Rating: 
Summary: Becoming a Positive Stereotype
Review: Despite the negative connotations of my title, the great insight I found in this book is that people will try to conform you into stereotypes they have. They usually rely on pretty shallow criteria to judge you. If you happen to fit into a negative stereotype, then you will be waging an uphill fight to change other's opinions of you. People look for confirmation not disconfirmation. So if you say, do or wear something that isn't exactly the right thing, then it will probably confirm the negative stereotype others have of you. Conversly, if you have a positive stereotype, then those deviations from the stereotype are often dismissed or excused. I've learned this through hard trial and error. I once held that the best thing is to be yourself and, if others don't except you for who you are then the hell with them. This is fine for one's personal life but disasterous for a competitive work environment. Even though you may be hard-working and conscientious about work product, in a competitive environment people will use perceived negative differences against you. It sucks but people in competitve work environments are often jerks. If you want to succeed in a competitive environment, then you will just have to accept that people are often shallow and jerks. Consequently, cultivating the proper image will definitely be an advantage to you and this book is a good start.
Rating: 
Summary: KEEPING YOUR FOOT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!
Review: How often have you thought, "I wish I hadn't said or done that?" as the person you are talking to closes up and makes a hasty retreat. This book heightens ones awareness of "toxic traits"- how we turn people off and conversely "magic pills" - ways or styles or qualities that will win points with everyone. Sure it is common sense, and there is really no new turf or ground explored, yet it never hurts to take a closer look at ones self. Highly recommended reading for recent graduates, young professionals eager to make a good impression on the job, or for anyone. The authors call it "Impression Management". I like it. Here's a few of Ms Dimitrius' and Mr Mazzarella's "magic pills"; eye contact, a smile, a good handshake and greeting, posture and ehthusiam. Their "Toxic traits" turning people off are : gossip, pettiness, sarcasm, cursing and bad hygiene.
Rating:
Summary: KEEPING YOUR FOOT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!
Review: How often have you thought, "I wish I hadn't said or done that?" as the person you are talking to closes up and makes a hasty retreat. This book heightens ones awareness of "toxic traits"- how we turn people off and conversely "magic pills" - ways or styles or qualities that will win points with everyone. Sure it is common sense, and there is really no new turf or ground explored, yet it never hurts to take a closer look at ones self. Highly recommended reading for recent graduates, young professionals eager to make a good impression on the job, or for anyone. The authors call it "Impression Management". I like it. Here's a few of Ms Dimitrius' and Mr Mazzarella's "magic pills"; eye contact, a smile, a good handshake and greeting, posture and ehthusiam. Their "Toxic traits" turning people off are : gossip, pettiness, sarcasm, cursing and bad hygiene.
Rating:
Summary: KEEPING YOUR FOOT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!
Review: How often have you thought, "I wish I hadn't said or done that?" as the person you are talking to closes up and makes a hasty retreat. This book heightens ones awareness of "toxic traits"- how we turn people off and conversely "magic pills" - ways or styles or qualities that will win points with everyone. Sure it is common sense, and there is really no new turf or ground explored, yet it never hurts to take a closer look at ones self. Highly recommended reading for recent graduates, young professionals eager to make a good impression on the job, or for anyone. The authors call it "Impression Management". I like it. Here's a few of Ms Dimitrius' and Mr Mazzarella's "magic pills"; eye contact, a smile, a good handshake and greeting, posture and ehthusiam. Their "Toxic traits" turning people off are : gossip, pettiness, sarcasm, cursing and bad hygiene.
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly thrown together book.
Review: I bought this because I've seen the author on Larry King and elsewhere talking about how she reads potential jurors by their body language. She's made a lot of money doing this, and recommending jurors to lawyers. It was all very interesting until I bought this slapped together book. Really all it says is that sloppy posture and messy clothing will not make a good impression in the business world or the dating world. Really, that's all it says!! I was also offended, as an artsy person, that the author repeatedly stated that people who wear clothes/jewelry/hairstyles out of the normal navy blue, plain semi-formal business mainstay will be seen as weirdos by their contemporaries and not promoted, etc. She seems to think individuality is a very bad thing! She actually encourages readers to dress as boringly as possible so as not to offend anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Thank you!
Review: In dealing with business professionals, the first impression is often the only impression that's left with them. Thank you for USEFUL information to help me improve my business and personal life!
Rating:
Summary: A self help book that really helps
Review: Put Your Best Foot Forward is well researched and well written. It provides extremely practical and useful tips for becoming aware of, and improving, the impression you make on others. I would recommend it to everyone from high school students interviewing for their first job to business executives trying to close a deal.
Rating: 
Summary: Practically useless
Review: Reading this book is like taking your personality in to the doctor for a physical. You may feel uncomfortably poked, prodded and palpated, but you will perhaps be the better for it. More precisely, you will be able to get along better with others after reading this book. Some of the pointers for making a good impression are very specific to high-powered business encounters. It's also important to keep in mind that the authors are basing the advice in the book on their experience prepping people to make a good impression on trial juries -- a scenario that may or may not apply to your particular set of relationships. Regardless, the level of detail given on personal interactions such as handshakes is fascinating. Some of the tips provide great insights into human psychology, especially regarding the emotional impact of things like body language, speech pacing, and voice quality. But some of the tips seem manipulative, like car-salesman talk, and others are just plain common sense -- like good grooming and making eye contact. The emphasis on all aspects of personal appearance is depressingly shallow. I felt as if I were receiving a lecture on the importance of wearing makeup, uncomfortable clothes and painful shoes. One annoying contradiction is this: despite the advice to be yourself, lest you come across as artificial, the book still advises you to change any so-called "toxic traits," or else. The strategies given to minimize or mitigate your less savory attributes (rather than a hopeless attempt to _eliminate_ them) is far more encouraging. All in all, a rather effective reminder that people will forget what you say, they'll even forget what you do, but they'll never forget how you made them feel.
Rating: 
Summary: Take your personality in for a check-up
Review: Reading this book is like taking your personality in to the doctor for a physical. You may feel uncomfortably poked, prodded and palpated, but you will perhaps be the better for it. More precisely, you will be able to get along better with others after reading this book. Some of the pointers for making a good impression are very specific to high-powered business encounters. It's also important to keep in mind that the authors are basing the advice in the book on their experience prepping people to make a good impression on trial juries -- a scenario that may or may not apply to your particular set of relationships. Regardless, the level of detail given on personal interactions such as handshakes is fascinating. Some of the tips provide great insights into human psychology, especially regarding the emotional impact of things like body language, speech pacing, and voice quality. But some of the tips seem manipulative, like car-salesman talk, and others are just plain common sense -- like good grooming and making eye contact. The emphasis on all aspects of personal appearance is depressingly shallow. I felt as if I were receiving a lecture on the importance of wearing makeup, uncomfortable clothes and painful shoes. One annoying contradiction is this: despite the advice to be yourself, lest you come across as artificial, the book still advises you to change any so-called "toxic traits," or else. The strategies given to minimize or mitigate your less savory attributes (rather than a hopeless attempt to _eliminate_ them) is far more encouraging. All in all, a rather effective reminder that people will forget what you say, they'll even forget what you do, but they'll never forget how you made them feel.
Rating:
Summary: Be The Example
Review: Straight forward common sense advice on how to make a positive AND lasting impression. A valuable handbook filled with ideas to put to immediate use. Be your best and you will serve as a role model to others. Read this book for yourself and buy copies for your children and employees. You couldn't give a better graduation gift!
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