"A level-headed, laugh-out-loud tour of the loopy world of self-help. If you're somehow not perfect, sit down and read Jennifer Niesslein-she will make you feel better already."

-Ann Crittenden, author of THE PRICE OF MOTHERHOOD and IF YOU'VE RAISED KIDS, YOU CAN MANAGE ANYTHING

"In this delightfully witty and sometimes startlingly poignant memoir, Jennifer Niesslein takes the reader on a tour of her multiple exertions in the land of self-help. There are laughs in this book-lots of them-balanced by thoughtful observations about the possibilities and the limitations of the ordinary human."

-Kristin Ohlson, author of STALKING THE DIVINE

The Experts

I took lots of advice in my two-year quest to become a better, happier person. But there’s really no way I could chronicle everything I did or all the information the experts offered. Some links for those who'd like to dig deeper:

The American Academy of Pediatrics -- Mainstream pediatric recommendations.

David Bach -- The financial guy behind the “Smart Fill-in-the-Blank Finish Rich” series.

Beliefnet -- They got yer spirituality, yer faith, yer religion.

Dale Carnegie -- A classic two-fer: How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Lorilee Craker -- Christian author of We Should Do This More Often, advice for parents getting their swerves on.

Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin -- The folks behind the Financial Independence book Your Money or Your Life.

Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam, Ph.D. -- Two conservative Christians teach parents to be “Babywise.”

The FlyLady -- No-nonsense talk on getting rid of clutter.

John Gray -- He believes that men are from Mars and that women are from Venus.

Jonathan Haidt -- Author of The Happiness Hypothesis, interesting ideas from both positive psychology and the ancients.

Jon Kabat-Zinn -- Open up and say "ohm." The author of Wherever You Go, There You Are.

Karen Kingston -- Using Feng Shui to declutter and spiff up your energy.

Harold S. Kushner -- The rabbi who wrote the classic When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

Anne Lamott -- Acclaimed writer on faith--in her case, Christianity with a liberal twist.

Regina Leeds -- Offers advice on Sharing a Place without Losing Your Space.

Dr. Phil McGraw -- I took this talk show host's advice on marriage, but he has plenty to say on other subjects as well.

Medline Plus -- The federal government's library of things medical.

National Sleep Foundation -- All matters slumber-related.

Oprah -- The spot for Ms. Winfrey's TV program, magazine, and philanthropical endeavors.

Suze Orman -- Penned The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom and other works about the money, honey.

Real Simple -- Big, fat magazine with handy tips and lovely photography.

Laura Schlessinger -- "Dr. Laura" is her child's mother and dispenser of advice to others.

William Sears, M.D., and Martha Sears, R.N. -- Attachment parenting thoughts from a pediatrician and a nurse.

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. -- The father of the positive psychology movement and author of Authentic Happiness.

Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph.D -- Takes the idea of emotional intelligence and tailors it to parents.

Elaine St. James -- She's all about simplifying one's life.

Abigail Van Buren -- A.k.a. Dear Abby, the column of common sense and wet noodles.

Dr. Andrew Weil -- Holistic health from an M.D. who advocates for lifestyle changes.