RELEVANT READING
Thoughtful observations on titles worth a look
Discovery, Influence and Reflection
Can Transform Your Life
The Five Secrets
You Must Discover
Before You Die
(Berrett Koehler
Publishers 2008)
By John Izzo, PhD
In his latest book, The
Five Secrets You Must Discover Before
You Die, John Izzo, PhD, unknowingly
follows the advice of NSA Founder
Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE: “Learn from
OPE—other people’s experience.” Izzo’s
quest is to discover the secret to a happy
life, not necessarily a wealthy life.
His “secrets” come from interviews
with over 200 people, ages 60 to 106,
who were each nominated by friends
and acquaintances as someone who has
found happiness and meaning. Although
Izzo’s research also generated a five-part
PBS television special, I prefer the
book version.
First, these aren’t secrets any more than
the book titled The Secret contains a
secret. It is stuff we all know but, like
most behavioral changes, knowing and
doing are two very different things. This
is why I truly appreciate Izzo—he gives
the reader things to do so that living a life
of meaning is not an esoteric function,
but grounded in everyday practices. The
reflective questions he poses for each of
the five secrets offer a compass for life.
You’ll find more than 18,000 years
of collective life experiences from which
to draw your own action plans. So just
do it!
Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE
www.eileenmcdargh.com
Dana Point, Calif.
Influencer
(McGraw-Hill 2008)
By Kerry Patterson,
Joseph Grenny,
David Maxfield,
Ron McMillan and
Al Switzler
One of our key functions as speakers is
to influence our audience. As the world
of command and control evaporates
from the fabric of change, we are left
wondering how to influence others.
Do you feel you have the power to
change anything?
Influencer is a well-written book laced
with numerous real-world examples,
from AIDS to education, fused with
research and perspective to give you the
vital behaviors needed to increase your
influence. The authors provide the
approach and tools to help you influence organizations and individuals.
Learn to find vital behaviors,
change the way you change minds,
make the undesirable desirable, surpass
your limits, harness peer pressure, find
strength in numbers, design rewards
and demand accountability, and change
the environment.
I encourage you to read the book,
visit the Web site offering additional
tools and, most important, put the
principles into practice to help change
others and yourself.
Warning: You just might find yourself quite influenced by this book.
David Zinger, MEd
www.davidzinger.com
Winnipeg, Canada
Eat, Pray, Love
(Penguin Books 2007)
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love takes
readers on a journey
with 108 memorable,
moving and often
humorous adventures through the
beauty of Italy, the self reflection of
India, and the balanced life of Bali via
Elizabeth Gilbert’s well-crafted words.
As a rugged road warrior, I find
myself often looking in the airplane
back-seat pocket for answers to finding
a balance between my work and my
health. I long to integrate the intellect
of my work with the heart of my passion while living a healthy life and
maintaining friendships and relationships. I gained so much value and
inspiration from Gilbert’s book that I
feel balance is possible, even between
canceled flights and hotel shuffles.
Gilbert’s journey finds inner peace
that can be both creative and passionate. From within the hustle and bustle
of drumming up new business, I have
managed to stop and appreciate a
smile, a good gelato, an enlightening
conversation, a well-written article in a
local newspaper, and other gifts that
keep me positively grounded. So, prop
up your feet, bathe in some natural
sunlight, and enjoy a great read.
Jessica Pettitt
www.jessicapettitt.com
Eureka, Calif.
