The Little Red Book of Wisdom
By Mark DeMoss
Published by Thomas Nelson
Average Blogger Rating: 4.31 Stars
Official Book Description
The Little Red Book of Wisdom offers time-tested principles for professional and personal fulfillment.
Mark DeMoss gathers insights for living wisely from history, Scripture, and a lifetime of listening. The result is a handy, accessible book that gives readers a new way to enjoy lasting success in the work world and beyond. Topics include finding and keeping your focus in life, building a winning corporate culture, and setting aside time for good thinking.
My Review
I have to be honest. I wasn’t expecting to like this book. I expected another one of those “think happy thoughts and your life will be better” kind of devotional or “snippet” books and seriously, I’m pretty tired of them.
Is there any really “new” in this book? Probably not. The author takes his wisdom principles, for the most part, from scripture and experience and as we all know, “there is nothing new under the sun.”
But I like that, in many cases, DeMoss is countercultural. Counter “business as usual”. His advice is solid and often not what you want to hear. But you do want to hear it. Because it makes sense and it makes you think.
I particularly liked the chapters on technology and letter writing. His “The Best Defense ... is a Good Defense chapter is fabulous. You’ll have to get the book to read that one, but it’s some important advice that both men and women would be wise to heed.
Do yourself a favor and spend the extra couple of dollars to get the hardback copy rather than the Kindle Version. Or get both. But you’ll want the little red copy to pass on to others. Just make sure you put a bookplate in there so you’ll get it back.
The only reason I’m not giving the book a full 5 stars is because I got a little tired of the “name dropping” and “back patting”. While DeMoss has good reason to be proud of what he’s done and how well his company has faired, at some points I did find myself rolling my eyes a little at another famous name, etc. But put up with it - the book is still a worthwhile read and something great to keep on the coffee table for those times when your guests, or you, need something quick to read while waiting.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”