How Successful People Win: Using "Bunkhouse Logic" to Get What You Want in Life

by Ben Stein

       How Successful People Win is a serious self-help book using as its central metaphor the life of the cowboy and his behavior as he leaves his bunkhouse. Based upon a lifetime of observation of the successful and how they got that way, Ben Stein suggests that you imitate the determination, inner mobility, activity, flexibility—and the refusal to indulge in self-pity—of the cowboy in order to get what you want out of life.
        The idea is that if you never indulge in making excuses, refuse to let other people’s hangups get in your way, and move deliberately toward clearly thought-out goals, you will get where you want to go. Just as the cowboy refuses to allow himself to get sidetracked by trivia, so can you refuse to allow life’s inevitable challenges and distractions mar your own success and happiness. The choice is yours.

Genres: Self Help

135 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

Benjamin Stein is a multifaceted American figure known for his work as a writer, lawyer, actor, comedian, and commentator on politics and economics. He began his public life as a speechwriter for Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, later gaining widespread recognition in the entertainment world for his deadpan comedic style. Stein became a pop culture icon through his role as the monotone economics teacher in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and as the host of Win Ben Stein’s Money, a game show that earned multiple Emmy Awards. He also played Dr. Arthur Neuman in The Mask and its sequel. A Yale Law School valedictorian, Stein worked as a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission and taught law and economics at Pepperdine University.
A prolific columnist, Stein has contributed to The American Spectator, Newsmax, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His books, often co-authored with Phil DeMuth, address financial planning and economic commentary. In 2008, he wrote and starred in Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, a controversial documentary criticized for promoting intelligent design.
Politically conservative, Stein has defended Nixon's legacy, expressed strong views on U.S. foreign policy, and advocated higher taxes on the wealthy to support military initiatives and reduce national debt. During the 2008 financial crisis, he came under scrutiny for downplaying early warning signs and misjudging the scale of the economic collapse.
Stein has also had an extensive voice acting and television career, appearing in series such as The Wonder Years, Seinfeld, and Family Guy, and voicing characters in The Fairly OddParents, Rugrats, and Animaniacs. His personal life includes a long-standing marriage to entertainment lawyer Alexandra Denman and homes in California, Idaho, and Washington, D.C. Though often polarizing in his opinions, Stein remains a recognizable figure across political, academic, and entertainment domains.

Reviews

[Lonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You've read this self-help, goal settings, risk assessment stuff before. I wasn't thrilled with the cowboy references.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, was a good collection of relatively practical advice on getting what you want out of life, although there wasn't a lot that I didn't already know in one form or another.

[Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book back from my son that I gave him a year ago. It's written by Ben Stein of Ferris Bueller fame (anyone? anyone?...that's the guy). He's actually a lawyer and financial whiz. He shares his life experiences and other successful and unsuccessful people he's known to help others achieve their dreams. I found this book very readable and practical. He uses the cowboy throughout the book as a metaphor for success. The advice he gives is advice you can really use, such as, if you have low self-esteem, the way out of that is not psychotherapy, but achievement. That's what helps you feel better about yourself. If you're looking for a great little book to give a high school or college graduate, I recommend it.

[Chandraprasad Ponneth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Priceless life lesson told with unnecessary lag in explanation. I felt like entire book's content can be told in a 50 page book without any content loss. The book is bit boring at times (may be the author is saying what I already know!!!).

I felt the book is only meant for Americans.Author extensively used success stories of American entrepreneurs and brands, for an average Indian reader(In this case it is me) few of them are unknown(Of course, there were few well known names too). I am sure there are few around globe who just feels like me.

I recommend this book for those who like to spent a considerable amount of time in reading.
Also I think this is not the ideal book, if you are planning to restart your reading habit after a break.

Happy reading....

[Jim Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, great read. This gives you some interesting history on Mr. Stein and on America in general. In the end you have 10 basic facts you can use to keep yourself and your team on the path to success.

[Shannon]

A simple, straight forward manifesto to live and succeed by. Ben Stein has written a life altering book for those smart enough to listen.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good book to bouy me up. It's an I can do it book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Stein is the ‘Clear Eyes’ commercial guy to me, so it was interesting to see more depth to him. I’m impressed.
This book is simple to read and direct to his Bunkhouse Logic. He breaks it down into 5 parts. With just enough humor to keep you interested but enough logic to let you walk away with knowledge and inspiration.
Part 5 is compiled of ‘the rules of the game’ Which is my favorite part! Everything inside is what you’ve heard all along, if your in to self-help books. It keeps it simple and uses personal stories to convince you of the logic. It all makes perfect sense.
There are many quotes from this book I can share. However I’ll just leave you with one.

“You may not be out on the Prairie alone, but you are alone. To make it through life’s travails, to continue to play with pride and energy… the only winning way… you need to feel good about yourself. To climb up toward that magnificent summit of hopes and joys where your heart’s desire lies, you must have self-worth above all else. You must allow others to think highly of you and choose you, and you must love yourself enough to persevere”

I recommend this book to…. anyone really. His logic can be used in ever aspect of life, not just career. He breaks it down to simple daily logic of getting what you want.

[Doug Setter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and so matter of fact. Stein makes the case of how a cowboy must use his hard work and initiative to get the cattle to market regardless of the weather, interference or trouble along the way. I like the way that Stein describes the people who get ahead by taking risks, stepping "up to the table" and not making excuses. He sites case studies and uses easy to understand, very matter-of-fact language.

Great read.

[Karthikeyan Nagarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the correlation with bunkhouse logic