The Gospel According to Coco Chanel: Life Lessons from the World's Most Elegant Woman Audiobook

" Just as with her books about Kate Hepburn and O'Keefe, i loved it! I wonder who she'll tackle next. i wrote and asked but I doubt she'll feel compelled to inform me since the last two I got from the library so I'm not lining her pockets. Just a bit of humor. "

" Although I think the fashion world is more ridiculous than most soap operas, I nonetheless do view certain designers as true artists. Coco Chanel may not have been Galliano-tastic or have the quirkiness of Gaultier, but she created a baseline of elegance that few designers have reached. The book is less about fashion, I feel, and more about creating the self. Chanel, like most designers, was her own biggest fan. She would have to be in the cut-throat arena of fashion. Her iconoclastic and legendary status often overshadows her actual work. Who really knows about her work beyond the boucle suit and the #5 perfume? She has many great, albeit contradictory at times, aphorisms about topics ranging from the necessity of good shoes to what it means to be feminine. The author occasional critiques, or calls buls--t, on the philosophy of Chanel, but nevertheless admires the fashion icon for the same reason I do: Coco Chanel was who she was and made no apologies. In a world where women are simultaneously praised and prosecuted, Chanel is sometimes a reminder that greatness can be based in simplicity and not every woman wants to be a wife and mother, which does not make her less as a woman. She reminds us that there is a power in choosing, along with consequences, which are not necessarily negative but what we must live with in the end. Her "no regrets" philosophy appeals particularly to me, a woman swimming in a sea of petty regrets. It also inspired me to go through my wardrobe and really consider what I like to wear and the fact that a monochromatic wardrobe is easy to deal with. I even bought a few strands of pearls and glass jewels with chains. "

" Quick and easy w/just enough history. "

" I couldn't even finish the book....just never got into it. "

" I honestly didn't know anything about Coco Chanel before reading this book. I know her a little better now, but I don't think we would've hit it off. The story was interesting, but I didn't get much from the author's opinions. "

" A brief biography of Coco Chanel themed loosely around the idea of her "life philosophy"; the concept only vaguely holds together and this is likely best as a light read for someone who wants to find out a little about Chanel without reading one of the most weighty and extensive bios that are available. "

" The history and philosophy of Coco Chanel as it has never been written - by a 'west coast casual' american women who is in search of a perfect Chanel jacket. I laughed from cover to cover. "

" Shallow and annoying. Which is remarkable because the material has so much potential. Skip this one. "

" I enjoyed this book for what it was: a way to learn about the life of Coco Chanel and how you can apply her life lessons to your own. I found it very entertaining. "

" It was okay.. I listened in the car. "

" No argument that Chanel was an important fashion innovator. Just not interested in topic. "

" I laughed outloud. Bonus that I read it on my way to Paris 11/2011. "

" light,entertaining and interesting. a fun read. "

" Not a complete biography on Coco to be sure. However a cute reminder about being your own woman. Don't know that I walked away from this with anything more than a desperate desire for a little black dress ala Coco for an upcoming swanky holiday cocktail party! "

" I expected this book to be humorous - but it was mostly boring. "

" A fun, light read; short on biography, but what little was included I enjoyed. This was a quick one, and the author's wit was mostly welcome. Definitely summer reading. "

" A lively and fun introduction to Chanel's life and philosophies, if a bit rambly or repetitive at times. Also, the parts where the author talks about herself are boring. "

" Chanel was definitely an interesting woman. Tales of her life are interspersed with somewhat less interesting opinions and anecdotes from the author's life. "

" I'm a big Chanel fan and I like biographies but this one's just boring. It is light but it doesn't really give you that sense of excitement, just through in a quote and relate a story to it. I've read better bios than this. But props to the art and cover! The hardcover is nice. "

" No argument that Chanel was an important fashion innovator. Just not interested in topic. "

" I laughed outloud. Bonus that I read it on my way to Paris 11/2011. "

" A fun, intriguing read on the fascinating life of Coco Chanel! I loved the authors insights and the life lessons, it added an interesting feel to an otherwise typical biography. "

" Annoyingly written, but it did make me want to read a real biography of Chanel... "

" Disappointing. I wanted to learn so much more about this icon. "

" An odd mix of biography and the author's own interjections...good as it wasn't a straight up bio on her.... "

" This book was GREAT!! It was really funny and I really enjoyed it. I dont normally care about Coco Chanel, I just needed somthing to read... But this was great and interesting and I would reccomend it to anyone and everyone. "

" Author didn't seem to know very much about Chanel, doesn't seem to embody Chanel at all and comes off as an American trying desperately to tap into a shallow understanding of French culture and fashion. "

" Not my usual cup of tea, but I learned about a lady that I didn't know much about. That's why I love book club. "

" First indication in ages that chicklit isn't totally warped, and that it *is* possible to be funny about couture, man woes and being a tiny chic bitch. Helps that it's about a woman in history, but cannot be mistaken for biography. Pleasant illustrations. "

" A very interesting read. I didn't know much about Coco Chanel, but her fashions definitely have shaped what I like to wear today. Comfort, comfort, classic comfort - so true. I don't like her much, but I do admire her greatly. I'd say rather the reverse about the author. "