I devoured this book in about a day and a half, not difficult as it's easily readable and fun. It is certainly not in the usual style of most self help books; JSP is no patronising therapist or analyst, and I think she would wholly disapprove of too much navel-gazing. She delivers her no-nonsense take on life in a loud, punchy, entertaining way - a sort of short sharp shock treatment! The JSP we all know and love is very evident; slightly scary, ball-breaking, arrogant, ambitious and bossy. But it is very clear that there is another side to Janet, a hugely likeable, self-deprecating, practical, intelligent woman; a realist, with a deep appreciation of life's simple pleasures. She comes across as someone who is at peace with herself, and she does this by NOT trying to be all things to all men(or women) and she wants us to learn to do the same - to listen more to ourselves and less to other people. Did it help me? Well, being 42 with two marriages, three kids and a succession of unfulfilling crappy jobs under my belt, this book didn't actually teach me anything I didn't already know, but it did reinforce much of what I've already learnt the hard way. If I'd read this 20 years ago however, I might have saved myself many years of wasted mental energy on things and people that didn't matter. Once you've read the whole book keep it by your bed, or in your loo for many years to come so that you can dip in and out at random. A few paragraphs of wisdom JSP style will help you focus on what really matters, sort the wheat from the chaff in your life, and go forth with more confidence in yourself.