Encyclopedia…..

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Published Date: December 6, 2005

Published By: Broadway Books

Month Read: September 2020

If you were to write your memoir, what format would you use? Amy Rosenthal did not feel that a traditional book format of chapters and paragraphs would appropriately represent her so she went searching for what worked for her. In the end, she found that the encyclopedia format worked best for her. The key features that resonated with her were the varied length to each section, could include pictures and diagrams, and the ability to link to other sections through “see also” sections. She felt that her life was not any extraordinary feat nor would it make for interesting read as paragraph after paragraph through chapter to chapter.

Let me know which format would represent you best.