The Greatest Salesman in the World [Mass Market Paperback]

Og Mandino (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Greatest Salesman in the World is a tiny book, and it is a treasure. First published in 1968, Og Mandino's classic remains an invaluable guide to a philosophy of salesmanship. Mandino's clear, simple writing style supports his purpose: to make the principles of sales known to a wide audience. A parable set in the time just prior to Christianity, The Greatest Salesman in the World weaves mythology with spirituality into a much needed message of inspiration in this culture of self-promotion. Mandino believes that to be a good salesperson, you must believe in yourself and the work you are doing. It is a simple but profound spiritual philosophy about how to succeed in the world's marketplace, easily understood and easy to take to heart. --Jodie Buller

Review

Og Mandino's performance is even more poignant after hearing his introduction, in which this mild-voiced, world-famous motivational expert tells the tale of his own accomplishments through hard work and perseverance, subtly paralleling his life with Hafid's. --Audiofile --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (January 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055327757X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553277579
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (196 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #26,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest trip in the world, December 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Greatest Salesman in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

The summer after my freshman year in high school, a ton of years ago, I was miserable. I didn't have any new friends at school, I was having a hard time at home, and I was trying to get through everyday with a smile on my face.

I took a trip with a bunch of people I didn't know, a 10 day backpacking trip to an island in lake superior. Our guide was a 75 year-old man named Dave. Everyday, Dave read us a chapter from this book, and everyday my respect for him grew.

The day I got off the island I bought the book and began my ten month journey through the scrolls it contained. I've followed the instructions, reading each chapter for one month, several times. I've worn out several copies and given away several others.

This book profoundly changed my life. Not only am I extraordinarily successful in terms of "material" success, but I am happier than I ever imagined it was possible to be several years ago before I went on that island. Buy this book, follow it's instructions, and even if you are never the richest woman or man on earth, you will be among the happiest.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will help you create the habits for success., September 30, 2005

By	Tony DeFrancisco (Central Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Salesman in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

I can see why some people will give this book less than 5 stars. If you are looking for fancy smancy selling techniques, look elsewhere. This is not about technique, it is about the habits; the character that makes up a great salesman.

I first started using this book 9 years ago. I would read a chapter a day, three times a day and cheated by reading ahead. More importantly, I began to make these habits my habits.

At that time, my sales were less than satisfactory. Within weeks, my sales climbed and I began winning contest after contest. When people asked me what I was doing, I would pull out this book which I carried with me. Some would leaf through it and giggle. And they wondered why their sales were so low!

I also found that when I got sick of this book and felt like I had mastered it, a short while later, my sales fell again. So did my attitude. So I started the process all over again and you guessed it, I started making sales again, this time faster than before.

Over the years, I have bought many copies of The Greatest Salesman in The World. Some were dog eared and worn out, some I just lost or sometimes I kept one at the office and one at home.

I just started re-reading this book again. Watch out......

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to read this book, November 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Greatest Salesman in the World (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't know if I misread the instructions or if I'm the only one who actually followed them. If you follow scroll I, it should take you the better part of a year to finish the rest of the book. Following that, I'm only 2/3rds of the way through scroll II (I got the book a couple of months ago, but didn't consistently follow scroll II daily and at the 16-day mark, decided to start again at day 1).

I can definitely say it has changed my life, and even the lives of those around me (most of all a person I work with who is hard to get along with and hence gets along with no one--except, now, me, and it really has seemed to make his attitude at work more positive overall). Though difficult at first, it quickly became easy to apply the first principle, and finally find myself easily "making people your greatest resource" as so many *other* authors suggest you do for success in life, although it is not specifically suggested in this book. I have gotten a half dozen new and better job offers in the couple of months since I started the book, accepted one of the first ones and am currently in the process of exploring the others.

I see all these "couldn't put the book down till I finished" and I think, wow, you went a year with a book in your hand? Personally I'm still in considerable suspense waiting to see what scroll III says, let alone the entire rest of the book!