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The Right Words at the Right Time
For those of us in need of hope, a hero, or a healthy dose of inspiration, here is a heartwarming collection of personal revelations from some of today's greatest luminaries whose lives were changed by hearing the right words at the right time .
Marlo Thomas and Friends have contributed their stories and all royalties from The Right Words at the Right Time to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Ms. Thomas's father, Danny Thomas, in 1962.
Marlo Thomas and Friends have contributed their stories and all royalties from The Right Words at the Right Time to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Ms. Thomas's father, Danny Thomas, in 1962.
417 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
37 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Marlo Thomas
17 books40 followersMargaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966–1971) and her award-winning children's franchise Free to Be... You and Me.
Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962.
Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 12, 2023
This was a donation to our Little Free Library Shed. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
What are the right words that changed us at just the right time in our life? What was our inspiration that set us on our path?
This is the concept for this book, that got 100 friends of Marlo Thomas to share their personal stories and answer those very questions.
Each personal essay becomes a brief biography of the person writing. It gives us a window into their soul - something personal and precious, personally shared about them.
This book is rich and an enriching collection.
All royalties of actual sold books are contributed to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
What are the right words that changed us at just the right time in our life? What was our inspiration that set us on our path?
This is the concept for this book, that got 100 friends of Marlo Thomas to share their personal stories and answer those very questions.
Each personal essay becomes a brief biography of the person writing. It gives us a window into their soul - something personal and precious, personally shared about them.
This book is rich and an enriching collection.
All royalties of actual sold books are contributed to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
March 21, 2017
This book was given to me as a birthday gift. It seems apropos since virtually in every book I read I'm looking for the 'right' words, the ones that will make the dime drop, with greater understanding or fresh meaning for my life. What this illustrates more than any other tome is that everyone hears the words they want to hear and shape them to fit their life. Never was this more evident as when I read two essays saying nearly the opposite point of view of the one preceding/following it, and yet both are valid thoughts. The essays are in alphabetical order, so is only chance that they appear together.
The first was from Congressman Dick Gephardt was advice given to him by his mother to really listen to others, try to understand their views. I too was given this advise by someone I dated, and though our relationship ended poorly I still valued that advice, and learned not to pause and think of something further to say while the other person talked but to really listen. The next essay was Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on sage advice given by her mother-in-law, to be a little deaf when people say unkind or thoughtless things to you, particularly when it is someone with whom you must live or interact with daily, this too is good advice, but if I'd followed it, I wouldn't have benefited from the previous advice. The essay that most disappointed me was that of Gloria Steinheim, and the one that was a surprise was from Conan O'Brian who related in a very humorous way some great advise....'stop thinking so much' - be more Zen and Do IT!
The first was from Congressman Dick Gephardt was advice given to him by his mother to really listen to others, try to understand their views. I too was given this advise by someone I dated, and though our relationship ended poorly I still valued that advice, and learned not to pause and think of something further to say while the other person talked but to really listen. The next essay was Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on sage advice given by her mother-in-law, to be a little deaf when people say unkind or thoughtless things to you, particularly when it is someone with whom you must live or interact with daily, this too is good advice, but if I'd followed it, I wouldn't have benefited from the previous advice. The essay that most disappointed me was that of Gloria Steinheim, and the one that was a surprise was from Conan O'Brian who related in a very humorous way some great advise....'stop thinking so much' - be more Zen and Do IT!
February 17, 2022
A sweet book of around 100 short personal inspirational essays by notable/famous people whose proceeds benefited St Judes. Some I really enjoyed, some were less impactful to me but really nothing to complain about! An easy, uplifting read!
April 7, 2009
This would have been a much better book if it had been 150 pages shorter. Or titled differently. Or both. The idea of the book is that all these people had important words spoken to them at life-changing moments. Good concept. The problem is that about 60% of them didn’t. They just had mottos to live by or interesting stories or, occasionally, a semirambling list of advice for readers.
So if some of the stories had been edited out, or if the title had set up different expectations of the book, it would have worked much better. However, there really were a number of good, inspiring, interesting stories. Here are some of my favorite bits (this part is long because it’s more a record for myself than a review):
Stephen Ambrose: His report that Eisenhower made it a rule to “never question another man’s motives. His wisdom, yes, but not his motives.” It made me want to be a little less cynical.
Jeff Bezos: “You’ll learn one day that it’s much harder to be kind than clever.”
David Boies: “You just make whatever decision you would want [your child:] to make if he were in your position.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Mother-in-law’s advice that “In every good marriage, it pays sometimes to be a little deaf.” And how she applied the advice beyond marriage.
Doris Kearns Goodwin: Erikson’s advice that “the richest lives attain an inner balance comprised of work, play, and love in equal order; to pursue one at the expense of others is to open oneself to sadness in older age.” And how she devoted a lot of her time to motherhood and didn’t mind when people asked, “Whatever happened to Doris Kearns, anyway?”
Scott Hamilton: His mom’s statement that we all have a certain number of minutes allotted to us and that we should use them well.
Ted Koppel: Will Roger’s words, “We are all ignorant about something.”
David Mamet: A delightful story about him falling in love with a young actress: “Our various situations precluded more than a respectful professional relationship between us, so I suffered philosophically, deranged by my immediate, impossible love for her. . . . I saw her, briefly, at the cast party. I told her how much I had enjoyed working with her and hoped we could do so again. There was a pause and she said, ‘I don’t seem to be able to leave.’ I apologized and moved aside for her, only to find that I had mistaken her meaning quite completely.
Mary Matalin: Her husband saying, “It doesn’t matter if everything you say is right and everything I say is wrong. The fact is, I still feel this way, so it counts.” Also, Maxene Fernstrom’s words: “You become the way you behave.”
Rosie O’Donnell: “And I began to notice that when emotions are turned into words written down on white paper, they gain a power that can make them challenging, even threatening.”
Bob Pittman: His father’s advice on raising a teenager: “There’s nothing he does that you should lose your line of communication over it, that you should ruin your relationship.”
Sally Ride: “You know, you’ve got to reach for the stars.” This one made me think, actually, about the opposite. Is there anything wrong with wanting to be happy but not famous? With, frankly, just wanting to be what the world would consider mediocre? Average?
Amy Tan: A painful, sad story about her relationship with her mother and then finally receiving some amount of healing.
So if some of the stories had been edited out, or if the title had set up different expectations of the book, it would have worked much better. However, there really were a number of good, inspiring, interesting stories. Here are some of my favorite bits (this part is long because it’s more a record for myself than a review):
Stephen Ambrose: His report that Eisenhower made it a rule to “never question another man’s motives. His wisdom, yes, but not his motives.” It made me want to be a little less cynical.
Jeff Bezos: “You’ll learn one day that it’s much harder to be kind than clever.”
David Boies: “You just make whatever decision you would want [your child:] to make if he were in your position.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Mother-in-law’s advice that “In every good marriage, it pays sometimes to be a little deaf.” And how she applied the advice beyond marriage.
Doris Kearns Goodwin: Erikson’s advice that “the richest lives attain an inner balance comprised of work, play, and love in equal order; to pursue one at the expense of others is to open oneself to sadness in older age.” And how she devoted a lot of her time to motherhood and didn’t mind when people asked, “Whatever happened to Doris Kearns, anyway?”
Scott Hamilton: His mom’s statement that we all have a certain number of minutes allotted to us and that we should use them well.
Ted Koppel: Will Roger’s words, “We are all ignorant about something.”
David Mamet: A delightful story about him falling in love with a young actress: “Our various situations precluded more than a respectful professional relationship between us, so I suffered philosophically, deranged by my immediate, impossible love for her. . . . I saw her, briefly, at the cast party. I told her how much I had enjoyed working with her and hoped we could do so again. There was a pause and she said, ‘I don’t seem to be able to leave.’ I apologized and moved aside for her, only to find that I had mistaken her meaning quite completely.
Mary Matalin: Her husband saying, “It doesn’t matter if everything you say is right and everything I say is wrong. The fact is, I still feel this way, so it counts.” Also, Maxene Fernstrom’s words: “You become the way you behave.”
Rosie O’Donnell: “And I began to notice that when emotions are turned into words written down on white paper, they gain a power that can make them challenging, even threatening.”
Bob Pittman: His father’s advice on raising a teenager: “There’s nothing he does that you should lose your line of communication over it, that you should ruin your relationship.”
Sally Ride: “You know, you’ve got to reach for the stars.” This one made me think, actually, about the opposite. Is there anything wrong with wanting to be happy but not famous? With, frankly, just wanting to be what the world would consider mediocre? Average?
Amy Tan: A painful, sad story about her relationship with her mother and then finally receiving some amount of healing.
June 10, 2020
This was an interesting book that I did not read cover to cover. Instead I picked through the names I knew and or cared about and read their words. Some of the "words" like for Muhammad Ali, weren't uplifting or inspirational words at all, but rather just the dig they needed to prove the other wrong! (In this case, he was told "he wouldn't ever amount to nothin". Some were pretty obvious, Itzhak Perlman - "Practice!" And some were truly inspirational like Doris Kearns Goodwin quoting Erik Erikson, "The richest lives attain an inner balance comprised of work, play and love in equal order; to pursue one at the expense of the others is to open oneself to sadness in later life." or, Stephen Ambrose who learned from Eisenhower , "never question another man's motives. his wisdom, yes, but not his motives."
The book was formatted in such a way that it is easy to pick it up and read one or two in your spare time.
The book was formatted in such a way that it is easy to pick it up and read one or two in your spare time.
September 2, 2016
This book consists of stories of 3-4 page short biographies of famous people. The title "The Right Words at the Right Time" was chosen because in these biographies the subject tells what little thing caused them to direct their attentions and their life path so that they became famous.
It was interesting at first, but I realized that a lot of the people whose similar stories I would like to hear were not in this book. After a while, it became somewhat tedious to read.
It was interesting at first, but I realized that a lot of the people whose similar stories I would like to hear were not in this book. After a while, it became somewhat tedious to read.
July 14, 2017
Given this as a gift a few years ago, I came across it and read the remaining essays I'd earlier missed. Some were profound; others will touch me more at other times in my life. No spoilers for who my favorites are because I read this completely as if I were listening in on (or perhaps engaged in) conversations on a park bench, looking over an ever changing group of people.
August 28, 2007
The title would seem to say it all, and it probably set out with the best of intentions. While there were some 'right words' for the 'right time', there were a number of offerings that seemed decidedly irrelevant, poorly conceived, etc. which detracted from the overall tone of the book.
March 5, 2008
This book is full of small anectdotes from famous people about lessons they learned because someone in their life spoke the right words at the right time to them. I really enjoyed hearing about the impact that one person can have on another...totally inspiring!
January 17, 2017
Not something I would normally pick up myself but my sister gave it to me and I have that compulsion to read any book someone hands me. This was actually an enjoyable quick read, 3-4 page anecdotes from famous people telling about words that were said to them that inspired their life.
August 21, 2014
This is one of my favorite "have to give a talk go to book". There is always something inspiring and fitting for what I need to hear.
June 18, 2017
Dated, but that just makes some of the essays extra poignant. I skipped a couple but most of the rest were wonderful. Some were written better than others but I found the book worth reading.
September 14, 2022
Perfect adornment for a home coffee table or office waiting room, The Right Words at the Right Time proclaims the good in the world with heartwarming reflections. These one-to-four page revelations inspire readers of all interests and abilities with expressive personal memories from architects, artists, designers, diplomats, humanitarians, and scientists. Complete with vivid life lessons from activists, educators, inventers, and politicians, any day will be brightened and boosted by the triumphs that transformed ordinary people into accomplished individuals.
Meaningful highlights are featured from Jimmy Carter, Amy Tan, Tom Brokaw, Steven Spielberg, Toni Morrison, Paul McCartney and others. President Bush’s “Duty, honor, country” patriotism resonated after the September 11, 2001, attacks and impacted Political Advisor Mary Matalin and remains her “daily guidepost.” Despite solitary confinement for five and a half years saturated with Vietnamese propaganda, Senator John McCain credits friend Ernie for tapping code through the thick cell walls, “We’ll all be home for Christmas” and his dedication to country. The thoughtful advice, wisdom, and hope motivates readers.
Enhance your library with this anthology of simple solutions to complex issues. Although “perception and reality” may be different, one influences the other. Prompted to “sing it,” songwriter Carly Simon dealt with her nervous “worry lump” stutter and made the conscious effort to think about other people rather than focus on her insecurity. Driven not to be a dishwasher his entire life, actor Sidney Poitier relished the value of reading and self-improvement and believed “honor comes with responsibility.” This amazing collection of inspirational human interest stories serves to ignite the positive rather than emphasize the negative.
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller recalled, “It is hard to see the future with tears in your eyes.” As she navigated serious injuries and the loss of a dear friend, she prayed for a clear, positive mind and her political foes. Swapping pessimism for her guitar and fellowship at Dartmouth College, she sang, played, and danced recognizing anything is possible. As a leader she focused on the “meritorious characteristics of other people.”
As a teenager suffering from low self-esteem, NASA Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride’s father advised, “You’ve got to reach for the stars” when she pursued tennis then astrophysics. Although U. S. Representative Maxine Waters may have been a poor, she was a devoted student determined to complete her health and nutrition assignment with pride. Her passionate St. Louis teachers went beyond the curriculum guiding students to develop confidence proclaiming, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Musician Carlos Santana played the violin in church, while he played guitar in the streets. This contrast provided a firsthand balance, and “you can’t play a life unless you live it.” A teacher recognized his potential and fostered his artistic talents then instructed Carlos to “direct your energy in the right place” and introduced him to the San Francisco Fillmore art and music community.
Actor Martin Sheen commended Priest Daniel Berrigan for organizing nonviolent Vietnam War protests called the “The Catonsville Nine” and Richard Gere for stating “America needs to concentrate less on military might and more on its capacity for compassion and forgiveness” after the loss of the lives in the inexplicable World Trade Center attack. Although we face daunting challenges, we possess actionable solutions.
Director of Sense and Sensibility Ang Lee recognized “the way we act because we are told to by society and the way we act because we want to…produce a tug of war between personal desires and cultural obligations.” Destructive, hurtful comments from others can leave one damaged. If you desire a dose of comic relief or encouragement, this compilation contains fascinating journeys of those whose lives were changed by hearing “the right words at the right time.”
Grateful for Marlo Thomas and Friends who have contributed their stories and all royalties from The Right Words at the Right Time to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Danny Thomas, who inspired “Run your own race!” Actors, athletes, comedians, and assorted professionals displayed a paradigm of persistence with optimism and a civic responsibility to be champions of caring. If you are a victim of moral injury or wish to resist the temptation to criticize, strive for peace and cherish The Right Words at the Right Time.
Meaningful highlights are featured from Jimmy Carter, Amy Tan, Tom Brokaw, Steven Spielberg, Toni Morrison, Paul McCartney and others. President Bush’s “Duty, honor, country” patriotism resonated after the September 11, 2001, attacks and impacted Political Advisor Mary Matalin and remains her “daily guidepost.” Despite solitary confinement for five and a half years saturated with Vietnamese propaganda, Senator John McCain credits friend Ernie for tapping code through the thick cell walls, “We’ll all be home for Christmas” and his dedication to country. The thoughtful advice, wisdom, and hope motivates readers.
Enhance your library with this anthology of simple solutions to complex issues. Although “perception and reality” may be different, one influences the other. Prompted to “sing it,” songwriter Carly Simon dealt with her nervous “worry lump” stutter and made the conscious effort to think about other people rather than focus on her insecurity. Driven not to be a dishwasher his entire life, actor Sidney Poitier relished the value of reading and self-improvement and believed “honor comes with responsibility.” This amazing collection of inspirational human interest stories serves to ignite the positive rather than emphasize the negative.
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Wilma Mankiller recalled, “It is hard to see the future with tears in your eyes.” As she navigated serious injuries and the loss of a dear friend, she prayed for a clear, positive mind and her political foes. Swapping pessimism for her guitar and fellowship at Dartmouth College, she sang, played, and danced recognizing anything is possible. As a leader she focused on the “meritorious characteristics of other people.”
As a teenager suffering from low self-esteem, NASA Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride’s father advised, “You’ve got to reach for the stars” when she pursued tennis then astrophysics. Although U. S. Representative Maxine Waters may have been a poor, she was a devoted student determined to complete her health and nutrition assignment with pride. Her passionate St. Louis teachers went beyond the curriculum guiding students to develop confidence proclaiming, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
Musician Carlos Santana played the violin in church, while he played guitar in the streets. This contrast provided a firsthand balance, and “you can’t play a life unless you live it.” A teacher recognized his potential and fostered his artistic talents then instructed Carlos to “direct your energy in the right place” and introduced him to the San Francisco Fillmore art and music community.
Actor Martin Sheen commended Priest Daniel Berrigan for organizing nonviolent Vietnam War protests called the “The Catonsville Nine” and Richard Gere for stating “America needs to concentrate less on military might and more on its capacity for compassion and forgiveness” after the loss of the lives in the inexplicable World Trade Center attack. Although we face daunting challenges, we possess actionable solutions.
Director of Sense and Sensibility Ang Lee recognized “the way we act because we are told to by society and the way we act because we want to…produce a tug of war between personal desires and cultural obligations.” Destructive, hurtful comments from others can leave one damaged. If you desire a dose of comic relief or encouragement, this compilation contains fascinating journeys of those whose lives were changed by hearing “the right words at the right time.”
Grateful for Marlo Thomas and Friends who have contributed their stories and all royalties from The Right Words at the Right Time to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by Danny Thomas, who inspired “Run your own race!” Actors, athletes, comedians, and assorted professionals displayed a paradigm of persistence with optimism and a civic responsibility to be champions of caring. If you are a victim of moral injury or wish to resist the temptation to criticize, strive for peace and cherish The Right Words at the Right Time.
April 20, 2020
I needed something light and inspiring after a couple of disturbing books. This one hit the mark. There are so many that hit home. Of course, some were much better than others.
Stephen Ambrose quoted Eisenhower "never question another man's motives. His wisdom, yes, but not his motives."
Jeff Bezos quoted his grandfather, " You'll learn one day that it's much harder to be kind than clever."
David Boies quoted his wife to make the decision that you would want your child to make.
Barbara Bush," Give your children the best education, set an example and all the love in the world and independence."
Those are a few that hit me. Some of the stories hit more than the quote like Whoopi. Basically is was to be yourself. There are many essays that the person saying the right words said words of encouragement but there were also others that the person told them they couldn't do something and it affected them the opposite. I think the book was worth reading. Very uplifting stories from people of all walks of life. Politicians, actors, artists, journalists, etc.
Stephen Ambrose quoted Eisenhower "never question another man's motives. His wisdom, yes, but not his motives."
Jeff Bezos quoted his grandfather, " You'll learn one day that it's much harder to be kind than clever."
David Boies quoted his wife to make the decision that you would want your child to make.
Barbara Bush," Give your children the best education, set an example and all the love in the world and independence."
Those are a few that hit me. Some of the stories hit more than the quote like Whoopi. Basically is was to be yourself. There are many essays that the person saying the right words said words of encouragement but there were also others that the person told them they couldn't do something and it affected them the opposite. I think the book was worth reading. Very uplifting stories from people of all walks of life. Politicians, actors, artists, journalists, etc.
May 29, 2023
It's interesting to see the wide variety of ideas people point to as having been a turning point in their lives or simply a very important piece of advice. Most of them are not particularly memorable to me, but obviously they were very important to these people. I've tried to think if there is something I could point to in my own life, and thought of a few possibilities but not a single one that stood out from all others. It was interesting to read the thoughts of people I'd heard of but knew little about, as well as quite a few I'd never heard of. By the end, though, my thought was, why are the thoughts of these people, however famous, more worth my time to read than those of more "ordinary" people? Some of the advice was about being the very best, which applies in sports and perhaps music, and for some people it is important to be that one who is the best, but in the grand scheme of things other people's lives are just as important and sometimes more worthwhile in terms of what they accomplish for the people who know them.
March 8, 2022
I received this book as a gift from a long-time writing friend. He recommended it as a "bathroom book" - suggested I read one brief chapter each day, which I did. This collection of stories about what inspired Muhammad Ali, Mel Brooks, Katie Couric, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Itzhak Perlman, Carlos Santana, Martin Sheen, Amy Tan, Venus Williams... almost 100 people sharing how receiving the right words at the right time changed or solidified the direction of their lives. As with any anthology, some stories have more appeal than others and some will be really appealing to me that have less appeal to others, and vice versa. Some are written by people who have fallen from grace, so to speak, since the book was published in 2002 (Bill Cosby, Lance Armstrong, Rudy Giuliani). The stories are good reminders to pay attention to when each of us received just the right words at just the right time to make such a huge difference in our lives.
May 19, 2020
Filled with some amazing words of advice. Even though some of the anecdotes included might seem a little dated (the book was published shortly after 9/11) many of the selections seem point on for our present day realities of dealing with quarantine and worries due to Covid 19. A good book to read at the present time.
July 19, 2020
I enjoyed reading the words that were important to famous people. These experiences made me consider how important our words can be and how we never know what the outcome of a conversation might be. Since the book was written 18 years ago, it is dated and I had to look up some of the people. It was still very interesting.
February 11, 2021
What is in a word?
What a powerful thing is a word “fitly spoken” in the moment we need to hear it. When our spirits are ripe for listening and applying the wisdom imparted. I love these short memoirs, and I love Marlo Thomas for compiling them.
What a powerful thing is a word “fitly spoken” in the moment we need to hear it. When our spirits are ripe for listening and applying the wisdom imparted. I love these short memoirs, and I love Marlo Thomas for compiling them.
March 10, 2019
Totally agree with Anam's review. It was basically events/words that set them on the path to be successful!
April 8, 2020
Words of wisdom that have their inspiration from numerous high achievers.
June 5, 2020
Very inspiring.
May 20, 2024
Short essays from around 100 well-known people, focusing on how something someone else said to them change the trajectory of their lives. Thought provoking.
September 1, 2024
Not a new book, but full of interesting perspectives on what is important in life
November 25, 2025
i liked reading the stories of all the people
September 14, 2008
This non-fiction book was not written for children or young adults but I would use parts of it to help and motivate students. This book contains over 100 short stories(300 words or less) from famous men and women who share their personal story of when someone said the RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME. This is a very inspiring and motivating book. For example, singer and songwriter Carly Simon stuttered and her mother's right words at the right time were when her mother said: "If you can start thinking about other people rather than yourself all the time, you may begin to lose your self-consciousness." There are stories from athletes Lance Armstrong and Muhammad Ali; news correspondents Christiane Amanpour and Walter Cronkite; movie stars Jennifer Ainston and Martin Sheen, comedians, muscians, activist, astronauts, and many more.
Genre: Non-fiction
Grades: 5-12
Activities:
1. I would you this book to read an inspirational story at the end of each day.
2. This book could be used to give students ideas about a career they might want to choose.
3. For students who do not like to read but would read about a movie star, famous athlete or comedian this would be a book I would suggest to get the student interested in recreational reading.
Genre: Non-fiction
Grades: 5-12
Activities:
1. I would you this book to read an inspirational story at the end of each day.
2. This book could be used to give students ideas about a career they might want to choose.
3. For students who do not like to read but would read about a movie star, famous athlete or comedian this would be a book I would suggest to get the student interested in recreational reading.
August 2, 2011
A friend gave this book to me since I have been going through some hard times (I'm pleased to say I can see the light at the end of the tunnel).
This is a collection of anecdotes from famous people like Phil Donahue, Ellen De Generes, to Ralph Lauren to Jennifer Aniston to Ruth Bater- Ginsburg. My favorite story, or at least the one that hit my heart the hardest was a bible verse from Betty Ford! I know. Wild. She told the story of moving into the White House within a few months of being the wife of the Secretary of State, then being diagnosed with breast cancer in an age when it was taboo to talk about it. And of course, she was an addict, and dealing with all that.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." First of all, "unto"?
The point is, this spoke to me at a time when I was desperate to understand, and I didn't. It comforted me. And hey, isn't that what these books are for?
This is a collection of anecdotes from famous people like Phil Donahue, Ellen De Generes, to Ralph Lauren to Jennifer Aniston to Ruth Bater- Ginsburg. My favorite story, or at least the one that hit my heart the hardest was a bible verse from Betty Ford! I know. Wild. She told the story of moving into the White House within a few months of being the wife of the Secretary of State, then being diagnosed with breast cancer in an age when it was taboo to talk about it. And of course, she was an addict, and dealing with all that.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." First of all, "unto"?
The point is, this spoke to me at a time when I was desperate to understand, and I didn't. It comforted me. And hey, isn't that what these books are for?
January 25, 2016
Some interesting essays from famous people regarding words or actions that most touched / influenced their lives. I particularly liked the ones that surprised me. A few of my favs were Tom Wolfe, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sammy Sosa, Willie Nelson, Dr. Peter Doherty, Ellen DeGeneres, Wilma Mankiller, Amy Tan, David Mamet, Mike Wallace & Dave Matthews. I actually enjoyed Volume 2 more, a version of essays written by regular joes.
February 7, 2008
I love hearing commencement addresses, and in some ways these essays were like shorter version of those speeches. Katie Couric, Ralph Nader, Tom Brokaw, Frank Gehry and others- highbrow andlowbrow types- tell what words shaped their lives and identities. I really could not put it down until my eyes refused to stay open, and then later I photocopied the best ones for friends and coworkers.
December 27, 2010
I really enjoyed this very much. It is a perfect bedside book. About 100 well-known public figures were asked to write a brief essay on a time in their lives when someone said the right thing at the right time and it had a had a lasting impact on their lives. It made an inspiring collection of essays. Hope you enjoy it too.
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