Instruct: Classify a review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: Sensible and Practical Advice

With so many failing writers out there trying to cash-in on the how-to market, I assumed that Bird by Bird was another superfluous rendition of the same old junk published in Writer's Digest.I misjudged this book.Not only is Lamott's offering candid and witty making it a pleasure to read, but her perspective on managing the difficulties all writers endure was fresh and insightful. This is a book that, if you do write, you will readily relate to. Lamott does not purport to cure these inevitable maladies. What she does do is demonstrate a humorous philosophy for minimizing the negative effects these problems can have on, not only our writing life, but, our life in general.In comparison to the many other books professing answers to the myriad difficulties of writing, this humble and modest work stands alone. Bird by Bird is neither a how-to or why-to manual, but rather a rare glimpse into the mind of a writer dealing with the pains and pleasures of being a writer.