How to Read the Inappropriate Series
The Inappropriate series (subtitled Brain Pickings from a Bad Example) by Canadian humorist Diane Henders is a collection of personal essays and blog posts. Because these books document her real-life journey, tech woes, interior design mishaps, and mid-life transitions in real-time, the recommended reading order is the publication order. Reading sequentially allows you to follow the natural timeline of Diane's life, showing her progression as both a writer and a person navigating middle age with unapologetic humor.
The Inappropriate Series in Publication Order
Here is the complete list of books in the series in their chronological publication order. Each volume compiles years of blog posts with additional commentary:
- Probably Inappropriate (2012): This is where it all begins. Diane introduces readers to her mid-life crisis, her transition from interior design to writing, her tech quirks, and her humorous take on daily life in British Columbia.
- Definitely Inappropriate (2013): The second volume keeps the laughter going as Diane dives deeper into workplace frustrations, household chaos, and the bizarre nature of human interaction.
- Totally Inappropriate (2015): The third installment focuses on aging, creative struggles, and tech annoyances with her signature self-deprecating wit.
- Completely Inappropriate (2016): Diane takes her candid observations to new heights in the fourth book, offering laugh-out-loud reflections on the absurdities of modern living.
- Unabashedly Inappropriate (2016): The fifth and final book in the series caps off her collection of blog posts with a celebration of quirks, personal resilience, and living life on one's own terms. Note that while print and digital databases list the original release as 2016, some compiled publisher editions carry a 2020 timestamp.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
Because the books in the Inappropriate series compile Diane Henders' blog archives, the chronological order of the essays matches the publication order of the books. There is no need to shuffle between volumes or read them out of sequence. To fully appreciate her growth, the running jokes, and the updates on her personal life (including her husband and pets), start with the very first book, Probably Inappropriate, and read straight through to the end.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Diane Henders' non-fiction, here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Humorous and Uncensored Tone: Diane's writing style is conversational, direct, and often laced with playful profanity. She explicitly chooses not to sanitize her language, ensuring that her authentic voice and raw reactions shine through.
- A Contrast to Fiction: While Henders is widely known for her action-packed Never Say Spy thriller series starring Aydan Kelly, the Inappropriate series is entirely non-fiction. However, fans of her thrillers will recognize the same kickass spirit, sharp dialogue, and relatable mid-life perspective in her essays.
- Standalone vs. Series Reading: Can you read these books as standalones? Yes. Because each chapter is an independent essay or blog post, you can easily dip in and out of any book. However, reading them in order provides a satisfying sense of continuity as you witness her evolution from a blogger to a self-published novelist.