Give and Take by Adam Grant.

The reason I was motivated to pick up the book: The cover of the book states "WHY HELPING OTHERS DRIVES OUR SUCCESS'. I'm only human and learning about how me giving and can lead to me succeeding, got me...plain and simple. I like reading professional development, motivating books (typically one per month) and this was a great choice.

What I liked: Grant introduces us to multiple givers throughout Give and Take. Many of these were inspirational stories about people who were just good natured people who found giving to be inate. How they found success and the means by which they maintain it was often fascinating for me. We start by learning about the three main types of professionals (takers, matchers and givers). We then learn that there are different levels of givers (those that know how to give even more and find even more success and those who simply can't say no, giving all of themselves to everyone else). Through various studies, interviews and life experience, Adam Grant explains why it is advantageous for us to opt for a giving nature and he lifts the veil from false assumptions (takers get ahead, givers are doormats...). Grant also offers some ways to incorporate giving in your life with 10 calls to action in the latter portion of his book which is great for those interested in incorporating 'giving' in their lives.

What I didn't like: I found the footnotes at the bottom to be distracting. Incorporating them directly in the body of the book would have been more effective.

Grant has another book coming out later this month, I'll be sure to put it on my "To Read" list.

If you're interested in this little nugget, let me know and I'll send it your way!

52 Books - 52 Weeks

I've always had a fascination with the concept of giving and its return. I like to think of myself as a giving person but that's an easy statement to make. I once heard that there is 'no such thing' as a selfless act. I don't believe that to be true. You can selflessly opt to act in someone else's favor, especially when considering the abundant opportunities professionally. Giving without thinking of it coming back to you is reward enough. Helping someone without the expectation of due credit is hard, but it's possible. I'll opt for the 'glass half full' version of thinking on this one.

As soon as I saw the title, "Give and Take", I grabbed the book and knew that this had to be the first of 52 books to come throughout the year. I'm looking to get as business savvy as possible this year. The more I can learn, the better. This seemed like a great place to start. Join me as I learn the difference between givers, takers and matchers, how to be modest, overcoming the doormat effect and about actions for impact.

My plan is to pass these books along once I'm done! Feel free to let me know if you want this one (old dog eared pages, highlighted excerpts and underlining included)!

Until Saturday (unless I finish earlier).

~ a soon to be wiser Mel