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Summary: from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, October 5, 1998
Review: As perky and positive as ever, Joan Lunden describes being ousted from her 20-year stint as co-host of "Good Morning America." With an abundance of platitudes and cliches, many presented as chapter titles ("Take the High Road," "Get Glowing, Get Going," etc.), she delivers a pep talk on prevailing through such changes as divorce or the loss of a job, both of which she experienced publicly. Lunden puts a happy face on nearly everything; her advice includes such expressions as "Staying even is always better than getting even" and "If you want to get back at someone, kill 'em with kindness." In between exhortations, however, she reveals herself to be a savvy businesswoman, carefully preparing every meeting, planning strategies, working hard and always "respond(ing) intelligently" rather than "reacting emotionally." Lunden describes overcoming her fears, taking risks and pushing the envelope with her particular brand of journalism. Flying a U-2 plane, dancing with veteran Vegas showgirls and bungee jumping have all been part of her new role on a series of TV specials called "Behind Closed Door." These specials, fulfilling her ABC contract, along with commercials for Claritin allergy products, are part of Lunden's "new life." What's next for the TV star is not revealed, but "what sometimes seems to be the end is often a new beginning. . . . We just have to be willing to venture around the bend." 100 color and b&w photos.
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Summary: Good for a lady that has been knocked down, but not out.
Review: Good points very specific though
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Summary: Trite, cliche, and self-serving
Review: I listened to this book on cassette, and then skimmed the paper version. This particular literary outing of Ms. Lunden and her co-author is disappointing.
Lunden's use of her own life as the model of "10 Positive Principles for Dealing with Change" is unrealistic -- possibly even more so when you hear her own voice expecting you to sympathize with her as she gets up at 4 am, and sympathize again as she struggles to get out of the early-rising habit following her departure from Good Morning America. The author CHOSE that life-style.
The author, as portrayed by the book, is a combination goddess and martyr -- never making a mistake, and yet ever-suffering and brave. Supposedly not slamming the network during her last show is an example of her maxims "take the high road" and "don't burn your bridges." She doesn't mention the unkind comments she made about her husband in the media during their divorce (e.g. Good Housekeeping 11/92).
When she states, "remove failure as an option," she seems to give no thought that a multi-million-dollar income national celebrity has a few more options than most of us. If I'm ever asked to be the guest headliner of a Las Vegas show, or to ride along in a U-2 spy plane, I'll certainly remember Lunden's advice to be brave and go through with it. And I'll be sure to get lots of sleep before considering all those offers to be the star of a TV show, or be spokesperson for a national product. (Yes, she really does use these examples.)
Most readers who are not national celebrities will not identify with the "poor little rich girl." For these readers, her supposed struggles are fantasyland. For $7700 per morning, she can get up on time. Yes, of course, the rich and famous do have real feelings and issues: Lunden simply doesn't touch on those in this book.
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Summary: Joan Lunden's A Bend In the Road is Not the End of the Road
Review: I picked this audio book up in a discount store. It was truely what I call a diamond in the rough. Sometimes people give them selves a self evaluation and feel that they need to make changes in their lives but just don't know how or where to begin. I am at that point and thru much prayer my answer came from this book. It makes you realize that though change is a part of life and sometimes it is vital, it is how we handle it that can make the difference. I've read the reviews and I while they are all different it is how we view something as to how we will benefit from it. There are some things I did not agree with and I chose not to focus on those things. There was much that I can use to my advantage and I choose to do just that. My whole life is about to change. From a person who felt that there was no hope I can say keep looking and keep praying. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Keep an open mind and an open heart and be ready to recieve the blessings.
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Summary: A good road to take!
Review: I recently read this book AGAIN. Joan has so many stories to inspire YOU to find the courage to make the necessary changes in your life. I'll admit I've thought the world of Joan Lunden for a long time and having worked in TV myself for many years, I enjoyed the "inside" stories. However, this book played an important role in helping me to tap into more of the courage, confidence and creativity I needed in making my own career change to authoring my first book, KIDS RULE! The Hopes and Dreams of 21st Century Children. This book gives you even more reasons to love, respect and embrace Joan Lunden and the adventurer inside you!
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Summary: A good road to take!
Review: I recently read this book AGAIN. Joan has so many stories to inspire YOU to find the courage to make the necessary changes in your life. I'll admit I've thought the world of Joan Lunden for a long time and having worked in TV myself for many years, I enjoyed the "inside" stories. However, this book played an important role in helping me to tap into more of the courage, confidence and creativity I needed in making my own career change to authoring my first book, KIDS RULE! The Hopes and Dreams of 21st Century Children. This book gives you even more reasons to love, respect and embrace Joan Lunden and the adventurer inside you!
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Summary: Joan Lunden's Bend in the Road is very helpful
Review: I reviewed the audio tape several times and found it to be very helpful in our approach of how we deal with issues in everyday life. While many of the stories were insightful and inspiring, the one that most stuck with me was when she talked about one of her aids on Good Morning America that told Joan that she could start her day over whenever she liked, when she felt that Joan was off to a bad start in the early morning hours when most of us are still in bed. We all deal with rough times in our lives, and it is important to learn how to best deal with those times. Joan Lunden shares some idea's that would help most anyone. I also attended an Anthony Robbins seminar a few years ago - where he had assembled numerous celebrity or high achievers to speak to the thousands assembled. Joan Lunden was by far the best speaker there. This is not only a great tape or book to review, it would be one that others would really benefit from.
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Summary: A Little Superficial
Review: I tried to like this book, but it was a little too dull and boring. Her sense of humor seems contrived. I'm sure she is a nice person, but this book did not hit home with me. It didn't speak to me. It seems like she just wrote this book to make money.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Superficial
Review: I tried to like this book, but it was a little too dull and boring. Her sense of humor seems contrived. I'm sure she is a nice person, but this book did not hit home with me. It didn't speak to me. It seems like she just wrote this book to make money.
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Summary: Tired cliches fill Lunden's book.
Review: Joan Lunden, the cohost of "Good Morning America" for nearly twenty years, has penned a quasi-coffee table book about accepting change in one's life. Her 10 principles are among the most cliched around and include "Take the High Road" and "Remove Failure as an Option". The one-time belle of the morning portrays her departure from the ABC dawn patrol as life altering and demands that the reader share her pain, so to speak. Lunden even devotes a paragraph to the decorating changes that the career shift required in her home. The book's prose is of infomercial quality and the large color photographs of Lunden, more often alone than with others, feed the reader's sense that this book is an ego-maniac's plea for public recognition of how hard it is to be given millions to walk away from a job that she had held for 20-years. This book is simply pointless. Save your money.
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