Bad Vibes Only

(And Other Things I Bring to the Table)

By: Nora McInerny

Narrated by: Nora McInerny

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

From the host of the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking—called “a gift” by The New York Times—a raw and humorous essay collection in the spirit of Jenny Lawson and Samantha Irby.

Nora McInerny does not dance like no one is watching. In fact, she dances like everyone is watching, which is to say, she does not dance at all. A bestselling author and host of the beloved podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking, she has captured the hearts of millions with her disarming and earnest approach to discussing grief and loss. Now, with Bad Vibes Only, she turns her eye on our aggressively, oppressively optimistic culture, our obsession with self-improvement, and what it really means to live authentically in the online age.

In essays that revisit her cringey past and anticipate her rapidly approaching, early middle-aged future, McInerny lays bare her own chaos, inviting us to drop the façade of perfection and embrace the truth: that we are all—at best—slightly unhinged. Socrates claimed that the unexamined life is not worth living. Bad Vibes Only is for people who have taken that dictum a bit too far—the overthinkers, the analyzers, the recovering Girl Bosses, and the burned-out personal brand—reminding us that a life worth living is about more than just “good vibes.”

©2022 Nora McInerny. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Podcaster Nora McInerny’s collection of essays will have listeners nodding and chuckling in recognition as she observes life in the Internet Age. McInerny recounts pivotal moments in her life, both poignant and cringe-worthy. Her experiences cover her childhood in the 1980s, college years in the early 2000s, young adulthood, motherhood, the loss of her first husband to cancer, and her remarriage. Through it all she delivers a self-deprecating tone and her signature wit. She takes a deeper look at the pleasures and perils of online life, questioning our struggles with authenticity and performance on social networks. McInerny’s narration complements her poignant observations on her life as a recovering overachiever and offers both laughs and wisdom."—AudioFile Magazine

For humans who know their humanness is messy

Witty and honest essays on topics ranging moral superiority, phone addiction, parenthood and grandparents who always love you but don’t necessarily want you in their cabin. For anyone who has experienced life’s almosts, been injured by the rough edges of the universe. For anyone brave enough to live and hope without pretending that anything is certain.

NORA!!!!

This book is amazing and PLEASE get out of my head! If this review shows up under my partners account, know that I am a woman named Brenda and have followed your work for years and this is by far my favorite book of yours. I FELT it in my marrow. You’re an amazing writer and I hope you never stop sharing parts of your beautiful brain with the world but if you do, I’ll also understand. <3

Collection of insightful essays

I enjoyed all of these essays, and parents may find a few of them more relevant than I did (no kids). Worth a read, especially for the insights into phone use and influencers that had me reaching for my phone to rewind and say WHAT.

Just listen to it already!

This lady doesn’t need my praises but damn- this book hits home. Your storytelling skills are the best. Your realness makes me feel seen. Thank you Nora!

Love it!

Love it, love her!! I was laughing out loud as she read her witty comments detailing the sometimes ridiculous, sometimes lovely parts of life.

A delight

Nora has a way of revealing the beauty within ordinary stories in a way that calls me to appreciation and mindfulness. She validates and inspires while keeping you laughing through this book

Never finished an audio book so fast

I have a toddler and a baby and I work as a therapist and rarely get through any book these days, audio or not. But I finished this in one day (on walks with the baby, in the car on the way to work, cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen… truly any minute I could find) because I LOVE NORA and I loved this book. I also never leave reviews but as a fellow member of the “I need words of affirmation club” I am doing this. Listen to this book. You’ll literally laugh and cry and feel like you’re getting a warm hug from a friend.

Have been so excited for this preorder!!

I’m a long time listener if Nora books, podcasts, live IG meltdowns….sincerely this woman speak my language. I’m only half through (preorders just came yesterday) and I am already OBSESSED. This author is relatable and real and vulnerable…all while being funny. After years of listening and reading her work I feel like I know her and genuinely like her. I’m crazy enough to think she is rooting for ME too. Read this book, it’s great. If you like to listen to people tell their own story, listen on audible. Nora tells a great story.

Funny and Relatable

I enjoyed listening to this book. It grabbed my attention within minutes of Nora speaking and she told stories about her childhood that I could relate to and that are relevant to her life. I would recommend this book to anyone who just want to feel good and relax for a few hours listening to a good audio book.

Laugh, cry, repeat

There’s nothing about this book that I didn’t like. A must read for recovering perfectionists!