Deen, Paula. Paula Dean: It Ain't All about the Cookin'. Simon & Schuster: 2007.

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PRKC Category
Organizational Systems

Abstract
This book is a closer look into the life of Paula Heirs Deen. Growing up in Albany Georgia, into a true middle class home, Paula walks us through the ups and downs of having such a close extended family. Living in the back of the hotel her grandparents owned, she spent her summers “in a swimsuit and roller skates.” Her first food memory was of her Aunt Trina, just a few years her senior, spoon feeding her vanilla extract, and watching her Grandmother Irene Paul work her magic with southern cuisine in the kitchen. Paula said she learned from her Grandmother how to season food, and that the best cooks do not take the directions too literally the second time around. Throughout Paula’s first marriage she suffered from panic attacks and verbal abuse, and it was not until her early 40’s that she decided that there had to be a better way to live. Paula and her two son’s began their lunching business with “The Bag Lady,” and then from there one of Georgia’s greatest female entrepreneurs was born. Throughout Paula’s life she has learned how to capitalize on her strengths and benefited from taking calculated risks. She is a living example of a self started success, and has the most interesting route to the top that I have heard of yet.

Application to 4-H/Youth or the Field of Youth Development
By walking through Paula’s life we can experience first hand with her the struggles of a youth growing up in Albany, Georgia. She lets us in on her life, and allows us to view the events that shaped her into the person that she becomes later on in life. In the middle of her life, she talks about “being born to herself,” and discovering her talents and a way to capitalize on them. As youth development professionals we should be encouraging 4-Hers to discover their talents, so they do not have to wait until their mid life to excel in them. Paula teaches us to use humor in most situations, and always stay determined to reach your goals. She is a picturesque illustration of displaying inner strength and self motivation to push her business to the top. She walks us through developing her organizational system from the ground up. Paula shares insights into how she worked her sons as her first employees and now her extensive staff that works with her restaurants and show on the Food Network. 

Other Comments
This book was an insightful look into the personal life of one of Georgia’s most interesting and famous females. There are also wonderful recipes sprinkled throughout each chapter. I would recommend it for anyone who wants a humorous yet thoughtful read.

Reviewed by Lauren Ledbetter, State 4-H Program Coordinator- November 2007