You've GOT to Read This Book!: 55 People Tell the Story of the Book That Changed Their Life (Hardcover)

by Jack Canfield (Author), Gay Hendricks (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Canfield, the brains behind the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and Hendricks (Conscious Living) stay in the inspirational mode with this collection of dozens of entertainers, sports personalities, businesspeople, writers, environmentalists and activists telling up-by-their-bootstraps stories involving books. Some, like Dave Barry (inspired by humorist Robert Benchley) and Lou Holtz (David Schwartz's The Magic of Thinking Big) are well known. Other are recognizable for the products they've created: Craigslist founder Craig Newmark praises The Cluetrain Manifesto, which mirrored his own early belief in the power of the Internet. Among the more memorable contributions is that of 21-year-old Farrah Gray, who spent his early childhood on public assistance, read Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success at age 11 and made his first million at 14. Two contributors—motivational speaker Lisa Nichols and eBay COO Maynard Webb—cite Stephen Covey's best-selling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey himself was uplifted by heady reading—Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and E.F. Schumacher's A Guide for the Perplexed—both books, he says, affecting everything from his parenting to his teaching. It's a mixed bag, more uplifting than literary, but readers may find the book that turns them on the way these contributors were. (Sept.).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Canfield, the co-creator and editor of the enormously successful Chicken Soup for the Soulseries, and psychologist and author Hendricks have surveyed 55 individuals--each of whom qualifies as a leader or a visionary in their respective fields--to compile a fascinating collection of stories about the undisputedly transformative power of reading. Representative actors, politicians, musicians, writers, athletes, psychologists, businessmen, human-rights advocates, and many others--both familiar and unfamiliar--talk about the one book that impacted their soul and changed the emotional, physical, spiritual, or material course of their life. What makes this especially intriguing reading is not only the diversity of titles cited as life altering and life affirming but also the instantaneously visceral reactions recounted by the readers. Well-known contributors include Dave Barry, Catherine Oxenburg, Kenny Loggins, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Lou Holtz, Max Edelman, Bernie Siegal, and a host of others. Not so much about the books themselves, but more about the absolutely magical power of the written word, this must-read is sure to provide inspiration, motivation, and a springboard for discussion among book people and book clubs everywhere. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060891696
• ISBN-13: 978-0060891695
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #421,169 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Look At What People Read And Why, September 16, 2006

By	Timothy Kearney (Hull, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've read a number of books and articles about reading. I love to read and find it fascinating to see what others read and how the books have influenced their lives. More often than not, the list includes the same titles. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and THE CATCHER IN THE RYE are usual favorites. GREAT EXPECTATIONS and THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV are often mentioned by more adventurous readers and of course, a work of Shakespeare has to be included on such a list. I planned on passing by YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK since I figured I already know what's going to be in it, but when I looked in the back of the book, glanced at the titles, I was impressed by the variety of contributors, the wide array of books selected, and the stories that followed. Each contributor selects a book, tells a personal story and the way the book impacted their life.

Author Jacquelyn Mitchard's entry begins the compilation with the story behind her choice, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, and how it influenced her as a writer and person. The book includes familiar standards: writer Debbie Macomber selected the Bible, businessperson Jim Guy selected The Teachings of the Buddha, and Rafe Esquith selected TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, which is a great choice considering that would probably be my choice if someone asked what book influenced me most, though if I ma truthful, it would be the Bible since I've studied scripture and am in ministry as a Catholic priest. Perhaps the most interesting choice is Hitler's MEIN KAMPF by Max Edelman, a survivor of the Holocaust. Edelman did not subscribe to Hitler's philosophy, but it did teach him a great deal about hatred and how hatred can be such a destructive choice which challenged him to work for the positive. While some of the contributors read a book at a young age that shaped them forever, for some the book came later in life. Bernie Siegel, the well known doctor, television personality, and writer was already practicing medicine for many years when a short story by William Saroyan and later his novel THE HUMAN COMEDY changed the way he practiced medicine and looked at life. Steven Covey has the unique privilege of being included as a contributor as well as having his book THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE selected by contributor Maynard Webb. Though if we also include editors, Jack Canfield would have the same distinction since one of THE CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books was selected by contributors Danny Edward and Scott Caselenuovo.

The purpose of the book is to encourage people to read and discuss the ways books can change lives. For this reason it would be a great choice for a book club and could provide all sorts of discussions about what books have influenced us and why.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK! 55 PEOPLE TELL THE STORY OF THE BOOK THAT CHANGED THEIR LIFE, September 21, 2006

By	Hillary Tombazzi (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is one of the best I have ever read, I too could not put it down and finished it in 3 days! I was sad when I finished it. The stories were all so exciting. I couldn't wait to read some of their recommended books! I do hope there will be more editions of this book to follow.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Write Stuff, September 15, 2006

By	Paul Gilbert - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I came across this book at a very opportune time, as I'd been wrestling with a tough career decision for months and needed some fresh insight and perspective. Having read Jack Canfield's The Success Principles (and numerous Chicken Soups) and also seen Gay Hendricks speak in person, I had a feeling that this might be one of those special books that comes into your life at just the right time.

Once I started, I couldn't put it down. So many of the stories reminded me that if you really want to go for it in life, you have to trust your instincts and follow your heart. The central message that runs through here is that we are who and what we think we are. People who are doing big things with their lives, as well as really giving back to the world, have all had to develop a vision and take action. And for each of these 55 personalities, it was a book that either ignited their passion or showed them how to channel it.

It's quite inspiring to listen to some of the sharpest, most spirited and successful (in the true sense of the word) individuals around and find out what book transformed their lives. Kind of like getting the Cliffs Notes to an extraordinary reading list.

I don't know yet if this book will change my life, but it certainly got me thinking about it.