Customer Reviews

Don't Eat The Marshmallow Yet!: The Secret to Sweet Success in Work and Life

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'd like to preface my review of this book by stating unequivocally that I am not, nor will I ever be a person who seeks intellectual or spiritual solace in the pages of a book. In fact, I've always scoffed cynically at the poor lost sheep who spend hundreds of dollars in the hopes that one of those "Tony Robbins types" will lead them to the promised land. It was with this skepticism that I began to read the pages of a book that will affect every aspect of my life for as long as I live.

My girlfriend recommended "Marshmallow" to me some time ago. Because she is a woman whom I love and admire, I felt compelled to read this book that she credits so much for her strength and success. Eventually, as most men in love do, I did as I was told; I read the book.

Then I read it again. And then again. Dr. De Posada somehow wrote my biography without ever having have met me. He knew exactly which poor decisions I was making in my life, and eerily, he knew the thought process behind those decisions. In a simple, concise, easy to read jewel, Dr. De Posada can teach anyone how to save money, rear children, or even lose weight just by applying one principle to all of their decisions, "don't eat the marshmallow...yet!" If you can delay the immediate gratification, the "quick fix," you will be a happier and more successful person in life. Why eat 10 Bic Macs a month when you can have one filet mignon for the same amount of money and a lot less fat? Why buy the Rolex today when, if properly invested, you could use the money to retire tomorrow and own 10 Rolexes if you wished.

As a young attorney I found my self spending my new-found riches on things that simply will not last. All I had left of the money I would spend were faint memories and hang-overs. I was so anxious to immediately enjoy the fruits of my labor, that I failed to realize those fruits had not yet rippened.

Since reading this book I have made giant strides in becoming a "marshmallow resister." The results can be measured by the resurgence of my once waning my bank account. This doesn't mean that I have become a frugal, anti-social leper. Quite the opposite, the quality of my life has improved. Rather than drinking at the local bar 3 days a week, I go once a week and find that I enjoy it even more. This is what the book makes you realize, that more often than not, less is more. And that if you apply patience and discipline to your life instead of pleasing yourself every chance you get, you will be paid off in the long-run.

Buy this book.
(...)

I bought this book for my wife, having heard about the fascinating 'marshmallow' experiment. Unfortunately, this book's relationship with that experiment ends with the title. This book is nothing more than anecdotal sugary fluff, which I suppose is appropriate, given the alleged subject. The writer fails to give any true scientific data on these experiments and instead relates many irrelevant stories, carried along with weak, generic characters (one of which, the uber-successful millionaire, seems to be egotistically based on the writer). The writer's attempt to put something more concrete at the end of the book, amounts to some highly questionable math that only seems relevant to the truly financially inept.

The only reason my wife and I were able to finish this book was due to it's minuscule length. If you enjoy hollow self-help books, then buy this book. I'm sure this book will make some people feel good about their goals, but don't be fooled with the title, it has no relation to the amazing 'marshmallow' experiment. If you want anything with substances, look into the actual research and avoid this book.

It's easy to set goals in life but the difficult part is to reach those goals. This book will help you through that journey.
I recommend this book to everyone. It has been a great inspiration and it has helped me discover what was wrong with my life. Now I have a clearer view of what it is that I want and how I'm going to reach my goals. I have a million challenges that I have to overcome now, but the idea of delay in gratification makes me excited!
Once again I recommend it to everyone. Read it!

I had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Joachim De Posada speak at a convention in West Palm Beach. I loved his enthusiastic presentation and took interest in his book. After reading this book (it only took about one hour), I gave it to my children and my niece, who are young adults and are spending more than they are making.
I was pleasantly surprised how receptive they were and have already implemented some of Mr. De Posada's ideas about "delaying gratification" and saving for the future.

This book is very easy to read, and should be required reading in economics and given to every teenager and young adult by their parents.

The premise of this book is that by delaying immediate gratification and going for longer-term rewards in all areas of your life, you will dramatically improve what you are reaping, be happier, attain more financial success, better relationships, etc. The idea comes from a study of 4-year olds at Stanford involving marshmallows.

While the premise is obviously true, and I knew this before reading the book, there is almost no practical information on how to delay eating marshmallows. The book contains some interesting true stories regarding delayed marshmallow eating regarding Larry Bird and other famous people, but I found no long-lasting change in what I am doing nor any insight into why I go for instant gratification in some situations and do not in others. If you are not financially savvy at all and spend too much, then this book may be very useful to you. I already save large amounts of money and have automatic savings plans, etc, so this might have reduced its utility.

This book is also a lot longer than it needed to be with a contrived and not well written fictional story of the enlightened marshmallow resister who is teaching life lessons to his limousine driver, the marshmallow eater. During this extended story there are a few real-life accounts thrown in which I have mentioned.

The question about what one is willing to do today to have success tomorrow I found useful and there are a few interesting ideas scattered throughout this book.

If you have not seen Dr. Posada's lecture on [...] regarding the same principle, I highly recommend it. Perhaps because I had already seen the video I found the book to be too repetitive.

I would recommend this book but there are many other better ones out there and not much practical information unless you are a complete overspender and marshmallow eater in many areas of your life.

I accidentally picked up this book in the bookstore, and started to read some, as the title is quite interesting.

However, I ended up finding a place to sit on the floor, and started to read it from the beginning to the end.

This book is not very complicated, wordy or any of those things that scholars will put.

It's a book that is filled with conversation and it's so true to every human being.

There are so many books like this out there, but you can't miss this one!

My aunt recently came to visit me and strongly suggested I read your "Don't eat the marshmallow...yet!" book along with the Motivational mini book. Since reading the book (just two days ago), one effect your book had on me was to set up a savings account that will transfer funds from my checking account twice a month. My aunt, along with your book, also inspired me use passages and quote some lines that I am using for my midterm paper.

I wanted to thank you for the inspiration and additional motivation (that I YES needed!). I am continuing the domino effect and am recommending this book to my friends and even my boss.

I will continue re-reading this book and adopt the marshmallow theory/delayed gratification as my own. I strongly believe this has provided a positive change in my life that I will repeatedly profit from.

This book will change your life. I guarantee it! Heartwarming, easy to read and with brilliant steps to help you reach your goals (whatever they may be!) This is not one of those sickeningly belittling self-help books. This book does not talk down to you, but talks to your level with insights that are relatable and simple to follow. This incredible book teaches you that whether your goal is to lose 10 pounds or find a cure for cancer... you CAN and WILL achieve it... if you just don't eat the marshmallow... YET!

Here's the point of the book summed up in one sentence: people who learn to delay their gratification are often more successful than those who give in to immediate gratification at the expense of their long-term goals.

I gave the book 2 stars instead of one because the above principle is actually worth considering. This book, however, is not. The 'parable' used to illustrate the point is extremely painful to read. The writing is dull, simplistic, and forced. This is already a short read at 97 pages. However, it would have been best as a 1-page Reader's Digest article.

At one point, Mr. Posada even stoops to plugging his other book in a humiliating way; I'm quoting from page 55 here:

"Arthur was certain--for a change--that he wouldn't be broke over the weekend. Then he drove to the library to look at a book on hold for him at the reference desk. It was titled 'How to Survive Among Piranhas: How to Get What You Want with What You Have'. Yes, Arthur had learned from Mr. P that you must always read motivational books, listen to motivational casettes and watch motivational videos."

I couldn't make that up. This book is awful. A good lesson turned into a sad, sad product. Don't waste your time or money here.

This is a great book about instant gradification and what you could have if you just WAITED a little longer. I suggest you read it and make your kids read it. You will both learn alot. Small book, easy to read.