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Walter-Lake
Posted February 9, 2012
Gets you to start to see relationships as a tool -- pretty different but Good reading
The book really was a little slow at the beginning but it ramped up after that. I think Keith looks at relationships in a strategic way, but in the end it teaches you that to get something you have to give something.
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In business today there seems to be always a hook or someone asking for a side deal to move business forward, which seems what his book kinda concludes.
Good book overall, good reading to make you think.... read if you are in need to grow your business based on meeting alot of people. -
blm51389
Posted December 6, 2010
Amazing!
As a aspiring Business major I took a certain interest to this book. I thought of it as a rough guideline for future success! I highly reccommend this to both Business majors or to the person that has doubts about his/her plans in their personal life. Very insightful, chalk full of honesty and tid its for success!
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Anonymous
Posted October 19, 2009
Poor writing & simplistic
I don't understand why this book is so popular. I got very little out of it. The topic can be boiled down to what sociologists call social capital, nothing new there. The author rambles and does a lot of name dropping (which means nothing to the average person). He is a very poor writer. Skip this one and read a good book on networking.
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Anonymous
Posted June 24, 2009
Ferrazzi shameless self-promotion
As Ferrazzi admits several times in his book, he is a "shameless self-promoter". And sadly that is all this book is about. The examples Ferrazzi provides in chapters such as "Be Interesting" are all anecdotes from the life of another young MBA. There is extremely little research or support for the recommendations. But that is OK because there are no recommendations that you haven't already thought of doing. Perhaps the only thing you didn't already do was 'Throw FABULOUS dinner parties, like mine!'. And now that you know that, you can save your time and read something useful.
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Anonymous
Posted December 14, 2008
Great book full of great tips & techniques...
...for effective relationship building. Definitely a must-read and a keeper for your bookshelf.
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Anonymous
Posted July 4, 2008
Good read for marketing/business professionals. Techies, stay away from this book
This is a must read for people in the IT / High-tech / Marketing and sales business. The reason for my headline is because of the review from Stan. I can completely see where Stan is coming from and I agree with his assessment. For a technical person (a non-suit lets say) this book is border-lining on blasphemy. Let's just say Ayn Rand will be turning in her grave if someone had read her this book. But, lets snap back into reality. You can protest anything and everything that you consider as immoral in your mind. For someone else, they might genuinely like making connections to move ahead in business and life. Sift through what you don't agree with and look at rest of the content. I can promise you that you cannot put this book down once you start reading it. You gotta respect a guy who came from humble beginnings, got into Yale and is featured in who's who under 40. Highly recommended.
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Anonymous
Posted January 16, 2008
Another Installment to the Schmoozer's Bible
In this publication Keith Ferrazzi decided to add to the growing body of 'the Schmoozer's Bible'. Ferrazzi outright rejects the terms which normally describes the type of behavior he champions. These terms are 'schmoozer', 'apple-polisher', 'sycophant', etc. Instead, Ferrazzi is more comfortable referring to himself -- and others of his ilk -- as 'connector'. This, unfortunately, does not change the nature of what he does and, most important, how he does it. The book teaches that, if put in a nutshell, all moral scruples are suppressed, there will be nothing standing between him/her and his/her goal. Ferrazzi claims that he has perfected the art of 'connecting to people', whereas the truth is that what he has really perfected is the art of manipulation and pretense. There are hysterical parts of this book where Ferrazzi encourages the reader to 'develop' certain interests, focusing in on the most popular interests of the rich of this world, such as, for example, golf, which Ferrazzi himself does not particularly enjoy but is afraid to speak strongly against it in the same measure as he is afraid of speaking strongly against anyone or anything, hedging his bets and thinking that he might have to ask this person for a favor some time in the future which is why irating him/her in this publication would be imprudent. Perhaps the most laughable statement made by Ferrazzi is the one he makes towards the very end of this book where he talks about how his strategy of 'connecting to people' can change the world. Keith is either delusional or just can't snap out of the overall pretense of this book, but the way he does things achieves the exact opposite -- it creates a nation of adaptable and spineless people who even arrange their tastes in music to the liking of those they 'want to meet'. Ferrazzi, according to his own admission, has grown into the lifestyle his schmoozer philosophy affords and, apparently, has done very well for himself applying it. I, personally, wouldn't want someone like him as a friend and I wouldn't want his type around in professional settings either. It is not all bad, though. There are certain parts of the book that -- although do not contain new information and a new way of presentation of old information -- are instructive as they remind us of certain aspects of social etiquette. Thank-you letters is one such aspect. Remembering people's birthdays is another. These are very simple and widely known forms of social etiquette which sometimes, unfortunately, escape people's attention. There are a few other things that can be picked up on the way. Considering the cost of time that takes to read this book and the benefit one can attain, I recommend you get it on audio and listen to it in your car where there is little else to do. Do not treat this book as a revelation, though. There is no hidden message and Ferrazzi does not know much more about 'connectivity' than most of you unless of course you accept his version of 'persistence'. The greatness value of this book, though, is how entertaining it is and how fun it is to watch Ferrazzi 'connect to people' in what most would consider as humiliating ways.
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Anonymous
Posted May 19, 2007
A refreshing, focused perspective on networking
This book fully revs you up to make powerful, positive connections on purpuse. I literally couldn't put the book down. As a marketing consultant, I always recommend this book to my clients as we develop a 'customized' networking plan for them. It's a refreshing look at making connections and helping others in the process. It's more than showing up in a room with business cards...
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Anonymous
Posted August 5, 2006
Quality Material
This book came uploaded as an eBook file when I purchased my PDA. What is in this book is common sense for the most part. What makes it so great at least in my perspective is that it is the basics of building strong relationships. There are countless other books that cover the same subject but have more complicated explainations and unneccessary methods. Books that confuse the reader rather than lay out information so that it can be easily understood and applied. This is a great book for professionals or anyone looking to improve themselves.
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Anonymous
Posted September 24, 2006
Outstanding Insight
This book is a must have for htose within the client relationship business. The minute I began reading this book I started to implement the techniques mention and they really work. Out of my 25 years experience in the professional accounting field I have not found a better book that has allowed me to increase the true relationships that I have.
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Anonymous
Posted February 5, 2006
Found this book while browsing the bookstore, and wow! What an amazing find.
I saw this book hidden among the other books in the business section. The title spoke to me, so I picked it up--along with a few others--and sat down in a chair to peruse them. It wasn't long before Never Eat Alone had me flipping the pages in amazement. This book speaks volumes to everyone who knows what it takes to accomplish lofty goals in life: other people. Without other people, you'll be constantly trapped inside your own limitations. The most beautiful thing I've discovered--and Keith obviously has as well--is that networking done right is a beautiful thing. It's beautiful because you accomplish the most by helping *others*, not by trying to use others or by hoarding your resources. By helping others, you make the sort of connections which will help you in return. You don't even have to try. Never Eat Alone is packed full of concepts like this well explained, fully supported, and easy to read. If you have lofty goals in life, whatever they may be, this is the book for you.
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Anonymous
Posted January 23, 2006
Masterful Networking Tactics
Author Keith Ferrazzi is a master networker who claims that his Palm Pilot holds the names of 5,000 people who will take his phone calls. That¿s a powerful claim. Starting as a self-made man of humble origins, Ferrazzi developed his social network by helping people and by developing and mastering the techniques for networking. Here, he shares his methods. His light, engaging and entertaining story will motivate those who want to enhance their social and business friendships. The author advocates generosity as the key to success. That¿s a radical business concept, but he claims it works. It¿s certainly worth a try. We recommend this book to people who want to be more social, make friends and expand their business connections. It should also prove invaluable for those who are sick of sitting at home on Saturday nights.
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Anonymous
Posted January 2, 2006
not from a friend of the author...
This is barely worth the read. Maybe a couple of good hints, maybe. But realistically, one can not but help think while reading this book is there anyone on earth more full of himself than Mr. Ferrazzi? Every action in the life of the author is predicated upon an ulterior motive. No wonder there is such mistrust and disrespect for sales people and honest businessmen.
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Anonymous
Posted October 15, 2005
A Read a Lot . . . and This is a Great Book!
I've been a successful tax consulting professional for a long time, and this is one book that provides unique, yet practical ways of improving your networking and marketing impact. Further, the stories and writing style were entertaining. I plan on purchasing many copies of this book as gifts for my daughters, their boyfriends and other young people that I'd love to see excel in life!
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Anonymous
Posted June 27, 2005
Great Concept w/ Great Information!
Finally here's a book that does more than just tell us it's important to network. Keith does networking wonderfully without looking too obnoxious while doing it. This book is a must read for everyone, whatever point you are at in your career.
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Anonymous
Posted March 22, 2005
Be Genuine, Be Generous
Ferrazzi breaks down the old boys network and replaces it with a winning strategy to gain a relationship-driven life. Clear, concise and genuine, Ferrazzi and Tahl provide both method and means to build a quality network of true friends. Never Eat Alone, is a must read for those seeking a quality personal and professional life.
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Anonymous
Posted March 4, 2005
Career advice with impact
Great read. On top of the interesting anecdotes that tie it all together, this is one of those books that is just loaded with practical advice to advance yourself personally and professionally. I sometimes doubt the effectiveness of business best practices, 'how to' or self-help type books, but I can tell you the networking tactics and truths revealed in this book have already helped me in significant ways in my own career. A must read for every working professional.
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Anonymous
Posted March 8, 2005
EVERYONE can benefit from this read!
I was skeptical at first -- as a 'recovering engineer' I had always thought of 'networking' as something phony, something for slick sales-types. Then I saw this Keith Ferrazzi speak at a conf in New York -- WOW, he conveyed the importance of relationships to ANYONE -- business relationships get more personal, and personal relationships can generate business. I had to buy the book when it was released, and it did not disappoint. 31 chapters, each well contained, made for a perfect transcontinental in-flight read. There's even a chapter addressing my previous stereotype of networkers, called, 'The Networking J&rk.' Ferrazzi's advice is rock solid, ready to implement. Read it, then change the way you approach life and business. See if Ferrazzi's speaking anywhere nearby -- he's ultra-dynamic and will pump you up to follow the book's advice.
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Anonymous
Posted March 3, 2005
Life-changing
I just got this book and finished it in three days. A fascinating guide to building and maintaining relationships, whether you're an executive or a stay-at-home mom.
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Anonymous
Posted March 3, 2005
all I can say 'AMAZING'
I'm 27 years old and i felt the shadow of mistery in the field of 'networking' lifted as i read through this book. Keith is a young humble god sent with a message that shows the lifestyle that separates the rich from the poor. Reading this book is like spending a day with someone that has the keys to the univers and is happy to make you a copy. Who ever reads this book is lucky. I'm a little nervous if too many people read this book everyone will be able to do anything, but that's a good thing and the book talks about hording helpful information. Thanks for reading my review and have fun.
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