.com If you think buying a home with Mr. Maybe is a good way to determine if he's Mr. Right, hold everything. In Judge Judy's latest round of advice, Keep it Simple, Stupid: You're Smarter Than You Look, she tells you to keep it all separate until you tie the knot legally. Touching on all of life's challenging family situations, from dating and marriage to caring for elderly parents and losing loved ones, America's favorite judge ultimately encourages us to plan ahead and avoid unnecessarily complicating our lives. Much of what she delivers we've all heard a thousand times before, but for some readers her renowned matter-of-fact tone is the ideal voice to reaffirm these commonsense solutions. "Life is a one-shot deal," she says. "There are only so many seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years. Every second you devote to negative energy and negative emotion is a second lost forever." Carefully excerpted conversations between feuding family members lay the groundwork for each chapter. For instance, when Jimmy, trying to help his brother's failing marriage, inadvertently invites them to tag along on his anniversary trip to Hawaii, Jimmy's wife, Joanne, hits the roof. Judge Judy's response is simply put: Jimmy, you're clueless. While you're so busy trying to save your brother's marriage, your wife is getting ready to pack her bags. Your brother and his wife can mend their marriage at another locale. It doesn't have to be Hawaii. Besides, since when do husbands make social plans? It's not unreasonable for Joanne to want to celebrate a special anniversary alone, and that's what you should do. With the no-nonsense attitude and cut-to-the-chase style of a woman who has seen and heard everything, Judge Judy Sheindlin continues to help us solve our most complicated life problems and find ways to keep it simple. --Phyllis MonroeFrom Publishers WeeklyStop squabbling and get real because Judge Judy (author of the bestselling Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever) is back on all our cases with the patented combination of sass and savvy made famous on her hugely popular syndicated television show. Here, she presents a series of short, lively composites of classic family conflicts that she has heard over the years, concerning everything from the breakups of live-in relationships to funeral arrangements. Just as in court, Judge Judy gives both parties a chance to say their piece before she passes judgment and hands out her bracing, no-nonsense advice. Pig-headed would-be family feuders take notice: Judge Judy has no problem saying, "I find you guilty of being insensitive and a bit shallow." Her wrist slaps and tongue-lashings are all part of the brand of justice she doles out. Another refreshing aspect of her rulings is that while she recognizes the rights bestowed upon a parent by law regarding, for example, joint custody after an acrimonious divorce, she also points out when exercising those rights may not be in a child's best interest; she also proposes more humane alternatives that may be less destructive. Her many fans will know that Judge Judy stands for honesty, loyalty, honoring family ties and protecting kidsAand that dirty rotten rats need not appeal for mercy. While she discloses how others may have failed to keep the peace over money, marriage, divorce and re-marriage, she also reminds her readers to "stop playing games," "grow up" and do the right thing. Bw illus. (July) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalThis latest book from Sheindlin (Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever) reads the way her television show plays out, moving quickly to the heart of the matter with clarity and on-target advice. She has compiled composite scenarios from the cases she has heard on TV, cases in family court, and letters she has received. The book's ten chapters cover living together, getting married, having kids, breaking up, the second time around, honoring aging parents, and making a will. The judge spells out all sides of the problem and then succinctly puts forth her solution with ideas that are direct, workable, and centered on the concept of keeping it simple. This is a quick read, but don't be fooled by the glib, brief answers to age-old problems; there is depth here. Sheindlin's style is that of a trusted, longtime friend who talks straight. Often, the reader needs to go back over the examples and think about them. The judge's sparse writing proves her point: she has kept the book simple yet offers sound, tried-and-true advice. This book will be popular in public libraries.ASusan E. Burdick , Lower Merion Sch. Dist., Ardmore, PA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. how do you describe a book lover Keep It Simple, Stupid: You're Smarter Than You Look
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. who caresBy Customernot, what i expected it to be. purely judge judy tho'0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Love Judge Judy!By AU DustWell written, interesting. Have read all her books. Judge Sheindlin is awesome!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. About the judicial system not theoryBy Howard E. BorckI was thinking Scheindlin would have elaborated on her theories of "taking responsibility." Instead this book is about family and criminal matters from court cases, making a tough love stance on punks and losers and NOT bending to liberal, political correctness. I agree with her in 95% of her examples. I'm going to send it to my daughter just in case she desperately needs something to read because it's associated with her work for a lawyer.