The Little Stuff Matters Most: 50 Rules from 50 Years of Trying to Make a Living [Hardcover]

Bernie Brillstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2004

An uncommon collection of common sense, The Little Stuff Matters Most delivers the hard and fast lessons of Bernie Brillstein’s unparalleled business experience in fifty pithy, wise, witty, and completely entertaining essays. Brillstein, whose name is synonymous with some of the highest-profile Hollywood careers, shares these invaluable lessons in the clever, unfailingly honest, and inimitable tone for which he is known and loved. This little package is packed with big truths for getting ahead in business and in life, from how to get your boss’s job to the art of making a deal. Other memorable tips include:
o Know the difference between “hot” and “good”
o Don’t talk behind someone’s back in front of them
o Only doctors and hookers need pagers
o Don’t pet the snakes
o Have an opinion, even it it’s wrong
o It’s all lies, and that’s the truth
o When your time has come, success will find you
o The stomachache—and other gastrointestinal warnings

Each of the book’s fifty “Bernie-isms” is followed by refreshing commentary, peppered with colorful tales from Bernie’s career and clever drawings by acclaimed New Yorker cartoonist David Sipress. This book is the next- best thing to having your own personal manager on call 24/7—without having to fork over fifteen percent of your paycheck. The Little Stuff Matters Most puts both wit and wisdom in your pocket.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Advance Praise for THE LITTLE STUFF MATTERS MOST

"This is the best self-help book I’ve read in years. The Little Stuff Matters Most should be required reading for everybody—and it’s funny too!"—Larry King

"Your career in Hollywood, or anywhere, needs Bernie's style. A great read." --Bud Paxson, Lowell W. Paxson Chairman & CEO, Paxson Communications Corporation

"Reading The Little Stuff Matters Most is like having a conversation with your wisest confidante. Like Bernie Brillstein himself, the book is direct, pulls no punches and makes you laugh at yourself even as it's being brutally honest. I loved it!"—Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dean, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University

"A brilliantly profound experience in literature. I can’t wait to re-read it sober."—Martin Short

"Having just completed Bernie’s new book, The Little Stuff Matters Most, I’m now sure that Bernie taught me everything I know about making a living in show business, just not everything he knows. It’s a wonderful guide for everyone navigating through our business."—Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment

About the Author

Bernie Brillstein is the founding partner of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the most powerful management/production company in Hollywood. Bernie’s current personal clients include Rob Lowe, Wayne Brady, Martin Short, and Saturday Night Live creator/producer Lorne Michaels. During his career, Bernie has also represented Jim Henson, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and many others. Brillstein is also the author, with David Rensin, of Where Did I Go Right?: You’re No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead.

David Rensin has coauthored eleven books and five New York Times bestsellers, including Chris Rock’s Rock This! and Tim Allen’s Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Gotham (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592400795
• ISBN-13: 978-1592400799
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,264,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable, September 24, 2004

By 

David Rensin (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Stuff Matters Most: 50 Rules from 50 Years of Trying to Make a Living (Hardcover)

This book is clear-headed, chock full of invaluable tell-it-like-it-is insights, humorous or serious when it needs to be. If you want coddling go elsewhere. If you want to hear the truth about what it takes to get ahead in business and in life -- manners, smarts, listen to your own instincts, think in the long term -- you'll have to agree that the little stuff DOES matter most, and Brillstein's career and accumulated respect shows it. As the jacket says: like having your own personal manager without having to part with 15% of your paycheck. That's worth the price of the book right there. (And it's small enough to carry everywhere!)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fast and Interesting Read, September 27, 2004

By 

Stacy E. Burrell "stacyburrell.blogspot.com" (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Little Stuff Matters Most: 50 Rules from 50 Years of Trying to Make a Living (Hardcover)

Just finished reading this book and overall it was good, I would actually give it 3.5 stars if I could. It's concise and can be read in a day. Some entertaining stories and a few nuggets of inspiration.

As a downside, readers may find the book more anecdotal and most of the "Rules" are common sense. However, the author does state in the introduction that this is not meant to be a "how-to" guide, rather like talking to an older mentor. Though the principles are common sense, I do agree with the author that it is the little things like having manners and being yourself that does make the difference.

Again, a good book that would make a great gift for a young person starting out in life or an experienced person that needs some grounding.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius on every page, July 31, 2009

By 

Steven A. Smith (Gaffney, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's All Lies and That's the Truth: and 49 More Rules from 50 Years of Trying to Make a Living in Hollywood (Paperback)

This is a brilliant book, full of wisdom and simple good advice. Buy it and give it to a young person, esp. one headed toward a business career.