Rating: 
Summary: Simple and Charming
Review: There is something in this book for anyone, however, I would most recommend it as a gift to teenagers and college students, and people struggling in their first few years in the workforce. (probably too expensive for them to buy themselves!) It is really for people who have not made firm decisions about their beliefs and what it means to have integrity. It had some eye-opening remarks about the television news world, and made me feel ashamed of ever questioning HER integrity. In some places it reads like a Hallmark card and in others like a highschool cheerleader which I found nauseating, I must admit. However, after reading this I have much more respect for her and the Shrivers. It's a bit expensive for the size (big print and already a miniature book) so it's a fast read.
Rating: 
Summary: Ten Things
Review: Maria Shriver has written a sensitive delightful book. She allows the reader to view her as someone though supposedly born with the "silver spoon in her mouth" to being more of a"real down-to-earth girl next door. I found her to be absolutely charming, and was captivated by her superb insight as she helps the reader to realize it's never to late to accomplish your dream when you learn the Ten Things, and use them!
Rating: 
Summary: Insulting. Who doesn't know this stuff?
Review: This "advise" is very simplistic and common sense. Nothing enlightening or earth shattering here. I sense that Maria didn't get any guidance at home or at school about how to survive in the real world. She was truly shocked when people told her "no" or "grow up". I felt sorry and embarassed for her as I read this. I think someone saw an opportunity to use Maria and her name to make lots of money. But she comes off looking arrogant and ignorant.The book is poorly written and the voice is bouncy, chatty, cheerleader style. Please don't insult your high school or college senior by making this book a gift to them.
Rating:
Summary: Real Life with Humor
Review: I enjoyed this book. It's real life experiences & the wisdom that goes with it. Maria just puts into words what we learn over the years. Could have used this book 10 years ago, just to know that most woman deal with the same life experiences & expectations, mostly about ourselves. Enjoyed the humor. Plan on loaning it to a few friends & to my daughter when she's graduates from college. Highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: It made sense
Review: Maria Shriver's book, to me, made sense because it gave me advice on life and she explained in the chapters she wrote how she dealt with it at times and for teens who think their " grown " or a big boy or girl, first need to read Maria's book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Ten Things I Wish I'd Known as well!
Review: Maria Shriver's memoirs are like a ride on the bumper cars at a carnival. Masses of bright lights, bursts of speed, bangs galore & laughter. Sometimes I wondered if she ever slept during her 20s; then I remembered my 20s & chuckled. None of what Maria Shriver writes about: be it finding your passion or seeing the consequences of your behavior; be it working with people or learning from menial work; from being willing to fail to burying superwoman; from mixing marriage, motherhood & careers; from being financially independent to learning to laugh - none of it is exotic or unknown, however, it is Maria Shriver's unique & lively delivery that makes it all special & emminently readable. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with this articulate & funny woman & by the end of the book I was laughing a lot more & feeling supercharged! For my full review do check out: [my website].
Rating:
Summary: Lively, Inspirational and Enjoyable!
Review: Even though this book has very mixed reviews - I did like it. I tried to read the book as an inspirational book and not as a book written by "a famous person."I did find the book inspirational and I believe that if one keeps "Maria Shriver's" persona in perspective, one can gleam some very insightful and powerful messages that this book is imparting. The author is famous, beautiful, successful and a self proclaimed over-achiever - she is driven and has been and continues to be successful. Her words of wisdom are illustrated by her hard knocks in life - her time in the trenches. She speaks from the experience of a woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter and a career woman. She impressed me as someone not resting on her "privileged" upbringing, but really pursing her passion and working hard for her success. I really enjoyed the chapter "Superwoman is Dead . . .". I guess we woman do want to be superwoman and have and do it all, but the reality is pinpointed home that we really can't be and those who proclaim they are, are lying! I enjoyed Maria's humor and I admire her success. I could relate to her fears and inadequacies and I wish that I had some of these words of wisdom imparted to me both before and after college - my choices would have different. I felt the book was very down to earth and I enjoyed reading stories from her childhood and about her parents. Her humor and honesty livened the stories, making the book very approachable. Yet I have to wonder, do we read inspirational books and heed some of the advice or do we still need to experience our own struggles and failures and losses before we heed the advice we read years, months or even days ago from those that have "been there, done that"? There are many gems of wisdom of contained in this little, fast reading book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend this book to all ages and for both sexes!
Rating:
Summary: CLEVER AND INSIGHTFUL!
Review: Life is a series of lessons. To thine own self be true. So says Maria Schriver in a most clever and insightful, witty way. And she says much more on a plethora of subjects; marriage, ethics, motherhood, career. Her stories are entertaining and encouraging. This not a "preachy" book. It is closer to having an across the kitchen table conversation with a dear friend. Enjoyable reading. In the words of her husband, Arnold Schwartznegger, "I'll be back", for her next book. This book, "Ten Things" offers warmth, wisdom, humor and tips on the healing power of laughter.
Rating:
Summary: Blockbuster Video Drop-Box Material !
Review: I bought this book because the writing on the back cover led me to believe that the author had something profound to say. What I actually got was something totally different. The author contends that her family is of the utmost importance to her yet she doesn't mention anything of substance concerning her family in the book. Instead what you get is non-stop whining about being let go by one of the networks. I get the strong feeling that alot of what is presented in this book was written out of frustration for her inability to be both a career-oriented news reporter AND a mother. If you don't mind reading statements like "now that I'm making good money" and "making almost as much as before" and "thanks for providing all that money" then this book is for you. I almost got angry reading the thing because her values are all messed up. It's all about Maria, Maria and more Maria. There was nothing profound about what she had to say at all. Just basic common sense. Nothing that a responsible parent wouldn't have told their child long ago. Another thing is that only once in the book did she refer to Arnold as "Arnold". All the other times she referred to him as "my husband". Give me a break......what are you trying to prove! I know why you are doing that but it's just plain stupid. Throughout the book Mrs. Shriver talks about how much she has had to struggle to succeed. Again, give me a break! You have no idea what you are talking about. This book was published and is being bought only because of your name The book ends by Mrs. Shriver saying how great she felt by finally accomplishing something on her own (her book becoming a best-seller and winning an Emmy). The real question Mrs. Shiver is why do you need things so superficial to make you feel good about yourself. The author's own shallow ambition of making it big in the media has blinded her from realizing the true value that your children should represent in your life. I love reading inspirational books. However, this book did not live up to the expectations. By the way, after I read it, I put it in the drop-box at Blockbuster Video. Perhaps one of the kids there will find something of value in it.
Rating:
Summary: I'm glad other people 'get it,' too
Review: Some television journalists are hard-hitting, but to a print reporter who earned his stripes in the trenches watching all their mistakes, I didn't have much use for them. Most appeared to me to be stellar and shallow. I always thought they'd sell their soul and their morality for a book. Then Maria writes her book. She had to do the equivalent of the same things I did - writing obits, gathering courthouse news, organizing inane stories about a goat show. Maria was labeling tapes, offering to work weekends and doing things the "stars" didn't want to do. And then she met a producer who was caustic to her, but they lived in the trenches long enough to be friends. That sort of thing happens in print, too. In this era of checkbook journalism and putting yourself in the story, I'm glad Shriver learned to trust her gut and learn from those around her. She tells people to not do what they know in their heart is wrong and to stand up for their principles, whatever the consequences. Sage, sound advice. Not new. Not even unique. But it was great to hear there is a consistency of spirit in this world and consistency in journalism, whatever the genre. I have to give a speech every now and then I don't want to give. It's about how if we sell out and make news a bought-and-sold commodity, there is no truth anymore. Maria does, too. Rock on, Maria.
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