The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn! (Hardcover)

~ Marlo Thomas (Author), Bruce Kluger (Author), Carl Robbins (Author), David Tabatsky (Author) "My ship, the USS John L. Hall, a guided missile frigate, had just returned from Desert Storm to its base in Mayport, Florida..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Sister Regina, North Carolina (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"That Girl" Thomas follows up her bestselling inspirational volume, which collected stories from luminaries describing times when well-chosen words impacted their lives, with this collection of personal essays from more than 90 "ordinary Americans,", selected from thousands of submissions to a national contest. From the experience of a naval officer who comes to a major career decision in a Burger King to a woman's epiphany at a Zen Buddhist Monastery in Japan, these simple, touching stories highlight the moments when the right phrases or comments made a life-changing difference. Divided into thematic sections like "At a Crossroads," "Taking Chances," and "Letting Go," Thomas's new title may be a little Chicken Soup-esque, but this is no canned concentrate-this is genuine, home-cooked comfort food. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Review

"These essays are uplifting. They come from people in all walks of life. In telling their stories so honestly, these writers give us new ways to approach old problems. In some cases, they remind us of life lessons we've learned but sometimes forget to practice."

-- "The Daily Sentinel"

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Atria (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743497430
• ISBN-13: 978-0743497435
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #585,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Right Book At Any Time, May 21, 2006

By	C. S. Clarke "C.S. Clarke, Ph.D., Psychologist" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This lovely collection of inspirational essays is an excellent example of its genre. Filled with stories of ordinary people, it proves its one extraodinary theme: the right words said (or heard or read) at the right time -- regardless of the exact words or the person saying them -- can be a pivotal point in a life.

In the first volume of The Right Words at the Right Time, Marlo Thomas gathered 100 stories from well-known folks from a wide variety of fields: movies, science, politics, music, you name it. In the second volume, she collected the stories of the "average joe." And you find in both books that the "right words" were not necessarily profound. Most of the words were simple and sensible. Sometimes they were criticism. Sometimes they were even distinctly un-sensible. But they were the right words at the time.

You will discover that even if what you say is not profound, its effects can be. If you think about it, you'll remember the times that words have made a change in your life. What were they? Who said them? What was the effect? And when did you do the same for another person? All of these questions will come to you as you read. Because the stories reach right into the heart of some of the most meaningful experiences in our lives. We can't help but think and compare. And learn.

It is knowing that words can affect others that leads many of us who become clinical psychologists to that work. Much of the training is about being able to identify the right words and the right time and put them together. But as both volumes clearly show, anyone's words can be the right words at the right time.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is filled with moving stories and good advice, May 10, 2006

By	Robert G Yokoyama (Mililani, Hawaii) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Right Words said at the right time have the ability to change a person's life. The authors of the stories in this book are ordinary citizens. A simple word of thanks from a Burger King employee changed the attitude of a Navy sailor. That simple word of thanks made him proud to serve in the military again. Covering All the Bases is a story that contains the advice that it is important to pay attention to detail in everything we do in life. I liked the cute story of the woman who found love with someone over the Internet. The words that helped her connect with that person was a simple phrase from her childhood. The Chemistry Test is another good story with the message that anything is possible if you try hard enough. The author of this story took a very difficult chemistry test in high school. He learned that he could accomplish any obstacle, because he passed chemistry so many years ago. The story entitled Help is an excellent story submitted by a high school student named Jacqueline Sia. It is about friendship and having compassion for people. Just Getting Started is a beautiful story about a man who taught the people around him to live life to the fullest and never quit on anything. The Boy at Ground Zero is a very sad and touching story about how a man is affected by a little boy who lost his father on September 11th. I loved the story entitled Forty. The message of this story is that age is just a number, and that our accomplishments don't always have to follow a pattern and timetable. Within My Reach is an inspirational story about a man's determination to become a surgeon after losing one of his fingers in a car accident. This book is filled with moving stories and good advice. I enjoyed it very much.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE INESTIMABLE VALUE OF WORDS, April 26, 2006

By	VAL ODUENYI (Switzerland) - See all my reviews

We have always heard that 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. But no one has been able to quantify the value of having 'the right words at the right time'. Well, I guess that it is priceless.
Marlo Thomas was operating at an optimum gear when she put pen and paper to work. The narrations of this book are informative, entertaining, and reinvigorating. Effortlessly, they exposed a series of thoughtful and indispensable acts, which make the difference between men and boys. Words are truly supreme! They venture where no picture ever can: in expressing thoughts, locked-up emotions, uncanny desires, delirium, and so forth.
This book is about coping with various real life events. It is dynamic, exuberant, and realistic. The writing style of the author is commendable. Readers are bound to savor the rich but surprisingly fragile twists, which continue to give life its enduring essence. Another good effort by Marlo!