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evan_oman's review
3.0
I read this based on the strong recommendation by Derek Sivers on this podcast (https://tim.blog/2015/12/14/derek-sivers-on-developing-confidence-finding-happiness-and-saying-no-to-millions/)
There is some pretty useful stuff here: Schwartz extols the virtues of positive, action-focused thinking with a classic 1950s delivery. I absolutely think this line of thinking is more useful than the alternative, but I found the book lacking in a few areas.
Most of the book boils down to doing more and doing better all the time. Take that extra assignment. Never waiver in your commitment to that new endeavor. Move that mountain.
What this advice ignores is that, ultimately, your time _is_ limited and most extra assignments won't advance your career. Sometimes, you learn that your new endeavor is fundamentally flawed. Sometimes that mountain can't really be moved. I understand that the whole message is to not become overwhelmed by negativity, but you need to engage with reality, which can be negative. This makes sense since the book is focused on sales, where reality doesn't seem to be as much of a limitation as it does for engineering
There is some pretty useful stuff here: Schwartz extols the virtues of positive, action-focused thinking with a classic 1950s delivery. I absolutely think this line of thinking is more useful than the alternative, but I found the book lacking in a few areas.
Most of the book boils down to doing more and doing better all the time. Take that extra assignment. Never waiver in your commitment to that new endeavor. Move that mountain.
What this advice ignores is that, ultimately, your time _is_ limited and most extra assignments won't advance your career. Sometimes, you learn that your new endeavor is fundamentally flawed. Sometimes that mountain can't really be moved. I understand that the whole message is to not become overwhelmed by negativity, but you need to engage with reality, which can be negative. This makes sense since the book is focused on sales, where reality doesn't seem to be as much of a limitation as it does for engineering
lehusseinou's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book ... it starts slowly but eventually you will be glad that you didn't put it away .. Recommending everyone who is doubting whether his/her dream is doable.
martha_schwalbe's review
3.0
A friend recently recommended this book to me so I got it as an audio book. As I listened to it, it seemed familiar. Looking at the original publication date I understand why. I read it when I was in college.
amethystap's review
5.0
This was such a powerful book. It really opened my eyes to the power of our thoughts and beliefs. Mr. Schwartz brought home the fact that what we think shapes our reality. I mean, after all, everything that we have created in this life, first started as a thought in our mind.
What we believe about ourselves and the world around us influence how we interact with the world and present ourselves.
Quotes to remember from the book:
“When you believe you can do it, the how-to-do-it will follow. The how-to-do-it always comes to the person who believes he can do”
“You are a product of your environment so your mind and goals are influenced by your environment. Association to negative and petty people yields negative thinking and petty habits. On the flip side, association to positive and ambitious people yields positive thinking and great results.”
“People see in us what we see in ourselves so we attract the treatment we think we deserve.”
What we believe about ourselves and the world around us influence how we interact with the world and present ourselves.
Quotes to remember from the book:
“When you believe you can do it, the how-to-do-it will follow. The how-to-do-it always comes to the person who believes he can do”
“You are a product of your environment so your mind and goals are influenced by your environment. Association to negative and petty people yields negative thinking and petty habits. On the flip side, association to positive and ambitious people yields positive thinking and great results.”
“People see in us what we see in ourselves so we attract the treatment we think we deserve.”
ronaldhadrian's review
4.0
Brilliant- inspiring and Tim Ferris was right, this book is a good book for entrepreneurs. Learnt many things from the book, especially on the subject of self-confidence and dreaming big. Highly recommended.
cihejirika's review
2.0
Definitely a product of the times but quite heteronormative, sexist and simplistic. Some self development gems tho, not necessarily groundbreaking but encouraging nonetheless.
benoitm's review
1.0
I read up to page 35 and I personally find that the book sucks. I can see people enjoying it if they haven’t read many books like that before but I find that it is the first book I read about personal development this year that I just found so boring and with nothing great to have me keep reading. It was just ready obvious with no material that novel attached to it. It doesn’t have any scientific facts, no grandiose concepts. It is just very basic. If you read regularly personal development books I don’t recommend. If you are starting to be interested in personal development it might be interesting to you, but there are better books out there for sure.
mantaq10's review
3.0
Standard self help advice with a lot of anectodes and examples. Skip read it , perhaps that's why I under appreciate the 5 stars...