Rating: 
Summary: A Perfect Gift
Review: I bought this book out of curiousity and found it to be special. Ms. Thomas beautifully illustrates the serendipity of life and its impact on our life's direction. Her collaborators share their stories of events and words that shaped their lives...for some it was a subtle word, for others it was a major event. As important as these words and events were, they were not as obvious for those transformed until years later when they could look back seeing the fork in the road and the direction the event/word took them. The shared stories come from all walks of life. The book is a good reminder for all on how each of us has the power to impact and transform another's life in a positive way every day. This is a great gift idea, especially for those who are in transition (between careers or stages of life), or are weathering one of life's storms.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of great storytelling from an array of celebrity types
Review: Lots of great storytelling from an array of celebrity types woven through the book by the theme of the right words at the right time. Marlo has done a wonderful job in collecting some unique and diverse stories from some pretty interesting people. There are stories here for most everyone and many are worth repeating. Worth the purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiration without sappiness
Review: Marlo Thomas is one of the very few celebrities who actually has a college degree, and her smarts--both school smarts and just plain common sense--come winningly through in "The Right Words at the Right Time." Thomas explains in the introduction that something her father (comedian Danny Thomas) once said to her in the way of encouragement struck her with such force, and stayed with her for so many years, that she grew curious to see what types of epiphanies other folks had had. What follows are wonderful stories from all manner of famous people--ranging from Jennifer Aniston to Bill Cosby to the Dalai Lama and practically everyone in between. They share with us, in casual, sounds-just-like-it's-them-talking style, the words which somehow strengthened or inspired them. Many of the stories are from childhood, but a surprising number of them took place in adulthood. Shaquille O'Neal relates how his mother once tartly told him he couldn't afford to wait to be good, because no one knows who will be here tomorrow and who won't. This simple observation stunned O'Neal and set him on the path to athletic stardom. Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos shares a simultaneously painful and hilarious story about telling his grandmother she was shortening her life through cigarette-smoking--and also shares his grandfather's gentle, measured response to his smart-alecky treatment of his grandmother. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg shares a charming story from her early married life: The morning of [my] wedding, I was upstairs, making last-minute adjustments, when Marty's mother put something in my hand and said, "I am going to give you some advice that will serve you well: in every good marriage, it pays sometimes to be a little deaf." She had placed in my hand a set of wax earplugs. I was puzzled. What was she trying to convey? I put her words in the back of my mind for a time, a rather short time as it turned out. When Marty and I were on our honeymoon, I began to appreciate the wisdom of her advice. The appreciation has grown enormously over the years. My mother-in-law meant simply this. Sometimes people say unkind or thoughtless things, and when they do, it's best to be a little hard of hearing--to tune out and not snap back in anger or impatience. In my forty-seven years of marriage, I have recalled that advice regularly . . . But the idea behind the words reaches far beyond family . . . I drew upon [her] words when I was told I was not welcome in certain places because I am Jewish or that I could not do certain work because I am a woman. The book is filled with great stuff like this--most of it elemental advice, but advice which resonates because it is larger and more complex than it looks. It is advice which applies to more than one situation, making its meaning endlessly adaptable and malleable for the reader. There is much food for thought here, all of which could be used by a new graduate, or by anyone in need of some "right words" to lean on in a difficult time.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh Please! Give me a Break!
Review: I was really looking forward to this read but grossly disapointed. I hardly see any "right words", just a bunch of (excuse me) "silly" stories from mainly celelebrities. Oh Boy, I want to be just like them! I don't look up to celebrities in the least because most of them are only powerful/successful because the entertainment industry is so "over paid". Who cares what these people have to say about their success? Isn't it enough our hard earned dollars have made them so much richer than the average American?? Ms. Thomas, I would have rather read more about average Americans and their stories of courage, or wise elderly people who really know about"average" America. We need a lot more advise than what these people want to say. Please just pass it on to your other celebrity friends.
Rating:
Summary: The Right Words at the Right Time
Review: The Right Words ...at the Right Time compiled by Marlo Thomas, features an inspirational collection of essays by Marlo Thomas and Friends offering the best advice they received and how it changed each one's life. Some of the contributors are Muhammed Ali, Jennifer Aniston, President Jimmy Carter, Kenneth Cole, Katie Couric, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Quincy Jones, Wilma Mankiller, Ralph Nader, Paul Newman, Gloria Steinem, Amy Tan and Alice Walker, and many more.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST inspirational essay collection EVER!
Review: What an INCREDIBLE accomplishment! When I first saw this book I hesitated figuring it'd be fluff or despite its hype just another celebrity book.
The Right Words At the Right Time is neither. Its skilled editor Marlo Thomas has painstakingly assembled short essays about life changing words, and life changing moments, from 100 top cultural icons, thinkers, politicos, celebrities and achievers from various fields and has created a life changing book. This is one of the BEST inspiration/life's lessons books I have ever read (and I have read all too many). Do I really feel this way? YES. I will be gifting this over the next few months to four or five (mostly young) people. Most essays are finely-honed three-page or so jewels, about what made someone famous or prominent go from Point A (where they were) to Point B (where they are now). Sometimes a negative person or negative comment inspired them to persist. Sometimes a healing word or act, or a kind comment made while they were in crisis became a turning point. Only a few essays are wastes of time and most aren't pompous (I hate to say it as a former journalist, but the pomposity factor is highest on journalists' essays here). You can't summarize 100 essays in a short review, but here are my top three favorites (and this does NOT include their whole story) to give you an accurate flavor: 1. Boxer Muhammad Ali: He reveals where he got the idea for his "I am the Greatest" schtick, and why he used it. And his essay is the GREATEST: it recounts how a teacher once told him he would never amount to anything. So after he won the Gold Medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics he went to that teacher's class, held his medal high and told her, "Remember when you said I wouldn't never be nuthing? I am the greatest in the world!" and "walked out of the classroom for the last time." 2. Today host Katie Couric: She was devastated by an elementary teacher who told her "Katie, you smile too much," but her father told her to use those words "to your advantage." She acknowledged her smiling in running for student council...and won. Later, while working for CNN, a CNN President saw her smiling on TV and said "I never want to see her on the air again." But she persisted, scored big at NBC and today she tells young people "not to take critics and their negativity to heart" because naysayers have their own issues. She learned to believe in herself and notes: "And by the way. I'm still smiling." WORTH THE PRICE OF THE BOOK!! 3. ABC's Barbara Walters: She's clearly still traumatized by her move from NBC to ABC, where she was teamed up for the nightly newscast with a highly hostile and unreceptive Harry Reasoner on the news. When the two split, she later asked him in an interview about it and he said she was simply the wrong face in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her turning point came via a telegram from tough-guy movie star John Wayne who wired her "Don't let the (deleted) get you down." Wayne's fighting words inspired her to work harder and she persisted to attain her special position, boost womens' status in broadcast journalism and get a nice salary. She learned Reasoner was wrong: "By hanging in there and working hard I could make the time and place my own." Not all are by news/media stars and their lessons are diverse. Other standouts include tennis great Bill Jean King (realizing how she helped women; actor/comedian John Leguizamo (how a high school teacher who believed in a wiseacre student steered him to comedy and acting); TV writer David Kelly (how hockey great Bobby Orr's recognizing him when he was a kid and shaking his hand changed his life); Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg (how her mother-in-law's wedding gift changed her personal life and helps her cope on the court); former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (911 essay stressing how surviving life is what should be constantly celebrated), and more. There is literally something for everyone: CNN Foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour's tale of how she was literally laughed at by producers when she said she wanted to do foreign news and persisted and won; Mel Brooks, on how a Warners Bros executive's advice helped him risk being politically incorrect, thus unleashing creativity that brought him fame, honors and a historic number of Broadway Tony awards;former President Jimmy Carter, on how a teacher changed his life; Senator John McCain on what he endured in captivity; Beatle Paul McCartney on how Let It Be was created and who inspired him; singer Carly Simon, on overcoming stuttering. There are too many to list here. Get it, read it -- and gift it. The best, most solid book of its kind. It is the GREATEST.
Rating:
Summary: Timely Cliches
Review: You'd be quite right to expect some cliches from a book that fits right into the 'chicken soup for the soul' genre. Nevertheless "The Right Words at the Right Time" is a book that definitely has something for everybody. The overall concept is to give 100 distinguished figures from various fields -- including sports, politics, and entertainment, as well as some of the less glamourous professions -- the chance to write about a moment when words changed their life for the better. Among those who participated in this charity project to raise money for a children's research hospital are such legends as Steven Spielberg and Paul McCartney, as well as household names from former President Jimmy Carter to the creator of the Simpsons, Matt Groening. While the words that inspired top lifestyle uberfrau Martha Stewart -- "..." -- might seem a little ironic in view of her recent troubles, even such cliches take on new meanings in these short inspiring vignettes. For example, behind the words "If anything's worth doing, it's worth doing well," news anchor Walter Cronkite tells a heartwarming story of how a role model set him on the right road in journalism. While ecological activist Ralph Nader presents a stirring tale of overcoming bullying with the words from his mother, "Ralph, are you going to grow up to be a follower or a leader?" The most interesting stories are from those who experienced true hardship -- such as US senator John McCain's riveting account of his years spent as a POW in Vietnam. But, yet again, it's not the words themselves so much as their context and timing that gives them their impact. Some might see this as a celebrity collection of Forrest Gumpisms. But although some of these short tales are too obvious or seem to be serving the purpose of self-glorification, most are sincerely written, reveal something truly interesting about the person, and may possibly provide you with your own inspirations.
Rating:
Summary: Full of practical and inspirational wisdom
Review: I bought 4 copies so far for people. I read it twice. This is full of practical wisdom from people from all different branches of life and different philosophies: Muslims, Jews, Christians, and the Dalai Lama; Democrats and Republicans; actors and doctors. It is a great gift for people who are facing challenges they have chosen or ones they haven't. It is particularly good for people trying to figure out the course of their lives because most of the stories involve a turning point in someone's life and the words that helped them decide. Actually I was just on Amazon to send a copy to someone!
Rating:
Summary: Vital, valuable, vivid....
Review: An important work in the 'chicken soup for the ____ soul' genre Despite the nimiety of 'chicken soup' books coming out, one important segment has been surprisingly absent from this field of scholarship. Ms. Thomas rectifies this, and in so doing, creates a rich tapestry of qualitative arguments that challenge earlier preconceived notions of the genre. Essentially, Thomas recruits rich entertainment types and surveys their valuable and hitherto untapped stories on inspiration. This makes for fascinating reading - whether it be the scintillating nuggets of wisdom from Gwyneth Paltrow, or the apercus of Thomas' important husband, Phil Donahue. If I had to register a small quibble, it would be that Thomas seems to slightly skew her findings; she seems to cull her sociological data more from one segment of rich entertainment types - that of wealthy Manhattan liberals. While their stories are engrossing and fascinating - Harvey Weinstein is not only a giant in stature and girth, he is also a giant of storytelling - it would have been interesting to see more data sets of other rich liberal entertainment folks. Vital contributions from other rich liberal entertainment types - be it the extremely talented Cher, Celine Dion, or even Rob Lowe, who plays an assistant to a president on TV, are under-represented. Also, except for a few women like Barbara and Laura Bush, Republicans are not represented. But then, they aren't our type of people anyway, dear. But these are small criticisms. This is a wonderful book - from each dollop of wisdom to the vibrant cover. And Thomas' modesty is evident here; despite writing the entire forward by herself, she only allocates the front cover of the book to her visage - the back cover has no such photograph. Get this book - it will transport you to a party of rich liberal Manhattanites in no time - you'll be clinking glasses of chablis whilst overlooking Central Park and complaining about George W. Bush before you know it.
Rating: 
Summary: A lot of fluff stories among some true gems
Review: I'm not really sure I get the point of this book. By the title, I expected some genuinely stimulating food for thought, but I felt instead as if I were force-fed some rather bland mounds of cotton candy fluff. Too many Forrest Gump-isms. Too populated with celebrities and movie stars expounding on their alleged "deep thoughts." Celebrities are given far too much credence here in America, as though the amount of media coverage they receive entitles them to be the gospel-speaking arbiter of mores and values. Many of these people are not heroes, nor are they responsible for any great contributions to mankind: they don't impress me in the least. The most interesting stories are those who experienced TRUE adversity - such as John McCain's harrowing account as a POW in Vietnam; artist quadriplegic Chuck Close, overcoming a spinal collapse; Rudolph Giuliani's leadership in the events of 9/11/01; Quincy Jones and his colleagues' battles with racism; Ellen DeGeneres and the appalling treatment she received for admitting her sexuality (death threats no less) -- these and a few others are compelling tales. There are as well, stories which have a true point and slant:
Jimmy Carter's tribute to an inspirational figurehead; Dr. David Ho's dedication to wiping out AIDS; Martin Sheen's activist roles (and admiration for a brave colleague who took a different stance to dealing with a country under fire; Paul Newman's obvious touching pride at how his Newman's Own line has been able to help sick children; Ralph Nader's defining moment of obtaining the true meaning of independence --there are some moments to ponder upon here. Tom Wolfe's story, involving a response to a loud "booer' at one of his lectures, is a humorous, wittily told account. The defining capping moment is provided by the Dalai Lama - in just a few short sentences, delivers the most inspiring message of all, one for the ages. But I would have liked more sharply limned opinions, a more firmly-taken stand for causes, issues, political beliefs, or a really STRONG view of life as it is living today, and how it could be improved, what has been bettered, what is worse. A lot of these micro-personal accounts as presented in this book simply don't add up to much. Mind you: there's nothing WRONG with the majority of these stories, and they appear to be sincerely, genuinely told. There's just very few truly "Right Words" ~~ meaning, there's just way too few consecrating, profound words to really make a difference. A sincere effort which doesn't quite emerge as a memorable one.
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