Springboard

June 17, 2013
Shell (Bargaining for Advantage) offers a guide to a more fruitful life based on his popular “Success Course” at the Wharton School of Business. In the first part of the book, the reader learns about developing his or her own definition of success—a process that includes determining the ideal life to lead and redefining happiness as something beyond family, friends, and fortune. Citing research on happiness and wealth, as well as anecdotes and spiritual wisdom, Shell concludes that meaningful work—i.e., work that uses your talents, “ignites you emotionally,” and is financially rewarding, in addition to building health and strong relationships—is the true measure of success. The latter half of the book illustrates the most viable way to pursue this new concept of prosperity: expand your social circle, increase your self-confidence, and focus on your unique skill set. Along the way, Shell incorporates worksheets and exercises, and he shares stories about people at different points in their careers, from Ivy League business school students to would-be retirees, who reinvented themselves to become happy, well-rounded individuals whose work inspires them and benefits larger communities. Shell’s nine steps to success are simple enough to follow, and readers may come away believing that a more prosperous life is attainable with a few tweaks and a little soul searching. Agent: Michael Snell, Michael Snell Literary Agency.

Starred review from July 1, 2013
Shell teaches at the Wharton School of Business, and in addition to his obvious expertise in the specialties of negotiation, persuasion, and interpersonal influence, his outstanding book on achieving success has exactly what this kind of examination needs, common sense and encouragement. The author's honesty is established early on as he posits the basic premise of his presentation, There is no foolproof system that always leads to success. That saidthat admitted tohe nevertheless goes on to unfold a wise program that rests on two factors: one must clarify one's goals (which means, of course, that a personal definition of success must be arrived at), and the resources and initiatives you need to achieve success should be identified. In well-ordered chapters, Shell develops the stages of his program for success, one important feature of which is determining what you do better than most people. Another aspect of his program that raises this book above others of its ilk is his exploration of the science of impression management, which boils down to this: social skills affect success. For all library patrons, not simply those who browse the business shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)