Who hasn't wanted to ask a famous, successful person for a little advice? Luckily for us, journalist Katie Couric has used her clout as an interviewer to compile that kind of advice in a new collection of essays: "The Best Advice I Ever Got."
Basically, Katie wrote to many famous people and asked them to share their own "best advice"--advice they've received from others, or the best advice they could give for living life in general, advice gleaned from their own trials and tribulations. It's been so interesting to read the different paths that these people have taken to arrive at their success. Not only have I gained insights into what makes extraordinary people tick, Katie sprinkles her own experience with success and failure in between chapters, so I got to learn more about her than I'd ever known. She was definitely a student in the "school of hard knocks." I'm halfway through the book, and I think it's a great summer read.
From the dust jacket:
"Delightful, empowering, and moving, The Best Advice I Ever Got is the perfect book for anyone who is thinking about the future, contemplating taking a risk, or daring to take a leap into the great unknown. This book is for all of us, young and old, who want to see how today's best and brightest got it right, got it wrong, and came out on top."
My very favorite story/advice is from Suze Orman, by the way. Did you know thats this financial guru was a waitress until the age of 30? The advice-givers cover a wide spectrum of our culture, from famed writers like Joyce Carol Oates, to comedians like Bill Cosby, or athletes such as speed-skater Apolo Ohno. Over 100 advice-lending essays comprise this book. It's ideal for your bedside table, when you don't want to commit to more than a few pages before sleep. It would also be fitting poolside or at the beach, when you want to take time every few minutes to stop reading and soak in your surroundings (you'll definitely want to pause in between essays).
And it just dawned on me that this would be a superb gift for a graduate just starting out on her own, a friend who just lost a job, or a family member embarking on an enterprise. Definitely check it out of your library this vacation season if you want to grab a book before you head out on your latest adventure.
you have such an exhilrating way of writing. It is fun to read your noise from the nest and I'm looking forward everyday for the next one. Thanks
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