If I Knew Then What I Know Now [Hardcover]

Richard Edler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 1996

Bringing together the collective wisdom of several top executives from the worlds of business, politics, television, and religion, a self-help guide reveals the keys to happiness and offers tips on how to reach desired goals.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For more than a decade, advertising executive Richard Edler collected pithy bits of wisdom about business and life from leaders in a variety of fields. If I Knew Then What I Know Now: CEOs and Other Smart Executives Share Wisdom They Wish They'd Been Told 25 Years Ago presents the resultant advice and support in a series of easily digestible nuggets from notables like Senator Orrin Hatch, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Peter Ueberroth and a host of lesser-known authorities. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Twelve years ago, when Edler was president of an ad agency, he was asked to deliver a commencement address to business graduates. He asked 10 CEOs from different companies the questions that later became the title of this book, and together their answers made a nice speech. The answers so fascinated Edler that he kept posing the questions to other executives from the worlds of business, entertainment, advertising, publishing, politics, television and religion until he had compiled enough practical wisdom to fill a book. Helen Gurley Brown, editor of Cosmopolitan, says self-discipline will get you everywhere. Peter Sealey, former global marketing director for Coca-Cola, says one ought to get international experience. Edler's own advice is to become the person you really are. Many of these "answers" are little more than bons mots sometimes supplemented by a sidebar. This conversationally written book would make a fine gift for an ambitious and philosophical friend.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 242 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (January 3, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399140921
• ISBN-13: 978-0399140921
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars THE TITLE IS A LITTLE MISLEADING, June 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: If I Knew Then What I Know Now (Paperback)

The title of this book led me to believe I would learn shortcuts to becoming a CEO by tapping into the hindsight of current CEO's. Ironically, most of the CEO's and other leaders in this book, having already made it to the top, now wish they had spent more time with family, friends, etc. I really didn't want a sentimental book when I bought this book. Also, it seems easy to advise others to stop and smell the roses after they have already made the big bucks and conquered the business world. Perhaps a better title would be "CEO's share how they wish they would have spent more time with Family and Friends or at least think you should do that instead of worrying about being a CEO." I always feel ripped off when I buy a book and even one page is dedicated to the serenity prayer, which is so vague, obvious and overused it is nauseating. Some of the advice seems to be merely pet peeves or autocratic advice from theory x managers. However, having said that, it is worth reading because about half of the book is filled with useful advice. What in the world went wrong with the other half? I paid full, not half price.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I guarantee, that you'll find at least one thing important.., July 19, 2002

By 

Julia Doubravszky (Fayetteville, Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If I Knew Then What I Know Now (Paperback)

Reading the book I guarantee, that every single reader will find at least one idea, advice or thought useful or important... Many of these ideas are absolutely new, were not published in quotation books. (I worked for a publisher, and we published several quotation books... I know, what's "out there".)
And if you only find one important thought in this stunning collection, don't you think it was worth to read it?

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book!, August 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: If I Knew Then What I Know Now (Paperback)

I picked up this book in a bookstore one day and read the entire book on my lunch hour the next. Page after page, it just "hits home." I would recommend this book to anyone, young or old, who is unsure of themselves or where they want to go in life. There's nothing like the voice of experience!