A delightfully original, unerringly hip, yet marvelously practical handbook for a new and slightly cynical generation. You've landed the job. Now y...
read full description
reviews
Mar 15, 2009
Fine, with some interesting bits, but seemed overall a bit formulaic: take one young author plus a whackload of books on something, sprinkle in the odd personal anecdote and pop culture reference, and there you go. I guess the impression it made on me was that it was in the genre that reads a bit like a term paper. Yes, the author's digested a load of books for the reader's benefit, but it almost feels like they don't really know any more than you do about the subject and they could have used th
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Apr 25, 2008
CJ
rated it: 
I'll be honest, I didn't think I'd get much out of this book. A friend gave it to me because I have a problem employee and she thought I might find some ways of dealing with him by "out-psyching" him. What I found was a wealth of information about the mind-set of the twenty-somethings.
Hustad went through the last 100 years worth of business thought books. Essentially, this is a literature review of all those books (the bibliography is amazing). What she has added is how More...
Hustad went through the last 100 years worth of business thought books. Essentially, this is a literature review of all those books (the bibliography is amazing). What she has added is how More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2009
Sue
rated it:
I don't hate work. If I did, I'm not sure this book would have convinced me to like it, but I would have at least learned how to get the most out of it and keep my distaste from being obvious. The book follows, in chronological order from the 19th century on, a series of self-help books that Hustad deems relevant to success in work. The authors include everyone from Dale Carnegie to Emily Post to Helen Gurley Brown, including some bizarre and fascinating obscure characters; most chapters focu
More...
Jun 07, 2009
Iris
rated it:
Scoff not! This isn't a self-help book. "How to Be Useful" is an engaging, judicious survey of the all-American genre of business books from Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" to Donald Trump's ghostwriters.
The real reason this isn't a self-help book is because of the massive unemployment in the U.S (18% unemployment, if you follow the European model by counting people who can't find full-time work yet can't make ends meet with a part-time More...
The real reason this isn't a self-help book is because of the massive unemployment in the U.S (18% unemployment, if you follow the European model by counting people who can't find full-time work yet can't make ends meet with a part-time More...
Aug 27, 2009
Katrina
rated it: 
I'm not done with this book, but I would recommend it, even (or especially if) you hate self-help business books. She takes all those books we creative types avoid reading and condenses them into useable, readable bits that you can really apply to your work life.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 28, 2009
Emily
rated it:
The tone of this book makes the advice go down so much easier. I've been very resistant to some career advice in the past, because some of it seems so unnatural, fakey, or just ridiculous. Hustad basically cuts the legs out from under that argument by giving you a new perspective on what it means to work in an office. Combining the "best of" advice from a century's worth of career advice books, Hustad walks you through adjusting to a new job early in your career. I find this book t
More...
Jul 28, 2011
Brendan
rated it: 
Juvenile and monotonous. Hardest read in recent memory. I felt as if I was reading a crappy Cliffs Notes version of all of the great books she referenced throughout How to be Useful.
P.S. I typically am rather kind or near-mute in my reviews but when she referred to Warren Buffet as the "Prophet of Omaha" instead of the" Oracle of Omaha" as he is known, I had to say something. I am now taking everything I "learned" from this book with a grain of salt. I recomm More...
P.S. I typically am rather kind or near-mute in my reviews but when she referred to Warren Buffet as the "Prophet of Omaha" instead of the" Oracle of Omaha" as he is known, I had to say something. I am now taking everything I "learned" from this book with a grain of salt. I recomm More...
May 14, 2008
Rachel
rated it:
Actually useful. Much more useful than "Shut Up, Quit Whining and Get A Life," a book my mother once sent me as a gift.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 20, 2008
Lauren
rated it:
I have mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up both because I have never read any "success literature" and because I supervise workers in the age and experience range she sites as her intended audience for the book. Some of the advice is quite useful - I loved her chapter about being yourself: "Part of the problem with being yourself is that you could be anyone. You could dress badly. You could be a shy daydreamer, or you could be a bubblehead... Have we always been sen
More...
Aug 08, 2009
Gail
rated it:
Hustad distills the nuggets of wisdom from 100+ years of success literature (Dale Carnegie, Emily Post, Helen Gurley Brown, Stephen Covey, Napoleon Hill, et al.)
What I learned:
*Don't ask a favor of someone you haven't yourself helped in awhile.
*Don't compliment someone then immediately ask for a favor.
*Be interested in others.
*Surround yourself with smart people.
*Don't backbite/gossip.
*Ditch Rhetorical questions.
*Let others toot your horn for
What I learned:
*Don't ask a favor of someone you haven't yourself helped in awhile.
*Don't compliment someone then immediately ask for a favor.
*Be interested in others.
*Surround yourself with smart people.
*Don't backbite/gossip.
*Ditch Rhetorical questions.
*Let others toot your horn for
Aug 02, 2011
Kate
rated it: 
This book is more of a humorous review of business/career advice books past, but it's full of enough quirky anecdotes and practical advice to be an enjoyable read.
I particularly liked the essays and excerpts from Helen Gurley Brown on how women in the workplace fought for equality in overt...and sometimes subtle ways.
If you're looking for a somber manual on how to get ahead in business without really trying, keep browsing the self-help section.
I particularly liked the essays and excerpts from Helen Gurley Brown on how women in the workplace fought for equality in overt...and sometimes subtle ways.
If you're looking for a somber manual on how to get ahead in business without really trying, keep browsing the self-help section.
Jul 16, 2008
Mintwitch
rated it:
A cute and zippy overview of what to do and what not to do in the workplace, distilled from 100 years "success literature" (e.g. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, etc.), the author's personal experience, and stories garnered from friends and family.
As someone who has been in the workforce for a couple of decades, I am not the target audience for this book; nonetheless, it was interesting and I even learned a few things. Hustad's style is relaxed and engaging; she com More...
As someone who has been in the workforce for a couple of decades, I am not the target audience for this book; nonetheless, it was interesting and I even learned a few things. Hustad's style is relaxed and engaging; she com More...
Sep 28, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
Megan Hustad seems like someone you could have a cocktail with in a Manhattan bar, and while you were sitting there chatting over drinks, she would entertain you with her witty overview of American self-help literature from the past century. Her chatty, having-cocktails tone makes me imagine that this would be a great book for, say, the dreamy art student who feels his soul being crushed as he enters his own cubicle for the very first time; practical, but with a conspiratorial "we both kno
More...
Jun 09, 2009
Denise
rated it:
This book was different than I expected and helpful in some ways. It would have been nice to read about three years earlier, before I started working in an office as by far the youngest person. I would still recommend it to those in their 20s working in the business setting - or planning to. Beware that it seemed to slow down about half way through and seem less applicable.
May 07, 2009
Maureen
rated it:
This one caught my eye because I think it has a lot to say to the students where I work about how to survive in the workplace. And perhaps it says something about how to renew my own approach to work as well. I like that the author has reviewed about 100 years' worth of business books, from Dale Carnegie to Steven Covey, and distilled/extracted the wisdom of these authors. I'm a chapter in, and I hope to continue reading it.
Addendum to the above: I am getting through this more slowly More...
Addendum to the above: I am getting through this more slowly More...
Sep 27, 2010
Evelyn
rated it:
I've been out of school for decades and still found this book to offer some helpful advice, much of which I wish I'd known in my 20s. The earlier chapters have more to offer than the later ones, but they still offer tips and tricks that are worth at least thinking about.
Aug 28, 2009
Jason
rated it:
I don't agree with the rest of the reviewers on good reads. This book is fun to read. Think freaknomics or Malcolm Gladwell with out all the self righteousness that the other two books I mentioned tote.
The book is practical and offers some sound advice in the way that I think most of my peers would disagree. Being useful to someone else is not about letting them see how sassy or smart your are it's about doing what they want when they want it.
I'm from the generation of More...
The book is practical and offers some sound advice in the way that I think most of my peers would disagree. Being useful to someone else is not about letting them see how sassy or smart your are it's about doing what they want when they want it.
I'm from the generation of More...
Jul 23, 2008
Alyse
rated it:
The title is right - this really is a beginner's book. There aren't a whole lot of lessons to be learned, but it is good to reinforce the things we should all remember. It complies the best of success literature going back to the 1800's and ending with the Trump. And focuses on the idea that we only hate work as much as we are willing to let it get to us.
The best lesson I learned - even if you are right, it isn't always worth making sure your boss knows you are right. I have been tol More...
The best lesson I learned - even if you are right, it isn't always worth making sure your boss knows you are right. I have been tol More...
Nov 10, 2011
Jess
rated it:
This is one of those books that you should dust off every couple of years and give another go. Good advice mingled with narrative is engaging and invites reflection on your situation.
Dec 13, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Mildly interesting. More of a historical literature review of what the author terms "success literature" than a practical advice.
Sep 22, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
A very insightful and well-presented re-hash for people who are too egotistical and moody (nobody I know!) to read success lit.
Dec 08, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
A great quick overview of the important career advice books from the last century. The author has read them all so you don't have to! And she has even included extensive notes and an annotated bibliography... a librarian's dream. What I didn't like was the title and cover design. I originally picked this up as a joke to show a co-worker, but then when we started looking at it, realized it actually offered some useful advice. My favorite bits are on why you shouldn't be "nice" or snarky
More...
Aug 11, 2009
Audrey
rated it:
This was a nice compendium of information from the last 100 years of guides on how to be successful at work, framed in a modern perspective. It was interesting, but I think I was expecting something a little different when I checked it out from the library. Maybe more in the way of stories, rather than advice? The advice is good; if you're looking for a self-help book on how to become more successful in the workplace, especially if your first real job has disillusioned you a little bit (as mine
More...
Aug 19, 2008
Now, I'm not one to read guide-to-success books, nor do I hate my work. But I saw it at the library and liked it because it's a guide-to-success type book for people who don't care about being successful ("creative types"). It's written by a woman, who was an English major, not some business entrepreneur, so it's easy to relate to. And, so far so good actually. Because even if I don't care about big success, I don't want to be an intern all my life.
Sep 14, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
This is the best professional advice book I've ever read--and I've read quite a few.
Highly recommended for anyone first starting their career.
It's all the stuff they don't teach you in school that you need to know in order to advance in the corporate world.
Highly recommended for anyone first starting their career.
It's all the stuff they don't teach you in school that you need to know in order to advance in the corporate world.
Aug 15, 2008
Kate
rated it:
Something soon-to-be college grads should read. The literarture about the Millenial generation is not good, so odds are this book is going to help you out! But then again, if you're on goodreads, maybe not? Either way, there is a good chance there is something useful you will gleen from reading How to Be Useful.
Sep 03, 2008
Mollymillions
rated it:
I wish someone had given me this book to read right after I graduated. It's a fun, personable stroll through all the success lit that most of us are too embarassed to read. I learned a lot of the lessons listed in here the hard way, but that made the stories all the more funny and poignant.
Nov 28, 2011
Cat
rated it:
I finished this over Thanksgiving break, so there's time to read it again before the library wants it back. My dad told me (twice) how thankful he was that I was employed.
Eurgh.
Eurgh.
Jun 25, 2008
Chelsea
rated it:
It's a lot of stuff that you probably would have thought of on your own, but you're not thinking about it... which is kind of the point, I guess. Fun to read, though!
Sep 08, 2008
Lynn
rated it:
Highly recommend this book. Compilation of work advice from the past 100 years. Easy to read, gave lots of concrete examples. Very useful!
