Look inside

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

4.3(20)
Available nowFree shipping
Buy Now

About the book

The instant New York Times bestseller from the creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder shares how saying YES changed her life. “As fun to read as Rhimes’s TV series are to watch” (Los Angeles Times).

She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today. Her iconic characters live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could avoid public appearances? That she suffered panic attacks before media interviews?

With three children at home and three hit television shows, it was easy for Shonda to say she was simply too busy. But in truth, she was also afraid. And then, over Thanksgiving dinner, her sister muttered something that was both a wake up and a call to arms: You never say yes to anything. Shonda knew she had to embrace the challenge: for one year, she would say YES to everything that scared her.

This poignant, intimate, and hilarious memoir explores Shonda’s life before her Year of Yes—from her nerdy, book-loving childhood to her devotion to creating television characters who reflected the world she saw around her. The book chronicles her life after her Year of Yes had begun—when Shonda forced herself out of the house and onto the stage; when she learned to explore, empower, applaud, and love her truest self. Yes.

“Honest, raw, and revelatory” (The Washington Post), this wildly candid and compulsively readable book reveals how the mega talented Shonda Rhimes finally achieved badassery worthy of a Shondaland character. Best of all, she “can help motivate even the most determined homebody to get out and try something new” (Chicago Tribune).

Editions (6)

ISBN9781476777122
PublisherS&S/ Marysue Rucci Books
Publication Date09/13/16
Pages352

Reviews & Ratings

20 ratings

6 reviews

4.3

Tap to filter

  • bookminutes
    bookminutes

    66 Followers

    5.0

    Inspirierend 🌞

    Shonda Rhimes, aus deren Feder die Erfolgsserien Grey's Anatomy und Scandal stammen, berichtet in diesem autobiografischen Buch von ihrem „Ja-Experiment" (so der deutsche Titel). Durch eine eher beiläufige Aussage ihrer Schwester wird sie darauf aufmerksam, dass sie nie zu Dingen „ja" sagt, sondern sich in ihrem Shondaland vergräbt und sich dadurch selbst viele tolle Momente verbaut. Daran will sie etwas ändern und sagt künftig zu allen Dingen, die ihr eigentlich etwas Angst machen, statt „nein" "JA". Und auf dieser Reise - dem Year of Yes begleiten wir Shonda im Buch und erfahren so, in welcher Weise sie dieses Experiment positiv verändert hat. Ich lese neben Romanen supergern auch Bücher aus dem Gebiet der persönlichen Weiterentwicklung, denn ich finde man kann immer etwas für sich selbst daraus mitnehmen. Und das konnte ich vor allem aus diesem Buch. Auch ich habe angefangen, einmal mehr „Ja" zu Dingen zu sagen, die ich manchmal aus Faulheit oder Furcht gelassen hätte und ich merkte selbst, wie gut es mit tat, diese positiven Erfahrungen zu machen. Wenn ihr also auch dazu neigt, gern mal abzulehnen statt Dingen zuzusagen, dann kann ich euch das Buch wärmstens empfehlen.

    Inspirierend 🌞

    Apr 13, 2025

  • 4.0

    Excellent read especially in working on one's self and confidence. I like the whole idea of living in acceptance of who you are and it's definitely something I'm looking to try and do for myself. No hiding or running away from who I want to be. Just saying yes to the opportunities that come my way and in developing me. Well written, funny, insightful and thought through. Definitely going to jump into more of her work.

    Nov 20, 2023

  • bibliotherapy
    bibliotherapy

    7 Followers

    4.0

    It's a great book with quite a few takaways. Only her constantly repeating herself within a few sentences annoyed me while reading often times. I know, it's a writing style – just not my taste it seems.

    Dec 20, 2023

3 of 6 reviews

Reading is better with the READO app.

Discover books, track progress, read together.

Library

Keep track