Year of Yes: My Favorite Memoir for September

I’m not much of a memoir reader and it’s unusual for me to read a book twice unless I’m dissecting it as a learning exercise to enhance my own writing skills. Neither was the case this month. For a number of reasons, I was drawn to listen to Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, read by its author, Shonda Rhimes.

Years ago, I read the book on the recommendation of my daughter-in-law and loved it at the time. But recently I decided it was a book I needed to re-hear, especially as an introvert, since I need to say yes to life a little more these days.

Year of Yes is now a decade old. It was inspiring the first time I read it and equally, but differently full of wisdom-nuggets for me this time around. Or as one reviewer commented: “A sincere and inspiring account of saying yes to life.”

Shonda Rhimes is an incredibly talented executive producer known for shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Bridgerton. Her book is full of vulnerable rawness, laugh-out-loud humor, and wisdom insights I personally found nudge-worthy.

Perhaps the biggest recommendation I can offer is this: There’s a Year of Yes: 10^th Anniversary Edition which comes out in October 2025 with brand-new stories and insights which I just learned about, pre-ordered, and can’t wait to read.