Rating: 
Summary: Little gem.
Review: This is a little gem of a book that states clearly some very big concepts. And funny. Read it, cringe at your own transgressions, and then learn a lesson or two about leading a better life, both for yourself and those around you. Thanks, Ben.
Rating:
Summary: Best on the CD.
Review: This is great material from a wry observer of human (and his own) nature. I don't know about the book, but I highly recommend the CD. Stein reads.
Rating:
Summary: Don't read this great little book too fast!
Review: This looks like a little book. Truth be told, you can read it in a couple of hours, but you would be cheating yourself. I think there are three levels of reading this gem.First, you will enjoy the wit and humor of pointing out the flaws of all those who have ever caused you pain. You will be glad that someone has finally called them on their shallow self-centered brutality. Next, you will realize that people you care about are hurting themselves with some of these self-harming traits. You will want to share this book with them hoping that they will get the idea by seeing the problem through humor. It is easier to get the medicine coated in a laugh than through a sermon or lecture. (So, get each of these friends a copy of this book!) But then you will start thinking about your own life. You will start recognizing how you have caused yourself problems with these very same mistakes. This is where the book has a big payoff. You can take your time going through this book and spending time reflecting on how you have indulged in these behaviors to your own hurt. Then you get to decide what you want to do about it. When you make the corrections is when you realize what a favor Ben has done for you and what a great value this book is. Then you will want to share it. However, keep your own copy for future meditation. Buy your friends, relatives, and kids their own copy. After all, it is the holiday season, right? Thanks, Ben Stein!
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend!!
Review: With all the books today telling us how to do, what we should and need to do, here's one giving advice on what not to do. (Get my drift?) Not to do, to avoid not being financially successful, happy, save a relationship, and so on. We get some more....well....advice. And, by someone who's done many different successful things in life. Ben Stein's got a pretty interesting resumé. I remember seeing him first in a comedy movie as a "nerdy professor." In addition to this he's been a former White House speech writer, securities lawyer, game show host, Wall Street Journal columnist, actor, trial lawyer, law school professor, scriptwriter, novelist, and author of several books on finance. He's also one of those folks whose home overlooks the Pacific Ocean from from the heights of hills in Southern California. You could say he's done a few things life. Like many works of this genre, this can be read quickly and is to the point. This is a clearly written book, peppered with lots of Stein's wit. It's informative and helpful in providing a mental attitude as well as actions to achieve one's goals. We need to occasionally asses how we perceive the world, because our attitude defines the opportunities that present themselves to us, and the subsequent decisions we make. He reminds us of the many things that are important, that perhaps we've subtly forgotten as we've grown up to become busy, cynical adults. And this book is also funny. It'll make you laugh at times, and that's also a big bonus. (That's what more books on these subjects need these days.) Kudos to Stein, he's done something new again--successfully.
Rating:
Summary: 35 things we should avoid doing
Review: With all the books today telling us how to do, what we should and need to do, here's one giving advice on what not to do. (Get my drift?) Not to do, to avoid not being financially successful, happy, save a relationship, and so on. We get some more....well....advice. And, by someone who's done many different successful things in life. Ben Stein's got a pretty interesting resumé. I remember seeing him first in a comedy movie as a "nerdy professor." In addition to this he's been a former White House speech writer, securities lawyer, game show host, Wall Street Journal columnist, actor, trial lawyer, law school professor, scriptwriter, novelist, and author of several books on finance. He's also one of those folks whose home overlooks the Pacific Ocean from from the heights of hills in Southern California. You could say he's done a few things life. Like many works of this genre, this can be read quickly and is to the point. This is a clearly written book, peppered with lots of Stein's wit. It's informative and helpful in providing a mental attitude as well as actions to achieve one's goals. We need to occasionally asses how we perceive the world, because our attitude defines the opportunities that present themselves to us, and the subsequent decisions we make. He reminds us of the many things that are important, that perhaps we've subtly forgotten as we've grown up to become busy, cynical adults. And this book is also funny. It'll make you laugh at times, and that's also a big bonus. (That's what more books on these subjects need these days.) Kudos to Stein, he's done something new again--successfully.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Think of People You Know When Reading the Book
Review: With thousands of books on how to improve one's life, it is refreshing to see one that tells you how to ruin it. One is bound to see countless examples of ideas on how to ruin's one life that people consistantly engange in (i.e., not saving money, or using drugs.) While the book has a humorous spin to it, it is important to realize that it is not easy to be a complete failure. It actually requires work. When you look at the bums on the street, you can quickly see that they have taken Ben Stein's ideas seriously--not saving money, engang in illegal behavior, not making friends, harming their family, and failing to work. If you see any of your current behaviors described in this book, it should cause a serious change in one's personality! After all, we all know how to be a success (we see self-help books all the time), but do we really know the ingredients of failure? If so, let's at least learn how to avoid them! Thanks Ben! I'll do my best not to take your advice. Ha.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Think of People You Know When Reading the Book
Review: With thousands of books on how to improve one's life, it is refreshing to see one that tells you how to ruin it. One is bound to see countless examples of ideas on how to ruin's one life that people consistantly engange in (i.e., not saving money, or using drugs.) While the book has a humorous spin to it, it is important to realize that it is not easy to be a complete failure. It actually requires work. When you look at the bums on the street, you can quickly see that they have taken Ben Stein's ideas seriously--not saving money, engang in illegal behavior, not making friends, harming their family, and failing to work. If you see any of your current behaviors described in this book, it should cause a serious change in one's personality! After all, we all know how to be a success (we see self-help books all the time), but do we really know the ingredients of failure? If so, let's at least learn how to avoid them! Thanks Ben! I'll do my best not to take your advice. Ha.
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