New Yorker Festival

“I love you.” “I want to be like you.” “You’re awesome,” is how nearly every woman prefaced their question (and it was mainly women doing the asking) for Amy Poehler’s conversation with Ariel Levy this past weekend at the New Yorker Festival.

Poehler is smart, funny, warm, confident, and knows what she wants. The child of two public school teachers, Poehler grew up loving school and was a self-proclaimed “good kid.” It might sound like I’m describing your best friend, your sister, or even you — and perhaps that’s the best part of Amy Poehler. What sets her apart from the rest of us is one thing: her main goal is to make us laugh.

Nora was at Barnes & Noble to pimp her new book, “I Remember Nothing.” She got up to the podium and said the thing most everyone wishes a writer would say: “I’m not going to read from my book tonight. Instead, I’m going to tell you about two of my most defining moments as a writer.” Yes, Nora. YES.