Gunn's Golden Rules

I've liked Tim Gunn since the first season of Project Runway. I used to just like Tim Gunn, the character and even loved the spoof of Tim that Mad TV did because I thought that he was added to the show for flavor and flair. But after watching several seasons I've liked Tim Gunn for who he is, the credibility that he brings to the show, his candidness, rapport and in some cases, "non-rapport" with some of the designers. He is a respected source of technical information but more often than not, it boils down to a question of style which he definitely knows something about. But more than that, Tim just oozes with "realness" that can't be faked.


Upon reading Gunn's Golden Rules, his newest book on how to make your personal life work, his uncompromising view of what's right and wrong is clearly evident. He dishes out the dirt on the divas in the fashion industry in trying to debunk that sense of entitlement some people in high places have. He rats out even his mother and father in trying to share nuggets of wisdom in being true to yourself, having manners and just being nice. He takes us inside his personal life to illustrate what to do when we are invited to a party, when we have guests over and even when we are being taken advantage of by our nearest and dearest. Indeed no one is spared, not even himself. 


He holds an engaging conversation with the reader and there were times when I laughed out loud because the words on the pages came alive and I could almost hear him speak. He has come a long way and he is lucky that success came to him late because he takes everything with a grain of salt and he is old enough to know that anything can be given or taken away in a blink of an eye.  What he is is grateful. And considerate. And polite. And real. And of course, well-dressed. Read this and you'll learn some of the ways to "make it work" in real life.