Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out into the Real World

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Summary: Perfect gift for the graduate in your life!
Review: As a woman approaching her own college graduation, I found this book to be insightful, funny and very down-to-earth. The ten lessons were each very helpful, but I found the overall message of the book to be the most useful: pinpoint your passion. Everything else, according to the author, will fall into place. This book would be appropriate for anyone from seventeen to seventy. The lessons are timeless and are words to live by. My thanks to the author for providing such sound advice that we all know we should follow.

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Summary: Well, so what?
Review: I didn't like it....nice to hear about her life, but I agree with a previous reviewer. WHAT real life? I should have such a real life! She sounds like a very nice woman, who perhaps should stick to TV reporting (or writing tiny self-help books for the supermarket checkout)...I really think her outlook is most applicable to someone in her position...Yuppie Republican women may like it a lot...

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Summary: Light,upbeat,but nothing totally new!
Review: I've always been a fan of Maria Shriver & still think her and her husband are the more "down to earth" celebs...but.... on one hand,she tries very hard to be humble and criticize herself with humor to keep that "I'm one of you" images. On the other hand, her advice when given is hard to be taken seriously. Reading the book, I get the feeling her parents are more supportive than most and she is not just "one of us". I believe she works hard, but it only makes me feel worse that she could do all the career stuff and have a large family...it's a serious struggle for many who make huge sacrifices. I also think she doesn't reveal true feelings/genuine weaknesses all the time in this book. To me this book is not extremely helpful to the average person. Lessons nothing new, hard to internalize coming from someone of her upbringing. In conclusion, disappointed . May be helpful to some!

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Summary: I loved this "little" book!
Review: What a wonderful book, full of insightful comments on our everyday life's experiences. A very easy read, but one that you will go back to for inspiration time and time again. I only wish I had had this book upon my graduation from College! Alot of the chapters brought forth ideas and opinions of my own to the surface of what seems to be a very busy life. It definitely is a must read for all of us who sometimes feel a little overwhelmed by life's "little" dramas! I wish Maria much luck with this "little" book, and I will look forward to her next work.

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Summary: I wasn't sure that this was for me, but it really was !
Review: I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed reading this book and honestly gained things from it. Maria gives insight into her views on life, and made me think seriously about some of the things she states and what they would mean to me personally. What she covers is applicable to all of us, in all stages of life. She deals with bosses, children, spouses and everyone that touches our lives, how they influence us, what they expect of us, and how we should react to gain the most from these experiences. She stresses the importance of laughter, and I agree that humor is important in everyday life. It's something that many folks forget, and suffer because of it. I must admit that I hesitated reading this book by a celebrity such as Maria, but I found it very worthwhile. If you're too busy to read it, it's available on audio cassette, so you can listen to it in your car. Each of us can benefit from it.

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Summary: Wisdom
Review: This little book is packed with lots of wisdom. With my busy schedule I rarely have time to delve into the 300 pagers that fill up the bookstore shelves. Maria shares a lot about her life in an open, honest way and really gives a lot of food for thought on marriage, work, children and a lot of other aspects. I'm sure it is a popular book simply because Maria is a celebrity, but even if it wasnt written by someone so well known, it would be worth reading. I'd also recommend The RoMANtic's Guide and Opening to Love 365 Days a Year. They are fantastic too.

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Summary: Simply Passionately HONEST and ON TARGET!
Review: So many women today think we have to do it all and do it PERFECTLY! Finally a book of high standards that also states the reality of choices and the responsibilities that come with choice. This title is SO much better than Maria's earlier work. This is an honest and accurate accounting of life, and womanhood, motherhood and being a wife and a professional. Maria Shriver has proven herself a woman of substance but clearly this is also a coming of age and self acceptance book. Wisdom to be shared with all women. Some of the ten items listed are a bit obvious but yet need to be re-visited. Maria's best work yet!

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Summary: A DELIGHTFUL,INFORMATIVE,HUMOROUS READ!
Review: I truly enjoyed this book, it was a quick read. I think Maria wrote with honesty, passion, and humor to tell us all how we too, can be the best we can be by being honest with ourselves, and sticking through tough times to come out ahead. We have to be true to ourselves for what we want and not live our lives for other people nor should we be hoping THEY will make us happy. I found several of her passages quite touching. I would recommend this book, but will also say it is not for everyone......NO book is..... Get from it... what you are open to...

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Summary: 10 things I wish I'd known before I went out into the real..
Review: I wish I had known these things along time ago, it would have made things so much eaisier. WONDERFUL book!

Rating:
Summary: worth the time
Review: i was apprehensive to read this, but it is a short book, and i realized worth the time it took to read it. i agree, these are common sense lessons... however, i wonder sometimes if people today really take the time to REALIZE and EXPLORE some of these points in depth. i appreciate the book for its reaffirmation of many of my thoughts and beliefs, and at the end of it, i felt a respect for maria shriver that i hadn't had before...i would feel comfortable introducing myself to her and chatting as if she were a new (wise!) friend!