You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making It in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates

By J.R. Parrish

Book Overview

Chock-full of practical advice for teen and college-age readers on everything, including:

* Nailing that first big job interview

* Avoiding dangerous relationship mistakes

* Mastering the art of managing your finances

* Circumventing the typical pitfalls of adjusting to the adult world

* Making friends and forging career alliances

* Choosing the right mentors

This valuable guidebook synthesizes a life's worth of wisdom into one engaging volume. The author, a self-made multimillionaire who did learn the hard way, offers what he wishes someone would have given him when he was starting out--a no-nonsense blueprint for personal and professional success. Written with self-deprecating humor and grace, this book is never preachy and features irresistible self-discovery quizzes that guide young readers to deeper self-understanding.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933771747
• ISBN13: 9781933771748
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Benbella Books
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Life lessons not to be taken lightly!

I see where another reviewer rated this book poorly because they didn't believe all the hyped up reviews. I think that is a completely unfair review and perhaps would be better suited as feedback to reviews as opposed to a stand-alone rating of the book. I've got the book sitting in front of me as I type this review, and I will say that all the positive reviews are very fair representations of what this book has to offer. I honestly believe this book is suited not only for graduates, but also for parents. It is filled with life lessons we should all take time to teach our children. It works really well for young adults because there are quizzes in each section that allow self-reflection. I believe this makes the book very appealing for those who need it most: college graduates and high school graduates. For people like me - middle aged with young children, I can take the lessons in this book and apply them to not only my future, but also the future of my children. FOR EXAMPLE: Chapter four is all about dating, marriage and parenting. Parrish's goal for the chapter is to advise the reader on making good decisions on the topic. Most Americans will tell you there is a serious problem with the way our teens and young adults relate to partners when it comes to dating and marriage. With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, we honestly do need some good life lessons on the topic. In a numbered list in the chapter, Parrish reminds the reader to remember marriage is about trust and companionship, and not to let the physical excitement we feel during dating to rule whether or not our partner is worthy of our hand in marriage. Hopefully Parrish's words and the format of this book will encourage young adult readers to consider the ramifications of each decision they make, how to realize a dream and make it come true, and how to truly become the person they aspire to be. It's certainly filled with great advice and life lessons and I look forward to sharing this with those I care about!

A Young Person's Guide for Success

After graduating college in 2006, I quickly discovered that many of the concepts and thoeries that I learned in my classes had very little carryover to the "real world". As many of my friends have shared with me, this is somewhat shocking leaving young graduates wondering what skills they have to offer. Parrish's book has the ambitious goal of helping young people such as myself learn the intangible skills that lead to success. Many of these behaviors and attributes take a lifetime to aquire. However, by habitually using the advice in the book, the reader can benefit from the author's knowledge without losing the precious time it takes to "learn the hard way". Parrish uses a unique storytelling style that incorporates his most important lessons - both personally and professionally. While some of the ideas can seem simplistic at times, this also proves to be the most valuable component of the book. The concepts are the fundamentals of life - tried and tested over many lifetimes with overwhelming success. Parrish's insight often sheds new light on experiences, ideas, and thoughts that everyone is sure to encounter on the journey of life. This book is a must read for someone 20-25 years old and for anyone who has not had the benefit of having a positive role model in their life. Beyond fulfilling our basic needs, everyone deserves to benefit from the book's character building advice which will lead to self improvement for all.

What they won't teach you, but should!

With his second book on becoming a better and more complete person, JR hits it out of the park with his frank discussion and delivery. I particularly enjoyed the discussions about "Avoiding dangerous relationship mistakes", "Circumventing the typical pitfalls of adjusting to the adult world" and admired, in particular, "Choosing the right mentors". Sound advice to be taken to heart and followed so that those boomerangs we've all cast from time to time, either knowingly or otherwise, don't come back around and smack us squarely in the head. This second writing is an excellent follow-up to his outstanding first work and a must for the young adults seeking to make the most of their lives going forward.

A MUST FOR EVRY PERSON

This is the most clear cut "how to have a happy, successful life" ever written. Yes, it should be required for every student or young adult, but most of us who are older could have saved years or decades of frustration with this simple, step-by-step "how to" guide for a happy life. Do you want a better job? more friends? more money? less frustration? It truly is easier than we make it.

You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way

This book is exceptional, unique and fitting to young adults in their late teens, twenties or even thirties. It is clear, practical and relevant to what each and all of us face in the "Finishing Requirements" of adapting to the real world. It is written in a fashion that allows for strong understanding and reference ability and high credibility with true, real occurrences. The Author reminds me of other great Authors such as Norman Vincent Peal and Napoleon Hill as it relates to practical applications for life's journey and challenges one faces in an attempt to manage through real time trials and tribulations. It is a credible reference source for parents trying to nudge young adults to the right direction without over influencing the individualism of the individual. The situations presented are very real authentic , experiences we have all faced and had to deal with, and the book allows private reflection without the risk of personal embarrassment with parents on methods of using one's own capabilities to navigate with many areas in life that are often not spoken or in reality dealt with in very inadequate ways unfortunately. I for one have dealt with and extensive number of the reflections contained with the experiential categories over my own life and often found myself reflection on "I remember doing that" which all to often was a memorable but not necessarily positive Growth experience. The method of delivery is simple, the reference ability is convenient and the sequencing is appropriate. A great graduation gift for High School Seniors, College Graduates as well as young professionals on their first or second professional experience, perhaps in their twenties or early thirties even.. Don Lavoie Ph.D. President & CEO Sekurus, Inc. 38790 Sky Canyon Drive Murrieta, California 92563 work 951-834-9400 cell 310-266-8404 dlavoie@sekurus.com