And One More Thing Before You Go... (Hardcover)

by Maria Shriver (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Shriver, veteran TV news reporter and first lady of California, expands on a speech she gave to her "young friend Ally's" graduating high school class, and the result is a sweet and inspiring book. The author of four (decidedly more substantial) previous books lays out 10 rules for success applicable to anyone, teenage or older, and though it's short, the book is eminently useful. Advice like "fear can be your best teacher" and "be willing to let go of your plan" precedes "learn from your mistakes" and "you'll need a lot of courage," which leads to "and when you need courage... think of the women in your life." Although some of these directives are obvious, Shriver's delivery of them is personal and compelling. She shares anecdotes from her own life (such as her struggle to support her father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease) and admits her mistakes (such as her "doozie" of forging ahead too quickly in creating the California Women's Museum without doing the proper research). Most importantly, Shriver's tone is never pompous. Rather, it's conversational, loving and rousing, and gives a big voice to this small book.
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Product Description
Graduating from high school is a big step for any girl. She is leaving her childhood behind and beginning the rest of her life. She is also leaving her mother's protective circle of love and guidance. One of the greatest gifts a mother can give her daughter at this pivotal moment in her life is good counsel. In And One More Thing Before You Go...Maria Shriver, bestselling author, acclaimed journalist, First Lady of California, and mother of two daughters, provides a loving and heartfelt guide for girls as they go off to college.

Expanded from a speech given to her young friend Ally's graduating class, Maria writes as a wiser, more experienced girlfriend, but also as both the daughter of a mother whose advice she still seeks and as the mother of daughters for whom she wishes a fulfilling and happy life. In this stirring and inspiring guide, Maria talks to young women about how to find abundance and emotional richness, and how not to overlook life's most special gifts. Her ten rules -- told in a witty and poignant anecdotal style -- offer a firm grasp on what's really important in life.

And One More Thing Before You Go...is a book that transcends age groups, a book that will make you laugh, cry, and open your eyes to a new way of looking at life. Thoughtful, compassionate, and above all, filled with love, And One More Thing Before You Go...is a book that will make every mother cry and every daughter stop and think about her mother's words.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (April 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743281012
• ISBN-13: 978-0743281010
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #298,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Transcending gender and age..., May 1, 2005

By	R. Shaff "Velocipede" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A short book born of an expanded speech to a high school graduating class, Maria Shriver has penned a gem for females and males alike. Additionally, I don't necessarily think her 10 steps are isolated for the young; many of these precepts are applicable to the average adult in every day life. And, before you begin thinking this is just another celebrity trying to make another buck, think again. Maria Shriver is an odd character; as one who has practically been in the limelight her entire life, she is neither pompous or pretentious. Her offerings are heartfelt and poignant.

Perhaps the most important gem in this book is "Fear can be your best teacher." This, particularly for young adults but for mature adults as well, is such an important premise. Fear, along with its twin primary emotion, greed, create more ill feelings, health concerns, mistakes, anger, resentment, and doubt than practically any other emotion. As a business consultant, I deal with fear constantly; I have so very many clients who are afraid to do much of anything. Fear is paralyzing and dangerous. But I digress...

Maria Shriver, while short and succinct, has created a wonderfully well written and important "set of instructions" for life. Female or male, young or old, this book will be quite useful and perhaps, magical. Recommended.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letter from My Daughter, August 11, 2005

By	Mom "Grateful Mum" (Wales, UK) - See all my reviews

My daughter had been going through quite a difficult time in her college adjustment period, as well as with a boyfriend that I used to pray she would break it off with, as she was crying much more than experiencing what she really deserved.

I mailed my daughter two books: "And One More Thing Before You Go" by Maria Shriver and "Stop Being the String Along" by Barbara Rose.

As a Mom, I just wanted to share a brief paragraph from a letter my daughter sent to me. If you are a parent, I think you would appreciate this:

"Dear Mum, I know you were trying to teach me things that deep in my heart I knew you were right, but I was too afraid of looking foolish to let on. I want to thank you for sending me the two books you sent to me, becasuse now I know and see so much more than I did before.

Each book let me know that it is okay to make mistakes, as they make me stronger and wiser. Each book helped me to see and understand more about being true to myself... I wish that every Mum could send both books to their daughters. Thank you for being such a wonderful Mum to me. Now I am going to share both books with my friends."

So this is why I am a "Grateful Mum" and I thank the authors for making a real difference in my daughter's life.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And One More Thing - Read This Book!, June 20, 2005

By	Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the tradition of A Short Guide to a Long and Happy Life and being perfect by Anna Quindlen, the very versatile Maria Shriver offers reader of all ages her latest book, And One More Thing Before You Go. And what a wonderful book especially to be given as a gift at this time of year.

How many of us either recall our mothers and fathers saying to us at the end of a phone call or face to face discussion, and more thing before you go. It's as if our advice giving days are never over because a soon as we have our own children, its seems as though we begin saying these very words too. And while Maria Shriver, a former news reporter, daughter of the famed Kennedy family and now married to the Governor of California also hears these words from her mother, Pat Shriver whenever they are about to end their phone calls. Using this expression as the premise of a speech given to her friends daughter at an annual graduation luncheon from high school, Ms. Shriver expands on this theme and offers a small advice book which reader can either identify with or learn from as we continue on our journey in life.

Touching on subjects like why fear is good, how we learn from our mistakes and most of all why trying new things or having new adventures in the world is good for us, Ms. Shriver entrances readers with ideas we may remember hearing from our own parents and now we can either learn from or pass along to the next generation as they venture forth. But this book is not only useful for those about to embark on a new experiences but also a refresher course in how to meet life head on no matter what age we are and what we've already accomplished.

I really did enjoy this book and think it is one which can be a most worthwhile book for young men or woman or even seasoned veterans as they try to give advice to others. And her ending -- to call home often and let your children know the light is always on for their return is exactly what I often say to our child just before I say, and one more thing before you go. Consider this as a graduation gift this year or in the future or even to a non graduate but to a person starting something new and a bit different. See if it doesn't take its rightful place among books like Ms. Quindlen's or Dr. Seuss's Oh the Places You'll Go for a good lesson in how to deal with life which is always presenting us with new experiences. This is a wonderful book infused with Ms. Shrivers own lessons in life and equal doses of sensibility and poignancy.