Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life

Classic Wisdom for the Professional Life is a very inspirational novelty book. The editor, Bryan Curtis, claims in the introduction that this book can motivate anyone seeking to be successful. I have to agree. Since this is a book of quotes, it is filled with an array of wisdom from some of the world's best leaders. That is to say, it's a book of modern proverbs from people it would behoove us to listen to.

The main criticism I have of the book is that the quotes are somewhat random. For the writer or business professional who wants to access a specific theme, it would be very difficult to do unless one labeled or tagged related quotes (like with a specific color). So, though certainly inspirational, it's not as functional, which leads me to believe the purpose of the book is more for a graduation present or for a table in a business lobby.

With that being said, it's easy to pick out themes from sheer repetition. And, considering the impressive list of contributors, it's wisdom that should be heeded. The motif that stood out the most to me was persistence/perseverance and hard work as a key to success. This may seem rudimentary, but given who it's coming from, it becomes emphatic. I.e., it's easy to believe the myth that any celebrity is good at what they do simply because they are gifted. But consider these words from Thomas Edison: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." And this thought from Maya Angelou: "Nothing will work unless you do."

All in all, I recommend this book, especially if you are looking for a gift to a person looking for an accessible treasure of wisdom.


Note: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson publishers as a part of their Book Sneeze program.

Edited by Bryan Curtis. Thomas Nelson Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1-59555-126-9.