I bought this as a Kindle single. I don't know as it is actually available otherwise. I don't know if this is a common format for Kindle, but I really enjoyed being able to read what was essentially a short story, or very long article on my kindle app. I don't know how many actual pages the story is, but I read the entire thing in about an hour while riding shotgun to Chicago. It is a very personal story from Tim Gunn's life that gives a lot of insight into why he is the way he is. And also, I feel, gives others an insight into how people who have family members with OCD, Alzheimer's, etc. cope with the difficulty of loving someone who can't help but be difficult.Everyone thinks that their family is far from perfect, weird, difficult, or crazy. But some people actually have crazy in their family tree, and it strongly influences their lives and who they are. It was a good read, and a great length. Another author may have drug the story out to fill up more pages and make it seem like more of a "book". But I think Tim Gunn sacrificed satisfying publishers for conciseness and entertainment, and I think he did a great job.I only give it 3 stars because in my opinion 5 stars is reserved for all time favorite books, 4 stars for the honorable mention list. And 3 stars is enjoyable, I'd possibly even read again, but I wouldn't buy a second copy if I lost the first. This "Kindle Single" is really more of a long essay than anything else; consequently, Gunn doesn't have the time or space to really explore the subject, his father, who sounds like a fascinating man. Instead we get a series of interesting tidbits (the senior Gunn was J.Edgar Hoover's ghostwriter for many years) and anecdotes (family road trips gone wrong, etc.) Gunn does a good job in the space permitted of sketching out his father's many serious issues, both mental and physical, but I was left wanting more. In particular, it isn't until almost the end of the piece that Gunn begins to look at his father in connection with himself--his own physical challenges and the way he deals with the world. This is a thoughtful, serious piece overall, without too much of Gunn's "Project Runway" personality in evidence, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I hope that some day Gunn is able to flesh out these thoughts in a longer format.
What do You think about Shaken, Not Stirred (2000)?
I love Tim Gunn on Project Runway. It was nice to get this brief insight into his personal life.
—pdbush1
A 30 minute read - well written. Glad Shelly shared it with me.
—Carolyn
I want a full length memoir! More please, Mr. Gunn!
—Meemo
