Book Review: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

Recommended Reading:

 

Book:  “Never Eat Alone And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time”

Author: Keith Ferrazzi with Tahl Raz

Copyright: 2005

Publisher: Currency - Doubleday

 

Mr. Ferrazzi’s book “Never Eat Alone” is a must read for job seekers and entrepreneurs alike. His book contains useful tips on building and maintaining meaningful relationships regardless of the stage of your career.  His premise is that business is about relationships and reaching out to other people.  

 

He offers some compelling evidence to support his position.  A study by Thomas Harrell from Stanford University is referenced.  The purpose of Harrell’s study was to identify common traits of the school’s most successful MBA alumni.  While reviewing a group of selected MBAs a decade after graduation, Harrell found that the trait among the most successful alumni was “verbal fluency”.  Those with the most success where those who could confidently communicate.  Ferrazzi goes on to draw the correlation that those who are adept at communicating have the ability to build relationships by starting and maintaining conversations and thereby creating the foundation for a relationship with the other person.

 

He also cites a study by Ron Burt from the University of Chicago.  According to Ferrazzi, Burt’s study found that diversity in personal networks creates an advantage in today’s society.  The point being that network diversity enables individuals to bridge the gap between groups. 

 

I found the book to be filled with useful tips and ideas for building and maintaining meaningful relationships.  One of the most useful pieces of advice Ferrazzi offers is “build it before you need it”.  He makes the point that many individuals don’t begin to focus on their relationships until they are needed to locate/assist with their next opportunity. 

 

I highly recommend this book and found it well worth the $24.95 list price.

 

Post author: Royce Williard