10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life [Paperback]

Doug Giles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2007

10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People is a road-tested, tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek disaster plan guaranteed to give those bent on destruction proven principles to help them ruin their lives.  Filled with anecdotal illustrations, practical philosophy and zany cartoons, 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People will propel the slackers among us to…uh…well…nowhere. Yes, to be a successful loser, one must adhere to the credo the author has laid down in these inspired pages. Deviation from these destructive traits could cause the determined loser to derail his disastrous existence and actually end up getting a life! This book will at the same time prevent the sharp, solid and smart ones from lathering, rinsing and repeating the deeds of the disastrous ones. For a good laugh, read up and then run in the opposite direction of these principles of disaster.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People is a road-tested, tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek disaster plan guaranteed to give those bent on destruction proven principles to help them ruin their lives.  Filled with anecdotal illustrations, practical philosophy and zany cartoons, 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People will propel the slackers among us to…uh…well…nowhere. Yes, to be a successful loser, one must adhere to the credo the author has laid down in these inspired pages. Deviation from these destructive traits could cause the determined loser to derail his disastrous existence and actually end up getting a life! This book will at the same time prevent the sharp, solid and smart ones from lathering, rinsing and repeating the deeds of the disastrous ones. For a good laugh, read up and then run in the opposite direction of these principles of disaster.

About the Author

DOUG GILES, senior pastor of Clash Christian Church in Miami, Florida, is also the creator and host of “The Clash” radio and television shows, winner of seven Silver Microphone Awards and two Communicator Awards in the last three years. Guests on his weekly one-hour show have included Ann Coulter, Ted Nugent, Cal Thomas, David Limbaugh, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Mona Charen, Michelle Malkin and Brian Kilmeade. Doug is also a popular columnist and award-winning writer. His column, “ClashPoint,” is read worldwide each week on Townhall.com, which has 2-4 million readers each month. Of the 70 prestigious columnists carried by Townhall.com, Doug’s column consistently ranks in the top 10 of the most widely read and recommended editorials. Giles has been married for 17 years to Mary Margaret Raia, and they have two teen-aged daughters.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Regal (June 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830743693
• ISBN-13: 978-0830743698
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,708,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Motivation with a different twist, July 3, 2007

By 

J. Cox "Jock" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Unlike most motivational books, this one plays the devils advocate and basically says, "So ya wanna be a loser?...go right ahead and I'll even show you how." I know that after reading this book, I was thinking, "I don't want to be like that guy he is describing...I better make some changes real fast in my life." I give this book five stars. A quick and great read that you will come back to often.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Catchy Theme, But It Got Old Quickly, October 20, 2007

By 

Eric V. Schueler "EVSchueler" (Montesano, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life (Paperback)

I heard the author on the radio and he was very articulate and funny. His book did not convey that same thing. It was good for a few pages and the theme is great, but it seemed to ramble and lose focus and got rather tedious after awhile. I would recommend looking for speaking engagements where you could hear the author vs. buying this book.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who'd dream of being a loser?, July 17, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life (Paperback)

Whether it's stress management, diet, meeting planning, and everything in between, everybody needs a little help now and then. Most of us seek help, not from a professional, but from a book. Doug Giles's new book, 10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life, is one of those books.

In this hilarious romp through the psyche, Giles uses reverse psychology to goad readers into getting off their rears and do something with their lives.

By merely perusing the chapter headings, readers can quickly and effectively race to the chapter that fits their particular need for living the loser's life. Sad part is, I know somebody who excels at each habit, and many (dare I say friends?) fall into multiple categories.

If I had to pick one (yes, just one) chapter that described me, I think it would be Chapter 8: "Quit When the Going gets Tough." Why? I can start and write novels and short stories but I never follow through; I quit when it comes to the little things, like actually finishing those thousands of short story beginnings that I've written or revising the several novels that are in an old chest in the basement. And thanks to Giles' I've learned that my problem is losing focus and making up a lot of excuses why I don't just plant rear to chair and write. Hey, if I want to be a successful loser, all I have to do is keep right on track and cultivate the other nine habits.

Speaking of nine, the funniest chapter is Chapter 9: "Rip People Off." I'm curious, what does it say about me that it took me 30 minutes to figure it out?

10 Habits of Decidedly Defective People: The Successful Loser's Guide to Life is not one of those books people really buy. We stand in the bookstore and peruse it. None of us could really buy a book on this taboo subject. After all, the dream of becoming a successful loser is one a dream that must be kept secret, in case those successful people around us try to influence our life-choice.

Armchair Interviews says: Well said, and well read.