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The Good Among the Great: 19 Traits of the Most Admirable, Creative, and Joyous People
Donald Van de Mark spent more than 25 years interviewing prominent people for CNN and CNBC. He discovered that some people are not just successful, they're extraordinary. And more, these people share many of the same traits.
Confirming the theories of psychologist Abraham Maslow, Van de Mark brings to life 19 specific personality traits that you can develop within yourself to emulate the great and the good. You'll discover how to
Achieve more success in all facets of life
Think more creatively and make better choices
Experience the personal payoff of creativity, serenity, and joy
Not just reach your goals but "delight in the doing"
268 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2011
About the author
Donald Van de Mark
1 book36 followersDonald Van de Mark is the author of The Good Among the Great: 19 Traits of the Most Admirable, Creative and Joyous People (Columbia Island Press, April 2011).
He has been a television reporter and anchorman, Internet entrepreneur and public speaker. Among his television credits, Van de Mark was Executive Producer, Editor and host of two public broadcasting TV series, "Great Entrepreneurs" and "Great Leaders," where he profiled giants of business, including: Andy Grove of Intel, Jack Welch of GE, Martha Stewart, Stephen Covey and many more. These programs can be seen currently through Comcast’s pay per view offerings.
From 1995 to 1999, Van de Mark was instrumental in the launch of the first digital, non-linear television network, CNNfn. There, he co-created and anchored four original television shows: “Washington Unwrapped," “The Media Show," “Biz Buzz” and “Entrepreneurs Only." Van de Mark edited all four shows.
With Terry Keenan, Van de Mark also co-anchored and edited CNNfn’s premier market program, “Street Sweep." Additionally, Van de Mark edited and co-anchored “MoneyWeek” on CNN.
Throughout this time, Van de Mark was also a correspondent and a substitute anchor on “Moneyline." On August 31, 1998 Van de Mark broke the story of Long Term Capital Management’s near collapse; an event that shook global currency, bond and equity markets.
Prior to CNN and CNNFn, Van de Mark moved “off-air” when he made his first foray into the corporate boardroom and the embryonic world of e-Commerce. On August 30, 1993, he chased down QVC Inc.’s Chairman and CEO Barry Diller as he emerged from CNN’s studio. Rebuffed for an interview, Van de Mark nonetheless began a dialogue with Diller that culminated in his joining QVC as Director of Corporate Communications. Reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO, Van de Mark co-wrote with Diller speeches on interactivity and e-Commerce. He managed investor communications and new coverage as QVC made two widely covered takeover attempts: a $10 billion run at Paramount Communications and a scuttled $6.4 billion merger with CBS Inc.
Prior to QVC, Van de Mark spent five years in Washington, DC reporting on the political economy as the National Correspondent for CNBC. Van de Mark launched his career in communications in 1981 at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. He became a desk assistant at WCBS-TV News. For there he joined Business Times on ESPN.
Van de Mark has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University, where he majored in Political Science.
He graduated from St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island.
He has been a television reporter and anchorman, Internet entrepreneur and public speaker. Among his television credits, Van de Mark was Executive Producer, Editor and host of two public broadcasting TV series, "Great Entrepreneurs" and "Great Leaders," where he profiled giants of business, including: Andy Grove of Intel, Jack Welch of GE, Martha Stewart, Stephen Covey and many more. These programs can be seen currently through Comcast’s pay per view offerings.
From 1995 to 1999, Van de Mark was instrumental in the launch of the first digital, non-linear television network, CNNfn. There, he co-created and anchored four original television shows: “Washington Unwrapped," “The Media Show," “Biz Buzz” and “Entrepreneurs Only." Van de Mark edited all four shows.
With Terry Keenan, Van de Mark also co-anchored and edited CNNfn’s premier market program, “Street Sweep." Additionally, Van de Mark edited and co-anchored “MoneyWeek” on CNN.
Throughout this time, Van de Mark was also a correspondent and a substitute anchor on “Moneyline." On August 31, 1998 Van de Mark broke the story of Long Term Capital Management’s near collapse; an event that shook global currency, bond and equity markets.
Prior to CNN and CNNFn, Van de Mark moved “off-air” when he made his first foray into the corporate boardroom and the embryonic world of e-Commerce. On August 30, 1993, he chased down QVC Inc.’s Chairman and CEO Barry Diller as he emerged from CNN’s studio. Rebuffed for an interview, Van de Mark nonetheless began a dialogue with Diller that culminated in his joining QVC as Director of Corporate Communications. Reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO, Van de Mark co-wrote with Diller speeches on interactivity and e-Commerce. He managed investor communications and new coverage as QVC made two widely covered takeover attempts: a $10 billion run at Paramount Communications and a scuttled $6.4 billion merger with CBS Inc.
Prior to QVC, Van de Mark spent five years in Washington, DC reporting on the political economy as the National Correspondent for CNBC. Van de Mark launched his career in communications in 1981 at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. He became a desk assistant at WCBS-TV News. For there he joined Business Times on ESPN.
Van de Mark has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University, where he majored in Political Science.
He graduated from St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 2, 2011
Having decided to break out of a rut, I chose to read something in a genre I rarely sample. Donald Van de Mark’s The Good Among the Great could perhaps be conveniently shelved in the “self-help” section of the library, but to dismiss it as typical of that genre would be a mistake. What makes it different is the fact that the author draws from all walks of life (childhood friends, celebrities, professionals and renowned businessmen) and uses them to illustrate the specific traits he believes contribute to the making of a “great person.”
There are copious quotes from Abraham Maslow so Van de Mark makes no secret of the inspirational source material for his book. However, he has chosen not to simply recite a list of characteristics common to the great among us, but rather he focuses on how these personality traits express themselves in real life situations. The stories are always interesting. The tone of the book, while instructive, is not preachy. After reading this book I feel as if I may have absorbed some information, some advice that might propel me to become a better human being. After all, my initial desire to experience a book I normally wouldn’t pluck off the shelf is an example of one of the traits Van de Mark cites: being experiential.
There are copious quotes from Abraham Maslow so Van de Mark makes no secret of the inspirational source material for his book. However, he has chosen not to simply recite a list of characteristics common to the great among us, but rather he focuses on how these personality traits express themselves in real life situations. The stories are always interesting. The tone of the book, while instructive, is not preachy. After reading this book I feel as if I may have absorbed some information, some advice that might propel me to become a better human being. After all, my initial desire to experience a book I normally wouldn’t pluck off the shelf is an example of one of the traits Van de Mark cites: being experiential.
March 18, 2011
What a fantastic book. I couldn't put it down and finished it in 2 days. Donald Van de Mark has been interviewing people over 20 years and his collection of the traits that make people great and successful was so interesting to read. It makes sense when I read how each trait is broken down and the common traits among the people that are truly happy, content and living their life to the fullest.
I'm inspired and have gone back to the chapters of traits and reread pieces. Truly an inspirational book, so well written and rang very true to me. This was an "ah ha" book for me and each chapter, I found myself saying..."of course, makes total sense."
Totally recommend this book for everyone.
I'm inspired and have gone back to the chapters of traits and reread pieces. Truly an inspirational book, so well written and rang very true to me. This was an "ah ha" book for me and each chapter, I found myself saying..."of course, makes total sense."
Totally recommend this book for everyone.
March 23, 2012
I have purchased 5 copies of this book for my next staff book reading, taking a little detour from our usual customer service oriented books. I am just getting started on a little pre-reading before I introduce it to my staff!
Update: I finished the book (finally)and even if it took me awhile to get through it (due to a job change and other life fun) it was a good book and an inspiring read. I stand by one of my updates that I would love to see a "Page-a-day" calendar of wisdom from this book to keep on my desk and remind me of some of the traits I want to emulate.
Update: I finished the book (finally)and even if it took me awhile to get through it (due to a job change and other life fun) it was a good book and an inspiring read. I stand by one of my updates that I would love to see a "Page-a-day" calendar of wisdom from this book to keep on my desk and remind me of some of the traits I want to emulate.
July 27, 2011
I am not quite sure how I feel about the woman who was brutally raped and then served her family dinner. I don't know what's harder: pretending that something did not happen or not grieving in some sort of way. I think to acknowledge it in some sort of way and move forward makes the situation and person more healthy than to not do anything.
Overall, a good book that can help people develop good character.
Overall, a good book that can help people develop good character.
May 6, 2011
Interesting ideas...some I agree with wholeheartedly, others not so much. A lot of good traits to consider developing though.
July 8, 2011
Mildly interesting with some useful information. A few good anecdotes. Covey's 7 Habits is the book you want to read.
April 6, 2016
A good book, but I find that it can be summed up in 4 short sentences;D
Maslow.
Joseph Campbell.
The state of Flow ( Read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ).
Meryl Streep.
Maslow.
Joseph Campbell.
The state of Flow ( Read Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ).
Meryl Streep.
January 29, 2026
The good among the great are first and foremost independent, self-directed, autonomous individuals. They know who they are and have a much calmer, more intuitive sense of who they are and where they're headed. Recognize and accept responsibility for your choices and your life as it is. Your daily routine moves you toward or away from being more authentically you as well as more productive and happier.
Good, capable individuals unconsciously guard and nurture themselves or their spirits every day in all sorts of choices, large and small. Life has a moral dimension. The good among the great understand that every choice we make adds to the strength or weakness of our spirits. Every day constitutes another opportunity to build yourself up or tear yourself down. Measure your choices by your inner, higher values.
The best human beings are constantly honing their ability to sift information, discern others' motives, and judge what they perceive. The good among the great are natural skeptics; they question authority. They are also information hounds; they get good data before they make big decisions.
Use the solitary moments in your life to seek intense calm and quiet so that you may sense your deepest wants, needs, emotions, and reactions. Use this time to refine your goals and plan your strategies to achieve them.
The good among the great develop a true, whole sense of themselves and are both aware of and a bit detached from their feelings and reactions. Quiet your internal mind chatter with meditation, nature, creative pursuits, music, and exercise.
Self-actualizing people have more openness to experience. Being truly open involves existential questioning. The strong are constantly testing and refining their knowledge by experiencing alternative ways of being, thinking, and behaving. The good among the great are calm when facing the unknown so they don't halt themselves, fearful of what may happen to them if they try something new. The strongest, happiest people are eager to test, measure, and even challenge their own thinking and behavior by trying new thinking and behavior. People who are open to experience are also more adaptable because their minds continue to grow to fit each new environment they explore.
Great achievers have a firm sense of identity and strongly held convictions, yet it's the desire to push themselves out of their comfort zones that confirms and refines those convictions. Therefore, they have a more nuanced and sophisticated sense of who they are and who they're becoming. They often know exactly what they stand for because they've been trying on new ideas and challenging their own arguments. They test and measure their own ideas, beliefs, and capabilities against a constantly changing set of backdrops.
Healthy human beings are realistic about themselves. The good among the great are aware of their shortcomings because they continuously assess them and work to compensate or overcome them. Pattern recognition is invaluable when judging your own behavior. Realists have minds that are in shape when it comes to reception and perception, as well as analysis and decision making. The good among the great assess the world more clearly and efficiently because they recognize that reality is not fixed, so they often test their own assumptions. Once you develop the habit of talking less and listening, observing and absorbing more, then direct your heightened awareness to higher-quality sources. The first step toward wisdom is the recognition of your own ignorance.
People with strong, healthy psyches, remain unruffled by the events that rattle the average person. The wisest people gather good data on their counterparts and make incremental moves, taking each step based on the best information they can find.
What matters is your character, your behavior, and whether you're open to learning and improving your lot in life. To become more egalitarian, first, recognize the humanity in all of us.
Those who empathize with others not only see more, but see specific situations in a clearer and more nuanced way. The best individuals point the rest of us in the right direction not only with words or laws, but with their examples--the way they treat and love others, enjoy life, and serve the world. You have a lot of control over who you are and where you're headed.
Good, capable individuals unconsciously guard and nurture themselves or their spirits every day in all sorts of choices, large and small. Life has a moral dimension. The good among the great understand that every choice we make adds to the strength or weakness of our spirits. Every day constitutes another opportunity to build yourself up or tear yourself down. Measure your choices by your inner, higher values.
The best human beings are constantly honing their ability to sift information, discern others' motives, and judge what they perceive. The good among the great are natural skeptics; they question authority. They are also information hounds; they get good data before they make big decisions.
Use the solitary moments in your life to seek intense calm and quiet so that you may sense your deepest wants, needs, emotions, and reactions. Use this time to refine your goals and plan your strategies to achieve them.
The good among the great develop a true, whole sense of themselves and are both aware of and a bit detached from their feelings and reactions. Quiet your internal mind chatter with meditation, nature, creative pursuits, music, and exercise.
Self-actualizing people have more openness to experience. Being truly open involves existential questioning. The strong are constantly testing and refining their knowledge by experiencing alternative ways of being, thinking, and behaving. The good among the great are calm when facing the unknown so they don't halt themselves, fearful of what may happen to them if they try something new. The strongest, happiest people are eager to test, measure, and even challenge their own thinking and behavior by trying new thinking and behavior. People who are open to experience are also more adaptable because their minds continue to grow to fit each new environment they explore.
Great achievers have a firm sense of identity and strongly held convictions, yet it's the desire to push themselves out of their comfort zones that confirms and refines those convictions. Therefore, they have a more nuanced and sophisticated sense of who they are and who they're becoming. They often know exactly what they stand for because they've been trying on new ideas and challenging their own arguments. They test and measure their own ideas, beliefs, and capabilities against a constantly changing set of backdrops.
Healthy human beings are realistic about themselves. The good among the great are aware of their shortcomings because they continuously assess them and work to compensate or overcome them. Pattern recognition is invaluable when judging your own behavior. Realists have minds that are in shape when it comes to reception and perception, as well as analysis and decision making. The good among the great assess the world more clearly and efficiently because they recognize that reality is not fixed, so they often test their own assumptions. Once you develop the habit of talking less and listening, observing and absorbing more, then direct your heightened awareness to higher-quality sources. The first step toward wisdom is the recognition of your own ignorance.
People with strong, healthy psyches, remain unruffled by the events that rattle the average person. The wisest people gather good data on their counterparts and make incremental moves, taking each step based on the best information they can find.
What matters is your character, your behavior, and whether you're open to learning and improving your lot in life. To become more egalitarian, first, recognize the humanity in all of us.
Those who empathize with others not only see more, but see specific situations in a clearer and more nuanced way. The best individuals point the rest of us in the right direction not only with words or laws, but with their examples--the way they treat and love others, enjoy life, and serve the world. You have a lot of control over who you are and where you're headed.
August 20, 2014
Part 1: Developing a True, Whole Self Chapter 1 Be Uniquely You Trait: Autonomous Chapter 2 Have Lasting Love Trait: Loving Chapter 3 Be True-Blue Trait: Ethical Chapter 4 Tune Out Trends and Traffickers Trait: Unaffected Chapter 5 Protect Your Privacy Trait: Private Chapter 6 Stand Back! Trait: Detached Part 2: Assessing the World Clearly and Efficiently Chapter 7 Get Out the Door Trait: Experiential Chapter 8 Don���t Kid Yourself Trait: Realistic Chapter 9 Chill Out! Trait: Laid Back Chapter 10 Tap-dance to Work Trait: Performance and Process-Oriented Part 3: Caring and Interacting Effectively Chapter 11 Respect All Souls Trait: Egalitarian Chapter 12 Laugh With Me Trait: Jolly Chapter 13 It���s Not About You Trait: Empathic Chapter 14 Be Proactive Trait: Dutiful Part 4: Finding Your Personal Payoff Chapter 15 Delight in the Day-to-Day Trait: Appreciative Chapter 16 Go Out and Play Trait: Creative Chapter 17 Shout Out
February 8, 2012
I got this signed copy through the Goodreads Giveaways, and I'm so glad I did! This is a very approachable, easy to absorb report on the traits you can build to not only succeed in business without losing your soul, but to actually make positive change in the world. Even if you come from a not so perfect family, the skills and traits Van de Mark outlines in some of the most successful, well-known and admired people can be learned and passed on to future generations. A real primer for anyone who wants to get their priorities in line with a positive, humanistic form of true inner and worldly success. I'm passing this around at work now so my whole team can benefit!
April 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this book for reflection and improvement purposes. Want to give it 5 stars, but grew annoyed with the constant "As Maslow noted/states/shows/explains, etc." as these references seemed to make up a third of the book. (Great for non-psychology folks, but as a psych minor in college, I'm well aware of Maslow's ideas). For anyone looking to do some self-reflection time, wanting to find ways of improving your overall being, looking to become happier/calmer/joyous/pleasant/successful, this is a book worth reading.
June 4, 2011
I enjoyed the stories and I would have given the book four stars - but then I read the story of the woman who was brutally raped in her home by an intruder, and then, that very evening, prepared and served a wonderful dinner for her large family. The author (if I hadn't known his gender, this certainly revealed it) actually PRAISED her for... for what? Her unique ability to pretend that she hadn't been affected by the traumatic, horrific assault? That's not, in my opinion, a trait I wish to emulate, however, the other people he studied and wrote about were quite admirable.
June 22, 2011
OMG, I finally finished this book! It's not that it wasn't good. But it was a bit dry, and maybe I just wasn't in the mood. And so much of what the writer had to say seemed very obvious to me. I may not ALWAYS live as a "good" person should, but I do generally know how living good looks and feels. And I was actually more interested in the ordinary people the author profiled rather than people like Jack Welch of GE. But the guy spent years interviewing these "great" people, so it makes sense that they are who he would include here, I guess.
February 22, 2012
I liked this book because the topics that make up each chapter were quite relevant to me. They were based on Maslow's list, but not the hierarchy any psychology student could provide in detail about our basic human needs. Maslow made a list of characteristics that we should develop to develop the best version of ourselves. I had never heard of it before, but it was an insightful list of characteristcs. Van de Mark included examples of the characteristics from celebrities and others that was also interesting. It will stay on my bookshelf for future reference.
January 27, 2012
Check out my comment in Spanish about this book: http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com/2...
I was expecting to see the life stories of several successful people; but instead of that; this author presents a list of qualities that he believes any successful person must possess. The list transforms this book in a very cute self-help volume; topped with an allegory to Meryl Streep; a person that according to the author; is the compound of all the 19 qualities.
I was expecting to see the life stories of several successful people; but instead of that; this author presents a list of qualities that he believes any successful person must possess. The list transforms this book in a very cute self-help volume; topped with an allegory to Meryl Streep; a person that according to the author; is the compound of all the 19 qualities.
December 20, 2012
This book is about traits of the 1% of so called "great" people that we can't help but look up to, based on the 19 traits outlined by the psychologist Abraham Maslow.
To be honest, I skimmed this book because I found it repetitive and lacking in detached analysis. It's more of an opinion piece of the author on how he thinks these people he brings up are admirable. I think the approach of the book of presenting people he knows and believe to be admirable did not work well as it clouded the book too much with his bias on the subject.
To be honest, I skimmed this book because I found it repetitive and lacking in detached analysis. It's more of an opinion piece of the author on how he thinks these people he brings up are admirable. I think the approach of the book of presenting people he knows and believe to be admirable did not work well as it clouded the book too much with his bias on the subject.
July 11, 2011
Really enjoyed most of this book. I liked the references to real people, although I don't agree that being raped and then being able to serve your family dinner that evening is a healthy response to such a horrific experience.
I liked the layout with Maslow's take and having the Takeaways for reference at the end of each chapter. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is interested in learning more on self actualization.
I liked the layout with Maslow's take and having the Takeaways for reference at the end of each chapter. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is interested in learning more on self actualization.
February 23, 2013
Amazing book! Highly recommended... it's well written with plenty of examples from well known business leaders like Jack Welch.
It's definitely different from your average self-help book because it's not New Age-y but is written with an informative/factual/journalistic and example-filled style. Since there are so many real world examples that are pretty detailed, the book comes across as much more legitimate and powerful than a New Age type of inspirational book might.
It's definitely different from your average self-help book because it's not New Age-y but is written with an informative/factual/journalistic and example-filled style. Since there are so many real world examples that are pretty detailed, the book comes across as much more legitimate and powerful than a New Age type of inspirational book might.
May 19, 2014
I think there is some good advice with-in this book, however this book is based solely on the author's opinion of what is good among people who are well known. Values of the reader may not be "good" and values the author deems "good" may not be esteemed by the reader. I found that if you happen to be Christian, this book mostly tries to replace what you can learn from scripture, but without acknowledging that Heavenly Father is all-knowing.
June 9, 2011
I was attracted to this book when I flipped through it at the library, but once I started reading it in earnest, I decided that I did not like it. I tried. Ultimately, I felt that his tone was holier-than-thou. The descriptions of admirable characteristics somehow made me feel defeated rather than inspired. Perhaps that says more about my state of mind than the book but I could not finish it.
June 6, 2011
Interesting 3.5 book about the traits that make people (in this author's opinion) both great - and good. I loved how he wrote about the traits of real people - some of whom I truly admire, like Abraham Lincoln and Meryl Streep, and others I'd love to know, like Andrew Ferguson, a teacher, and a lovely pediatric hospice nurse.
October 17, 2011
The author uses Maslow's hierarchy as a template for 19 characteristics that people have or can develop to be happier, more successful, etc. At the end he uses Meryl Streep as an example of someone who encompasses all of these characteristics. The book started out fine but then just seemed to drag on.......had trouble finishing it because of that.
July 15, 2011
This has good pointers to help anyone make improvements to his/her life and outlook on life....
July 12, 2011
The lives of people presented in this book just did not pull me in. The writer did not delve deep enough and I couldn't keep interest up though I like the idea of learning about these people.
March 16, 2014
I hadn't realised this was so self-helpy. Good as an illustration of Maslow's theory, I guess. Lots of good advice, but nothing world-changing.
June 16, 2011
Everyone should read this. I loved it.
December 26, 2011
Interesting take, good variety of subjects. Could've done with out the ode to Meryl Streep at the end. Odd finish to an otherwise good book.
October 22, 2014
Really enjoyed Donald's book discussing successful people with strong value systems. Simple, smart and well done. Quick, enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews