Eight Keys to Greatness: How to Unlock Your Hidden Potential [Hardcover]

Gene N. Landrum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

What motivated a man trained in theology to uncover the theory of evolution? How did a shop owner's daughter become Prime Minister of a very chauvinistic nation? How did a man with a severe hearing problem invent the phonograph and the first sound movie camera? What prompted an 8th-grade dropout to unravel the technical mysteries of the catalytic engine? And why did somebody who 'could not write' turn into one of the most prolific and successful authors of our time? Luck, personal attributes, freaky experiences, timing, and a myriad of other factors can contribute to reaching the very top. But Dr. Gene N. Landrum expertly argues that 'talent is not nearly as important as indomitable will, IQ is not as important as a positive attitude, an Ivy League education is not as important as an inquisitive and imaginative mind, and money is not important at all'. The 'greats' have eight key behavioral traits critical to their success. "Eight Keys to Greatness" selects six diverse disciplines and those who achieved within them: the arts (Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway); business (Bill Gates and Helena Rubinstein); humanities (Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr.) ; politics (Catherine the Great and Mao Tse-tung); science (Albert Einstein and Marie Curie); and, sports (Michael Jordan and Babe Didrickson Zaharias) - to show that charisma, competitiveness, confidence, drive, intuition, rebellion, risk-taking, and tenacity led these celebrities to the top. Landrum includes biographical commentary on twenty-eight other visionaries, including Darwin, Marx, Twain, Freud, Edison, Margaret Mead, Walt Disney, Stephen King, Ted Turner, and Anne Rice, to back his findings drawn from hundreds of biographies, autobiographies, and related research. Are you capable of greatness? Yes, Landrum says, 'as long as you have slightly above average ability to grasp new concepts and have the internal will to pursue your dreams'. This book inspires readers to learn by example.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 285 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573926868
• ISBN-13: 978-1573926867
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!, September 3, 2001

By 

Susan G. Dunn "The EQ Coach" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eight Keys to Greatness: How to Unlock Your Hidden Potential (Hardcover)

Landrum has figured out 8 key behavioral traits critical to success that the truly great possess -- and says they can be learned. His descriptions of great people according to these traits, such as charisma, self-confidence, drive and intuition are fascinating and illuminating. He doesn't hold back on what the downside of some of these traits are, and some of those descriptions were sobering. A taxonomy of "greatness," it's a wonderful read. It's worth reading just to know that when he considered starting Disneyland, Disney had to go against the recommendations of his Board of Directors and experts such as the Stanford Research Institute. All the reasons they gave why the park would fail, turned out to be the reasons why it succeeded. Uh oh!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a GREAT Book, April 15, 2001

By 

Jim Kelly (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eight Keys to Greatness: How to Unlock Your Hidden Potential (Hardcover)

This is an exta ordinary book, which opened my eyes. It taught me that greatness is learned not inherited. Also it tells you the eight keys that can make one great. This book is inspirational and most importantly it teaches everyone who is ready to listen, how to become great..Invesment well worth..

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, very strong book on greatness. No fluff here!, July 11, 1999

By 

Blair Warren (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eight Keys to Greatness: How to Unlock Your Hidden Potential (Hardcover)

As with his other books, Dr. Landrum doesn't kid around here. He isn't out to psych you up or pump you full of platitudes. He lays it all out, the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to greatness. Then, he not only shows you what it takes to be great, but how to do it. If you're tired of the feel-good fluff out there, give this book a try. While it motivated the hell out of me, some of his stories scared the hell out of me as well. But then, that's the way it is out on the battlefield.