I'm Judging You - Luvvie Ajayi - A Short Summary & Review

I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual - Luvvie Ajayi - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

Pointing out the obvious but overlooked bits of common sense.

A short summary:

I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones is a collection of humorous essays that tackle the overlooked basics of common sense and modern etiquette. Drawing on pop culture, social media, relationships, and everyday public behavior, Ajayi Jones highlights how often we complicate life by ignoring the obvious.

The essays are brisk, conversational, and unapologetically opinionated. Beneath the humor is a clear through-line: empathy, accountability, and respect make life better for everyone, and ignoring them creates most of our modern messes.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

- Luvvie Ajayi, I'm Judging You

Questions to ponder while reading:

Do you think etiquette is important?

How many faux pas are you guilty of?

My review:

This is a comical, laugh-out-loud look at contemporary manners, delivered with confidence and clarity. Ajayi Jones doesn’t tiptoe around bad behavior; she names it, pokes fun at it, and asks readers to do better, without pretending perfection is the goal.

The humor lands because it’s rooted in shared experience. Social media faux pas, workplace dynamics, and everyday public interactions all get their moment under the spotlight. The result is a book that feels like a conversation with a very smart friend who’s willing to say what everyone else is thinking.

A brief note for readers: if hearing about social issues from a perspective or ethnicity different from your own feels uncomfortable or unwelcome, this book probably isn’t for you. Ajayi Jones’s voice is essential to the message, and the humor works because she speaks from lived experience.

For everyone else, this is a funny, incisive reminder that common sense still matters, and kindness costs nothing.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

✨ #TakeTheBackRoads

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