Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out into the Real World 
asked by dannyboy on November 4, 2006 4:45 PM
Maria Shriver's warmth, humor, and wisdom are evident on every page of this little book. Inspired by her commencement speech at the College of the Holy Cross, the book contains stories and insights that will be helpful, entertaining, and encouraging to graduates at every stage of life. The lessons themselves--"be willing to fail," "stand your ethical ground," "marriage is a hell of a lot of hard work"--are nothing new. What makes them interesting are the life stories that accompany them and Shriver's personable, friendly style. Reading this book feels like having a cup of coffee with a wise and funny friend. Tales of her first television experiences are surprising and hilarious, and she takes balancing motherhood and career to new levels--imagine postponing an interview with Fidel Castro to get your daughter to her first day of kindergarten! Each chapter is easy to read and ends with a focused lesson--kind of a bullet point from her original speech--that encourages readers to be ultimately true to themselves and their dreams, while cutting through harmful illusions. The last chapter, on laughter, is one to read again and again. Shriver maintains that without laughter not much else matters, and in life's toughest times it's laughter that gets us through. For anyone starting a new adventure--graduation, marriage, parenthood, career shift, or a milestone birthday--Ten Things I Wish I'd Known brings wisdom, laughter, practical suggestions, and a down-to-earth manner together into one fabulous gift. --Jill Lightner
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With this book, Maria Shriver makes this world, a better place.
Reginald V. Johnson, Author, "How To Be Happy, Successful And Rich"
Reginald V. Johnson, Author, "How To Be Happy, Successful And Rich"
reviewed by fusionz on November 11, 2006 4:47 PM
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I bought Maria's book "What's Heaven" for my Granddaughter when her Grandmother (my mother) died 6 years ago. Now my Granddaughter will graduate from high school next year and Maria has followed her to college, with her last 2 books. Next I will buy my Granddaughter the Marlo Thomas books. As a Grandmother I believe it does take a Village. My Granddaughter will take 2 real good role models with her to college and now we have to set her free.
reviewed by noreason on November 13, 2006 2:51 PM
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Maria did have some excellent points. The majority of the book is just an autobiography, though, and I skimmed through those parts. My advice would be to stop by the book store and look at the table of contents and then the very end where she gives a list of some other things she wishes she knew, because they explain themselves. A lot of her things I already knew, and she points out that she's not trying to help us avoid those things, just let us know we're not alone. If the great, talented Maria could get through life, then we can too! That was sarcasm.
reviewed by jbritt on November 23, 2006 10:24 PM
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After seeing and admiring the interaction between Maria Shriver and her mother on the Oprah Winfrey show a few months ago, I decided I wanted to read her newest book, "And One More Thing Before You Go." My library didn't have it but they did have this one and so I decided to take it home.
What I appreciated most about this book were the tidbits of wisdom about humility, and the ways we should appreciate ourselves and not allow others to beat us down. I like how Shriver says that humility is about having a realistic self-image-- not beating ourselves up for not being good enough and not settling for mediocrity. I liked Shriver's advice that we are not superwomen (or supermen) and we can not be excellent in every area so we should decide what areas are most important to us and make realistic goals to strive for. It inspired me to think about what areas of my life I'd like to improve in and what areas can wait until a different phase in life.
What I appreciated most about this book were the tidbits of wisdom about humility, and the ways we should appreciate ourselves and not allow others to beat us down. I like how Shriver says that humility is about having a realistic self-image-- not beating ourselves up for not being good enough and not settling for mediocrity. I liked Shriver's advice that we are not superwomen (or supermen) and we can not be excellent in every area so we should decide what areas are most important to us and make realistic goals to strive for. It inspired me to think about what areas of my life I'd like to improve in and what areas can wait until a different phase in life.
reviewed by localhost on November 29, 2006 4:28 PM
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This is a wonderful book. I am 49 and wish I would have had something like this when I was graduating from high school. I have decided that from now on, when I have a graduation gift to buy, this is what I will give because it's worth much more than the $25 to $50 we give for a high school graduation gift.
reviewed by speed5599 on November 29, 2006 5:52 PM