Customer Reviews

Keep It Simple, Stupid

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, so I was expecting this to be incredibly corny, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a relatively quick read, but it still manages to cover some fairly deep topics - everything from living together to divorce to children to death - and it features real world situations and advice. There were a few times that I didn't agree with the advice, but more often than not, I found myself agreeing completely.

Judge Judy offers great advice for couples and families. However,there are some people who don't get it and find it's too late. She isn't biased about what she has to say to her readers. It's plain and simple advice that needs to be taken seriously.

I am a Judge Judy fan. I love to see professional women in non-traditional careers. This book is helpful for families that are dissecting issues. This book provides a brief overview of family issues that impact traditional families, extended families and step-families. If your family is facing a dilemna, this is the book for you.

As a great admirer of Judge Judy's books, I have to say that they get better and better. When you look at the issues she addresses and then read her carefully thought out responses, so many areas of life that may seem complicated are actually so easy to understand and you wonder "Why didn't I see it that way?" Judge Judy is concise and fully stands behind her convictions that have made her opinions so popular around the country. In an age where "less is more" is a widely accepted desire, the judge lays out her case, makes her ruling, and moves on. Would that the court system in this country move as quickly! Court is adjourned.

This book is clear and easy to read, easy to get her point. She gives actual cases, lets you see each person's side of the story, and sums up her opinion in 1 concise paragraph after each one! Direct, and honest. Yet I could not give this book 5 stars because of a couple of clearly unfair biases. For example, in one chapter she tells a woman that her ex-boyfriend does not owe her any money for his education--that she paid for--since there was no written agreement that it was a loan. In a following chapter, where a man wants $700 dollars back from an ex-girlfriend, also where there was no written agreement of it being a loan, she says the woman should pay it back. Are women the only people who need to learn responsibility? Are not these men just as accountable for their actions? I have seen her do this on her show to my great disappointment, and to see it in writing makes me wonder what she can possibly be thinking! She is a judge, and is supposed to uphold the law, no matter what her personal opinion. From what I can see, in the absence of written agreements, one better be a man if they wish to win in her court.

Here comes the judge, here comes the judge - it's the tell-it-like-it-is judge of TV fame - Judge Judy Sheindlin who never stints with her advice. One almost comes to believe that she could even repair plumbing as she unhesitatingly dishes out how-tos on every subject that may beset a family from husband/wife disputes to child rearing to caring for the elderly. Common sense is her shield and planning ahead her banner.

Judge Judy has a simple point here: We do it to ourselves by making bad decisions about how we interact with those closest to us. The reason is obviously because we all assume we are right, and cannot understand why everyone else doesn't see it our way. Rather, we should look at how it is from everyone's perspective (as a judge would) and make the best common sense choice. Works for me!

Judge Judy brings a lot to this book. She is a mother, a remarried spouse, a step mother, lawyer, financial advisor, and judge. Occasionally, she also talks to you like a wise elder sister. At other times, she makes a convincing drill instructor in boot camp.

The format is very interesting. She makes up scenarios from more than one case she has seen before. In so doing, she makes them just a little more complicated than they probably are in real life. This makes the situations so ridiculous that you have to laugh at yourself if you see yourself in some aspect of the scenario. That was brilliant. People are more open to change when they are laughting, than when they are angry.

Like in the television show, the parties get to tell their beef. Usually, the second party explains why the first one was all wet in her or his explanation. Judge Judy then gets out her opinions and levels one . . . or the other . . . or both.

Actually, I liked the book better than the television show because the scenarios are pretty funny, while the people on television are sometimes just pathetic. Also, you don't have to listen to a lot of ranting at each other. Judge Judy has edited it down to the minimum.

Further, she explains some general philosophies that you would only pick up on by watching about 200 of her shows. Here are some of these:

Living Without Benefit -- If you call this commitment, you should be committed. She suggests living together for no more than one year, splitting the expenses down the middle, and not buying anything expensive together. If any other money passes hands, put the promises in writing.

Tying the Knot -- Measure ten times, and cut once. Get a pre-nuptial agreement. 50 percent of these marriages are going to fail. It'll save pain and money later.

Married Bliss -- If life were fair, men would have stretch marks.

Kids Happen -- Having a baby is easy; being a parent is hard.

After the Ball Is Over -- Don't get mad. Get out. Move on.

Tug-of-War -- Love your kids more than you hate each other.

The Second Time Around -- For better or forget about it!

The Family Bond -- Honor your parents.

'Til Death Do Us In -- Where there's a will, there's a way.

Keep It Simple, Stupid -- You're smarter than you look. "The bottom line is, it's up to you."

Overcome your misconceptions that you can act like a two year old in your personal life without paying for the consequences with this sage, practical advice from the front lines of the vanquished. Judge Judy is a 2,000 percent stallbusting solution!

By the way, you can save a lot of future grief by sharing this book with your children before they get themselves into these messes.

Donald Mitchell (donmitch@2000percentsolution.com)

I read the book at Best Buy yesterday and found it very interesting that people actually act this ridiculous, stupid and ignorant when they are in a relationship or dealing with family matters.

Did you struggle through second grade and finally quit in third? Don't worry - you will still understand Judge Judy's book. Written to the lowest common denominator but still entertaining, Ms. Sheindlin uses the same tone and style in the book as she does on her television show.

What can I say? I am a huge Judge Judy Fan, this is excellent title for adults who may think living together is easier than marriage. Well marriage has laws and rules, living together has shades of gray.

In her usual honest style Judge Judy gives her opinion and her experience as a family court judge. She has seen and heard it all and this title is a great attempt at sharing some possible answers to a variety of relationship issues. She talks about ownership and the easiest way to handle ones personal/financial affairs.

This is common sense stuff that needs to be told and shared coming from the mouth of one who knows best. I also loved her childs title "Win or Lose" and adult title "Beauty Fades." She has a style that is direct, honest and full of common sense.

To read her books is to hear her voice! Check out my other Judge Judy reviews by Bernadette Moyer Sahm.