8/12/2019 111002 Success Classics Review

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50 Success Classics: Winning Wisdom for Work and Life from 50Landmark Books by Tom Butler-Bowden

What is in this book?

The Author selects and provides insight andintelligent summaries of a diverse range of 50“Success” works. These wo rks have been carefullychosen for the profound impact they have had ontheir readers.

He splits the books into four categories, each witharound 14 -15 works:

1. Motivation: e.g. Stephen Covey’s The 7Habits of Highly Effective People and ZigZiglar’s See You at the Top

2. Fulfilling your Potential : e.g. Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War and Jim Collins’s Goodto Great

3. Prosperity: e.g. Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich and Benjamin Franklin’sThe Way to Wealth

4. Leadership : e.g. Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom and Henry Ford’s My Life and Work

His style is easy to read and understandable. He uses a clever range of reader-friendly devices in each summary such as a short author bio and “In a nutshell”comments and quotes.

What are the key messages?

Butler-Bowen suggests that each person who seeks success must assume primaryresponsibility for being and doing whatever is required to achieve it. Heacknowledges that those who penned the works stated that they had assistancealong the way from many people and sources.

His summary of some characteristics of successful people is:

1. Optimism – tough minded and expect to succeed2. A definite aim, purpose or vision – success requires concentrated effort3. Willingness to work – this will create momentum

4. Discipline – the need to give themselves orders and obey them

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5. An integrated mind – good relationship with the conscious and subconsciousmind. Trusting their intuition, their non-rational mind, to solve problems andcreate solutions.

6. Prolific reading – success leaves clues. Reading about them is one of the

best ways to pick up these clues. Curiosity and capacity to learn - leaders arereaders!7. Risk taking – the greater the risk the greater the gain – be proactive and

action oriented.8. Realising the power of expectation – successful people expect the best and

they usually get it – expectations have a way of attracting them to theirmaterial equivalent. They get what they expect so they aim high!

9. Mastery – they are masters of their soul, captain of their fate – accountabilityis high.

10. Well roundedness – achievements mean little if they are not a success as aperson. The capacity to love, listen and learn are vital for their wellbeing.

Who should read this book?

Anyone interested in achieving an understanding of a broad range of classic texts onsuccess. It can be read cover to cover or can be dipped into. The easy-to-read stylelends itself to being read at any time.