Customer Reviews

To Be or Not to Be Intimidated?: That is the Question

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This is the same basic text as WINNING THROUGH INTIMIDATION, but is rewritten, with whole passages added in spots. If you just want the basic message, then either book will do. But if you're like me, and you've read the previous version many times, the subtle differences in this version of the book are worth reading. Like only a dedicated Beatles fan could probably tell the differences between the album LET IT BE and the recent "newer" 2003 version titled LET IT BE...NAKED, and appreciate them, too. A passing fan would think, "What's the difference?" So this book (if you've already read the earlier version) is for the dedicated Ringer reader only. If you've read neither, this is the preferable version.

"To Be or Not to Be Intimitated" is a good update of a great book, and the title is much more appropriate than the original "Winning Through Intimidation" since the subject matter of the book is the psychology of intimidation. It is not a book about running roughshod over the other guy by being an intimidator. The book lays out Ringer's basic philosophy of business and is filled with anecdotes of how he, Ringer, changed his success ratio in selling simply by recognizing how business is conducted on a day to day basis and applying what he learned. This book should be part of "Business 101" in every business school in the country. If you haven't read "Winning Through Intimidation, buy this book now; if you haven't read "Winning Through Intimidation" in the last year, buy this book and rekindle the fire started the first time you read it.

Originally titled 'Winning Through Intimidation', Robert Ringer's 'To Be or Not To Be Intimidated' is one of the books that has made a profound impact on my life. It is indeed very true when the author explains that the degree of success or outcomes we desire is closely related to the level of intimidation we allow ourselves to feel.

The book is very relevant because we are constantly involved in situations that may make us feel intimidated. It could be negotiating a business transaction, getting a faulty product replaced, cold calling, speaking in public or even explaining to a spouse why you were back home so late.

Robert Ringer's various illustrations based upon his own experiences are engaging and enlightening. Whether you are an entrepreneur or working for your boss, read this book and you will clearly understand why we sometimes do not get the outcomes we desire.

Robert's writing style is very direct, straight to the point and no nonsense. So if you are expecting some motivational fluff, you may want to look elsewhere. The advise in this book are lessons in life that you will not learn in any MBA lesson.

I really wish I had read Robert's book earlier on when I started my business. I could have avoided a lot of mistakes and saved myself lots of agony.

I have personally met Robert at a seminar, and I am impressed by his wisdom, wit and friendly nature. I wholeheartedly recommend 'To Be or Not To Be Intimidated' to anyone who truly aspires to be successful in business and life.

To begin with I must confess to being an avid fan of Robert Ringer. And I was jumping up and down to see his updated version of his popular book "Winning Through Intimidation."

While Ringer claims his book is not about intimidating people it really is. Yes, it's basically about protecting yourself from intimidators. But he also shows you how to become intimidating yourself. But that's a good thing. This is, after all, the business world and not a place for the weak sisters.

By using terms like Screw U, Ringer causes the reader to have a method that will make him or her quickly recall everything in the book for a lifetime. Without knowing it, you'll memorize it. At least I did.

I read the book in 1977 and during every conversation with a prospective client or a client I can see visions from Ringer's book. I can hear the language of one of the Types who would love to keep me from getting my chips.

If I could only own two books in my entire lifetime they would be Winning Through Intimidation (preferably this updated version) and The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Those two books create a library of all the wisdom you need to take you through business life and make you a master.

Ringer has an amazing sense of humor and shows from his own mistakes how to become a great business person. He's not afraid to put his own image on the line for all to see unlike some writers who would have you believe they've made no errors and never known a failure.

To them I say, "Duh, even Babe Ruth struck out over 3000 times." You'll fail many times before you hit a ball and the person who doesn't fail simply never gets up to bat.

The three decades since I first read this book have been a mixture of failures and successes. But I can honestly say that I have Ringer to thank for much of the success. And not a day in those three decades have gone by when I haven't thought at least one time of something in that great book.

I too have been to Screw U. And as one who graduated with honors I suggest you buy this book and have it sent to you the fastest method possible. Then read it every month or every six months of your life.

Arm yourself for the exciting but dangerous world of business and the earlier in your life you do it, the better. Is this book dated? NO. People don't change. They'll still go for your chips. They still try to keep you from getting your chips.

But that's okay. After all, as Ringer says, life is just a game. And if it is just a game, why not play to win?

Ringer does an excellent job of writing. His stories are amusing and well written. While his experiences are based in the real estate arena, I can vouch for their existence in my work as well. He does a fantastic job of entertaining while educating. Life is full of choices. His choice of the turtle for his image is brilliant. Slow and steady wins the race. Outwork and outprepare your opponents. Never forget that in most business deals, win win in the other guys mind means he wins and he wins. You will run into some honorable men but their goals are to optimize their side, not your side. Even honest men are not trying to help you they just wont lie to you while they do it. Great read and well worth it.

I read the original (Winning Through Intimidation) years ago. I didn't notice a lot of change, other than the more accurate title. Written in allegorical style, the book is a quick read. While the author draws directly on his experience as a real estate broker, the material relates to all walks of life. If you read the original, I don't think you need to buy this book, but you can read it in a couple sittings if you decide to. If you have not read WInning Through Intimidation, this is definitely worth your time.

Other reviewers have really lauded this book. I picked it up after I read Dan Kennedy's book on sales letters. Dan really knows his stuff and touted this book heavily. Unfortunately, I could not bear to read this one to the end. I did read most of it. This book offers some insights into human nature and has some tidbits useful to help you "not be intimidated."

However, these tidbits of info, while revealing, are contained in what is basically a narrative of this author's career in commercial real estate. He mentions all the people who tried to screw or cheat him, and what he learned from each encounter. Frankly, this just got old. I am in the real estate business, and have plans to eventually go into commercial brokerage. Even with my interest in this field, I was still frustrated reading this. Much of what he talks about is how all people in real estate want to screw you out of your commission. I don't know how things are done wherever this author lives, but in my locale (as well as everywhere I know of), you simply have the client sign a written, exclusive right to sell contract. It is legally enforcable, they don't pay willingly, you go to court and make them.

To sum it up, this book isn't a total waste of money, you can learn a few things. It still doesn't live up to my standards. If you are looking at this book because you have problems with being easily intimidated, I strongly suggest the book "The 50th Law" by Robert Greene. This book is about living fearlessly and it is amazing. I have read around 300 books in the past several years. If I had to pick one to keep, it would be The 50th Law, hands down. It's no marketing ploy like you are used to seeing with music stars, it's the straight dope on how to face your fears.

30 years after writing a classic, is it necessary for a rewrite?

Not in my opinion. I'm not exactly opposed to rewrites of Think And Grow Rich but the 1937 version is more than excellent. Same with Psycho-Cybernetics...the rewrite with added work by Dan Kennedy is fine but 1960's original by Dr Maltz is the one I read over and over.

And so it goes with Winning Through Intimidation. I'm not saying it's a first-tier classic like the previous 2 but I would definitely put it on the second-tier, along with Richest Man in Babylon, The Magic of Thinking Big and The Greatest Salesman In The World.

And therein lies the difference. The first tiers were rewritten to bring them up to date....and by people other than the authors.

But Winning Through Intimidation...ugh....totally not necessary. The lame Politically Correct new title is just the best example why not to buy this book. It just takes the punch out of it....Winning Through Intimidation is a superior title....no two ways about it. It grabbed you and made you want to read....To Be Or Not To Be Intimidated.......ugh. So awful. So trite...the Shakespearean rip off is as tired and useless as seeing "dictionary definitions" and "Mt Rushmore replacements" in advertising.

You know...garbage like: "Websters defines quality as....." or Hey they put the local used car guy's head on Mt Rushmore....hilarious and original....right? Yea, run that in the paper!!

And so it goes with the tired "to be or not to be." Utterly ineffective and unfunny.

Next we go inside the book. New cartoons? Why? They don't look any better...only different. A rewriting of the original text? Why Mr Ringer....why? It's like reading a junior high kid who wrote a passage about the War of 1812 from the Encyclopedia and put "into his own words". I mean the message is still there...but not the punch. It's not being written by the same guy who "meant it" when he first wrote it. It's now 30 years on and it's being looked at through different eyes and being neutered.

It's not unlike George Lucas or Steven Spielberg going back to their masterpieces and "correcting" them. Replacing guns with walkie-talkies in ET or making Han Solo "shoot second" in the cantina....ugh. It just takes the spirit out of what the original message was.

Obviously, seek out the original and buy it instead.

This book, with a more accurate title than the original "Winning Through Intimidation" is a core business book for your library. If you are in business and have a desire to succeed, the tales of the tortoise outlined in "To Be Or Not To Be Intimidated" will give you a deeper understanding of what is happening and how to position yourself for success.

While we often don't like to recognize it, the people with whom we work are really, when it all comes down to it, looking out for themselves. Whether they intend to steal your chips or just have to do it because they can't really help it, the outcome is all the same: they are after your chips! If you want to keep them, you'll have to create defenses for doing so.

In a lighthearted but serious tome, Robert Ringer gives all of us a lot to think about, stories that cut a little too close to home at times, and an approach that keeps our integrity and financial health intact.

Must reading.

The only challenge of this book is that at times that writing itself seems to get in the way of the message, and that is my only complaint.

I'd read the original "Winning Through Intimidation" years ago, and thought it was great. Good, straightforward, no-nonsense. And good examples of learning experiences--where Ringer had gotten taken to the cleaners, and lessons he learned from that. So I was interested in the revised edition. What I found is that it was somewhat watered down--beginning with the title. "Winning Through Intimidation" may have been slightly misleading (it wasn't about intimidating everyone you came in contact with), but it was no-nonsense and direct. Compare that to "To Be or Not To Be Intimidated? That is the Question." It's weaker, wishy-washy in fact. And I guess it's meant to be, drawn from Shakespeare--look at the context of the original line. And the entire book seems weaker, watered-down, uncertain in places. Maybe it's because I read and remember the original; for someone fresh to Ringer, this latest one is pretty good. But my suggestion would be to stick with the original.