Remember those old ads where a 90-pound weakling got sand kicked in his face by some beach meathead until he started lifting weights the Charles Atlas way? Biceps curls may have gotten him buff, but he should have submitted to the teachings of Guru Shannen Doherty.

Yeah. That Shannen Doherty. The nutty Beverly Hills 90210 girl.

“Hello?” the actress/failed celebrity dancer/admitted former possessor of anger issues writes in her delightfully candid new book Badass: A Hard-Earned Guide To Living Life with Style and (The Right) Attitude. “Are you tired of biting your tongue? Are you tired of settling for second best? Are you tired of sitting on the sidelines of life? Guess what? Badasses aren’t.”

For approximately 250 pages, the now-39-year-old Doherty explains how she evolved from a defensive, aloof “bad girl” not in control of her own emotions into a confident, self-assured woman who knows her own strengths.

Tidbits include: famous badasses in history (Sojourner Truth, Madonna and Katharine Hepburn are; Lorena Bobbitt is not); the way to maintain successful relationships (“Don’t pay attention to people who are trying to drag you down”); decorating tips (“If you do not have a covered patio space, make one”) and talking your way out of a ticket (“(Police officers) are simply doing their jobs and keeping us safe, so please try to be kind and respectful. That being said, here are a few excuses you can try.”)

Her book is plenty random – Doherty includes lots of baby photos, a poem she wrote in second grade, recipes and even a list of approved dogs (German Shepherds, mastiffs and standard poodles make the list; Malteses and tiny things you can put in your purse do not.)

But it’s also refreshingly honest, no-nonsense and resolutely self-reflective – “Do people really care about (celebrities’) excuses for bad behavior? Really? This is not that book!”

If, like me, you grew up watching Doherty burn through TV shows and bizarre real-life relationship drama – she was once arrested for smashing a bottle into the car of a guy who tried to drive away from her – it’s nice to know that she’s using her crazy for good. One hopes that Lindsey Lohan may one day do the same.

The book doesn’t shy away from the complexities of being Shannen Doherty – she did have a show where she volunteered to break up with your significant other for you. It’s also not a tell-all or an excuse for why she used to act crazy – she doesn’t respect that.

“Did I deserve the negative labels? Well um, yeah Here’s the lesson No one is to blame for my terrible 20s but me.”

Shannen Doherty is not apologizing to you, ever. Deal with it.

Ultimately, the book is about a celebrity with a bad reputation who admits her mistakes with a lot of maturity and humor, and tries to find a creative way to prove that you do not have to forever brand yourself with the dumb mistakes you made in your 20s. You can make yourself over into a conscientious adult who knows the difference between graciousness and getting walked on.

“I have made mistakes on my journey and will continue to do so, but it’s the fact that I keep trying to better myself, that I never give up, that makes me a badass,” Doherty writes.

To me, that’s the baddest thing of all.

Doherty’s 10 Commandments

From her book

1. Thou shalt live life to the fullest.

2. Thou shalt be true to thine own self.

3. Thou shalt never hide thy light, brains or brawn under a bushel.

4. Thou shalt be clever.

5. Thou shalt have style.

6. Thou shalt pay attention.

7. Thou shalt trust thy gut.

8. Thou shalt always strive for excellence.

9. Thou shalt be confident.

10. Thou shalt be cool.