For a quarter century more than a million readers-scribes and scribblers of all ages and
abilities-have been inspired by Anne Lamott's hilarious big-hearted homespun advice. Advice
that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anne's father-also a writer-in the
iconic passage that gives the book its title: Thirty years ago my older brother who was ten
years old at the time was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months
to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas and he was at
the kitchen table close to tears surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on
birds immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put
his arm around my brother's shoulder and said 'Bird by bird buddy. Just take it bird by
bird.' An essential volume for generations of writers young and old Bird by Bird is a modern
classic. This twenty-fifth anniversary edition will continue to spark creative minds for years
to come.
