Customer Reviews

Nonstop Networking: How to Improve Your Life, Luck, and Career (Capital Ideas for Business & Personal Development)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book based on the multiple 5-star reviews. Now that i have read the book,I have the following comments:

The bottom line is that this book DOES have a few good networking pointers. Unfortunately, I found that much of the book contains fairly straight-forward advice, for example things like "listen with your inner ear" when talking to others, be "caring," etc.

Also note that the book is 170 pages, but is printed in double-space and large font, and the width of many of the 5-inch wide pages is further reduced by a second 2-inch internal margin in which is printed special notes and call outs. In short, this book is a lot shorter than it lets on. I would guess its a 50 page book in standard font, single space, etc. Not that this is bad, just know what your getting when you buy it.

I don't want to be too negative however. The author deserves credit for giving good advice on how to organize contracts into certain groups to help target networking strategies. The use of gifts in maintaing one's netowrk, and several other tips on staying connected to contacts. I particularly found Chapters 7 ("Keeping your Network Alive and Growing") and 9 ("Organizing and Keeping Track of Your Network") particularly helpful. I hope there will be more of this type of advice in her next book (*See comments below).

I am still waiting for a straight-forward networking book that remains focused on techniques and strategies instead of abstact (and largely unhelpful) advice on "speaking with enthusiasm and energy." The latter type of comments, while important, can be dealt with in a single "etiquette/demeanor" chapter.

An annoying feature of this book is the "I have a friend name Charlie who..." approach to discussing the subject matter. An alarming amount of authors have now embraced the idea of introducing us to "friends" of theirs in each chapter of the book to expose the reader to different concepts. Personally, I find this method patronizing and unrealistic. It would be a lot more helpful for the author to write a chapter that starts out: "I interviewed 10 people, each of whose networking skills I admire. Their techniques had the following in common: [list]. Although, their individual styles varied in the following respects: [list]." "One method that my associate Charlie uses that I found particularly useful was ______. I personally use this technique but have modified it as follows:_________." "I was reported to me that ______ didn't work very well because _______." Etc.

Update: After I initially published this review, Ms. Nierenberg (the author) sent me an e-mail responding to my comments here on Amazon. She tactfully took issue with the "negativity" of my review. I went home and reflected on my comments and agreed with the author that my comments were too "negative." I have since amended the review above to be more constructive. I also note that Ms. Nierenberg told me that this book was intended as a starting point (a kind of "cliff notes" for networking) and that she was working on a second, more comprehensive book. I look forward to reading the second book, and I will post my review of that one as well.

This book is relatively helpful, however, it

reminds me of term papers I'd written at the

age of 15 or so, where I'd desperately try

to increase line spacing and tighten up the

margins, in an effort to get my closing

paragraph to fall onto the 5th page, or the

7th page, or whatever the required paper

length was.

Most people have at least functional understanding of personal networking they generally have some idea gained from personal experience, training or instinct.
What is not apparent to most people, even those who are networking aficionados, is the depth and breath of the cumulative impact of personal networking on our socio economic individual lives, as well as that of our local and regional communities.
Andrea begins to bring this broader vision and role of networking to us with her conversational style approach.
Andrea clearly and precisely describes the process by which a person can enhance their life by the use of networking. Andrea's style shows she understands how hard it is for people to learn and practice networking today. The prerequisite skills of good networking are not intuitive and are not part of most formal education experiences so her work in this book is serving a fundamental need for thousands who will benefit by reading and practicing the skills.
For people without the basic networking skills - here they are.
For people with some of the skills and a desire to develop them further - here is the way.
For people who believe in networking and want a better understanding of networkings' deeper role of a micro building block of a macro socio economic structure - here it is.
Nonstop Networking has become one of the books I keep close by for ready reference.

This book kept a morning person up until after midnight reading and taking notes! It is fun, easy to digest and inspiring. It makes you want to get up and change the way you meet and deal with people in all aspects of your life.The morning after reading the book I found myself writing an infomercial, contacting people by phone or e-mail I hadn't heard from in awhile and taking steps to start a book club in my building!

The book is written in a way that gives great ideas, powerful strategies for setting up and growing a personal network, yet evokes laughter along the way!

It will appeal to all age groups and for people with different purposes. Andrea Nierenberg shares with her readers tons of nuggets that have made her the success she is today. Someone taking just one idea from her book will see their life change in a positive way.

Most people find it very difficult to network. Yet, networking is what gets many of us jobs, apartments, and even new friends. Networking can be as simple as your mom mentioning that a co-worker is looking for a new secretary and then putting in a good word for you. So many of us are networking and don't even realize it.

As a very shy person with very little ability to be social or outgoing, I have found Andrea Nierenberg's book to be invaluable. She even has included a chapter geared especially toward introverted people in her book. After reading Andrea's book, I have used her advice to get a nicer (but cheaper) apartment by networking through co-workers and am currently being considered for a better job by using Andrea's principles at a recent pool party. Less than 2 weeks after reading Andrea's book, my life is already getting better!

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Andrea's book demystifies the notion about networking that an exchanged business card and a handshake lead to immediate results. Instead, she reminds her reader that the best business is done between people that know, trust and like eachother - feelings that can only genuinely develop over time.

She shares "how to" network based on personality types, interests and more, and also how to keep your network alive in practical ways.

I've taken Andrea's book to heart and am having more fun than ever, building deeper and more meaningful connections, personally and professionally. This book will truly improve your life, luck and career, just as Andrea says it will!

The book is a very easy read overall, it's simple and to the point. I wasn't born to be out-going so it's very difficult for me to pull off many of the techniques suggested by the book. I'm a young professional starting out to build my own client base, and am looking forward to improving my social skills. However, some advices like making lunch appointments to follow up with contacts, are very difficult to pull off. It's ackward to invite someone you just met to go to lunch with, particularly if the person is the opposite sex. How can a woman ask a male contact to go to lunch without making him think that she is asking him to have a lunch date? Or how can a man ask a female contact to go to lunch without scaring her off? I have been attending ballroom dancing and had tried some of the book's networking techniques, but the people that I talked to so far haven't given me their phone number or business card . Unfortunately, I'm in a class where everybody is very much an introvert, much worse than me. I felt like I was trying to connect with someone who was on a very different wave band. A couple girls in the class are actually friends and they totally refused to talk to or look at anyone else but each other. In my opinion, no matter how hard you try to network, the success of it really depends on the group of people and the setting. The reality is, there is always a lot of frustration and you just have to keep going and not let the frustration bother you. That is the hard part. The book suggests writing and emailing contacts. But a lot of people just won't repond to your emails or letters at all. I had once sent boxes of Sees Candies every Christmas to my former teacher who taught me real estate law to thank him for referring me to one of the schorlarhsips that I was applying. He operates a busy real estate investment firm. He never repsonded to my Christmas gifts or cards or emails and I think it's because he was just too busy. So I gave up. I had long ago tried many of the advices suggested by the book before I even read the book. The problem is I always felt intimated by non-response and then I gave up. I think selecting the particular type of people and personalities you want to network is important. Time is too precious and I just can't afford to try to connect with many people who are off the wave band completely. I realize I have to not be intimated by non-reponse and be perservere. Unfortunately, the book doesn't talk much about the harsh reality of network, and neither did it tell you how to overcome frustration and intimidation that are often parts of the networking process.

As an entrepreneur turned professional speaker, I suddenly found myself out of the living room and into the business world. I found myself feeling uncomfortable and nervous at business networking functions. This simple yet profound book showed me how to build a network including conversation starters, mustering the courage to network, how to be a good listener, and how to organize my contacts. Now, I feel ready to network in every situtation imaginable. Andrea shows anyone how to open their heart, connect with others and build lasting relationships in business. Nonstop Networking has transformed me, a networking wallflower into a successful social butterfly. Highly Recommended! A must read for anyone serious about growing their business!

As a Career Coach and Counselor for two church groups in Southern California, I am a proponent of the networking methodology for job-search. I just finished reading Andrea Nierenberg's "Nonstop Networking" and found it an excellent guide to the whole networking scene. For sales and marketing, job-search and advancement, political and religious outreach, this is the way to make and keep contacts and cultivate lasting mutually beneficial relationships.
I highly recommend this book.

I just bought and finished reading the book. I am writing this review to help those who are deciding whether or not this book is a good buy. If you want a quick read on networking that is thorough enough to be your reference do buy the book. I am polishing my database as well as doing my calls and notes on schedule inspired by Andrea. Andrea, congratulations for a strong and very well written book. I look forward to attending your seminar and perhaps networking with you in person one of these days.