I have to admit I bought Joan Rivers’ new book I Hate Everyone, Starting With Me. Perhaps it was an impulse buy, like tropical trident or People Magazine.

Anyway, I bought her book.

There’s something about Joan Rivers. Most people hate her but I find her fascinating. I saw a documentary on her and since then I’ve captivated by her tenacity, her vulnerability and her prickly jokes. She’s been through the ringer in her life. She struggled with her husband’s suicide, bulimia, the criticism of a lifetime and workaholism. Some of this is explored in a documentary made about her life called Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.

There’s something about Joan.

She’s got so much fight in her. And she can laugh at herself. I see her as one of the women who paved the way for other women who wanted a voice and a piece of the boy’s fun. Joan has struggled with life–but she uses her energy (perhaps from anger) for motivation. And she’s created a full career with that. While she is very controversial, and she does things we don’t all agree with (plastic surgery, attacking women on that stupid show on E!), she’s quite a little person. She’s a little woman with a big voice, and unapologetic one at that.

Here’s an excerpt from her book:

“For those of you thinking, Geez, Joan seems a little angry, you’re half right. I am angry. I’m also fed up….Being fed up and angry is better than being depressed. Psychologists tell us that depression is just anger toward inward, but I say, why waste your time? It is what it is and quite frankly I’d rather be angry than depressed. Why? ..I’m tired of people saying to me, ‘Joan, could you please try to be nice to Harry? He’s depressed.’ No! Why should I have to work like a pack animal trying to be nice to Harry because that a@#*^#@ is having a bad day?’ Introverted, depressed people suck the life out of a good party; angry, hateful people liven things up. You give me one person who is still angry the Third Reich was toppled, and I’ll give you a great dinner party.”

What books do you secretly have on Kindle you want to tell me about?

Here’s a great interview with Joan on Fresh Air.