“Failure is an inevitable part of the human journey,” says award-winning television and radio broadcaster and New York Times best-selling author Tavis Smiley. Smiley steps from behind the curtain of success to share intimate stories of his missteps, misdeeds, and often highly publicized miscalculations in Fail Up: 20 Lessons On Building Success From Failure. These instances of perceived “failures” were, in fact, “lessons” that shaped the principles and practices that now guide his life. Readers will find a kinship in Smiley’s humanness that inspires, informs, and reminds us of our ability to “fail up” in the face of life’s inevitable setbacks. The year-long celebration of Smiley’s 20th year anniversary in broadcasting will feature the Fail Up book tour.
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About the Author
From his celebrated conversations with world figures, to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders as a broadcaster, author, advocate, and philanthropist Tavis Smiley continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Currently, Smiley hosts the late-night television talk show, Tavis Smiley on PBS, The Tavis Smiley Show distributed by Public Radio International (PRI), and is the co-host of Smiley & West (PRI). He is the first American to simultaneously host signature talk shows on both public television and public radio. In addition to his radio and television work, Smiley has authored 14 books, including the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, which became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times bestseller list. He is also the presenter and creative force behind America I AM: The African American Imprint—an unprecedented traveling museum exhibition celebrating the extraordinary impact of African American contributions to our nation and to the world. In 2009, TIME magazine named him to their list of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People.” This year, 2011, marks his 20th year in broadcasting.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Why would anyone want to read about another person's failings? Because "there is no success without failure."
Smiley speaks openly of his failings "very few achievers want to show off their warts by acknowledging mistakes," especially when they're shameful or embarrassing--and what could be more embarrassing than telling the world you went to jail because you bounced checks for pizza?--but this is exactly what Tavis Smiley does.
Lest you think he's bragging about his time spent locked up, you find instead that this was the fall that taught Smiley the value of money: where he learned not only diligence when it came to spending and saving but learning how to manage his finances. A lesson he learned so well that he was in a position to purchase the building in California where his media empire is located without getting a bank loan. Failing up from check kiting to financial independence.
Learning how to see perceived failures in a way that rebuilds you and helps you go back to the drawing board is an incredible gift.
In Fail Up not only did he print some really personal missteps he did it in a way that shows us how he took them and turned them around. Smiley mentions his well-known firing from BET. I remembered when he was let go, but I never knew the story behind it.
After reading this book, I located some pictures I'd thought I'd lost which had stayed lost for a long time and for a good reason. The pictures represented a time when a major failure seemed to consume my life. The pictures were the before, and I have been living the after. In those pictures, I could feel the embarrassment and humiliation that that time represented for me. But in reflecting on Smiley's words, rather than see the failure of that time I started to see the ways that I failed up. I could see the ways I and my family recovered and rebuilt ourselves and our lives and to see this situation as what it was--the welcome mat we needed to reach our goals.
Smiley's book spoke to me. When you're trying to make your way there are things that come up that can seem catastrophic, but to think of these fiascoes as the best thing that could ever happen makes all the difference. In the midst of wrack and ruin, there is a ray of hope if you can fail up.
While I have no intention of being a leader on the level of a Tavis Smiley, I'm definitely a leader in my own small way. Fail Up has become a refrain in my mind when dealing with those seemingly crushing situations and even the everyday day ones that may look like disaster on the surface.
Rather than failures I'm earning my "success scars." Rather than setbacks my own failings are "opportunities to grow."
This book reminds us that we all fall down. It's what you do afterward that counts. You can fail or you can let Tavis teach you how to fail up.
Smiley speaks openly of his failings "very few achievers want to show off their warts by acknowledging mistakes," especially when they're shameful or embarrassing--and what could be more embarrassing than telling the world you went to jail because you bounced checks for pizza?--but this is exactly what Tavis Smiley does.
Lest you think he's bragging about his time spent locked up, you find instead that this was the fall that taught Smiley the value of money: where he learned not only diligence when it came to spending and saving but learning how to manage his finances. A lesson he learned so well that he was in a position to purchase the building in California where his media empire is located without getting a bank loan. Failing up from check kiting to financial independence.
Learning how to see perceived failures in a way that rebuilds you and helps you go back to the drawing board is an incredible gift.
In Fail Up not only did he print some really personal missteps he did it in a way that shows us how he took them and turned them around. Smiley mentions his well-known firing from BET. I remembered when he was let go, but I never knew the story behind it.
After reading this book, I located some pictures I'd thought I'd lost which had stayed lost for a long time and for a good reason. The pictures represented a time when a major failure seemed to consume my life. The pictures were the before, and I have been living the after. In those pictures, I could feel the embarrassment and humiliation that that time represented for me. But in reflecting on Smiley's words, rather than see the failure of that time I started to see the ways that I failed up. I could see the ways I and my family recovered and rebuilt ourselves and our lives and to see this situation as what it was--the welcome mat we needed to reach our goals.
Smiley's book spoke to me. When you're trying to make your way there are things that come up that can seem catastrophic, but to think of these fiascoes as the best thing that could ever happen makes all the difference. In the midst of wrack and ruin, there is a ray of hope if you can fail up.
While I have no intention of being a leader on the level of a Tavis Smiley, I'm definitely a leader in my own small way. Fail Up has become a refrain in my mind when dealing with those seemingly crushing situations and even the everyday day ones that may look like disaster on the surface.
Rather than failures I'm earning my "success scars." Rather than setbacks my own failings are "opportunities to grow."
This book reminds us that we all fall down. It's what you do afterward that counts. You can fail or you can let Tavis teach you how to fail up.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book in total is witty and insightful and from the title I'll assume you got that. I have to tell you, Be Dignified Even When Justified resonates with me to my core. Growing up a slightly angry young man and with an insane sense of feeling I had to prove myself and demanding recognition, I was not always as tactful and 'dignified' as I should in corporate america. There was a moment I had to take the lesson from my grandfather and that lesson was no more underscored than reading this shared proverb from Mr. Smiley. When you let Mr. Larry King interview you on your PBS show, you said everyone would find themselves in this book and I can say for a moment I waived my hand and quipped "Yea, right." Like your haters, you proved me wrong. Keep the faith Mr. Smiley and keep pushing us through your example to live to our potential and not others expectations. Keep the Faith :-)
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Trevor Cross
Format:Hardcover
I admit it---I never liked this guy---and this book is, at times, frustrating to read, obtuse in its arguments and polemical in its discourse---it is also candid, insightful and thought provoking--in short, it is brilliant. Kudos to Mr. Smiley for having the courage to write something like this at a time full of posers and sycophants.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational
This is one of the best books I've read. Tavis Smiley gives advice based on his life experience. Upon completion of reading this book, you'll have a boost and feel very empowered. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alida Francheska Timmos
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure
Given Tavis Smiley's lofty status as the host of a hit, nationally-syndicated, TV talk show, one might not suspect that he'd suffered any setbacks over the course of his meteoric... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Troy Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST READ
Fail Up by Tavis Smiley is a must read for anyone who is seeking to pursue the passions which fuel them. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kenneth Gates
5.0 out of 5 stars
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
Fail Up really drives the message home that failure is one of the most important parts of the journey to success. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Raychelle Writes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
I haven't finished the book yet, but I am enjoying what I have read so far. I really like how Tavis incorporates several stories to emphasize the lessons on recovering from... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Aneisa Young Bolton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Important Lessons From Tavis
I watch Tavis every night on PBS. I think he is intelligent, thoughtful, and insightful. I bought his book based on the title alone, quite frankly. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Meredith Allard
3.0 out of 5 stars
Needs a target
I like Tavis' aim with this book, and, as usual, his message. We can learn just as much from the mis-steps of successful people as we can from their triumphs. Read more
Published 22 months ago by P. G. Pierce
1.0 out of 5 stars
jibberish
poorly thought out and executed, forgettable. Little insight and awareness. I read it on the subway and handed it to the first person who answered the question... Read more
Published 23 months ago by sruben
5.0 out of 5 stars
it's all right to fall as long you know how to pick yourself up.
I wish all teenages that made a mistake in there life know that it's not the end of the world.
becaus we all learn from our mistakes.
becaus we all learn from our mistakes.
Published 23 months ago by ms november
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love TAVIS...
I love the life lessons, the rough road to success stories, and the poor but not broken spirit of TAVIS SMILEY. I love the book and your shows! Read more
Published 23 months ago by Bebeglobe
