Rating: 
Summary: Why, Oh Why?
Review: Heaven help us all. As a recent grad, I received no less than 4 copies of this book, from well-meaning aunts and such. All I have to say is this...what pap! What unadulterated hackneyed tripe! Ms. Shriver is certainly graced with extraordinary self-confidence if she felt that it was appropriate to create and market this collection of fortune cookie platitudes. Maybe we should all take a lesson....this is America, and schlock sells....No matter how putrid an idea, someone will want to buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT LITTLE BOOK OF INSIGHTS
Review: I liked this book very much. It was entertaining and inspiring. I found the chapter on "Pinpointing Your Passion" to be great advise. I think the graduating class that Maria spoke at was very lucky to have had her. If you liked this book, I highly recommend a book called "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK" by Ariel and Shya Kane. This book is also easy to read and full of great insights into having your life be as great as you dream it to be. For me the Kanes' book, their audio tapes and seminars are the tools to living in the moment which has enabled me to gain a LASTING PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM FOR MY LIFE, including my relationships and my work.
Rating:
Summary: What does a debutante know about the real world?
Review: I looked at the book jacket and laughed, i opicked up the book for fun and really began to laugh, You have to be kidding. pcs
Rating: 
Summary: Another book by a different author says it better
Review: In reading this book, I kept wondering, "But where I have heard these similar opinions and phrases?" Then I remembered, I'd recently finished a 1992 classic, Dr. Susan Jeffers book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Dr. Jeffers signature phrases are "I'm creative, powerful, and I have nothing to fear," and her essential point throughout all her books is "I CAN HANDLE IT!" as she puts it -- the same phrases and advice Maria Shriver promotes as her own. Ms. Shriver's book is okay, but doesn't have the power, insight, originality of Dr. Jeffers, who includes very pragmatic exercises in her book and workbook to it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Guide (Honestly!)
Review: She "tells it as it is". Very suprising. The wonderful thing about this book is that not only does she tell us the "ground" honesty about living and the problems (or realities) that we confront, but she supports the trunk of the tree with actual life incidents that reveal her guidelines. I was very suprised to find out that this wonderful but "fairy tale" princess was at heart a pragmatic realist. Buy this book and learn some hard realities. And for those who know these hard realities, see them exemplified in "top level situations". Shiver does a great service by showing us that these "laws of life" are present from top to bottom in our society. Very well done. Buy the book. I loved it and will re-read it.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but makes you wonder
Review: I picked up Maria Shriver's book and read it without putting it down. I've watched her on television and was never turned on with her. But the book was heartwarming and certainly told you where her priorities were in life. Being born with a "silver spoon" in her mouth certainly has allowed her the crutch needed not to have to worry about where her next meal would be coming from. She openly admits to that in the book. But she comes across that even if she had not been born into a famous family and wealth, she would still have taken the same approach. She knew what she wanted and she went for it. And apparently she took a few knocks along the way. I found the book to be inspiring. I'm glad I have it. I'll probably refer back to it from time to time. I'm also happy she didn't let her employer talk her into cutting or dying her hair. It's a trade mark for her and that's the first thing they want to do, make a person over physically. I have a different opinion of her after reading this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe OK for a recent graduate...
Review: I gave this book 3 stars, because some of the overriding principles might be of value to a recent graduate. I very well may have found some guidance from this book at that time in my life. However, as someone just a tad younger than Ms. Shriver, I learned little from her book. Moroever, her lessons are garnered from an unusually sheltered position. Risks can be taken, and certain choices can be made, when one does not need to work. Her "asides" about her wealthy family (and spouse) become a little irritating. Also, while she undoubtedly had to work hard to get where she is, she needs to stop trying to convince herself that her name and connections didn't open any doors. . . The writing, itself is not exemplary. It has a really "chatty" tone, which became a little irritating (especially the name dropping and the defensive "I'm not Oprah, you know. . .").
Rating:
Summary: Good Grief people it's not like she actually WROTE this book
Review: Thousands of years ago when books were scarce, people would write things and attribute them to famous, dead people. Now that publishing is an industry, famous, live people hire people to ghost write books for which they can take the credit. Ms. Shriver has probably published more books than she has ever read. Of course, there's a family history for this sort of thing. After all, uncle Jack's book PROFILES IN COURAGE was "ghosted" by Ted Sorenson.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Maria Shriver
Review: As I leave college and begin, my new career I feel a bit nervous and excited at the same time. Maria Shriver's Ten Things offer a bit of advice that is practical, useful, and heartfelt to any young woman. My mother bought it for me and I didn't put it down until I was done. Shriver's candid tone gives the feel of a chat with your best girlfriend. Shriver speaks of both her strengths and weakness and how she has overcame difficult situations. Most important, her advice is honest.
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Graduation Gift for High School or College
Review: Young people desperately want to carve their own niche and acquire competence in the 20s. In the course of doing that, they can fall into stalled thinking about living up to others' expectations and achieving perfection. This modest book is a good antidote to those misconceptions. The advice encourages humility and realism. Because Maria Shriver is a celebrity who works in television, this message will get through to even the most starstruck. The weakness of the book is that she tells her own story, but doesn't use anyone else as an example. So it's really a slim biography of Maria Shriver from the end of college to now. She is not one of my favorite people on television, but she comes across as well-meaning in this book. Even if you don't think you like her, take a look at the book. You can tell after a chapter or two if this is for you or not. Of her advice lists, I thought that 'pinpoint your passion' and 'be willing to fail' were the most pertinent to young people today who are just graduating. The reason these are important is that your passion will get you through the ups and downs in your chosen direction. Failures are your best learning experiences. Naturally, if someone you know wants a career in television, this book also contains some useful information about what the process is like. It's more hard work than many would imagine!
| 
