Great book, good message about continuing to learn
924162
Great book, good message about continuing to learn, experience, and search for what you love and how that can change along the way. Illustrations are impressive and very fun.
2875741
Great book, explains causes, offers excellent advice.  Aside from my issue, this book is just amazing in what you learn and should apply.
982392
I appreciate when a book about education does more showing and less telling. Many books I read spend many chapters explaining why you should use the information or techniques described in the book and few chapters actually giving you ideas or how-tos. The authors of this book give a brief sales pitch in the beginning, but then go right into actual classroom practices that are tried and true. The only complaint I have is one that I have for may teaching books; they give ideas and examples that have been successful for female teachers. Many are great ideas, but I would have a hard time summoning enthusiasm for a quilting project. I just wish there were more of these kinds of books written by men. Maybe I should write one!
2582136
I am a parent who is crossing the void helping our kids to transition from high school to college now. So I perk up to anything that will help them succeed both academically and professionally in the future.

This book does a great job of. But paradoxically, I have to mention that I was initially turned off by the title. The term "soft skills," is jargon that you would expect an educator who is out of touch with how to connect with teenagers and young adults, to use.

Fortunately, I found the book to be warm, compelling and filled with practical wisdom that has been that the author derive from his own experiences as well as through academic research.

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HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE NOTEWORTHY
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There are no quick fixes and no Silicon Valley get-rich-quick stories here. It's all about being aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and "working hard and working smart." There are things that we grown-ups have heard over and over again. But the author conveys it in such a way that the young reader may very well get the point, instead of rejecting it as we often do.

I see in the chapter about communication ways to correct behaviors that I see my own kids make. They need to hear what the author is saying about really understanding clearly the issues of conflicts and how to diffuse them without raising your voice. Actually I could use a bit of that advice myself at times.

And in the end, I still hate the term "soft skills," but whether you use that term or something like ''touchy-feely skills,'' the book does a great job of teaching kids how to make the transition from school to the working world  without sounding the like the whiny, "I'm entitled to this that and the other thing," type of young person that is being cranked out by our educational system these days.

I highly recommend this book to parents to make it required reading for their kids when they are old enough.

Let me know if you have questions via the comments area below. [+]PositiveLogic | Amazon Customer since 2000 | Got this at no cost or discount in exchange for an honest review. I have reviewed this item with the same impartiality as with items I purchase.
2131834
You can feel the sincerity of the authors, encouraging through words, to create desire, teach you how to set goals and reach those goals.

The real life stories and adventures in the book are fun to read as well as informative. I really enjoyed the "story telling" layout with the bullets of information at the end of each chapter. Almost parable like at times.

Most people will read it and say great book, excellent book, put it down and do nothing afterwards. But for those people not so "most people", this book can give the means to TRANSLATE THOUGHT INTO ACTION and accept personal responsibility for one's own success.

I really appreciated the message in this book. If you're yearning for change and are not sure where to start, then why not start with this one?
1996383
Still a great book to read if you plan to learn from it and really apply it to your work.
860303
This is a great book about leadership and success written by a former tennis champ and a life coach who has spent many years teaching people about using their minds. Together they share their experiences and lessons. The book switches between John's viewpoint and Mike viewpoint so it's almost like reading a conversation. They cover lots of things, like physical ways to calm yourself before speaking in public, to ways that you can think about your life in a more positive manner. I especially liked the chapter about the role of the subconscious mind as it asks the reader to think about the way that they think, which is a great concept that people don't usually pay attention to. At the end of the book both Mike and John share their 8 key messages for life, which neatly wraps up all the various things they've been talking about. It's a good book, well written, with a great message.
2634932
I got this book about two years ago, read it through, and started a goals journal and a tidbit notebook. So far I've done 53 things on my list of goals. The book is simple to read and easy to reread. It's lessons are in story format, so if you dislike this, choose a different book. However, it's a really nice book, that gets you motivated. It's worth reading.
4026814
This book would be very useful for "NEW trainers, speakers, and presenters"; I wish I'd paid more attention to the word "new."  I've only taught a few courses at work, but most of these don'ts were familiar or common sense.  On the plus side, it is a quick and easy read, it's upbeat and amazingly well presented, they are great reminders (no one does it perfectly), and they tell you how to do it differently.
4692440
The book was great and very informative and had very encouraging words and great advice. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is while reading a chapter it would mention something but direct you to another chapter for further details about it, and vise versa. But it's recommended that you read it twice which may be necessary to actually remember the steps you need to take to accomplish  your goals, or just take notes while reading. Well good luck and I would definitely recommend this book.
4214600
I read this book a lot with my 5 yr old daughter -- she loves it and talks about how it's "no big deal to make mistakes" now. It's got a great message, great pictures, and is an overall entertaining read.
1369795
I love the message in this book. It has inspired me to do more, create more, be more. I'm grateful that I found it.
788540
This is a great book for children learning to play chess.  I have a 7 and a 4 year old.  The tests in the book keeps my 7 year old motivated to learn the lessons and earn "points" (That's how the book structures it).  My 4 year old isn't old enough for the in-depth lessons, but is captured by the cartooned portions of the book as he learns basic names and moves.  My 7 y/o will likely continue to learn strategy from this book for several months as he practices what he learns.  All in all this is a great book that will help them advance over at least a year, if not more if they are younger.  I recommend it.
3213284
I enjoyed reading this book, which inspired me. It was a motivational, success-oriented book, in addition to being a technical oriented book.  There is so much practical advice in those chapters. I am amazed at the author's insight and wisdom. I did not expect to see these kinds of chapters in the book, thinking that it was strictly a technical book, but the author is certainly right that these are techniques that will help a person become a better software architect. I like the emphasis on building a network of people outside your immediate group. I like the emphasis on continuous education by reading (or listening to books): If anyone ever sees my library at home (perhaps from pictures on my Web site), you will realize that I am passionate about reading and learning new things. Having a "teaching gift," I enjoy teaching others the things that I learn, as also recommended in the book. The book really drives home the principles (mentioned in Part 3). I highly recommend anyone who wants to excel in their software career to read this book.
4573412
This is a good book that is enjoyable to read. If you're already a teacher or school leader with an innovative bent, someone who follows though leaders on twitter and via podcasts, you may not find much new learning between the covers of this book. If you're just opening your mind to the possibilities for education in the 21st century, then this book will be a great introduction and guide to fostering innovative practices in your classroom and school. Either way, reading this book will be great motivation to continue on the innovative path you're already walking, or to try something new in your school. Worth the price on the cover!
1681892
I received this book as a gift. I teach 4th grade reading class. As soon as it arrived, I wanted to share it with my classes. As I read the book to my students, we talked about making good choices and the consequences that follow. We all make mistakes, but it's what you learn from them that helps you to stop and think, and then make better choices in the future.

I kept the book at my desk instead of placing it in the classroom library. It really amazed me that my students would take the book and reread it over and over. It's not enough to be told that it's going to be ok and to learn from mistakes. Reading this book over and over helped some of my kiddos realize that exact concept. When school begins again in August, I plan to read this book with my new students. I think it's perfect for setting expectations and understanding consequences.
4851846
Having begun my teaching career in the mid 1970s by picking up five classes of kids who really wanted to be known as students, not as "the sweat hogs," and ultimately all but four or five of whom openly showed that they enjoyed having had the class for up to three years, I feel as though I can relate to a good deal of what Ms. Gurr says generally about at-risk kids.

By the time I retired from teaching academic students, I was noticing socialization and health problems similar to those experienced by the remedial reading students of the mid 70s.  I suspect that these days, if parents are not involved with their children, conditions are no better.  They may be worse.

When I began to read MENTOR YOUTH NOW, I told myself to overlook Ms. Gurr's repeated references to herself and her accomplishments, since initially they seemed a bit much.  After a couple of chapters that delivered on the promises of the introductory section, however,  I was ready to hear from her whenever she wanted to chime in.  I also found the Macintosh-style boxes holding stories for special consideration less and less bothersome.  Maybe I just became accustomed to the book's style, but really I think the preponderance of good information and convincing reflection of experience won me over.

Bottom line:  this is a good book.  Maybe it isn't the only one you'll want to read regarding mentoring, but it has the ring of authenticity.  Also, my experience with creative endeavors, though not graced by performance artists, tells me that Ms. Gurr is on to something that works.  (When I was teaching, the National Council of Teachers of English brought us some of the info that Ms. Gurr apparently learned as a writer and applied so usefully to the needs of at-risk children.)  Although a careful testing, reading, and exercise program probably did as much as anything to help my students to gain minimally one year in comprehension for each year they had my class, activities like writing original poetry and holding a simple play on "the big stage" of the school for an audience composed of years 9 through 11 of the reading classes certainly helped the 12th graders to pull together and end their senior year on a high note.  Such a continuation of affective progress was important for people who easily could have seen themselves as wasting time in a final year of school.  Officially, mentoring the students was not part of my job, and choosing to add it to teaching did make things more difficult at times, but ultimately we had fun.

That's why Ms. Gurr's book rings true.