Practical Genius

It's hard to imagine a narrator who would sound more effective performing this material than Joyce Bean. Without overselling, she projects a solid confidence that what she's saying is true and worthy of attention. Her charismatic reading matches the high quality of this message from an assertive coach and corporate trainer who says that we can have the life of our dreams if we learn how to blend our strengths and skills with our passions, creativity, and values. Rudan provides an outstanding lesson on how to connect effectively with others, along with many examples of notable successes in the real world. With the help of Joyce Bean's remarkable vocal authority and some clever questionnaires, Rudan draws listeners into her analysis and makes them think in creative ways about their possibilities. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2011
Leadership development coach Rudan challenges readers to intertwine their strengths, passions, and values to establish the complete formula for success. She offers a series of reflective exercises to help readers find their innate genius by identifying, taking responsibility for and using both their own soft assets (values, creativity, passion) and hard assets (strengths, skills, expertise). Rudan surrounded herself with authors, educators, and entrepreneurs who were living at the intersection of what they love and excel at, and she likewise encourages readers to cultivate meaningful relationships that will feed their genius, incorporate brain food into their diets, get plenty of sleep, consume content voraciously, and learn to shut down and unplug to let their own intuitiveness flourish. Rudan warns that meaningless tweets deplete genius. Although her methods sound familiar, this serves best as a workbook for corporate clients who have gone through her coaching firsthand. As a stand-alone without the full force of her personality, the book feels flat and hackneyed. Illus.