How to Be Perfect Like Me

by Dana Bowman

Overview

Recover. Rinse. Repeat.

Dana Bowman can’t escape the lure of perfectionism, trying to be a flawless wife, mother, and person in recovery. When Dana experiences a short-lived relapse during the Christmas holiday, she has the startling realization that recovery is more than just giving up alcohol.

In this funny and revealing follow-up to her best-selling book Bottled, Dana reflects on how we live in a society of excess, always pushing ourselves to do and be better. However, it doesn’t take her long to realize that self-care and getting over herself is the key to happiness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942094715
Publisher:	Central Recovery Press, LLC
Publication date:	08/28/2018
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dana Bowman has a master’s degree in secondary education and is an adjunct professor at the department of English at Bethany College, Kansas. Author of the popular mombsieblog.com, she leads and presents workshops on both writing and addiction, with a special emphasis on being a woman in recovery and a parent. Her first book, Bottled, was selected as a 2016 Kansas Notable Book. Dana Bowman currently resides in Lindsborg, Kansas.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 Less 5

Chapter 1 How to Be Perfect 7

Chapter 2 How to Stop Buying All the Self-Help Books 15

Chapter 3 How to Be an Alcoholic 23

Chapter 4 How Not to Be an Alcoholic 33

Chapter 5 How to Relapse in Footie Pajamas 41

Chapter 6 How to Master the Ugly Cry 55

Chapter 7 How to Deal with Relentless Disappointment 63

Chapter 8 How to Live a Rich and Fulfilling Fake Life 73

Chapter 9 How to Recover from Being Human 85

Chapter 10 How to Be Cool 99

Part 2 More 107

Chapter 11 How to Shop at Costco and Not Give In to Despair 109

Chapter 12 How to Be Married and Content at the Same Time 117

Chapter 13 How to Escape Your Family 131

Chapter 14 How to Fire Your Inner Bartender 141

Part 3 Enough 155

Chapter 15 How to Be Sad 157

Chapter 16 How to Be Happy 167

Chapter 17 How to Say No and How to Say Yes 181

Chapter 18 How to Cry at a Coffee Shop 193

Acknowledgments 197

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Dana Bowman’s writing is luminous, laugh-out-loud wondrous and makes something profound shift within, much like staring saucer-eyed at a field full of fireflies. While we do approach recovery differently, that didn’t matter; I related to her hugely and rooted hard for her throughout. This big-hearted book rejoices in the messy, tangled clusterf*ck of being a perfectly imperfect human.—Catherine Gray, author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober

Dana Bowman is honest, insightful, and incredibly funny, which is hard, especially as she tries to love herself. Men, don’t be surprised if your wife hands you this book and says, ‘Read this, and then maybe you’ll understand.’—Stan Friedman, writer and editor for the Covenant Companion

Real, honest, hopeful, and funny. That is what I love about Dana Bowman’s writing, and her second book does not disappoint. How to Be Perfect Like Me is like spreading all your issues out on the kitchen table and laugh-crying at them over a good cup of tea. Highly recommended for women who are ready to know that every one of us struggles, but that struggle is just the beginning of the story.—Alison Buhler, author of Rethinking Women’s Health

Editorial Reviews

The Library Journal Bowman, Dana. How To Be Perfect Like Me. Central Recovery. Aug. 2018. 264p. ISBN 9781942094715. pap. $16.95. MEMOIR

English professor, blogger, and author (Bottled: A Mom’s Guide to Early Recovery) ­Bowman’s memoir covers the topics of parenting and recovery with candor and honesty. As is obvious from the title, the author is not actually offering a step-by-step guide to anything in particular. She is making the case that perfectionism is an enemy to recovery and happiness. The many short chapters, with often hilarious titles, such as “How To Relapse in Footie Pajamas” or “How To Cry at a Coffee Shop,” mainly consist of anecdotes within an achronological narrative that at times feels downright scattered. Imperfection is the thematic thread that holds Bowman’s stories together. Some readers might be frustrated by how frequently she changes topics, but one could argue that the nonlinear text accurately reflects the messy experience of recovery. VERDICT Readers in recovery who are looking for relatable stories will enjoy this book. Bowman’s brand of humor (highly personal, a bit outlandish, and often infused with pop-culture references) will appeal to fans of Jenny Lawson.—Emily Butler, Deerfield Academy, MA

From the Publisher

08/01/2018
English professor, blogger, and author (Bottled: A Mom's Guide to Early Recovery) Bowman's memoir covers the topics of parenting and recovery with candor and honesty. As is obvious from the title, the author is not actually offering a step-by-step guide to anything in particular. She is making the case that perfectionism is an enemy to recovery and happiness. The many short chapters, with often hilarious titles, such as "How To Relapse in Footie Pajamas" or "How To Cry at a Coffee Shop," mainly consist of anecdotes within an achronological narrative that at times feels downright scattered. Imperfection is the thematic thread that holds Bowman's stories together. Some readers might be frustrated by how frequently she changes topics, but one could argue that the nonlinear text accurately reflects the messy experience of recovery. VERDICT Readers in recovery who are looking for relatable stories will enjoy this book. Bowman's brand of humor (highly personal, a bit outlandish, and often infused with pop-culture references) will appeal to fans of Jenny Lawson.—Emily Butler, Deerfield Academy, MA

Library Journal