem! But as a busy wife, mother, and daughter, she reached a breaking point at which she'd taken on so much it all threatened to topple. Just as she called out for a helping hand, she learned that she'd put herself in a position where no one could even hear her. She'd said "yes" for so long, that her calls went unanswered. Or, perhaps, they were intentionally ignored.

In a collection of 17 essays, Amy examines the country's expectations of women, how she wholeheartedly opted in, and how she's having a hard time opting out. From tales about her perfectionist childhood in which she was the list-keeper and organizer of her large Midwestern family to moments spent "paying her dues" to break into the acting scene, Amy entertains with her funny, incisive, and relatable voice.

For anyone who has ever regretted volunteering for one more thing, Amy's collection will make you feel seen--and might even inspire you to throw in the proverbial towel, so you can pick up a brand new one for yourself instead.