If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)

by Betty White

Overview

The New York Times bestseller from the beloved actress and Hollywood icon who's made us laugh on shows from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Golden Girls to Saturday Night Live!

In this candid take on everything from the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs to her beauty regimen (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), Betty White shares her observations about life, celebrity, and love (for humans and animals). Filled with photos, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and straight to the point—just like Betty.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780425245286
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/07/2012
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	48,394
Product dimensions:	5.97(w) x 8.97(h) x 0.56(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Betty White was an award-winning film and television actress who appeared in such iconic television classics as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls. In a career that spanned 8 decades, she received seven Emmy awards, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild awards, and a Grammy. Both a pet enthusiast and animal health advocate, White was the president emerita of the Morris Animal Foundation and was a member of the board of directors of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. Often referred to as a national treasure, Betty White passed away in 2021, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

Editorial Reviews

Reads like a chat with the beloved star.”—The Denver Post

“A breezy patchwork of musings on aging, acting, poker (she plays a monthly game) and pet ownership.”—The New York Times

From the Publisher

Welcome to the Betty White Renaissance! In truth, the now 89-year-old, former Golden Girl has never gone away, but in the past two years, she has won a Primetime Emmy, hosted Saturday Night Live, posed for her own calendar, debuted a clothing line, and appeared as a guest star on numerous shows, including 30 Rock and Community. In this adventurous update on her ongoing autobiography, she shares wisps of wisdom and stories of her octogenarian activities. Slyly profound; heartwarmingly winning. A Barnes & Noble Bestseller now in trade paperback and NOOK Book.

— Edward Ash-Milby

More Hollywood anecdotes, plus insights on issues like love, sex, television, and celebrity. White is hot, and not just in Cleveland; last May she became the oldest person ever to host Saturday Night Live after a huge Facebook campaign.

Library Journal

Betty White, winner of seven Emmy awards, provides a series of patchwork essays and vignettes that exhibit often self-deprecating wisdom gained over a life that is approaching 90 years. Whether exploring friendship, television sitcoms, or her profound love of animals, White is positive and highly engaging. There’s a special talent that effective actors have for projecting their personalities through the microphone, and White is among the best in her warm narration. There is some minor repetition of ideas and anecdotes among the chapters, and those who have heard her earlier memoir, HERE WE GO AGAIN: My Life in Television, will undoubtedly recognize components. But this effort is, nonetheless, an enjoyable listening experience. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

MAY 2011 - AudioFile

The beloved actress shares some of her recent experiences.

White's (Here We Go Again: My Life in Television, 1995, etc.) autobiographical work reads much like an enjoyable, if one-sided, afternoon chat with a charming personality. She engagingly addresses an ever-present second person and intuits the questions her audience would ask. White doesn't dwell for long on a given topic, instead relating brief, easily digestible tales. Subsequently, the narrative sometimes lacks cohesion, even structured as it is according to different aspects of her life—e.g., Hollywood Stories, Stagecraft, Love and Friendship and Animal Kingdom, etc. Yet this only further adds to the book's conversational flow. There is nothing overly profound or moving in these pages, nor do the laughs come fast and furious, but readers will enjoy White's gentle tone and cheery stories. She avoids acrid personal attacks or overwrought self-criticisms, and she clearly writes because she enjoys it, a fact she admits on more than one occasion. The book is certainly not an essential read for either historical or humorous purposes, and it's often riddled with clichés, but White's fans and those looking for a bit of light fare will enjoy this latest batch of stories.

A quick, pleasant read from an author whose writing voice is surprisingly reminiscent of her speaking voice.

Kirkus Reviews