Customer Reviews

How to Win Friends, Kick Ass and Influence People

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This book appropriately glosses over Russell's private life and manages to balance professionalism, entertainment, assertion, humor and sometimes sarcasm about life at CNN -- the silly things some viewers or youthful subordinates will say and do, the surprising things a famous anchor will do when stuck in a brutal Atlanta traffic jam during scheduled airtime.

Luckily, Russell's perspective extends well beyond her CNN duties to reflect on her role as a go-getter and as a woman in her numerous other ongoing careers.

While she has no doubt inspired many women over the years to live uncompromisingly for one's goals and dreams, she also has inspired men like me -- from an early age -- to see career women as well-rounded, smart, savvy, and critical to an organization's success. At CNN and in her book, Lynne Russell has helped make professional journalism sexy to a new generation, male and female.

Lynne Russell teaches women that they can do anything. If you lacked self confidence before you read this book, you certainly gain lots of it after you have finished. I had my daughters read it and they both feel more hopeful that they too can always do better. It's very up beat, positive and funny. Men, feel free to read this too..you will enjoy it.

Instead of a news anchor you get a woman with an honest view of herself and through that look hopefully other women will find ways to have a more positive feeling about themselves, get the nerve to do something new and not be afraid of the words "you can't do that." The guys should check this book out too. It'll give you a kick start as well and keep you from holding down the lady in your life.

First of all, know that this is not exactly a "self-help" book, and Russell is not really attempting to provide an instruction for life when she offers advice; in fact, the title seems more of an ironic commentary on a life not lived by reading handbooks and following guidelines. That said, this can still be an inspiring read for women and a delight to men who are not afraid of independent, intelligent women. Those who know Russell as a talking head on TV may be taken aback by her off-camera persona, but that's what makes her unique: the woman who enunciates so well on CNN will be putting dents in a heavy bag with her bare feet and peppering her speech with the "f" word after hours. She won't pander to fragile egos: she calls 'em like she sees 'em because she's likely seem 'em all, more than once, as a journalist, a private investigator, and as a woman. No pretense or phony sentimentality like many of her male collagues, folks: this woman tells it like it is. Russell is a refreshing break from the utter pomposity of people like Ted Koppel and Tom Brokaw, and neither of those guys could kick your face in, either. LYNNE RUSSELL RULES!

Lynne Russell is now not only an esteemed journalist, but a wonderful author. Her gusty advice and view of things is very refreshing, and her wonderful personality and spunk shines through every page. This book is really directed toward women, but men seem to enjoy it. Anybody who's a Lynne Russell fan or just wants an extremely wonderful book, should read this.

A refreshing book with great information on living life to its fullest. At times I felt as though I were standing behind her as she wrote. Her style is second to none. Many times I laughed aloud. Recommended to both sexes, there are many things to be learned about ourselves and others.

Russell's slim volume is a jaded, cynical whirlwind of hackneyed metaphors ("Isn't that what Xena would do?") and knee-jerk advice for those who want to reduce people to quick, sound-byte sized definitions. I don't believe that "all women are questioning the very definition of love" (p. 149), just those that have finished reading this book and want to pattern themselves on the author. And can anyone, male or female, take seriously Russell's pigeonholing of personality types? It seems she wants to encourage women to find a deep, lasting relationship by using shallow, witty-for-the-moment quips that will most likely be forgotten faster than last month's headline news.

If the title of this book offends you, do not buy the book because the content is equally earthy. How much did Victoria's Secret pay for this 200 page ad? If you are mildly curious about the various behind the scene exploits of CNN headline news anchor this book satisfies. If you want personal advice there are better sources. One wonders, what will she spend her money on after her hormones change? Have the stories about poor starving opressed people in her news had no impact on her choices? I hope that this is not the last we will hear from Ms. Russell!