The World According to Bess
By Bonnie Habyan
As we grow up, our moms are the lenses through which we see our lives—and even as adults, they anchor us and give us comfort. While our moms always offer us wisdom, when they get in their 90s, things get a little crazy—and sometimes downright hilarious.
At least, that’s been true for Bonnie Lorber Habyan’s 90-year-old mother Bess.
In The World According to Bess, Habyan has created a funny memoir that weaves her mother’s wit, wisdom and warm-hearted sentiment into a tapestry of hilarity that has been fittingly described as a cross between Chicken Soup for the Soul and Sh*t My Dad Says.
Additional Information
By capturing Bess’s many anecdotes and aphorisms, Habyan reflects warmly on a lifetime of wisdom from a one-of-a-kind woman and all the laugh-out-loud memories they’ve shared. The result is a quick and quirky roadmap to living an authentic life and becoming your “Bess-t” self.
Spanning topics of life, love and keeping up appearances, The World According to Bess is a feel-good book for women offering zany humor and uplifting guidance on how to keep life simple and meaningful—even if the world around us seems to be losing its mind.
Author Bio
Bonnie Lorber Habyan is an author, speaker and chief marketing officer working in real estate finance. Before getting her MBA in banking and finance, Habyan was a corporate spokesperson, news reporter, radio DJ for a call-in love songs program and Miss Baltimore Oriole—the latter of which led to meeting her husband John Habyan, an MLB player with whom she just celebrated her 30-year wedding anniversary. She is also a mom to her amazing daughter Holly, who is in law school. Habyan and her family just moved to South Carolina after living in New York for 25 years. The World According to Bess is her first book.
The World According to Bess in the News
ISBNs:
- 978-1956955330Â
GENRE:
- Memoir
- Family
- Humor
- Women’s Voices
- Inspiration RelationshipsÂ
Themes:
- Mother-Daughter Bond (exploring lessons passed between generations)
- Humor and Honesty (Bess’s sharp, witty outlook on life)
- Resilience (navigating challenges with strength and humor)
- Identity (how family shapes personal growth and perspective)
- Wisdom in Everyday Life (finding meaning in simple truths)
- Legacy (honoring a mother’s voice and influence)Â
FAQs:Â Â Â
Q: What is The World According to Bess about?
A: In The World According to Bess, Bonnie Habyan’s introduces the reader to the wit, wisdom, and unapologetic personality of her mother, Bess. Through stories both humorous and profound, Bonnie reflects on how her mother's life shaped her own journey and offers readers timeless lessons in resilience, love, and laughter.
Q: Who is Bonnie Habyan?
A: Bonnie Habyan is a writer, business executive, and storyteller who brings humor and insight into everything she does. In this memoir, she channels her mother’s vibrant spirit to share a deeply personal yet universally relatable portrait of family and identity.
Q: What makes this memoir different from other family stories?
A: Unlike a typical family memoir, The World According to Bess is infused with Bess’s biting humor, fierce authenticity, and no-nonsense wisdom. It’s as much a tribute as it is a celebration of individuality, showing how one woman’s unapologetic voice can leave a lasting legacy.
Q: Who would enjoy reading The World According to Bess?
A: Readers who love witty memoirs, family stories, strong women’s voices, and heartfelt reflections on resilience and legacy will find The World According to Bess especially meaningful.
