Built from Scratch: How a Couple of Regular Guys Grew The Home Depot from Nothing to $30 Billion

Amazon.com

Built from Scratch is about two businessmen who achieve the American Dream by fundamentally changing the realm of home-improvement retailing. Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, cofounders of the Home Depot, explain how they established the first national chain in the industry by concentrating on low prices, customer service, and strong leadership values.

Ultimately, this is a book about grit and determination. "Building the Home Depot was a tough, uphill battle from the day we started," they write. "No one believed we could do it and very few people trusted our judgment." The two cofounders launched the company only after they were fired by a California hardware retailer because of politics. The Home Depot lost $1 million in its first year of operation in Atlanta. Today it's one of the great successes on Wall Street, with more than 700 stores across the country and 160,000 employees.

One reason the book is so engaging is that it includes corporate anecdotes. A favorite: the company banned wild parties after several employees were demoted and a couple were fired in the wake of a drunken annual managers' meeting. Another yarn involves Sears, which made one of the worst financial mistakes in retailing history when it passed on a deal to purchase Home Depot in the early 1980s. The authors are self-serving at times; for example, they whine too much about paying $104.5 million to dispose of a sex-discrimination lawsuit. But there's no denying the smashing performance of Big Orange. Marcus and Blank paint a story with some sparkling advice for practically anyone in business. --Dan Ring

Book Description

One of the greatest entrepreneurial success stories of the past twenty years

When a friend told Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank that "you've just been hit in the ass by a golden horseshoe," they thought he was crazy. After all, both had just been fired. What the friend, Ken Langone, meant was that they now had the opportunity to create the kind of wide-open warehouse store that would help spark a consumer revolution through low prices, excellent customer service, and wide availability of products.

Built from Scratch is the story of how two incredibly determined and creative people--and their associates--built a business from nothing to 761 stores and $30 billion in sales in a mere twenty years.

Built from Scratch tells many colorful stories associated with The Home Depot's founding and meteoric rise; shows that a company can be a tough, growth-oriented competitor and still maintain a high sense of responsibility to the community; and provides great lessons useful to people in any business, from start-ups to the Fortune 500.

Great Stories

  "Ming the Merciless": The inside account of the man who fired Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus
  "My people don't drive Cadillacs!" How Ross Perot almost got involved with The Home Depot
  "Take this job and shove it!" The banker who put his career on the line to get The Home Depot the loan that enabled it to survive
  "Folks, I tell ya, if these Atlanta stores were any bigger, we'd be paying Alabama sales tax." Home Depot's first good ol' southern advertising campaign

A Company with a Conscience

  When disasters like the Oklahoma City bombing or Hurricane Andrew happen, Home Depot associates don't ask for permission to respond. They react from their hearts--whether that means keeping their store open all night or being on the scene with volunteers and relief supplies.
  The Home Depot doesn't just contribute money to organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April, but also provides its people to help lead and grow these community efforts.

Great Lessons

  Know your customer: In The Home Depot's case, customers don't pay for wider aisles and a pretty store, but for a wide assortment and low prices
  Why everyday low prices mean more sales overall: The marketing philosophy The Home Depot learned from talking with Sam Walton
  Market leadership: Why The Home Depot never goes to a major new market with plans to open just a few stores
  The strategy for profitable growth: How The Home Depot redefined its U.S. market from its $135  billion traditional "do-it-yourself" base to a much larger pond of $365 billion
  How to change the rules of the game: How The Home Depot bypassed almost all middlemen, allowing it to pass on huge savings to customers

Built from Scratch is the firsthand account of how two regular guys created one of the greatest entrepreneurial successes of the last twenty years.

Opening the First Store

"What the hell happened? Who screwed up the store? . . . Whatever time remained before the doors were scheduled to open for the first time, we sped around in forklifts, stomping on the brakes, scuffing up the flooring so it would once more look like a warehouse."

Customer Service

"If ever I saw an associate point a customer toward what they needed three aisles over, I would threaten to bite their finger. I would say, 'Don't ever let me see you point. You take the customer by the hand, and you bring them right where they need to be and you help them.'"

Giving Back

"When The Home Depot went public we realized that we had the financial capacity and wherewithal to give back to the communities where we did business. There is a concept in Judaism called tzedaka, which means 'to give back.' It is considered a mitzvah, a good deed, to give to someone who doesn't have, and we believe strongly in giving back to the community."

Selling the Vision

"We had to be psychologists, lovers, romancers, and con artists to get vendors aboard. Our ability to paint a picture of how that would take place--lowest prices, widest selection, and great customer service--was what convinced skeptical manufacturers to sell merchandise to us during the early years."

The Importance of Values

"I have never had anybody work for me in retailing who didn't work for me out of love, as opposed to fear. We carried this approach into building The Home Depot. We care about each other and we care about the customer. The things that we do for customers inside and outside the stores demonstrate our commitment to them. And then when something happens within the company, we circle the wagons. We help each other."

Customer Reviews:

The INDISPENSIBLE history of building a business from one store with zero sales to a $100 BILLION company. .......2007-01-18

It never ceases to amaze me in what it takes to satisfy a reader. When I read a book like this, I am basically asking myself several questions. How on earth did these guys do it? How did they come through the funnel and get it done. What was at stake? What were the major premises of the concept? Could it have failed, if so how? How close did it come to failing? Could some one else have done this, or replicated it, or perhaps have done it better.

A lot of life is pure fantasy. You have your own template of how things works, and you look at the world and you see that template everywhere. If you go out and try to apply this system and superimpose it onto the real world, it either fails or it succeeds. Sometimes the template is a good one, but the execution gets screwed up.

When I look at Home Depot, a story that I have an intimacy with, I found this particular book to be fabulous. There is nothing boring about it; in fact I found every page worthwhile. Having spent 35 years in Wall Street running money, and figuring out how does a company make a buck, I found this book even more worthwhile. If you are involved in the investment business, this becomes a particularly worthwhile read.

If you run a company or have aspirations towards a career in management, you better read this book, because there is something in it for everyone. For most of us, there is more than one thing in it. Peter Drucker the ultimate management mind of the 20th century probably said it best when he talked about the corporation as a living, breathing organism that required nourishment on a daily basis. You just can't assume that corporations will continue to exist simply because they exist now.

Every day a company fights for its corporate life, for its right to continue to exist. Those corporate entities that assume that they will always be around - NEVER LAST. Other entities out there either eat them up, or they suffer the slow final death of arrogance, and go out of business without even knowing why they went out.

Home Depot is the story of two guys that got up in the morning every morning, fighting for the right to keep doing it a better way. They lived by the credo that you have to keep moving or they will throw dirt on you. Some of the lessons and ideas you will learn from this book include the following:

· CUSTOMER SERVICE - You have to take care of good people, and constantly be on the lookout for them. If necessary hire them, even when you don't have the jobs for them because you may not get a second shot at them.

· DOING THE RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME - It can cost you money doing the right thing, but it comes back in spades. Something else happens when you do the right thing. People realize your efforts, and some will take advantage of you, but that will be more than offset by the multitude of others who will become loyal customers for life.

· NOBODY LOVES A COMPANY- They may love what you do, and what you do for them as customers, but there is no real loyalty to companies, at least in this generation. Home Depot always tried to make as many of their employees stockholders as possible, so that they could align the employee (associates at HD) goals with the corporate goals.

· THIS IS A TOUGH PLACE TO WORK IF YOU ARE INFLEXIBLE - This lesson was lost on the current Chairman, CEO Nardelli who was fired by the Board for his IMPERIAL management style. He also possessed no understanding of the Home Depot culture as he tried to superimpose his General Electric template on the company. He failed miserably but that's another book.

· IF YOU CAN SAVE THE CUSTOMER MONEY, DO IT - Always do the right thing by the customer, and you will have a customer for life. Go the extra mile for the customer. CULTIVATE the customer.

· THE FOUNDERS WERE LIVING ON THE FUMES OF DREAMS - I loved these stories. These guys Marcus and Blank were honest about what they faced, and several times this company was touching or facing bankruptcy. This is an important lesson. The way around it is to have twice as much capital as you think you need. This by itself was worth reading the entire book. This is priceless knowledge.

· IT'S ABOUT PRICE, SELECTION, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE - Never lose sight of this statement and act on it in your own business goals. Give people the best price you can, and the finest selection of merchandise. If you back it up with the industry's best customer service you have found for yourself a business model for success. It may sound simple, but try executing on it.

So let me let you in on a secret. I spent years with Bear Stearns well over 20 years ago as a limited partner. When I read the early financial stories of Home Depot on Wall Street, I knew that what the founders in this book were saying was the complete unvarnished truth.

The story of how Ross Perot, one of America's wealthiest men in the early 1980's blew having dominant control of this company is now the stuff of myths. Nevertheless it's a true story. The founders ultimately turned down Ross Perot as a shareholder. They believe Perot to be a control freak. Yes, Perot didn't want the founders driving around in a Cadillac. Perot was a Chevy man. Well, the Chevy man blew a $60 billion dollar fortune by not investing a couple of million in Home Depot.

Then there's Ken Langone, the financial guy behind this phenomenal story. Langone may be the only guy in America to be the IPO maven behind two all time American success stories. He successfully brought public both Ross Perot's EDS, and the Home Depot. Who else can say that? He also made a billion dollars in the process. Langone is a unique, fabulous, walk to the well with you kind of guy. Among Wall Street types, he is unique, and the Street needs many more like him.

There is a story in the book where Langone is involved in a stock sale to a very nasty executive who is very prominent in his own right. Every time the executive refuses to give in to Langone's price, Langone just keeps upping the ante on him. This goes on for pages. It is uproariously funny, and is deserving of retelling over and over again. You will love this book, and learn an enormous amount about business in the process. It should probably be required reading for all MBA programs in management.

If you have any desire to understand what it takes to dedicate your entire life to building something, especially in the business world than this book is a read for you. There's one more thing that I must get across that is compelling. Having spent my life involved with companies like Home Depot, and high-powered successful people, I have come to the conclusion that it does not have to work out successfully.

There is no such thing as one must succeed, or it was ordained that this must happen. As an example Home Depot could have gone out of business a half dozen times before becoming so financially solvent that the business model had to work.

Steve Jobs at Apple could have decided 20 years ago, to license that Apple operating system to the PC industry, and Gates and Microsoft would never have happened. GM could have decided to build quality cars 25 years ago, instead of building [...]for decades while the Japanese took the market away.

Al Gore could have concentrated just a little bit more on Florida in 2000, and George W. Bush would have never been. John Kerry could have fought off the challenge of the Swift Boat accusations, and Ohio would have gone his way, and with it the election.

In the end, it's really a question of who comes through the funnel, and that is not always predictable. As I read this wonderful book, I came to the conclusion once again, that yes, you have to go for it, and dedicate all to getting there, but there is no certitude that you are going to make it. Just make sure you follow YOUR PASSION, because no matter where you wind up, a PASSION FILLED LIFE is a life WORTH LIVING. Good luck.

Richard Stoyeck

Home Depot provides a horrible experience.......2006-12-29

If you like wandering around with no service, ringing yourself out at the register, and watching a bunch of orange outfits ignore you, try Home Depot. The bigger the company gets, the more horrible the experience. Try True Hardware.

I'm rich. I started a company. I wrote a book........2004-08-24

What a laugh. Yes you!!! The average American with your wealthy silent investor in your pocket. You too can open a store.

Home Depot has spent a good deal of money trying to improve its image; including writing these books. HD has serious problems with women suing them.If you tell the customer that you are serving them well, and beat them over the head that they are receiving top notch lip service, then eventually some will believe it.

HD has spent millions improving their stores by widening ailses and better lighting. They claim to be industry leaders yet can't seem to shake Lowes from opening stores all around HD stores and even in HD's home Atlanta market.

They are very aggressive and drive their employees to bring shareholder value. They do offer products for less and have had great financial backing.

They also control costs by "Rifting" which means they fire people that start earning enough money that it becomes cheaper to train someone else.

Its one thing to write a book to laud yourself. Why not write about all the dirty tricks you pulled to get there.

Full of Lies.......2003-10-03

Let's face facts: home depot is known for abysmal service and really, really shoddy haphazard installations. They probably spend more on defending lawsuits than on store development. This book makes them look like such wizards, such brilliant and benevelont businessmen, when in fact they have done studies to see what the minimum level of customer service they can get away with is - and then tried to stretch that envelope.

I am sure Ken Lay could write books full of accolades to Enron. It would be just as true, and just as much a waste of time and money to read.

A great story..........2003-09-07

and very well told, which really makes this book a fast read (I had a hard time putting it down).

Provides, IMO, valuable information that will be useful for any business owner. I am glad these guys took the time to share their story, and I hope I get to meet them one day.

What a great way to spend a rainy weekend. You'll love it as it reads like a novel. And you'll never look at Home Depot the same way.

Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It
Average customer rating:

Double Entendre Had Everything To Do With It

A fascinating read

Self-Aggrandizing, but Unapologetic and Thoroughly Entertaining.

What a Woman! What a Star! What an Ego!

A classic by now

Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It
Mae West
Manufacturer: Manor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0685652890

Customer Reviews:

Double Entendre Had Everything To Do With It.......2007-05-20

Mae West considered writing her autobiography as early as 1957 and several publishing houses had already approached her. A flood in the mid-thirties destroyed documents of her early vaudeville appearances stored in the basement of her Hollywood apartment building, The Ravenswood, and other papers stored at her ranch house were eaten by rats.
Since arriving in Hollywood, her film career had been well-documented, but West had only a faint recollection of what happened and where. She asked Larry lee, who assisted her with the novelization of "Diamond Lil" to research her early stage career. Lee suggested they try writing a few chapters to see how things went. Eventually Stephen Longstreet, an author who ghosted other star biographies came on board to help West pull together her book, and was given credit for his "editorial assistance." West apparently supervised everything and pointed out, "Nobody can write about me except me," a remarkable feat considering she barely completed the third grade.
The driving force in West's decision to pen her memoirs was that someone else might try to write an unauthorized account of her life and there wasn't much she could do about it since much of her life had been spent in the public domain. Initially West protested that she had so much more to do with her life, but friends pointed out she could write a sequel in the future. Some of the the early working titles West had in mind for her memoirs were "Queen of Sex," and "Come Up and See Me Sometime."
Although West's autobiography went through several printings in hardback and soft cover, critic's reaction to her account of her life was mixed. Theatre Arts stated "the heart of gold is outweighed by the purse of gold and the gloating over box-office grosses," while the New York Times reviewer found West's tome "theatre wise, basically clean, sometimes corny, often entertaining yarn."
Perhaps Mae West's self penned novel, "Babe Gordon," published in 1930 and later rechristened, "The Constant Sinner," was closer to the actual events of her life, that she dared not reveal in her later biography. The inside panel of the original cover proclaimed, "Constantly sinning and constant to her sin, Babe Gordon, the heroine of this vigorous story belongs to that rare type of woman who uses her beauty and sexual allure as a soldier uses his weapons - without mercy or scruple. She is irresistible to every type of man, from the bruisers of the prize ring to the sensitive sons of aristocracy. She is canny, worldly wise, quick thinking. All her art , her wisdom, her will is to love; and when her passion for one man cools, she kindles it in another.
In a classic example of life imitating art, Mae West was outraged when Confidential magazine featured an expose on her private life alleging her sexual proclivity for black men. Chalky Wright, "a bronze boxer" whom West had met was "invited up to see her sometime" and ended up living with her for a year. Confidential magazine claimed "West's favorite color combination, as only the men in her life know, is black and white."
As a result of Mae West's appearance in Myra Breckinridge in 1970, interest in her was at an all-time high, and MacFadden-Bartell published an updated edition of her biography in paperback.
West asked George Eiferman, a former 1948 Mr. America, and 1962 Mr. Universe title holder, to write an eight page appendix entitled "My Story," explaining the events that led to Chuck Krauser aka Paul Novak knocking out Mickey Hargitay. West sagely secured affidavits from the other bodybuilders in the act supporting her statement that she had never shown romantic interest in Hargitay. When asked why it would possibly matter years after the fact, West pointed out, "That's where you're not thinkin' clear. It's when he gets desperate that he'll try to peddle a story, '"I was the One Man Mae West Wanted but Couldn't Get."
West's prophesy was realized when Gordon Mitchell, one of the muscleman in her Vegas act was quoted in the July 2001 issue of Premier : "Mickey won't tell you this but I will. Mae was crazy about him! He was the first guy who ever rejected her." Other chapters in West's updated memoirs dealt with the filming of Myra Breckinridge and outlined plans for future projects.
For the serious student of Mae West lore, "Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It" is an excellant starting off point to discover why Mae West can be considered the most fascinating woman of the Twentieth Century.

A fascinating read.......2006-05-01

Mae West (1893-1980) was well known in her day as a leading sex symbol. But, she was more than a pretty face and a set of wild curves. Ms. West had a mind of her own, and a great deal of talent - she was an actress, a playwright and a screenwriter. Her on-screen personae featured a great deal of double entendre, and she considered discussing human sexuality to be a basic human right. In 1959, she published her autobiography, which was designed to tell her story, from her angle, and this is it!

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating read. Mae West was a fascinating woman, and led life the way she wanted to. Now, whenever any writes an autobiography, it is so that they can put their own spin on things, presenting themselves as they want to be presented. Well, that's the fun of an autobiography, and I must say that Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It is a lot of fun.

Plus, I must say that I loved her particular take on Broadway and Hollywood. So, if you are interested in that golden Ms. West (diamond would be closer to the truth), then this is the book for you. Also, if you are interested in early 20th century Broadway or early Hollywood, then this is also a book that you should read. I give it two thumbs up!

Self-Aggrandizing, but Unapologetic and Thoroughly Entertaining........2005-10-21

"Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It" takes its title from a line in Mae West's first film, 1932's "Night After Night". By 1959, when the first edition of this autobiography was published, Mae West had conquered stage, screen, and Las Vegas and not lost a bit of sassy style in her 66 years. "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It" is an unabashedly self-aggrandizing tour of Mae West's professional life and loves, but it's nothing if not entertaining. The story begins with a self-possessed -if not self-obsessed- child from Brooklyn who made her stage debut at age 7 -barely, since she refused to go on stage until the spotlight was on her. Mae turned professional at age 8, debuted on Broadway at 18, caused a sensation soon thereafter with her wriggle, began to write her own plays in the 1920s, was jailed for "corrupting the morals of youth" soon after, followed with films in the 1930s, a return to the stage in the 1940s, and Las Vegas night clubs in the 1950s.

"Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It" focuses more on the conception of West's plays and movies than on other aspects of her life. This might be explained by West's passion for her career above all else, but she never did like to discuss her personal life. West believed that personal confessions amounted to overexposure and undermined her value as an entertainer. That may have been true when she was a huge star, but a candid autobiography could do her nothing but good in 1959. Mae West spent a lifetime creating and reinforcing a persona, though, so that's what she does here. She speaks fondly of the men in her life, but without many intimate details. Ironically, Mae West eschewed vulgarity, always preferring insinuation. But that sometimes left me wondering if she was a libertine or a tease. And surely her ego and inflexible nature frustrated a few of her lovers, whom West would have us believe all worshipped her unfailingly. I'm not sure how literally to take "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It", but Mae West always did put on a great show, and this book is no exception. Her fans won't want to miss it.

What a Woman! What a Star! What an Ego!.......2003-08-23

Originally written in the 1950s and later updated in the early 1970s, GOODNESS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT is the autobiography of the celebrated Mae West, one of the 20th century's greatest stars of stage and screen. It is an entertaining read, and in her writings West perfectly captures that unique tone and way with words that made her world famous.

But whether she intended it to be so or not, the most interesting thing about the autobiography is its revelation of the incredible ego that drove her. To hear her tell it, West was born with absolute self-awareness, knew what she wanted from the cradle, and was well on her way to getting it before she could walk. Be it saving the life of a drowning child, doing a lion-taming act, or living out the life of sex goddess to end all sex goddesses, Mae West did it first--and if not first, at least better. And if either of those are a matter of opinion, there is clearly only one opinion that counts with West: hers.

Sometimes she is factually inaccurate, as in her assesment of the box office success of MY LITTLE CHICKADEE (it was not a big hit at the time.) Sometimes she simply ignores an unpleasant fact or two, as when she declares that her film work ended because no one could offer her a good script (in truth, her screen career ended because public taste had changed and her films simply weren't living up to box office expectations any more.) But the truly astonishing thing about her various claims is how often they really are correct: yes, she really did save Paramount from bankruptcy; yes, she really was the highest-paid star in 1930s Hollywood; yes, her stage work was every bit as legendary as she says it was.

If West's autobiography often comes off as boastful, it has reason to be so; even so, the tone of unending self-praise does have a way of wearing a bit thin after a while, and now and then a little humility would not have been amiss. And if you're expecting a litany of lovers and bedroom details, you will no doubt be disappointed in the book. West gives few details and names no names.

Even so, it is a fascinating--or should I say fascinatin'--read. It was a indeed a brilliant career, a remarkable life, a memorable personality. If you're a fan, this is a must have.

--GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)--

A classic by now.......2001-09-04

Though sugar coated and boastful, it covers a great deal with photos only she could/would provide. A must for any serious Mae West collector, especially if you can get it with it's original cover.

The Lazy Way to Success: How to Do Nothing and Accomplish Everything

Average customer rating:

What A Title!
delightful, beautiful book
Insightful and useful knowledge for real life
Antidote to Work 'Ethic'
A uniquely insightful self-help book

The Lazy Way to Success: How to Do Nothing and Accomplish Everything
Fred Gratzon
Manufacturer: Soma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Busting Loose From the Money Game: Mind-Blowing Strategies for Changing the Rules of a Game You Can't Win
The Attractor Factor: 5 Easy Steps for Creating Wealth(or Anything Else) Frome the Inside Out
Life's Missing Instruction Manual : The Guidebook You Should Have Been Given at Birth
The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play
The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny

ASIN: 0972046402

Customer Reviews:

What A Title!.......2006-01-18

Can you think of a more compelling book title than this? How about the subtitle: How to do nothing and accomplish anything? Pretty strong stuff.

The author has built two multimillion dollar businesses, and brings that credibility to the table, but insists that he is lazy. Here are his three major premises:

* Success is inversely proportional to hard work.
* People who espouse the virtues of hard work publicly are doing a grave disservice to humanity because hard work is, in fact, counterproductive to success.
* The impulse to find ways of avoiding work drives all of civilization
* The deepest, most profound, most complete spiritual experience you can have is based on doing nothing. Absolutely nothing.

This book is irreverent (if you haven't figured that out yet), fun to read, full of great illustrations, and correct. It is the size of a coffee table book, and comes in at 215 pages. Buy yourself a copy for a great read and for a chance to re-examine some of your beliefs and principles. Read it and then put it on your coffee table or in your office. I guarantee with this title, it will stimulate conversation.

delightful, beautiful book.......2005-09-03

I invited Fred Grazton on my radio show to talk about his book. When it arrived it, the first thing I noticed was how different it is from the many books I receive as a radio show host.

First of all, it's a beautiful book, a high-quality coffee table-type book.

Secondly, the flow of the text and illustrations is gorgeous. I don't know how he and his editor managed it, but this book doesn't seem to contain any fluff or distractions or extraneous text. I had the feeling that every word was just right. It drew me in, kept me entertained, and challenged some of my long-held notions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the opportunity to interview Fred about it. (You can listen to the interview if you'd like). It's purely delightful, and has some very relevant applications not just to work, but to what's going on in the world today in terms of terrorism, Katrina, etc. I highly recommend it!

Insightful and useful knowledge for real life.......2004-10-02

This book was exhilarating! It explained that success comes from within, not from struggling with the world. This book explains how to find success by finding the source of infinite creativity and intelligence within you. When I finally found something I loved and was good at, I was so much more successful than when I tried to follow other people's ideas of how to succeed. And because I loved what I was doing and was good at it, it was easy!

Antidote to Work 'Ethic'.......2003-10-10

Fred's book is a much needed antidote to the crazy work 'ethic' that permeates most materialistic cultures today.
A feliticious combination of imagery and text, the design of the book makes abundantly clear the importance of having an aim in life, turning work into fun, making passionate commitments and trusting the inner compass to discover one's unique calling and happiness.
Personally the book is motivating me to transcend my own conditioning of doing 'busy work' as proof of my 'worth', and to have more time and space for contemplation of Life's depths.

A uniquely insightful self-help book.......2003-04-12

The Lazy Way To Success: How To Do Nothing And Accomplish Everything, is a uniquely insightful self-help book, illustrated with humorous caricatures, and which presents a very strong message -- frantically working yourself to fragments is not the way to success and happiness. Instead, self-improvement and self-enhancement arises from using our mind, from choosing carefully the work that needs to be done, from seeking solutions at a subtler level than the problem, and from avoiding the insanity of unnecessary work at all costs. Featuring a wisdom that is reminiscent of (and in some ways similar to) Taoism, The Lazy Way To Success is a very highly recommended self-help guide.

Why Do I Think I Am Nothing Without a Man?

Average customer rating:

Girls Don't Need Fairy Tales
Wow - a perfect inspiration for every woman

Why Do I Think I Am Nothing Without a Man?
Penelope Russianoff
Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Pub Group (Trd)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

When Am I Going to Be Happy?: How to Break the Emotional Bad Habits That Make You Miserable
Cinderella Complex
Smart Women/Foolish Choices: Finding the Right Men Avoiding the Wrong Ones
Cinderella Complex
Women Who Love Too Much

ASIN: 0553050087

Customer Reviews:

Girls Don't Need Fairy Tales.......2000-10-12

It always bothered me that my daughters were so delighted with Cinderella and Snow White... the saving grace in the form of a fairy godmother or prince charming just sets girls up to feel the need to be rescued. Dr. Russianoff's book is one that allows all women to be "real". To take control, to accept responsibility for our own happiness in life and in love, to feel a deep sense of pride and self-contentment in ourselves is something that we can only give ourselves. Looking for someone to fill a void and make us happy always leaves us feeling sorely disappointed. I was very saddened to hear of the Dr's death, but am thankful for the words of wisdom left to us. My dog-eared copy of this book will gladly be passed down to both of my daughters as they approach maturity.

Wow - a perfect inspiration for every woman.......1999-05-14

This book has helped me through the good times as well as the bad, inspiring me to be more at peace with myself. It helped me to finally realise that I am something without a man - and an awesome something at that. Thankx Penelope for enabling me to get an outlook on reality - away from the subjective world I've been enclosed in for so many years. A fantastic book that every girl and woman should read - it should be mandatory!

Average customer rating:

Why Do I Think I Am Nothing Without A Man?
Ph.D. Penelope Russianoff
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

When Am I Going to Be Happy?: How to Break the Emotional Bad Habits That Make You Miserable

ASIN: B000JGAFSM

Average customer rating:

Why do I think I'm Nothing without a Man

Why Do I Think I Am Nothing
Penelope Russianoff
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

When Am I Going to Be Happy?: How to Break the Emotional Bad Habits That Make You Miserable
Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
How to Break Your Addiction to a Person

ASIN: 0553266780
Release Date: 1984-12-01

Customer Reviews:

Why do I think I'm Nothing without a Man.......2002-12-14

I think this BOOK is great due to the women like me who needs to know what we are doing and Why. Growing up can sometime make us feel like we are doing something wrong if we are not in a relationship. I purchase this book the first time at a garage sale best purchase I have made before now. I was married for 16 years which end in a divorce. Now I can be happy whether I'm in a relationship or not. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE INSIGHT.

What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing

Average customer rating:

Mostly wonderful
Awesome, validating resource for new mothers
Wisdom and Reassurance for New Mothers

What Mothers Do: Especially When it Looks Like Nothing
Naomi Stadlen
Manufacturer: Piatkus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Babywearing
The Breastfeeding Cafe: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges, and Secrets of Nursing
MY CHILD WONT EAT: How to Prevent and Solve the Problem (La Leche League International Book)
Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers
ADVENTURES IN GENTLE DISCIPLINE: A Parent-to-Parent Guide (La Leche League International Book)

ASIN: 074992490X

Book Description

The most perceptive and reassuring mothering book ever published.

Customer Reviews:

Mostly wonderful.......2007-02-28

Overall I totally LOVED this book. It spoke to me as a new mom on so many levels. I kept saying "YES, YES, that's exactly how I feel!" throughout the book. It can really help parents give voice to their experience, the joys and the challenges. I love how Naomi Stadlen values the tasks and behaviors that parents do on a regular basis but that do not receive much recognition in society. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on comfort and love, as well as the discussion around the initial shock of having a newborn.

My gripe is that although she presents her book as descriptive, not proscriptive, she actually does present certain parenting styles as superior to others. While I happen to agree with her on most of those issues (around the importance of comforting babies, for instance), she should have come out and said that she advocates certain ways of parenting rather than attempting to hide her own opinions and pretending that she is simply "describing" certain styles. It is pretty clear, for instance, that she believes that moms should care for their babies personally rather than work outside the home - and that is one opinion that I don't agree with in all cases.

Also, she focuses on moms rather than on other caregivers. While she does include a disclaimer at the beginning noting that fathers, grandparents, etc are also involved in parenting, the general sense is that moms are the main ones involved in caring for babies. While that may be true in many households, it doesn't need to be further promoted as the ideal way by focusing on it almost exclusively. The book would be much richer with more voices of these other caregivers.

With that said, in general I totally loved this book and will be getting it as a gift for friends...but probably not for those friends who plan on being moms who work outside the home!

Awesome, validating resource for new mothers.......2007-02-18

What a wonderful addition to the resources you can find as a new mother. Instead of being a "how to" book, though, ("how to breastfeed", "how to get your baby to sleep", "how to (you fill in the blank)"; it is a validation of your instinct as a new mother. This author strives to offer language to detail what it IS we do, especially when, as the title offers, we have no "visible" work to show (it looks like nothing). I will be buying this for every new mom I know, as it is invaluable.

Wisdom and Reassurance for New Mothers.......2004-10-06

Twenty five years ago, as I tried to adapt to the reality of being a new mother, I asked more experienced mothers, "why are there no parenting books that speak to the subjective experience of the mother?" My own experience was one of feeling sandwiched between the seemingly insatiable demands of my first-born, on the one hand, and, on the other, the often rigidly prescriptive advice of published experts on "what's best for baby."

How different it all would have been had I been able to consult Naomi Stadlen's careful observations and wise reflections during those confusing, stressful days of early motherhood! I imagine that her emphasis on the infinite varieties of "good enough" mothering would have felt both absolving and empowering -- absolving in the sense that her book lends legitimacy to all manner of unsentimental responses to new motherhood (undercurrents of resentment and guilt, dislocations of identity, frustration, powerlessness, perplexity, humiliating inefficiency and obliterative fatigue) alongside the hours of joy and delight -- and empowering in the sense that even inconsequential-seeming new behaviors,
learned for the sake of one's child, are revealed to be of immense significance.

One example of this is the capacity to be interruptible, "on call," able to drop everything to tend to the baby's needs, and then somehow minutes or hours or days later, pick up all the threads one has dropped. This capacity, the author reminds us, is absolutely central to the health of the child's unfolding identity - and, in turn, to the well-being of the whole human family.

Naomi Stadlen not only gives voice to maternal subjectivity, she speaks on behalf of infants everywhere in emphasizing that "in general" instructions are of only tangential value compared to what one's own unique child asks for and needs and deserves.

In carefully recording the actual comments of new mothers about everyday challenges, Ms. Stadlen aims to convey what is, rather than what should be done or felt. She emphasizes that "each relationship is an original creation... no one has the recipe for perfection...[the] single blueprint for being a good mother."

What Mothers Do is psychogically astute and nuanced, but blessedly free of psycho-babble and professional jargon. Stadlen writes with clarity, grace and precision. At the same time, because of her extensive training and experience, the material is anchored in sound clinical theory and research. Those motivated to do so may use the excellent bibliography to go further with such topics as "the power of comfort," attachment theory, and the origins of "motherly love".

Deep thanks to Naomi Stadlen for her gift to all of us, mothers and babies both.

Average customer rating:

Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do
I didn't know that boredom could be so hilarious
Contentment

Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do
Eileen Christelow
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree
Five Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake: (formerly titled Don't Wake Up Mama) (Five Little Monkeys Picture Books)
Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car
Five Little Monkeys Play Hide-and-Seek (Five Little Monkeys Picture Books)
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Board Book)

ASIN: 0618040323

Book Description

It's summer, school is out, and the five little monkeys are bored. "There is nothing to do!" they tell Mama. "Oh yes, there is," says Mama. "Grandma Bessie is coming for lunch, and the house must be neat and clean." Well-meaning as ever, the five little monkeys clean their room and go on to sweep the floors, scrub the bathroom, and pick berries for dessert. But then . . . Children will welcome the return of the five little monkeys, who make the same kinds of messes they do.

Customer Reviews:

Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do.......2006-03-27

We loved it. I ended up getting almost all of them. We had already purchased some of the books in the series from Amazon. They were so enjoyable that I went ahead and purchased the last one. Thank you!!

I didn't know that boredom could be so hilarious.......2003-02-06

This book threw me into a laughing fit when I read it to Max in the children's books section of one of the large bookshops in Singapore (the perfect refuge on week-ends during the rainy winter season). Max is two and a half years old, and he is very tolerant of his dad's monkeying around. To judge by the looks I got when I guffawed, it seems that most parents regard reading children's books as a serious matter.

Anyway, kids have a great sense of humor, and they will enjoy it when you chuckle while reading this book to them. The little monkeys of the title are five clumsy but well-intentioned, lovable creatures that mess up the house while trying to please their mom. That is probably what happens to many two or three-year-olds who hope to do the right thing and end up spilling the milk when they try to assist mom. Enthusiasm combined with clumsiness can produce some rather chaotic results. "Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do" teaches parents and kids to see the funny side in such mishaps.

Recommended for parents and children alike.

Contentment.......2000-06-17

I love reading this book to my 2 year old daughter. She runs around chanting about the 5 monkeys. I first learned of them from my daycare provider, and came to amazon.com to find them. Thank you

Nothing to Do with Dionysos? Athenian Drama in Its Social Context

Average customer rating:

Nothing to Do with Dionysos? Athenian Drama in Its Social Context

Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Greece | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Greek | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
Greek Tragedy
Myth and Tragedy in Ancient Greece
Reading Greek Tragedy
Born of the Earth: Myth and Politics in Athens (Myth and Poetics)

ASIN: 0691015252

Book Description

These critically diverse and innovative essays are aimed at restoring the social context of ancient Greek drama. Theatrical productions, which included music and dancing, were civic events in honor of the god Dionysos and were attended by a politically stratified community, whose delegates handled all details from the seating arrangements to the qualifications of choral competitors. The growing complexity of these performances may have provoked the Athenian saying "nothing to do with Dionysos" implying that theater had lost its exclusive focus on its patron. This collection considers how individual plays and groups of dramas pertained to the concerns of the body politic and how these issues were presented in the convention of the stage and as centerpieces of civic ceremonies. The contributors, in addition to the editors, include Simon Goldhill, Jeffrey Henderson, David Konstan, Franois Lissarrague, Oddone Longo, Nicole Loraux, Josiah Ober, Ruth Padel, James Redfield, Niall W. Slater, Barry Strauss, and Jesper Svenbro.

Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It (Zebra Contemporary Romance)

Average customer rating:

Goodness definitely has nothing to do with it
Very Little Goodness, Actually
Extremely dissapointing . . .
Liked the storyline, but disappointed in the book
Can you have a relationship without trust or communication?

Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It (Zebra Contemporary Romance)
Lucy Monroe
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Come Up And See Me Sometime
Willing
And Able
The Real Deal
Ready

ASIN: 0821777718

Book Description

If you loved Lucy Monroe's Come Up and See Me Sometime, you won't want to miss her latest romance! Funny, sexy, and full of heart, Monroe's new novel makes "goodness" a whole lot better…

Surprise, Surprise The last woman business consultant Marcus Danvers expects to find at Kline Electronics is Veronica Richards. He's supposed to be rooting out a corporate spy, not rehashing an old love affair—with the woman who sold out the company they both used to work for and then took off without so much as a kiss goodbye. All the clues point to Ronnie as the firm's newest mole, which means he'll have to spend time with the stubbornly reticent woman he hasn't been able to forget, and uncover every last thing she has to hide…

Fancy Seeing You Here It's just Ronnie's luck. The one man she'd hoped never to see again is suddenly everywhere she looks—and taking up a starring role in her daydreams, too. Remembering the passion she and Marcus once shared certainly isn't going to help, though, not when she has so many secrets, and no explanation for the way she left him eighteen months ago—or at least not one he'll want to hear. The problem is, when Marcus is around all her good intentions go up in smoke…

Customer Reviews:

Goodness definitely has nothing to do with it.......2007-03-09

Corporate investigator Marcus Danvers has been hired to locate a mole in at Kline Electronics. The last person he expects to see on the payroll is former flame Veronica Richards, who sold corporate secrets from his firm before disappearing. Working undercover, Marcus tries to resist Veronica, but soon the two resume their affair, despite a lack of trust (and even though Veronica knows that once she reveals a secret she has kept the last 18 months, he won't be able to forgive her).

A sequel to Monroe's "Come Up and See me Sometime," this one is just a rehashing of the same theme, and falls short of even that. Even the constant sexual couplings lack heat. Lack of chemistry, too-thin plot, lame secondary love story, and too much introspection (did we have to "hear" them constantly remembering things they told each other in italics?) keep the story from gaining a passing interest. As for the mysterious mole... it was laughable, as the revealing of the culprit and his reaction to being caught was simply revealed in a character's summation in the epilogue. Marcus seemed like an engaging, sexy and charming devil in the first book. In this one, he is reduced to a too easily manipulated, wardrobe challenged (tacky Hawaiian shirts) dolt tamed by a woman who repeatedly lied and kept a pretty damning secret.

Very Little Goodness, Actually.......2006-05-23

George Kline suspects that a corporate spy is at work in the marketing department of Kline Electronics, so he hires business consultant Marcus Danvers to secretly investigate. Marcus is shocked to discover that one of the employees is Veronica Richards, the very woman who sold out CIS, the company he is now a partner in, when she also used to work there. Veronica vanished, along w/ her payoff, eighteen months previously and Marcus hadn't seen her since. In addition to her now becoming the primary suspect at Kline Electronics, Marcus is determined his former lover will provide a long-overdue explanation for her betrayal and disappearance.

Veronica is an efficient administrative assistant--calm and collected to the point where she seems to verge on icicle status. The only man who has ever come close to melting her was Marcus, but she has kept more secrets than just corporate espionage from him. His reappearance in her life threatens both her professional and personal well-being, so she is as determined to keep him at arms' length as Marcus is on getting her back in his arms.

This book is a continuation of a story begun in Come Up and See Me Sometime. You don't need to have read CUASMS to read this book, but there are a lot of references to that earlier story and Veronica's motivations for her previous actions are revealed. In fact, one of the most interesting aspects of this book was peeling the onion layers of Veronica's life back and showing her truly touching relationship w/ her family.

Despite her seeming coldness, Veronica is a fairly sympathetic character. Her reserve is the result of overwhelming personal burdens and the need to be self-reliant. Marcus was somewhat less sympathetic to me. He seemed immature, self-absorbed, and self-indulgent, but he redeemed himself as he opened his heart to Veronica and revealed some of his own past heartache.

Overall, this was a pleasant story, but it did have some drawbacks for me:

--I was never really "sold" on the relationship between Veronica and Marcus.

--As another reviewer noted, the whole story had a decidedly dated quality to it. If I hadn't known this book was copyrighted in 2005, I would have sworn I was reading a 1985-era office romance--and that's not a compliment.

--In addition to feeling out of time, the book also felt out of place somehow. The setting is Seattle but, aside from a few references, could be "anyplace." This feeling was exacerbated by a very British reference to a "car park," rather than a "parking lot."

--I hated the side story of the relationship between George Kline and his secretary/executive assistant. His controlling attitude and the whole sleeping w/ his subordinate thing had an icky and 80s feel to it. (My vindictive streak is coming out again--I wish the assistant had walked out on him for good.)

--The mystery of the identity of the corporate spy wasn't especially deep or hard to figure out.

--And, for the really petty complaint, the cover of this book was terrible and had nothing to do w/ the story. (The dark-haired man in the tux certainly wasn't the fair-haired Marcus who favored Hawaiian shirts.)

I don't mean to be overly harsh or overstate the negatives. As I mentioned, it was a pleasant enough, if not memorable, story and worth spending a few hours of your entertainment time on. Other readers might be better able to ignore the peeves I had and concentrate on the unfolding story of Veronica and Marcus and their feelings for one another.

Extremely dissapointing . . ........2006-03-24

I did not like the prequel of this book, "COME UP AND SEE ME SOMETIME", but in a moment of weakness I decided to give this novel a chance, hoping that Ms. Monroe would go back to the promise she showed in "THE REAL DEAL". Sadly, I was very dissapointed. The characters are flat, stereotypical, and annoying. They never show trust in one another. Almost up to the last page they are doubting each other's actions and intentions. Ms. Monroe's writing is also annoying because she keeps repeating and rehashing thoughts, emotions, and worse, the events that happened 18 months ago. This shows little respect for the readers' intelligence and tolerance. I won't be giving this author another chance.

Liked the storyline, but disappointed in the book.......2006-02-09

I loved the premise of the book, in which two people who've had a passionate relationship go bad are reunited and have another go at it. What made the premise of this book so interesting is that the heroine did a really, REALLY bad thing that caused the break-up. Once all the details are revealed, her actions are understandable, but still not admirable. So I was very much looking forward to a story that explores the dicey, tricky issues of forgiveness, trust and communication as these two worked through the problem.

Unfortunately, the book completely fell apart after the great set-up. The characters were one-dimensional and seemed to have nothing going for them other than lust. I believe the hero forgives Ronnie too easily for her actions 18 months ago. As soon as he learns the details, he essentially shrugs and pushes forward with the relationship.

I couldn't help comparing this book to Susan Elizabeth Phillip's "Ain't She Sweet," which also has a heroine who has done wretched, horrible things in her past, then must seek atonement from the very people she victimized. Monroe's book takes the easy way out.... the heroine isn't all that bad, and the hero blithley accepts her actions. The whole thing just fell a little flat.

Can you have a relationship without trust or communication?.......2006-01-19

Ms Monroe's stuff is pretty hit or miss for me. I loved THE REAL DEAL and READY but not much else so far. I had mixed feelings about the prequel to this one, COME UP AND SEE ME SOMETIME which I gave three stars. I actually thought that I would like this one more because in CUASMS, Marcus was a more likable character than Alex. Alas, I was wrong. I didn't care for this book and found it even more frustrating than CUASMS.

Marcus Danvers first met Veronica "Ronnie" Richards when they both worked for the same company. They had an affair which ended when Ronnie confessed to selling company secrets and then disappeared. Marcus is left confused and bitter wondering if he ever knew her at all.

Now, eighteen months later, Marcus has been hired by Kline Electronics to ferret out a corporate spy. And who just happens to work as an admin/assistant in the Marketing department but his old flame Veronica Richards. Well, well, is she up to her old tricks? He has lots of questions for her and he is determined to get some answers.

Unfortunately, Ronnie isn't interested in talking. She is stunned when Marcus shows up in her life again and also frightened. He knows enough to threaten her job and if he finds out about her biggest secret, he could also threaten her personal life. But it looks like she will have to face him as he's not going anywhere and he wants to know why she did what she did two years ago and if she's doing it again.

This couple drove me nuts. They are madly attracted but neither one has an iota of trust in the other. They cannot communicate worth a damn and basically both are pretty immature. And for some reason, in Ms Monroe's hands words like "affair" and "mistress" and "lovers" just have such an old-fashioned almost prim feel to them. Well, I just did not believe that this couple was really going to make it in the end. I will still give Ms Monroe's stuff a chance, but I'll be more selective and read reviews first. I did purchase WILLING from her Mercenary trilogy because I liked READY. Hope I didn't make a mistake!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books