Customer Reviews

The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I absolutely agree that respect is critical for our society - and each individual within our society - to thrive. It is important for every one of us to think about respect and how we treat others. It was hard for me to give the book only four stars because it focuses on such a critical topic. However, I think the book doesn't do a wonderful job in presenting its case.

One of my issues here is that in several parts of the book the message is presented that beauty = good. The book has a cosmetic dentist (not the most objective of people in this area) saying beauty gives you health. We have Norville herself saying that partners should boast - not about their spouse's kindness or wisdom or loyalty - but about them being handsome or beautiful. I'm very uncomfortable about this focus.

I'm iffy about the alarm cry of "things are getting awful!!!" She herself admits that in 1641 Massachusetts had to pass a law against kids assaulting their parents because it was such a problem. We have countless examples from history that respect has been an issue in the past. Bullying is nothing new. Schoolyard fights were thought of as "boys will be boys." If anything, in modern times we realize these things are not healthy and work to take action.

In the same category falls Norville's horror that nearly half of teens have sex as if this is a new high. Not too long ago, most women were pregnant and having kids in this age group! If anything we should be proud that women how have other options in life and keep working to help them achieve those goals.

For a book that says it's equally about self respect and workplace success, the book is extremely heavy on the kids angle. I don't mind a book addressing parenting - but if it's going to be so focused on that issue, the book should be titled "parenting and respect" and clearly be about that. People who get this book who do NOT have kids in the house will find large portions of the book to be unhelpful. They should know that up front.

Also with the organization being all mixed up, you have to read through chapters on kids, then something helpful, then another chapter on teens, and so on. Again for parents this is fine. For all the non-kids-in-house readers it will be frustrating.

There were stories that simply weren't fully explained. There's a story about a teen sports star but the actual sport is never mentioned, making the story feel vague. There's a story about how positive thinking can affect solving word puzzles but it's never mentioned how it affects it! Does it make it easier? Worse?

Can I really believe the statistic that the average American woman spends 55 min/day looking for things? That seems outrageous to me. That's nearly an hour. Yes I found ONE study that claimed that - and many others that have far lower figures. I bet I can find a study that says most studies have erroneous data in them.

So there's a lot I have issue with in this book. But I still have to agree with the underlying message. We all need to respect each other more. We have to show ourselves respect. Norville reminds us that - whatever we are doing at a given moment - we should be the very best we can be. Focus on the moment.

Eat healthy foods and engage in healthy exercise. Respect yourself and take care of your health so you are there fully for others.

Eliminate people in your world who sap your energy. Make sure the people in your group are supportive and energizing. You'll have enough challenges managing your own world without also trying to support people who pull you down.

I think Norville offers great core information, and many of her stories help support her message. If you have a child currently in your house, then the book will be a great boon in total. If you do NOT have a child currently in your house, then about half of the book will not apply to you. Be prepared for that, and look to use the half that does give you advice. Maybe you can pass the book along to a friend when you're done. In either case, be aware that you'll have to accept some issues with the book along the way. I still feel there's enough good in here to make it worth reading.

This book is somewhat interesting but by no means compelling. The central point--that our lives would be better if we showed greater respect to others--is worth hearing again, though it may have made a better magazine article than hardcover book.

Deboarah Norville, best known as a television personality, currently the host of Inside Edition, has collected an array of anecdotes and statistics that support her thesis. She applies the theme to six arenas:

Home
Relationships
School
Work
Leadership
Self

One strength of the book is the practical tips offered for cultivating respect in these areas of life; for example: Define rules for your children; Brag about your partner in front of others; and Give employees a voice in the workplace.

The weakness of the book is that there seems to be nothing new or uniquely insightful. The thesis itself is the book.

Also, the font size is particularly small making it a bit difficult to read.

I hope Norville's message succeeds, yet I rate the book itself is a so-so read. Buy it if you want a helpful reminder of our need for civility in relationships. If you're looking for a more in-depth study or a highly practical manual for relationships or leadership, take a pass.

Do you receive an adequate amount of respect? Do you struggle with respecting others? Do you have a healthy perspective on respect, whether it is given or earned? Best selling author and well known journalist, Deborah Norville, offers a refreshing insight on a vital issue in society today... RESPECT.


In this time and age, respect is not easily achieved or granted. Which is why I was eager to crack open the crisp pages of "The Power of Respect" and I was not disappointed. I found myself giddy with glee when I discovered that the book covered a good portion of respect in marriage and parenting. I learned that respect starts right at home and we need to teach our children how to properly interact with others. I definitely recommend this book to people who need a gentle reminder on how to improve relationships and increase major productivity!

As one who notices the lack of respect in this country on an everyday basis, I was very much looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, what I hoped this book to be was not reality. The book itself is written much like a college freshman's first term paper - plenty of quotes and personal experience, but lacking in analysis. At worst it seemed to be written as a Chicken Soup for the Soul book - a collection of short stories. I kept hoping as I read that there would be more to it, but there wasn't. I give credit to Ms. Norville for the concept, however it could have been realized in a much more cohesive fashion.

We were all taught the Golden Rule (or most of us were). We were all taught you get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. This book contains numerous anecdotes which reinforce those fundamental teachings. Nice guys can finish first. There are statistics that show that if you treat your employees well, they are less likely to quit and more likely to do a good job. If you are respectful to your spouse and kids you are more likely to have a happy home than if you ignore them or treat them badly. If you gently inculcate respect in your children, they are more likely to turn out well. This is not exactly breaking news.

Whether all of this can be put under the heading of "Respect" is a question. If a teacher takes time to evaluate the needs of a child and designs a special program for him, is the teacher being respectful? Or kind or competent or creative? What could as easily be called kindness or sterling character are referred to as "respect" in this book. Well, okay. But is it ever not a good idea to be respectful? That is really not discussed. Kennedy supposedly found being respectful to Krushchev at their first meeting was a recipe for disaster. In some contexts, rare ones I hope, respect can come across as weakness. People who are too respectful of superiors may not be serving the organization or the larger community well. When is too much respect for authority not a good thing? This book won't tell you.

This is a nice book which will probably read by nice people to remind them to be even nicer. I guess a reminder is a good idea. There are no original ideas here, no grappling with troubling issues, not even any mild surprises. I found this book by turns heart warming and boring. I wish I liked this book more--it's a good hearted, thoroughly nice book.

Many years ago I read the classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. "The Power of Respect" rates right up there with Dale Carnegie's book. Deborah Norville teaches how to have respect for other people and she shows us how to do this in different ways and in great detail to help us to have respect for other people in our ever too busy lives. After reading this book I have a whole new respect for other people. I want to read it again.

Deborah Norville takes one idea -- the value of showing respect -- and examines it through anecdotes and interviews. The book's a fast read and one that contains little that is new, but the author does remind us all to behave better. That's a good thing.

Of course, respect is a desirable character trait, and yes, we want to instill it in our children and would like to be treated with it ourselves. I did appreciate some of the parenting advice she gives. But will respect lead to success in the workplace, as she suggests? That's debatable. More often, I see the nice people get trampled.

Norville's net is wide. Just about any positive character trait is labeled respect: kindness, courtesy, patience, love. So, after awhile I began to tune out the anecdotes. I do appreciate that she talked to verifiable people instead of inventing whomever she needed to make her point. But pinning the narrative on anecdotes makes for a choppy read: one minute you're in a lumberyard and the next you're hobnobbing with Sandy Weill.

But I am encouraged by the current trend for publishers to allow their media authors to be something other than cynical and world-weary. Byron Pitts's Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges and Jim Moret's The Last Day of My Life are written in the same earnest and uplifting vein. It makes for a welcome change of pace, if not riveting reading.

I wish I had read this about a year before I actually did, but am glad I did finally read it. Very compelling and well-written book about the need to be respectful. It's changed how I deal with people- most of the time (I am, unfortunately, still human...)

'The Power of Respect' by Deborah Norville also says on the front cover 'Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success'. This is a self development book that reminds one of just how crucial respect is in all aspects of everyday life.

THE POWER OF RESPECT - WHAT IT COVERS

The book begins with some stories that illustrate the powerful effect that respect has on individuals and on society generally. Deborah Norville covers respect in various situations including at home, at work, in business, etc. She also looks at respect in smaller units such as in families, schools and partnerships. She shows how respect can be a very valuable tool to achieve your goals and to help others achieve theirs.

Throughout the book are examples of different types of respect, illustrated in story-form. The first half of the book mainly deals with children and teenagers with much of the content being related to activities in the classroom. The second half deals with work-related and business issues such as developing positive company cultures to increase productivity and inspire creativity. There are short quotes on respect sprinkled throughout the book, and chapters end with a tick list of 'respect reminders'.

As well as covering the importance and power of respect, this self development book discusses ways of encouraging and developing respect such as rewards for good behaviour in classrooms. There are also stories that show you how to deal with disrespect and how to regain respect in those situations. The book also discusses:

* Tips for a respectful marriage
* The importance of self-respect
* Tips for raising respectful children
* The power of compliments and praise
* How a lack of respect can destroy lives
* How motivation increases with respect
* How to assess and develop your self-respect
* How respect fosters compassion and altruism
* How respect cascades from one person to the next
* How respect transforms good leaders into great ones

THE POWER OF RESPECT - SUMMARY

Deborah Norville's overall message is that respect for others and self-respect is crucial for success. She gives examples of this via stories from people's personal, work and business worlds but, because of that format, this is not a book with succinct points on exactly how to achieve success. However, this self development book does make you more aware of the power of respect in various areas of everyday life.

Deborah Norville tackles a huge issue in our society that she believe is disappearing from our fabric as people - respect. She uses humor, fact, and great stories to help us understand how respect is one of the most valuable character qualities that we can exhibit as people.

I started this book awhile back and I was so impressed with how well she communicated such simple truths through storytelling. When you read example of people who used the Power of Respect to change their circumstances for good, change their communities for the better - these were wonderful examples for me.

Deborah says that "The Power of Respect begins at home." I could not agree more with this statement. My favorite part was her top five things to do to raise respectful kids. I highly recommend putting these up somewhere. I think I am goign to put them on my refrigerator!

This is a must read. If you lead people, interact with people, have children, or in anyway have to deal with the human race, you need to read this book!