- The Bounce Back Book - Workman Publishing
The Bounce Back Book (Workman Publishing, 2007) is a totally different self help book. This becomes apparent as you pick up the small red book and feel its unique rubberized cover. Thumb through the book and you will have no doubt that you're looking at a fresh approach to personal development and growth. The pages are filled with varying patterns, colors, fonts, and images. Possibly the only consistent visual theme is that each page is different than the one before.
Karen Salmansohn
Karen Salmansohn has written 20 books and sold over a million copies. Her success comes after turning to writing upon leaving a successful marketing career at the age of 26. In Karen's words, "I used to be a senior VP in advertising at age 26 - but wasn't really happy writing toothpaste and cat food jingles - so I quit to become an author. I figured if I could make it in a profession I wasn't passionate about - if I just followed the same principles for success, I could perhaps make it as an author - which I was very, very passionate about."
Life Choices
Salmansohn is outspoken, pulling no punches about her own past successes and failures and being very clear in her theme of personal development being each person's responsibility. The book results from her own recovery and personal growth after a shocking sexual assault by an acquaintance. She hit bottom and finally realized she had two choices: be weak or be strong.
In her typical out-front way of speaking, Salmansohn says, "And when push came to shove, I chose "be strong," baby!"
Her compendium of 75 tips for overcoming adversity begins with a very unusual forward: the word "forward" in bold red is tip #1: Be a forward thinker. "Whenever you're tempted to dwell in the past, repeat this single word foreword. Brainstorm one positive thought and action to use to keep you moving forward."
This unusual forward is a clever signal of Salmansohn's theme of moving on, learning from adversity, growing from personal difficulty and moving forward toward your goals. From tip #2: "What you are going through now is normal," through tip #74: "Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life," a quote by Bertolt Brecht, Salmansohn helps you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on.
A Unique Gift Idea?
The Bounce Back Book uses a light and lively approach to tough times, not minimizing the adversity you may be undergoing, but persistently insisting on verbally and visually turning your approach to forward and positive thoughts and actions. This book may be just the right gift for some people, but be careful, those looking for sympathy won't find "oh, you poor thing" in The Bounce Back Book.
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Jerry Lopper - IPPA member, business and engineering degrees. Jerry's passion for personal development shows in 5 books, hundreds of articles & ...
