Patti's Pearls : Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously [Hardcover]

Patti LaBelle (Author), Laura Randolph Lancaster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2001

Using an assortment of her favourite maxims, adages, and sayings, Pattis inspiring collection gives practical guidance and instruction on how to live a fulfilling and rewarding life. Her humourous anecdotes and touching personal experiences transform what could have been abstract advice into unforgettable, real-life wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Demonstrating once again that her interests go far beyond music, singer Patti LaBelle presents Patti's Pearls: Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously. Along with Laura Randolph Lancaster, the r&b diva offers a slim volume of inspirational insights, or "pearls," accompanied by personal anecdotes from her life. Some of the sayings are familiar ("Know God, know peace; no God, no peace" and "don't try to change the wind, change the sails"), while others are unique ("Barbie is a doll, not a goal" and "you can't be a doormat if you don't lie down"). (Warner, $19.95 128p ISBN 0-446-52794-7; Oct. 23)

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Inspirational sayings from a singer with two best-selling books behind her.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (October 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527947
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527941
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,919,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Honest, truthful and uplifting, November 14, 2001

By 

T. Williams "mytime" (Decatur, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Patti's Pearls : Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously (Hardcover)

What I enjoyed most about this book is the way Patti described her own personal moments as she gives the pearls of wisdom. You will not only get some "right on" pieces of wisdom, but Patti will tell the ups and downs in her own life as she began to appreciate the very messages she's sharing. I am already familiar with some of the messages she shares(serenity prayer, for example), but this book will give you a fresh view of some time honored truths. If you are a true Patti fan (and who isn't?) you will be familiar with a few of the stories she shares, but those were life changing moments in her life and the lessons learned should be told again and again. One of Patti's pearls that I just love is "You Don't Need A Certain Number Of Friends, Only A Number Of Friends You Can Be Certain Of"..Pick this up for yourself and the teenagers in your life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Patti and Laura!!!!, October 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Patti's Pearls : Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously (Hardcover)

"Many a false step is made by standing still"..."You don't need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of"...and my personal favorite quote from "Patti's Pearls": "If you wait until your hands stop shaking you will never open the door. You can't steal second base with your foot on first. You have to go out on a limb..because that's where all the fruit is."

Once again, Miss Patti demonstrates why she is in a class by herself. Simply put, this book is extraordinary. EXTRAORDINARY. On the heels of her two best selling books in recent years I wondered "what on earth has my girl left to say?" To my surprise, and delight, PLENTY. Miss Patti isn't done with us yet! After reading the 30 page sample on Amazon.com I purchased a copy for myself...after reading the book, in just a few hours, I purchased 20 additional copies for my family and closest friends. This is an essential read. A profound read..a book that matters. I promise, you will not be able to put it down. In a profession where the emphasis is on aesthetics and theatrics, "Patti's Pearls" only reinforces what thousands of fans have known for years; Patti Labelle is a woman of substance. If the truth be told, her true gift is that amazing ability, and willingness, to remind us that she is but one of the girls even though that amazing voice tells us she is a chosen one. Other so called Queens and Diva's have written fluff pieces that only further perpetuate their warped belief that they are "above" the rest of us. They erroneously believe that because they sing better, they are better. Patti's courage to bare it all, especially her failures, is awe inspiring and it elevates her above her peers. The chapter about refusing millions of dollars to perform in South Africa brought me to tears...as did the chapter about her father's infidelity and her mother's amazing reaction to it. If you think you have heard all that Patti has to say in concert or in her previous book 'Don't Block the Blessings' you are mistaken. I had not heard most of these stories before and I have been a Patti fan for over 20 years. This should be required reading for every high school in America. There is more wisdom contained within the pages of this book than many of us encounter in a lifetime. As much as I admire many of her contemporaries, nobody-and I mean NOBODY- can do me like Patti. She is the queen of my soul...the book is superb.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lessons in Life From a Sister Who Has Lived It, April 10, 2003

By 

Dera R Williams (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Patti's Pearls : Lessons in Living Genuinely, Joyfully, Generously (Hardcover)

In Patti's Pearls, singer/entertainer Patti LaBelle with Ebony columnist, Laura Randolph Lancaster, gives her readers lessons, anecdotes, and pearls of wisdom that she has culled over the years. She takes incidents from her life as an entertainer, daughter, sister, and mother to reveal the fears, trials and joys of life.

Each chapter is headed by a title that will grab and take hold of your senses and make you contemplate, such as "Many a false step is made by standing still", "If you can't be the tablecloth, don't be the dishrag", and "The best way to predict your future is to create it". She shares the heartaches of losing her sisters to illness and the fickle world of show business. She shares candidly the heartache of the end of her long-time marriage and the determination to move on, hopeful that the future promises a brighter future.

This is a little book with big ambitions, not unlike many of the feel-good, self-help books that are offered by many entertainers who want to share their triumphs over adversities. This book is forthright but does not have a preachy tone that can be a turn-off as some other similar books do. I keep this book next to my bed to grab and read a chapter at will for a quick uplifting pick-me-up. Tell it Patti!

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub