Mindy Kaling's Top 6 Revelations in 'Why Not Me'
Her most inspiring and always funny advice.
— -- Your favorite funny OB/GYN is back and like her "Mindy Project" character, there is nothing subtle about Mindy Kaling's return.
Everyone from fellow actors and actresses to comedians is singing Kaling's praises, celebrating the launch of her new book “Why Not Me."
In "Why Not Me," the actress, writer and producer extraordinaire, 36, takes readers behind-the-scenes of her chaotic life, sharing what it's really like climbing the comedy chain. Kaling spills her secrets to killer confidence, a killer career and killer beauty -- and reveals the truth (kind of) about her relationship with best-friend-turned-boyfriend-turned-"soup snake," B.J. Novak.
Here are some of the book's biggest revelations in Kaling's own words:
1. "It's hard to get people to like you, but it's even harder to keep them liking you." (p. 4)
Kaling's first book is titled "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" for a reason. She likes company, and she likes being liked. But as she's gotten older, Kaling says she's realized caring more about being herself rather than impressing people, has made her writing both more personal and enjoyable.
2. "I wish I had always acted like I was a little bit famous." (p. 48)
The perfect kind of famous? Kaling says it's the "double-take-at-the-airport" kind, where you're recognizable but not overly-so. While there are drawbacks to being spotted, Kaling writes that the spotlight has made her want to "appear" to be a better person -- which has ultimately made her a better person.
3. “If you interview any actor about having to do sex scenes, you always get the same answer: they ‘hate’ doing them ... I am here to tell you that they are all lying.” (p. 91)
Not many actors admit to liking those scenes, but Kaling isn't afraid to devote a whole chapter of her book praising them. As she says, "I am an unabashed lover of watching sexy situations on-screen, both as a viewer and, lately, as a participant on my own show." And anyone who says they hate acting in them? "They are all lying. Every last one of 'em," Kaling writes.
4. "If you got it, flaunt it. And if you don't got it? Flaunt it." (p. 202)
Because, as Kaling says, "What are we even doing here if we're not flaunting it?"
5. "We're soup snakes. B.J. and I are soup snakes." (p. 132)
Kaling's relationship with B.J. Novak, her former co-star on "The Office," is complicated. They've gone from friends to lovers and back, and now only have one way to describe themselves: "soup snakes."
The term is a reference an "Office," season 7 episode, where Michael Scott (Steve Carell) considers confessing his love to an ex-girlfriend, but can't read his own handwriting. Thus "soul mates" becomes "soup snakes." And as Kaling says, "'Soul mates' is what you aim for, but soup snakes is what you get sometimes."
6. "Work hard, know your (stuff), show your (stuff), and then feel entitled." (p. 223)
Kaling's secret to being confident? Good, old-fashioned hard work. "I don't understand how you could have self-confidence if you don't do the work," she says.
Related Stories
ABC News Live