A Random Book About the Power of Anyone

by Talia Leman

From the incredibly impressive and inspiring teenager who unified the fundraising efforts of children across the USA, reporting more than $10 million (yes, MILLION) for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina at the age of ten, comes the ultimate, and most unexpected, guide for everyone who dreams of making a difference.

You can be greater than you know how to be.

In a world where you are pushed to know more, this book will prove that your greatest asset is often not knowing. In a world where you are told it’s all in the planning, this book will encourage you to keep your cart ahead of your horse and allow your dreams to lead you. In a world where you are told you need to become someone, this book will show you that you already are someone.

The author—the foremost accidental expert on this subject—is Talia Leman. A high school student. Runner in the rain. Science enthusiast. World changer. Random kid.

Writing with infectious enthusiasm, humor, and resoluteness, she shares her secrets to being more than you know how to be, including Don’t Line Up Your Ducks, Sideways Is a Better Way to Go Forward, and Too Many Cooks Is the Right Number. In this unexpectedly poignant, strikingly honest, and informative guide, Talia Leman shows you how to make room for life’s surprises, demonstrating that everyone has what it takes to make a difference for anything that matters to them.

A Random Book about the Power of ANYone will move you to rethink and re-imagine what’s possible, one random inspiration, one random idea, one random person at a time.

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2012

Reviews

[Claire Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked most about this book was how inspirational it was to make mountains move, and how it was aimed at the smallest of pipsqueak politicians in the most crowded of classrooms. (I've been in the front row of quite a few of them, thanks to the ADA.)
What I disliked about this book was how it urged you to actually do something. My thought was, Why can't I let somebody else deal with all the world problems?

This book is absolutely adorable.

I'd love to write a book similar in nature to this. It's so absolutely freaking charming. I was bewitched by it for almost the whole beginning of the month. Such an enchanting philanthropist is Talia Y. Leman! She is this random kid from Iowa. She describes herself thus.
(I wouldn't use those words anymore to describe her though maybe I would have when I was younger. I would describe her now as a passionate teen devoted to her cause.)
Her World of Children description is ten years old but is accessible here. More current videos are accessible from that link! It looks like the most recent issue on that website is regarding sexual and physical abuse. Pediatric cancer is another 2018 issue, as well as homelessness and hunger, and of course, one of my staples, education. I do not want to underscore more bullying but that is a painful 2018 issue, as well.

So I propose after reading this that you, too, can change the world, even if you can't define yourself as a kid anymore. How? I propose read between the lines of everything you encounter and stay as healthy as possible.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a good idea that you think will help others, whether it's selling reusable water bottles to raise money for clean water in Africa or Trick-or-Treating for coins to donate to natural disaster victims, this manual will help you plan it, organize it and execute it.

Includes tons of anecdotes and realistic instructions to help inspire and convince you that you truly can do something huge and meaningful if you put your mind to it.

On a personal level, I have a lot of big-picture, world-changing ideas, but as soon as it comes to convincing one other person of my vision I throw my hands up and proclaim it impossible, partly out of fear, partly out of laziness. I am my own worst enemy. Am hoping that by reading this I'll have to courage to actually DO SOMETHING. Time will tell.

Favorite Quote

Protect me from knowing what I don't need to know. Protect me from even knowing that there are things to know that I don't know. Protect me from knowing that I decided not to know about the things that I decided not to know about. Amen. - Douglas Adams

Transform mundane tasks into games...See if your school can collect enough cans for a food shelter so that they can be lined up to circle the entire main floor of your building. When the circle closes, throw a CANdy party.

Engage in the silly...[have] friends wear creative outfits assembled by their friends for the day, in exchange for a donation of clothes to a homeless shelter.

[Kristina Franken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.

You can be greater than you know how to be.
In a world where you are pushed to know more, this book will prove that your greatest asset is often not knowing. In a world where you are told it’s all in the planning, this book will encourage you to keep your cart ahead of your horse and allow your dreams to lead you. In a world where you are told you need to become someone, this book will show you that you already are someone.

The author—the foremost accidental expert on this subject—is Talia Leman. A high school student. Runner in the rain. Science enthusiast. World changer. Random kid.

Writing with infectious enthusiasm, humor, and resoluteness, she shares her secrets to being more than you know how to be, including Don’t Line Up Your Ducks, Sideways Is a Better Way to Go Forward, and Too Many Cooks Is the Right Number. In this unexpectedly poignant, strikingly honest, and informative guide, Talia Leman shows you how to make room for life’s surprises, demonstrating that everyone has what it takes to make a difference for anything that matters to them.

A Random Book about the Power of ANYone will move you to rethink and re-imagine what’s possible, one random inspiration, one random idea, one random person at a time.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm never going to organize good works on a large scale; if I didn't know it already, Leman's book convinced me. But I kept wanting to find people to give this to, because it is not only a pep rally for doing good via big projects, but a how-to book full of useful information. Obviously, it's going to be best for kids, teens and so on-- Leman is speaking to the same audience that her organization, RandomKid, is for. And yet, it's got lots of useful advice about collaborating, about speaking, and about dealing with media and social media that most organizers either know or can stand to hear (though they may not use it). Her how-tos are detailed, and her personal reminiscences not too detailed or smarmy. How much of the book was shaped by editors and adults around her who helped her the sort of speaking engagements and how-tos she did, I don't know. But it's still interesting and helpful on organizing, writing, speaking, fundraising, etc.

[Ed Brenegar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the ten most important books on leadership of the 21st century thus far. While written by a late teenage young adult, this book is one that captures the essence of change in leadership that most adults have yet to figure out. Want to know how to work with young people, read this book. It is a masterpiece.

[Nigel Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring story, and quite remarkable coming from someone so young. Reinforces the thought that small ideas can grow and prosper. It's a good read to further my confidence in myself, others, and the goodness of the world.

[Ilona Mustafin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me a few new things, inspired me even.

[Wendy]

Poweful guide for young people, or anyone, who want to make a difference in this world.

[Hira Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually went to middle school with the authors younger brother and both of them are really sweet. The book is empowering really showing the power of one person