This article is about the Mindy Kaling book. For the Al Franken novel, see
Why Not Me? (novel).
2015 humor book by Mindy Kaling
Why Not Me? is a 2015 humor book by actress and writer Mindy Kaling.[1][2] The book consists mostly of humorous observational essays based on Kaling's life, and it also includes one chapter of fiction.[3]
The book spent 16 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list.[4]
Synopsis
The book is a collection of anecdotal essays written by Kaling about her experiences and observations about Hollywood.[1] Carina Chocano of The New York Times noted that the book was "loosely fashioned around themes of approval and entitlement."[5]
The book also contains a chapter that is a work of fiction about an alternative world where Kaling is a Latin teacher in a prep school on the Upper East Side of New York.[3]
The final chapter of the book is a transcript of Kaling's 2014 speech at Harvard Law School.[3]
Reception
The book received mostly positive reviews. The Atlantic called the book "a defense of hard work."[6] Publishers Weekly criticized the book for skirting major issues such as her mother's death and relationship with B. J. Novak.[1]
References