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Shaken, Not Stirred
Tim Gunn - mentor to contestents on Project Runway, and author of A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style and New York Times Bestseller Gunn's Golden Rules - recounts his tumultuous relationship with his father in this personal essay. Gunn's father, Bill, was a special agent who served as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover's ghostwriter and lived his life according to a set of unbending routines. When Bill Gunn was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, his rigid habits seemingly preserved his sanity while alienating Tim and the rest of his family. Shaken, Not Stirred offers an intimate and heartfelt look into the life of one of fashion's most beloved icons.
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2011
About the author
Tim Gunn
16 books187 followersTimothy M. Gunn is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was chair of fashion design at Parsons The New School for Design from August 2000 to March 2007 and is well-known as on-air mentor to designers on the Bravo reality television program Project Runway. Gunn's popularity on Project Runway led to his spin-off show, Bravo's Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, as well as his book A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 27, 2022
I was planning on re-reading Gunn’s Golden Rules, a favorite of mine that I read five years ago. I must have accidentally deleted it from my Kindle. Right now, this is the only Tim Gunn book on my Kindle. It’s a short and quick read. Nothing to write home about. Just blah. I was disappointed, since I adore Tim Gunn.
May 30, 2011
This is really an excerpt from his book Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work, which is not noted when buying this off Amazon.
Gunn is an underrated author, mostly because his dry wit and quite unexpected spite erupts from his honesty and growing up in the American suburban 1950s.
This "Kindle single" are a few pages surrounding Gunn's father, a very important FBI employee who, among other things, ghostwrote books for J. Edgar Hoover.
His father was also deeply troubled by OCD and fell ill to Alzheimer's disease, while his mother tried to put on a all's-well façade to all on-lookers so that their family wouldn't turn out bad.
It's a good read, this episode.
Gunn is an underrated author, mostly because his dry wit and quite unexpected spite erupts from his honesty and growing up in the American suburban 1950s.
This "Kindle single" are a few pages surrounding Gunn's father, a very important FBI employee who, among other things, ghostwrote books for J. Edgar Hoover.
His father was also deeply troubled by OCD and fell ill to Alzheimer's disease, while his mother tried to put on a all's-well façade to all on-lookers so that their family wouldn't turn out bad.
It's a good read, this episode.
June 1, 2011
This "Kindle Single" is really more of a long essay than anything else; consequently, Gunn doesn't have the time or space to really explore the subject, his father, who sounds like a fascinating man. Instead we get a series of interesting tidbits (the senior Gunn was J.Edgar Hoover's ghostwriter for many years) and anecdotes (family road trips gone wrong, etc.) Gunn does a good job in the space permitted of sketching out his father's many serious issues, both mental and physical, but I was left wanting more. In particular, it isn't until almost the end of the piece that Gunn begins to look at his father in connection with himself--his own physical challenges and the way he deals with the world. This is a thoughtful, serious piece overall, without too much of Gunn's "Project Runway" personality in evidence, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I hope that some day Gunn is able to flesh out these thoughts in a longer format.
April 6, 2012
I love Tim Gunn. I really enjoyed this little snippet into his life; wish it was longer.
August 13, 2018
Tin Gunns dad.
Gives you an insight in why Tim is the way he is about his clothing. I enjoyed it but if you are expecting to learn a lot about Tim you will be disappointed.
Gives you an insight in why Tim is the way he is about his clothing. I enjoyed it but if you are expecting to learn a lot about Tim you will be disappointed.
February 17, 2018
This was an extremely short read, and more of an essay than a book! It’s a brief retelling of Tim Gunn’s father’s life and personality, until he passed, and the similarities between himself and his father.
August 13, 2019
Super cute, but super too short peak into Tim's childhood.
September 27, 2012
I love Tim Gunn! John and I went out for a lazy Saturday breakfast recently and I asked John this hypothetical question: If we could be friends with anyone living, who would that be?" John's answer was surprising and fun, but I will leave that for another discussion. I couldn't narrow it down to just one; my choice for my two hypothetical friends of anyone living were Gladis Knight and Tim Gunn. First of all, i love Manhattan and I hear Tim has quite the "digs" there...I would love to be a house guest of Tim...and I'm sure he wouldn't mind me bringing along 20 of my favorite people for a long weekend in NYC. But mostly I would choose Tim because after watching many seasons of Project Runway, I have come to enjoy Tim's candor, his sense of humor, his ability to work with and value anyone, but most importantly how kind he is even when he is giving someone a scathing critique. So, when I found that he had written an autobiography, I read it. I found it interesting, sad at times and inspiring in terms of not using bad treatment that happen to us as a license to treat others badly. Tim figured out who is is and how he wants to treat other people despite the challenges that came from a father who was struggling with who he was and how he chose to treat others. If you like Tim Gunn, I think you will enjoy this little book....a literary masterpiece it is not, but as a good read, Tim 'makes it work'.
June 7, 2011
I bought this as a Kindle single. I don't know as it is actually available otherwise. I don't know if this is a common format for Kindle, but I really enjoyed being able to read what was essentially a short story, or very long article on my kindle app. I don't know how many actual pages the story is, but I read the entire thing in about an hour while riding shotgun to Chicago. It is a very personal story from Tim Gunn's life that gives a lot of insight into why he is the way he is. And also, I feel, gives others an insight into how people who have family members with OCD, Alzheimer's, etc. cope with the difficulty of loving someone who can't help but be difficult.
Everyone thinks that their family is far from perfect, weird, difficult, or crazy. But some people actually have crazy in their family tree, and it strongly influences their lives and who they are. It was a good read, and a great length. Another author may have drug the story out to fill up more pages and make it seem like more of a "book". But I think Tim Gunn sacrificed satisfying publishers for conciseness and entertainment, and I think he did a great job.
I only give it 3 stars because in my opinion 5 stars is reserved for all time favorite books, 4 stars for the honorable mention list. And 3 stars is enjoyable, I'd possibly even read again, but I wouldn't buy a second copy if I lost the first.
Everyone thinks that their family is far from perfect, weird, difficult, or crazy. But some people actually have crazy in their family tree, and it strongly influences their lives and who they are. It was a good read, and a great length. Another author may have drug the story out to fill up more pages and make it seem like more of a "book". But I think Tim Gunn sacrificed satisfying publishers for conciseness and entertainment, and I think he did a great job.
I only give it 3 stars because in my opinion 5 stars is reserved for all time favorite books, 4 stars for the honorable mention list. And 3 stars is enjoyable, I'd possibly even read again, but I wouldn't buy a second copy if I lost the first.
October 17, 2011
I really enjoyed this essay by Tim Gunn. I have admired him on every season of "Project Runway." I am inspired when I watch him because he is such a good mentor to the designers on that show. He is kind in his criticism and that is a trait to be admired. He has no agenda, other than to encourage and push the designers to do their best work. And he's a really snappy dresser.
This book offers some interesting insight into his life growing up. I'm grateful to him for sharing his experiences with his father. I think after reading this, I have a little additional insight into how Tim Gunn became the man he is today. Very well done!
This book offers some interesting insight into his life growing up. I'm grateful to him for sharing his experiences with his father. I think after reading this, I have a little additional insight into how Tim Gunn became the man he is today. Very well done!
July 30, 2011
What a cute little short memoir! I love watching Tim Gunn on Project Runway, he always seems so well put together and not afraid to give his fashion opinion. So of course after the premiere last night of the new season I had to FINALLY read his Kindle Single. It was a VERY quick read as it was only about 15 pages but it was a nice insight into the man he is today and how his father shaped that. I can only imagine that while it was a short memoir certain things were hard to reveal about himself, as from this writing and how he holds himself, he is very reserved and quiet. It was great and I wouldn't mind if he wrote more or longer. Enjoyable for anyone who likes Tim Gunn.
June 14, 2011
I decided to give this essay four stars in hopes that Tim Gunn will write a longer memoir. Please? Your family life sounds so interesting and this 279 location (Kindle speak) was just not long enough. Tim, please also release your memoir, when you have it done, in audio format read by you. I love your voice and I think only you could do justice to your words. As I was reading this essay I really wanted to hear the comments on - Alzheimer’s, growing up in the 50's, and OCD coming from you.
Four stars, Tim. Please write more.
~ Jenna
Four stars, Tim. Please write more.
~ Jenna
June 18, 2011
Tim Gunn writes about his relationship with his father. I think like most adults who've lost one or both parents, it's a continuous process to make peace with that loss, and accept that there'll not be another change to get it right with that person. The most poignant part of me was when Mr. Gunn shared a story about the family dog racing through the nursing home to find the elder Gunn and what the junior Gunn believes is the reason for the dog one day failing to recognize his owner.
Classy guy, a story that will resonate for a lot of people.
Classy guy, a story that will resonate for a lot of people.
December 1, 2012
I am a big fan of Tim Gunn on Project Runway, which is why I was interested in reading this kindle single in the first place. It is a long essay and was easily read in about 15 minutes. It was interesting to read about his father's mental illness and how it affected the family, but the essay length barely skimmed the surface of the story. It seemed brief and a little choppy which I think would have been improved with a longer book allowing more of the story to be told. 2.5 stars for this due to the short length
August 31, 2011
I enjoyed this Kindle Short, it felt like Tim Gunn was talking and telling me these family stories instead of me reading them. Now that I am sitting here trying to write something I realize there is a lot to think about in this essay: family dynamics, mental illness, Alzheimer's disease, unconditional love and animal instinct. I really admire Tim Gunn. I am changing my initial rating of 3 stars to 4 stars because I have been thinking about this book all day.
March 20, 2012
i adore Tim Gunn. he has this classic elegance, panache, and grace that you rarely see any more. in this very short "book" from Kindle, he tells of his father: former FBI agent during Hoover's reign, who apparently suffered from OCD and perhaps other problems. you can feel Tim Gunn's frustration growing up with such a rigid, difficult father, but he still tells the story in a patient, caring way. made me want to know more about his life...
December 22, 2015
A Different Outcome...Writing His Own Story
When you see celebrities on T.V. you often assume that their lives are magical. Tim Gunn lifts that curtain and shares a powerful personal story - sad but inspirational. I came away thinking that his battles with OCD and his father were the foundation of his determination to "Make it work". He reveals his tenacity in taking steps to make a different outcome in his own life.
When you see celebrities on T.V. you often assume that their lives are magical. Tim Gunn lifts that curtain and shares a powerful personal story - sad but inspirational. I came away thinking that his battles with OCD and his father were the foundation of his determination to "Make it work". He reveals his tenacity in taking steps to make a different outcome in his own life.
September 26, 2011
I am a big fan of Tim Gunn and appreciated this brief insight into his past. I don't know if it was the Kindle Single format or the editing, but it felt like powerful vignettes were transformed into choppy little pieces that didn't come together as a whole. Despite this, I'm still interested to see what Tim has to send down the literary runway next.
December 1, 2012
Tim Gunn's Shaken, Not Stirred is a short excerpt of his full length memoir. Gunn eloquently recounts life with his OCD father, a former FBI agent and Hoover's ghostwriter, and ponders the possibility that certain traits of his father's may have passed on to himself. A cute read. Gunn's dry sense of humor certainly comes through in his writing.
October 16, 2013
Boy, this is DARK! Tim Gunn does not shy away from the downside, and I suspect he wrote this one himself without a collaborator, because it is a lot more blunt than his "Golden Rules" treatment of the same subject matter. Thought provoking, and more than a little hard to take. But compelling, as always!
June 21, 2011
This journey into the psyche of an eccentrically predictable father and the strain within Gunn's family relationships was entertaining, well written, and well worth the few minutes it takes to read. It's brevity is a strength in one sense, but limits its potential to be profoundly meaningful.
June 21, 2011
Available as a Kindle "single" from Amazon--a short biographical story by Tim Gunn of "Project Runway" fame. The writing style is personal and straight-forward--a peek into Gunn's family life and mostly centered around his father.
June 27, 2011
This was more of an essay than a single, but it was interesting. I would have liked even more of Gunn's experiences in the 50's to be shared. I also wished more on the family dynamic of living with a father with an illness would have been interesting.
August 16, 2011
Well written..I really like Tim Gunn & was excited to read this..however, I didn't realize the "Kindle Singles" were merely just a short form of the book. I found it interesting and look forward to reading the full book in it's entirety soon.
September 2, 2011
Tim Gunn's essay about his father who worked at the FBI and was a ghostwriter for J. Edgar Hoover. Interesting if you know who Tim Gunn is. Not sure how interesting it would be if your don't. Downloaded it as a "Kindle single". Good, quick read before bed.
April 16, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading this, but was disappointed to find that it was on par with an undergraduate college level essay.(I actually read it during a class.) It was short, a bit disorganized, and I didn't really understand the point to it all.
May 9, 2012
Generally, I enjoy Tim Gunn's writing, and generally, I enjoy short stories/essays. However, I was a bit startled by the abrupt ending to Shaken, Not Stirred. This could be an extended journal entry about Tim's father. It's interesting enough.
October 3, 2015
As the daughter of an FBI Agent who served w/ Tim Gunn's father this book resonated for me in a very personal way. Always a huge fan, I adore Tim Gunn a little more and only wish we had been friends growing up in Washington at the same time.
May 27, 2011
父親に対する愚痴を並べているようにしか読めないんだが…。なぜ高評価？
June 17, 2011
I love Tim Gunn. It was nice to see a glimpse into his childhood. At only 15 pages, my only complaint is that I wanted more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews