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42 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Connecting, March 19, 2010
This review is from: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently (Hardcover)
For starters, contrary to my initial thought, this is not a textbook on preaching. Does this book help those who preach? You bet. There are a handful of tips within the first three chapters alone that will equip and challenge any preacher to do a better job of connecting. One of the great reminders that Maxwell makes is that even those who connect best can learn to connect better.
There are times throughout where Maxwell may seem to toot his own horn, but don't read into that too much. He goes on to share numerous examples of his failures and immaturities early on in ministry and life. Honestly, through his transparency about his own immaturity, I better connected (pun) myself to the book.
Secondly, this book is thoroughly practical. It is practical for preachers, public speakers, and the everyday person who desires to better relate with people. There are many underlying implications in the book such as...
Your words are extremely important, but there is more to connecting than just speaking.
Forget your agenda.
Remove the focus off of yourself and value others.
It is in the later chapters that Maxwell focuses on the practicality of Connecting. On the practical side, Maxwell motivates and encourages the reader to strive to connect better. Despite previously reading some Maxwell's leadership books, I did begin reading this book with a theological lens and I quickly realized that Maxwell is writing to motivate and equip people to connect better. Therefore he writes from a process or step-by-step perspective, not so much a by God's grace alone will you connect better.
3 thoughts that quickly came to mind when reading through the book...
This should've been the textbook used in college for my public speaking class.
There are principles & practices throughout this book that could be beneficial for evangelism training.
This book is a treasure of rich quotes...both from Maxwell & others.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Common Sense that is Not Practiced, April 7, 2010
This review is from: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently (Hardcover)
This book is not for everyone because some do not have a desire to connect. This book is only for those who wish to improve his or her connecting skills and abilities. The book is practical and the language of the book echo's Maxwell's writing style. There are numerous quotes that he uses to frame a chapter or a section around that one quote. Neither good or bad that is how Maxwell writes. Occasionally Maxwell seems to "bragging" about his success or possibly he is being relational and showing how he has used the principles in the book to connect with others.
Here are a few practical tips that may seem like common sense to most, but unfortunately common sense does not mean we implement these traits into our daily life. Three questions that we long to know when connecting;
* Do you care for me?
* Can you help me?
* Can I trust you?
Finding common ground in relationships is important and overlooked. To overcome this one needs to ask questions and explore the other person's interest. This can be done by what some would say "playing ignorant" in your conversations. Once you approach someone as a "know it all" or arrogant walls are built and connection is lost. Asking questions allows you to be in a place of humility and sometimes this may be achieved best by playing ignorant. This principle has to do with simplicity in speech or what Maxwell said as "talk to, not above." People are longing for conversations not debates. Practice humility by asking genuine questions. Here are a few questions to help you connect;
* What do you dream about?
* What do you sing about?
* What do you cry about?
A highlight from the book is the guide at the end of each chapter that explores connecting one-on-one, in a group, and in a audience. This is a book that everyone needs to practice, but the reality is only a few will implement these practices in his or her daily life.
One area he did not address is the need to disconnect from our media, cell phones, TV, Facebook, Twitter and the numerous other outlets that are causing us to lose this idea of presence and how that helps us connect with others.
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34 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sub-par for Maxwell, April 8, 2010
This review is from: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently (Hardcover)
I've always been a fan of Maxwell's leadership books. I especially enjoyed his last two: Put Your Dream to the Test and Talent is Never Enough. Regretfully, that was not the case with this latest book. I seriously couldn't finish it and just skimmed the last 3/4 of it.
When writing this book, Maxwell posted chapters online and invited stories and feedback from the public. This book is so bloated with that content and quotes from other books it is almost unbearable. It feels like there is very little original content here. In fact, if you removed all the outside stories, quotes, anecdotes...if feels like Maxwell's original content wouldn't amount to more than a pamphlet.
I realize that Maxwell's writing style has always leaned heavily on anecdotal material, but this somehow felt over the top. John Maxwell has written dozens of truly excellent books, but you can probably pass on this one.
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