Customer Reviews

Think BIG and Kick Ass in Business and Life

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I picked this book up while browsing at a local Borders Books recently. I actually chuckled as I began turning pages and skimming through the table of contents and the first few pages.

Soon, I found myself sitting down - the book still in my hands. Next thing I know, I'm at the checkout paying for it. What happened??

Trump is an egotistical, self-serving man, no doubt. But let's be totally objective, as I was that day: good advice is good advice. And, most writers do not have the courage to dispense such advice in such raw terms as Trump does.

This book holds nothing back. Trump lays it all out on the table with blatant opinions, ideas and thoughts about those who've crossed him, helped him, etc. He tells you how you need to be (not just what you need to do - read that again!) to be successful. However - and this is the most important point of my review - there's truth to so much of what he says. It's helpful. You'll look at yourself differently. You'll gain insight, and you'll learn things about yourself that you did not previously know. You might even be vaulted to a new level based on what you read; I don't know - that depends on you, the reader, and your potential application of what Trump discusses.

I'm not a huge fan of Trump, the man, but I cannot argue with his success. Forget those who claim he was born into money; that may be true, but he continues to make headlines with regularity. His projects are everywhere; his stamp is clearly there in the real estate world.

If you like Trump, you'll love this book. If you don't care for him, and can put your personal feelings aside (he's never done anything to hurt me, so I was ok in that area!), you're in for a mind-altering , no-holds-barred, shot-in-the-arm volume of encouragement, confidence-building tenets.

This book made me want to run out of the bookstore and head right for my office to go to work (and it was Saturday afternoon). Highly Recommended!

Wow - what a breath of fresh air - I love it!

This book is unexpectedly fun, readable, and direct.
It is oddly not about money really at all - it is about how to manage situations, sometimes financial, mostly people related. I love Trump's code of honor, so to speak - what is acceptable vs what is absolutely not tolerable and how to handle it directly. He has a 'quiz' at the end that is a remarkable way to 'see' yourself, to look at the way you may label, and thereby, limit yourself, especially financially. And in this quiz, he clearly offers another way to look at the same issue, the way he might handle it - this is what I mean by a breath of fresh air. His way of seeing problems is like a quantum shift in perspective, he does not seem to have the considerations that limit most of us in our actions and decisions. I highly recommend this book. I also highly recommend Ariel and Shya Kane's books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Can Instantaneously Transform Your Life and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment. They are exceptional - their way of seeing things/situations that confront all of us is an equally quantum shift in perspective on life, relationship, and well-being.
What I respect most about Mr. Trump and the Kane's is, in fact, their willingness to share their astonishingly unique perspectives - Thank You!

Best book by the Donald yet. Lots to like, but some annoyances that keep me from giving the book five stars.

First, a disclaimer. Those who are repulsed by the author's bombastic style will not enjoy this book and likely will not be able to see through the style issues to mine the exceptional wisdom offered throughout the book.

Set aside style issues, here is what you can expect. Clearly, the author has achieved incredible business success. And, clearly he is also a master at personal branding. As such, his candid offering of the keys to his success is good stuff.

Enhancing the wisdom Trump offers up is the reinforcement offered by co-author Bill Zanker, founder of the Learning Annex. I thoroughly enjoyed Zanker's commentary and his style. I came away admiring Zanker for what he has built and how he has apparently personally grown through that building process.

Kudos to publisher Harper Collins for the interesting use of a co-author to an icon such as Trump. Boos to the publisher for what I found to be poor editing (e.g. points and events introduced in subsequent chapters as if they were being introduced for the first time). Yes, we live in a fast paced ADD world but some of us actually recall what we read in the previous chapter(s).

So here is the bottom line: nuggets of gold in this book if one can set aside the repetitive aspect and the bombastic style that sometimes is very annoying.

Wayne Dyer and other great philosophers are long on making the point that we can learn from others, even from the tyrants who come into our life. Trump is someone I have learned from and will continue to learn from. Some of the learnings are positive, others are in the form of strong messages of how I don't want to be like him. Point is that he is a strong teacher for me and can be others if you put his thoughts, action, etc. in the context of developing ones personal philosophy of success, as opposed to just trying to replicate him.

PS Let there be no doubt that the author fully understands that controversy sells books and other products, at least for him. Count on it that Trump will understand that the flame ratings that likely will start showing here will help sell more books. As Rosie O'Donnell has proven, flaming the Donald just creates controversy that keeps him in the news, thereby enhancing his visibility.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Donald Trump's enthusiasm for life leaps off the page and is infectious. This is a man who loves his job his family and friends.
His secrets for success are passion and integrity. He lives his life fully, dreams big, and encourages his readers to go for life with gusto. He believes that everything matters; from the huge real estate deals to the right shade of trim in a room, it all matters. This high-powered businessman writes of "riding the waves" of daily experiences and staying present for all life has to offer.

Living life with honesty and integrity reminds me of Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment by Ariel and Shya Kane. This powerful book is filled with
stories of wisdom and truth that are inspirational as well as practical. It's possible to live fully in the brilliance of the moment and have a magical life, instantaneously! Both of these books move me to live fully and embrace the gifts life has to offer.

Donald Trump has one of the most recognizable names in business. He has a successful track record in the real estate and development business segments and in this book, Trump seems anxious to offer his advice and some general ideas that he feels will lead to great success.
Many of the ideas presented in this book are obvious and many other people have stated the same things. Staying positive, maintaining focus, keeping a step ahead of the competition, aiming for the top, etc., are all pretty common pieces of advice that most business people and self- help/motivational authors would agree are important ingredients to success. Trump has his own unique way of saying things, but the basics of most of this advice are pretty clear, and pretty ordinary.

When the book gets interesting is when Trump offers some more unique words of wisdom. This takes place in the chapters that cover fear and distrust, seeking revenge, and demanding a prenuptial agreement. The chapter on trust isn't too far out of the ordinary, but it is still a little different and some of what it says took me by surprise. Trump feels that you can never completely trust anyone, and that includes people you have known for a long time. His bottom line when it comes to employees is "Get the Best People, and Don't Trust Them". Trump has witnessed too many backstabbers and too many shenanigans to put his trust in people again.

The chapter about seeking revenge is probably the most controversial of all. Here, the book recommends something that many would find reprehensible: Getting even with those who have insulted you or damaged you in any way. When someone does you wrong or in any way proves themselves disloyal, you should fight back directly and with such great force that the person will never mess with you again. Trump offers many examples of feuds he has had with other people and former friends who are no longer on his buddy list. In each instance, he has fought back tooth and nail. He feels that revenge is sweet and that anyone who avoids getting even is a schmuck who deserves any bad treatment he/she receives. This chapter is certain to cause controversy among readers and many will likely dismiss it outright, even though I cannot really say that Trump is completely wrong in his assessments.

The other chapter that is controversial is the one on prenuptial agreements. Trump agrees that a prenup is about as unromantic as anything could possibly be, but he feels very strongly about getting one because he feels there is too much at risk if you do not. It is interesting to note that the book doesn't recommend prenups only for the highly successful who own a business and don't want to lose it. It seems to aim this advice at all men and women, even though, in the absence of any wealth, a prenup doesn't seem that important.

Bill Zanker is the co- writer of this book and Zanker offers his own writing segment at the end of each chapter. Zanker's claim to fame is The Learning Annex and he considers Donald Trump to be one of his mentors. His contributions to this book are not very useful, because in every instance, all he does is reaffirm what Trump said earlier in the chapter. He plays the role of the supportive cheerleader, chanting out Trump's name and pointing out how correct Trump is in his pronouncements on business and life. It gets a little boring after a while because you already know what you are going to read before you get there.

Overall, this is a good book from Mr. Donald Trump and his sidekick/head cheerleader, Bill Zanker. This book has been referred to by some as a self- help guide but it is really an empowerment book and I like it better than Trump's recent efforts, like "How to Get Rich" and "Think Like a Billionaire". I like the "Sum it Up" and the Key Points sections at the end of each chapter, because they help to keep the book organized and they make for a good reference tool. I could have done without the input from Zanker, but this is still a good motivational book written by one of the most recognizable names in business. Trump has been there and done that, and he wants you, the reader, to enjoy the great taste of success, just like he has been doing for nearly three decades.

This book is an amazing book by the Donald and the founder of the Learning Annex. The most useful aspect of this book is that you have the lessons learned from the life experience of these two people who have developed themselves to where they are now. You have it right here, between these pages.

The only caution that I have about this book is to take what suits you and leave the rest. All of the talk about "pre-nups", "taking revenge and using revenge as the key to fuel you", "screwing people who screwed you 10 times over" and so forth is just a bit too much and shouldn't be taken too seriously regardless of how serious The Donald makes it sound.

Learn the lessons and live your life! That's it! Don't take every word as gospel, after all, not everyone's perfect.

If you don't like Donald Trump's style, or if you winced when you first glanced at this title, then you will probably be critical of it. As is the case with any "empowerment" book, this volume will be an inspiration only to those who are in the right frame of mind to hear the message.

The text follows the chapter pattern set by "Why We Want You to be Rich," where Robert Kiyosaki made rambling pitches on a subject, and Donald Trump wrote briefer follow-up observations. Here Trump does the talking, and Learning Annex founder Bill Zanker adds closing remarks to each chapter. When compared with the rest of Trump's literary lineup, this book is definitely one of his better ones. Yes, he repeats some of his favorite old stories, found in other writings, but this time they are presented in a more cohesive fashion. And the telling, complete with summary key points at the end of each section, encourages the reader to get out, take charge, and get busy. (The book simultaneously promotes the Learning Annex and Trump's wealth seminars, so be prepared for the obvious and requisite plug-ola in the appendix section.)

Of course, whenever you give Donald a forum, he takes advantage of the opportunity to speak his mind. He uses this venue to rehash his disagreements with Martha Stewart and Rosie O'Donnell, and anyone else who's ever crossed him. It's not a pretty picture, but that's part of his point. It's a tough world out there, and you have to be equally tough to make your mark in it.

And Trump shows an unflattering chauvinistic side when he brags for several pages (pp. 270-271) about how he's "been able to date (screw)" beautiful women. (His description, not mine.) He tantalizes us by not naming names: "I have too much respect for women in general, but if I did, the world would take serious notice. Beautiful, famous, successful, married -- I've had them all, secretly, the world's biggest names, but unlike Geraldo I don't talk about it." But of course, he just did. Fortunately he soon turns his attention to thinking big and building confidence levels in general, and we don't have to linger too long on images of his intimate activities.

I disagree with Trump's assessment of Michelle Sorro's departure during the last season of "The Apprentice" (pp. 65-66). Donald was astonished that she would choose to quit the show in order to avoid what was sure to be a boardroom firing. He thought less of her because she bailed out, and he saw that as cowardice, especially when thousands of candidates would have lined up to take her place. And yet: he always preaches that folks in business must love what they're doing. Michelle didn't have the passion; in fact, viewers could see that she hadn't had that drive for several previous tasks. I thought her decision was a brave one indeed, for she was being true to herself even though she knew that she would be chastised by the Trumps for taking such a stand. Power is in knowing not only when to advance, but also when to politely and gracefully retreat.

Overall: Individuals who aspire to have any kind of success in the brutal world of business would do well to read this book. You don't have to be an outspoken NYC developer or a seminar host to do good work or to create something great. You just need to get out there and DO IT. Trump and Zanker might be the impetus to get you started.

General George S. Patton, Jr. was one of our greatest WWII generals, and I couldn't help but think of one of his basic principles when reading this book: Grab `em by the nose and kick `em in the pants. That is exactly what Donald Trump and Bill Zanker did with Think Big.

I have also enjoyed all of Trump's books, and Think Big is one I thoroughly enjoyed. They are all motivating, and this one especially. It grabs you by the nose and kicks you in the pants with motivating stories and lessons. It is direct, easy to read, and contains many useful tidbits of advice. IF a person ACTS on the advice given by Trump and Zanker, they no doubt would benefit and achieve increased success.

I personally have followed similar strategies such as presented in this book, and they have helped me obtain a level of success. I plan on taking the advice from Think Big to jump start my year and make 2008 great. I believe each of us should strive to do better each and every passing year. So do Trump and Zanker, so read this book and start thinking bigger and achieving more in business and life than you have ever done before.

The chapters and lessons presented start with Trump illustrating the key points with examples from his life and dealings, and then end with a segment by Zanker where he shares some of his story and how he took The Learning Annex to the multimillion dollar company it is today. While I enjoyed Trumps section a bit more, I thought Zanker was right on the money with many of the points he made as well, and his story is quite motivating in itself. I think the combination of both men's examples made the book much better than if it only contained stories from one of them.

Chapters include:

1. Do You Have What It Takes?: where the reader can take a short quiz that is obvious and illustrates success principles. (I'll give you a hint - if you are not answering d for every quiz answer, start thinking bigger and kick it up a notch).

2. Passion, Passion, Passion!: Trump is always talking about being passionate about what you are doing. This chapter will motivate you to find your passion and love what you do.

3. Basic Instincts: Great lesson on keeping your word, and learn to go with your gut.

4. Creating Luck: Trump believes in luck, but he also believes that the harder you work the luckier you will get.

5. Fear Factor: The world is brutal. Practical advice on not only surviving, but excelling.

6. Revenge: Trump is extremely loyal to those he is friends with, but you don't want to cross him. Some of his advice is when somebody screws you, screw them back in spades. This message is a good combination of when to forgive and when to go for the jugular with those that deserve it.

7. Big Mo: how to build momentum and keep it up.

8. Never Take Your Eye Off The Ball: You must learn to focus and success won't be easy. Take your work seriously and stay flexibly focused and you'll succeed.

9. I Love You, Sign This: This is chapter on prenuptial agreements, which Trump endorses 100%. I was recently listening to Brian Tracy and he was discussing prenups in just the opposite vein. As an attorney, I have drafted prenups for clients, however, I don't agree with Trump that they should be drafted for every marriage. Situations dictate and I personally think this was the weakest chapter of the book.

10. Think Big And Kick A.. In Business And Life: A chapter on what else -Thinking Big! Great ending chapter to motivate you to do even more than you are doing.

After those chapters is an Appendix that includes an interesting section of questions and answers by Donald Trump from Learning Annex Wealth Expos. There is also a suggested reading list. I've read many of the books on the list, but found a few that I want to read in the near future. There are also a bunch of testimonials that I could have done without, and some promotional things for The Learning Annex.

Overall I really enjoyed this quick read. It was motivational and just the thing to kick start 2008. I thank my wife and daughter for putting it under the Christmas tree for me.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks.

If you are a fan of Trump's like I am, this book is a must read. I love motivational reading, and Trump's no-nonsense, no B.S. style is spot on. Trump spells it out the way it is in REAL LIFE, how to deal with the sharks in the world of business (there are MANY) and how to be successful in business and in your personal life.

The biggest point I took from this book is to do what you love. The money will follow. At the end of each chapter are bullet points that reinforce and summarize the chapter.

Trump, thank you for releasing an EXCELLENT book without sugar coating or making it Politically Correct. Right to the point, the way it should be. This book will no doubt take my real estate business to the next level.

These books are a dime a dozen. I read this in a few sessions and each session of reading I was more predictable than the last. Do what you love to do, work hard, take risks, study, learn from others, don't back down when times get rough, learn from others mistakes. Which is one of the most important lessons the books tells of, I'm teaching you from my mistake of buying this book. There I summed the entire book up for you, don't waste your time unless you want to read brag sessions from two men who are wealthy. I am in no way taking from Trump's or the Learning Annex guy's experiences they are tremendous businessmen, we all know that. I would love to have them mentor me, who wouldn't however this book does not teach you anything you do not already know. Seriously, if you are looking for motivation, take a real college course, look for a mentor, DO NOT fall for this trap. It could be that I'm jealous I'm not making a ton of cash for writing about my successes and spewing common sense, if I had a known name like Trump that I could piggy back on I would too. Awesome for them, the money pours...

This was one big brag session by the authors, which is fine, congratulations to them for such amazing businesses, again common knowledge, who doesn't know Trump is a billionaire and had some hard times, who doesn't know that the Learning Annex is successful, heck it was mentioned in the show 'Sex and the City' you know you've made when you get that type of publicity. This book could have been and should have been much more informative coming from such wise, successful businessmen, however it's just another way to build their bankroll, again which is fine, I fell for it. I wanted to learn.

Granted I have a MBA and own a small business myself, of course no where as successful as either of the authors and I know I need all the help I can get and I am looking to learn from anyone, of course from these two authors, which is one reason I thought this book may help me that these two amazing men may teach me...this book provided nothing but common sense business idioms and the authors personal success stories, period.

The book pushes the Learning Annex "Wealth Building Seminars". Which makes sense, this book will get hundreds of thousand of people to attend now, it's not worth it. I went to one in Los Angeles, long before this book ever came out, I went last March. It was two days of being inundated with live late night infomercials marketing a variety very expensive products masked as wealth building seminars in which you have a choice of many different wealth building seminars to sit in throughout the day. All of which end with about 45 minutes of selling you the real program, a few days training for thousands of dollars. I'm not saying the training isn't worth the thousands you'll pay, some of the mini sales "seminars" taught me enough to think I needed to buy the rest, great sales people and motivational speakers give these speeches. I personally spoke, and this is no exaggeration, to nearly 100 people (out of the 50+K who were there over the course of the two days) who spent near and over 10k a few over 25k on real estate and various other get rich programs which included many DVD's and more seminars to go to. Many of which could not afford to spend this much, but they did, they have financing. I'm not hurting for money so I didn't feel all that bad spending 9k on a program that I got sucked in to a very good speaker (I thought I was thick skinned). I've ventured in real estate thought this guy's program could take it to the next level. I felt the same as a majority of everyone else who was there did about this and many other programs. After I listened and watched the 6 DVD's and traveled to the seminar training location, I was presented with another three day marketing ploy to get me to attend the "real" training that will really push my wealth building over the edge for an additional 25k! I was furious, this was nearly what I paid for two years of college for three days of "training"! I pushed until I got my money back, thank goodness. Wish I could have my money back for this book.

Congratulations to these gentlemen on having such a solid following of people who will pay all their savings after being pumped up by many charismatic speakers, they are good. I heard these exact same stories at the conference. True be told, I know nothing about real estate, I paid as I said 9k for a worthless training by a big name from this seminar, I took a $75 course at the local community college and learned more in this course than any 9k or 25k seminar. If you buy this book you'll know that Trump is rich as is the Learning Annex guy and you'll read a few stories of how they got rich, that's it.