Writing with authority and clarity, Grant examines how talents can be discovered, developed, and turned into achievement.
The author of Think Again and Originals examines how “potential is not a matter of where you start, but of how far you travel.”
The potential for success comes in many shapes and forms, writes organizational psychologist Grant, but the common factor is that it must be cultivated, nurtured, and developed. As a professor at Wharton and the author of a series of books in this field, the author is able to draw on a wide range of research as well as case studies from sports, the arts, chess, and even comedy. He believes that everyone has potential and that it is the duty of teachers, parents, and peers to draw it out. An early start is surprisingly important: Longitudinal studies show that children who do well in kindergarten and elementary school do much better in later life. A key point is having teachers who make learning an enjoyable activity rather than a grinding, rote process. Building character skills, such as determination, self-discipline, and resilience, is more advantageous than cramming technical information into young brains. In terms of parenting, the most valuable thing is to encourage a habit of reading. Children who see their parents read and who have access to a variety of books perform better across all criteria. A related skill is being able to write well, essential in nearly every field. Grant readily accepts that not everyone will be an Olympic athlete or an academic high-flyer; the goal, instead, should be to continually strive for improvement. Occasional failures are inevitable, but they can be an opportunity for learning and reevaluation. The author is willing to discuss some of his own setbacks and struggles, which gives the text added authenticity. He emphasizes that the book is not a self-help manual, but readers will find plenty of practical lessons and inspiring examples.
Writing with authority and clarity, Grant examines how talents can be discovered, developed, and turned into achievement.Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9780593653142
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
Perhaps not magic but appealing nonetheless.
Want to get ahead in business? Consult a dictionary.
By Wharton School professor Berger’s account, much of the art of persuasion lies in the art of choosing the right word. Want to jump ahead of others waiting in line to use a photocopy machine, even if they’re grizzled New Yorkers? Throw a because into the equation (“Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the Xerox machine, because I’m in a rush?”), and you’re likely to get your way. Want someone to do your copying for you? Then change your verbs to nouns: not “Can you help me?” but “Can you be a helper?” As Berger notes, there’s a subtle psychological shift at play when a person becomes not a mere instrument in helping but instead acquires an identity as a helper. It’s the little things, one supposes, and the author offers some interesting strategies that eager readers will want to try out. Instead of alienating a listener with the omniscient should, as in “You should do this,” try could instead: “Well, you could…” induces all concerned “to recognize that there might be other possibilities.” Berger’s counsel that one should use abstractions contradicts his admonition to use concrete language, and it doesn’t help matters to say that each is appropriate to a particular situation, while grammarians will wince at his suggestion that a nerve-calming exercise to “try talking to yourself in the third person (‘You can do it!’)” in fact invokes the second person. Still, there are plenty of useful insights, particularly for students of advertising and public speaking. It’s intriguing to note that appeals to God are less effective in securing a loan than a simple affirmative such as “I pay all bills…on time”), and it’s helpful to keep in mind that “the right words used at the right time can have immense power.”
Perhaps not magic but appealing nonetheless.Pub Date: March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780063204935
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Harper Business
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Career and business advice for the hashtag generation. For all its self-absorption, this book doesn’t offer much reflection...
A Dumpster diver–turned-CEO details her rise to success and her business philosophy.
In this memoir/business book, Amoruso, CEO of the Internet clothing store Nasty Gal, offers advice to young women entrepreneurs who seek an alternative path to fame and fortune. Beginning with a lengthy discussion of her suburban childhood and rebellious teen years, the author describes her experiences living hand to mouth, hitchhiking, shoplifting and dropping out of school. Her life turned around when, bored at work one night, she decided to sell a few pieces of vintage clothing on eBay. Fast-forward seven years, and Amoruso was running a $100 million company with 350 employees. While her success is admirable, most of her advice is based on her own limited experiences and includes such hackneyed lines as, “When you accept yourself, it’s surprising how much other people will accept you, too.” At more than 200 pages, the book is overlong, and much of what the author discusses could be summarized in a few tweets. In fact, much of it probably has been: One of the most interesting sections in the book is her description of how she uses social media. Amoruso has a spiritual side, as well, and she describes her belief in “chaos magic” and “sigils,” a kind of wishful-thinking exercise involving abstract words. The book also includes sidebars featuring guest “girlbosses” (bloggers, Internet entrepreneurs) who share equally clichéd suggestions for business success. Some of the guidance Amoruso offers for interviews (don’t dress like you’re going to a nightclub), getting fired (don’t call anyone names) and finding your fashion style (be careful which trends you follow) will be helpful to her readers, including the sage advice, “You’re not special.”
Career and business advice for the hashtag generation. For all its self-absorption, this book doesn’t offer much reflection or insight.Pub Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16927-4
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Portfolio
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
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