Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There? By Whoopi Goldberg—Book Review

Ever feel like you’re the only one who notices the world has gotten a little… weird? Some days, it seems like bad manners and wild behavior are the new normal.

People scroll through TikTok at full volume on the bus, skip their “please” and “thank you,” or treat personal space like a suggestion. It really starts to wear on you, right?

That feeling of “is it just me?” is exactly what led me to pick up Whoopi Goldberg’s book, “Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?” after seeing it mentioned. She mixes her classic standup comedy style with some surprisingly real talk on everything from annoying flight attendants to serious everyday quality of life issues.

If you’ve ever wondered why good manners seem harder to find, stick around. I’m going to dig into what makes this book a must-read for anyone who loves quirky details and a good, solid, relatable rant. Let’s get into it together!

Book Review of “Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?” by Whoopi Goldberg

In her book, Whoopi Goldberg goes all in on the loss of civility, questionable social etiquette, and why saying “please and thank you” isn’t just for kids. Her humor cuts through the noise of movie theaters filled with glowing cell phones and people who treat personal space like an open invitation.

And it seems she was onto something. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of American adults, 47% to be exact, believe people are ruder now than before the pandemic. Whoopi just saw it coming a decade earlier.

How Does the Book Blend Humor with Serious Topics?

Goldberg’s conversational style immediately pulls you in, but what’s truly impressive is her skill at weaving heavy subjects like bullying, politics, and domestic violence between laugh-out-loud rants.

She’ll have you chuckling at the accuracy of “carpool cologne,” then pivot to a thoughtful story from her time on The View. This approach feels less like a lecture and more like a coffee chat with that friend who is both hilarious and deeply insightful. She wraps social commentary in standup comedy but never loses her focus on respect, a value she has championed for years as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

This blend is most powerful when she discusses the real-world impact of cruelty. For example, she brings up the heartbreaking story of Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers student who died by suicide in 2010 after his roommate secretly livestreamed him during an intimate moment. By placing these stark realities next to everyday annoyances, Goldberg makes a powerful point: a loss of basic civility can have devastating consequences.

After reviewing books on Tidbits of Experience for over a decade, I’ve found few writers who can balance golden globe-worthy humor with a genuine call for mutual respect so effectively.

What Personal Pet Peeves Does Whoopi Goldberg Share?

I physically cringe when I hear toenail clippers on a train. Whoopi gets it. She also calls out people who wear overpowering perfume in enclosed spaces, a pet peeve so common it has its own nickname: “carpool cologne.”

Her list of irritations feels like a highlight reel of modern annoyances:

• People who treat their phones like megaphones in public.
• Kids who use “gimme” instead of “please.”
• Strangers who feel entitled to touch celebrities or pregnant women.
• Passengers who ignore flight attendants’ safety instructions.
• Rowdy drunks stumbling down airplane aisles.

I don’t know who invented mandatory air fresheners for airplane bathrooms, but they should have to sit next to them for an entire red-eye.

These aren’t just random complaints. They reflect a broader breakdown in shared social understanding. Many of these are still top offenders in recent surveys, with a 2025 poll noting loud public phone conversations and poor manners as major annoyances.

Which Common Annoyances Are Relatable to Readers?

Whoopi’s pet peeves hit close to home for most of us geeks. The loud cell phone talker in a coffee shop is a classic villain in our daily lives. According to a recent Pew Research survey, 59% of Americans find it unacceptable to play music aloud in public spaces.

Tech-related rudeness is a huge theme. We’ve all seen passengers on planes ignore flight attendants’ repeated requests to turn off devices, acting as if the rules don’t apply to them. Then there are the people who text throughout a movie, their screen a tiny, flickering beacon of distraction. It’s no wonder that a 2025 survey listed people texting in a movie theater as a top pet peeve.

And let’s not forget the offline world. Stinky snacks on public transit or at a shared office desk can quickly turn a good day sour. These common experiences improve the quality of life for everyone when a little more common sense is applied.

What Travel Grievances Are Highlighted?

I’m with Whoopi on this one, there should be a universal ban on opening pungent foods like hard-boiled eggs or tuna sandwiches on a packed flight. She perfectly captures the feeling of being trapped with an inescapable smell when she calls out these smelly foods.

Her travel chapter is a masterclass in shared misery. She highlights the absurdity of people who ignore clear instructions from flight attendants, the messiness of airplane bathrooms, and the chaos caused by rowdy drunks at 30,000 feet. These aren’t just anecdotes, they reflect a real and growing problem. In fact, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported over 2,100 incidents of unruly passengers in 2024, a significant increase from pre-pandemic years.

From toenail clippers on trains to people blasting music without headphones, it feels like basic civil behavior is becoming a lost art in the travel world.

Why Do Some Readers Have Mixed Feelings About the Rants?

While many readers cheer for Whoopi’s takedowns of bad manners like loud cell phone use, not everyone is a fan of all her opinions. Her pointed critiques of gossip columnists, bloggers, and overly intense parents can rub some people the wrong way.

This division is clear in the book’s reception. On Goodreads, “Is It Just Me?” has a modest 3.3-star average from over 2,100 ratings, with reviews split between those who love her blunt honesty and those who find it preachy. This polarizing effect is classic Goldberg, familiar to anyone who has watched her moderate discussions on The View. The book sparks debate because it forces you to look at your own habits, which is exactly what the interactive quizzes are designed to do.

Could Some Content Be Considered Offensive?

Whoopi doesn’t shy away from controversial subjects. There’s an entire chapter dedicated to the n-word, where she explores the history and impact of harmful language, particularly in the anything-goes environment of online gaming chats.

Her point is more relevant than ever. A 2024 report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) noted that 15% of adults were exposed to white supremacist ideologies in online games. Whoopi argues that while context matters, we’ve become too careless with words that carry real weight.

She also addresses the tragedy of Tyler Clementi, which serves as a powerful reminder of how online cruelty can lead to real-world harm. Because she tackles loaded issues like domestic violence and political correctness without filtering herself, some readers may find her bluntness jarring. If you prefer your social commentary sugarcoated, this might not be the book for you.

How Does the Book Emphasize Mutual Respect?

At its core, the book is a call for mutual respect. Whoopi uses her rants about everything from poor social etiquette to a lack of personal space to make a larger point: we all share this world, and a little consideration goes a long way. She challenges the idea that your personal comfort is more important than everyone else’s.

This theme aligns with her extensive humanitarian work. As a longtime UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and, more recently, a Global Patron for the UN’s Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, she has consistently used her platform to advocate for compassion and understanding. The book translates that global mission into everyday actions, urging readers to be goodwill ambassadors in their own lives, whether it’s by simply saying “please and thank you” or by standing up to injustice.

What Quizzes Are Included for Readers?

One of the most creative parts of the book is the series of civility quizzes at the end of some chapters. These aren’t your typical magazine quizzes, they’re designed to make you really think about your own public behavior.

You answer a series of questions about common social situations, like cell phone use in restaurants or respecting personal space, and then tally up your score. My own score landed me at 49 on her “civility meter,” which gave me a good laugh and a few things to think about. The quizzes are a fun, interactive way to engage with the book’s central themes and see how your own standards of social etiquette stack up.

Book Details

You can find “Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?” in paperback, hardcover, or for your Kindle. Major retailers like Amazon carry it, with prices varying by format.

Who Is the Publisher and How Many Pages Are There?

The book was published in 2010 by Hyperion, which is part of the Hachette Book Group, and it carries the ISBN 1401396194. You might also see Grand Central Publishing listed, depending on the edition.

It falls squarely in the Humor/Essays category, making it a quick and engaging read. Most print editions run about 200 pages, though some versions are listed at 192 or 224 pages. Either way, it’s a book you can easily finish in a weekend.

What Is the Pricing Information?

For all my fellow geeks who love a good deal, I’ve tracked down the current market prices. Here’s a quick look at what you can expect to pay for “Is It Just Me? Or Is It Nuts Out There?” by Whoopi Goldberg as of late 2025.

Keep an eye out for sales on Amazon or check used bookstores for even better deals. The list price is just a starting point, and I’ve seen hardcover copies for just a few dollars.

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