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Betty MacDonald
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Anybody Can Do Anything Paperback – January 1, 1991

by Betty MacDonald (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 262 ratings
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One would suppose that during the Depression there wasn't much to laugh about in America. But one would be wrong. This book takes up Betty's story before she'd had any success as a writer - when she went back to live with her mother. With a failed chicken farm and marriage behind her, Betty was desperate to make a living in a country without any jobs. Luckily she had her sister Mary batting for her, and catapulting Betty into one hilarious situation after another, while she watched safely from the sidelines.
Previous page
  1. Book 3 of 4
    Betty MacDonald Memoirs Series
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    George Mann Books
  5. Publication date
    January 1, 1991
  6. Dimensions
    0.75 x 5.5 x 8.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0704102439
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0704102439
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ George Mann Books (January 1, 1991)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0704102439
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0704102439
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.75 x 5.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 262 ratings

About the author

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Betty MacDonald

Betty MacDonald

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A longtime resident of Washington State, Betty MacDonald (1908-1958) authored four humorous, autobiographical bestsellers and several children's books, including the popular Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
262 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Nisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulously Entertaining Read, Brilliant Writer!
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2023
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This book is brilliant in every way. I'm halfway through it and do not want this story to end!
I was familiar with the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, and read every book. I was unaware of the author's other books though, and have been greatly delighted to have finally discovered them.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story Back In A Time When Americans Thought It Important To Have A Job!
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2021
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If you haven't guessed this is a story that took place in Wasington State during The Great Depression, which was written by Betty MacDonald, author if the best seller, The Egg and I.
I first learned of the author as a child watching the movie version of The Egg and I starring Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert. I thought the movie was hilarious.

Now, decades later, I found an opportunity to read "The Egg and I" and found a different but just as an enjoyable story. But, that is a review about the author's first book.

This is about her third non-children book, which is about life worth her family during the 1930's and trying to find work. The book is a fun read and will take you back to a time that life was much simpler than today with almost everyone believing in the American work ethic.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a nostalgic trip down into America's past.

Spoiler Alert: There are some topics discussed that would not be considered "politically correct" today in anyone of the author's books, but that is just how real history is.
3 people found this helpful
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Reading Junkie
4.0 out of 5 stars British-isms????
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2017
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What's with all the British words and spelling variations? Did amazon post the British version for American audiences?? If so, I'd like the American version, please. Betty was an American writer, and that should be reflected in the book. Otherwise, it's good. A little of Mary Bard goes a long way, though...
One person found this helpful
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Aimless UFO
5.0 out of 5 stars Brighten your day with Betty McDonald
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2015
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This is a fun book. Betty McDonald is clever and makes me laugh out loud. So sorry her books are so under-appreciated these days. She was ahead of her time in the sense that she was a strong, smart independent woman during a time (1930's-50's) when that was not encouraged. You may think she is making fun of people with her humor but she really loves an appreciates a "character" and the eccentricities in people (though she doesn't have a lot of patience with fools - who does?). A quick read and a great way to brighten your day and take your mind off your own challenges in life. I wish she had lived long enough to write more than a few books!
4 people found this helpful
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Colleen McGill-Grenville
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Pleased
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
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I am very pleased with my book and the quality of service provided by the Seller. It was a nice surprise, my book arrived much sooner than I had expected.
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ex
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting views of the depression era in Seattle.
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020
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Amusing book, but rather dated by todays' standards. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Seattle during the depression .
One person found this helpful
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M Lovey
5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2017
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An autobiography written about the author's life during the Great Depression detailing in a very funny and touching way the myriad of small admin jobs with lecherous old bosses and a few other quirky ones that she and her sister did to support their family. The descriptions of her family life are also witty and endearing. I highly enjoyed this book and found that her inspiring words still endure to the present day. If you've ever known how hard it can be sometimes to find the right job, or even harder, the right career, then this book is for you.
6 people found this helpful
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DabOfDarkness
4.0 out of 5 stars Job hunting in Depression Years Seattle - Interesting!
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2017
Betty MacDonald returns us to her humorous world, this time during the Great Depression in Seattle. This book is set after her tales of the chicken farm (captured in The Egg and I) and covers her various job fiascoes before and after her stint in a tuberculosis sanatorium (as told in The Plague and I).

Betty is the second oldest child in a family of 4 daughters and 1 son. Her older sister Mary was always getting the younger kids to do what she wanted, either by trickery or by simply assuming they would do so and telling them all the reasons it’s in their best interest as well. This book starts off with Betty’s earliest years and all those school-year pranks and hi-jinks her sister Mary organized. For me, these were cute, quaint stories but didn’t interest me nearly as much as her other two books.

The book then skips ahead several years to directly after Betty’s failed marriage and her coming home from the chicken farm to live with her mom and siblings, bringing her two toddling daughters. I found these little stories more to my liking. Basically, it’s all about Betty and Mary, and occasionally one of the other siblings, finding and keeping work during the Depression int eh 1930s in Seattle. Mary was somewhat of a genius at getting her siblings jobs. Basically, she would claim that she or one of her siblings had the skills that whatever employer was looking for. She often stretched the truth and in those cases where she lied, she did make an effort to get either herself or her sibling acquainted with the skill before reporting to work.

Betty rarely had steady work; either the position was temporary from the beginning or the business closed. Her bosses could be a terror as well, acting like temperamental children with the power to fire people. Sometimes the men hiring secretaries were looking for ladies with special skills, skills that Mary and Betty weren’t willing to take on in a hired position. The there are her funny stories of going into debt and how she managed to get out of it. Yet through it all, Betty tells these tales with such humor. I’ve really enjoyed that about these books. She doesn’t paint a rosy picture, instead telling it how it is yet she maintains the ability to laugh at the situation (and sometimes herself).

My favorite story in this one is about a mysterious young lady that joined Betty in the task of folding flyers and sealing them in envelopes for mailing out later. This young lady seemed lonely but was almost assuredly disturbed. She stalked Betty and made both friendly little gestures and mean, even threatening, gestures and comments. It was a very strange encounter that went on for a few weeks. It became one of those unsolved mysteries turned family joke that her family like to pick over on boring evening.

This was a fun book but I prefer both The Egg and I and The Plague and I. With both of those books, there was a clear story arc. This book was a series of anecdotal tales tied together by Betty’s or Mary’s presence. While an enjoyable book, it didn’t carry the weight of the other two.

I received a free copy of this book via The Audiobookworm.

The Narration: Heather Henderson seemed to have some fun with this book. She’s still a great Betty MacDonald, but she’s also a great Mary Bard. I loved the play between these two sisters and Hendersen does a great job of bringing that to life in the narration.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ms Julia I J Waring
5.0 out of 5 stars Prompt delivery with a hand written complement slip - very reasonable price.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
received a copy of a much loved book( now out of print ( "Anybody Can Do Anything" by Betty MacDonald) along with a complement slip with a hand written note. Very much liked that touch. Thank you to them!! I gave the book as a birthday present. Loved that it had an inscription in it. Glad that a second hand book shop can find business through Amazon. The price of the book was very reasonable.
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katherine
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2014
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A real find to get a book by this author . I read the Egg and I 40 years ago and never forgot Betty MacDonald's style and humour.
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Marilyn Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Betty Macdonald
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2019
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This lady remains in my top five authors. I was so upset when I read that she died of ovarian cancer at an early age. She was born to amuse the same as Sir Ken Dodd. Must have read the egg and I, and the plague and I, 20 times each. And have bought more copies for my friends. Brilliant lady. Bet she used to giggle.
One person found this helpful
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Curious carnivore
3.0 out of 5 stars The Egg and I is a better read.
Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2024
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This was sort of a mish-mash of our heroine's young adulthood adventures in a simpler time. I didn't like it as much as The Egg and I. There was much less character depth.
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Sapper
5.0 out of 5 stars About what?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2022
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Because this was a book , I read it!!!!!!!!!!!
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