Review of You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way

J.R. Parrish's Guide to Graduates on the Fast Track to Success

Aug 18, 2009

J.R. Parrish's "You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way" is more than a guide for recent graduates. It's a blueprint for all for success in life, work and personal goals.

Sometimes a book provides more than what its cover promises. J.R. Parrish went from dairy worker to multimillion in record time, and his book boasts it is for "making it in the real world: a guide for graduates." Parrish thinks he's talking to high school or college grads, and giving advice to graduates. Rest assured, he is not; for this book is filled with the realities of working and achieving whatever one wants in life, and how to get there – and is appropriate for anyone who has to work to make a living (or more appropriately, make a life as per Parrish), or be a success, or live with others, or get along with others while trying to get ahead. There are CEO's who still have not learned the lessons contained in this handy guide.

Personal Stories Pertain to Personal Goals for the Reader

There are six major chapters to You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way: Human Relations; Habits; Making Your Dreams Come True; Dating, Marriage and Parenting; Career and Finance; Love and Truth. Each chapter is divided into further subsections that inter-relate. As well, each chapter has many quick "psych" quizzes, aimed at helping the reader determine personal reactions to certain situations; what those reactions mean; and how to best work with those reactions. Note that these quizzes are designed to be used/tried again and again, as each situation may change the reader's reactions.

There are of course many personal stories and examples from Parrish's life as it pertains to the chapter or section. These help bring to life the varying lesson(s). Written in a personal tone with a breezy style, one gets the feeling Parrish is sitting right beside the reader, talking as if in a cozy fireside chat with a personal mentor. Even better though, is how after each section Parrish provides lessons learned from the situation as well as quick summary points.

Human Relations is One of the Most Important Sections

If a choice must be made, ensure that Human Relations is the one to read. There's a reason You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way starts off with it as the first chapter. It really is the essence of everything else. Here Parrish underlines the need for a mentor; how and why a smile is one of the most effective communicators; why listening is so important and how to really do it; how to make a good first impression (not just a reiteration that it is important).

Read the guide, and then go back to Human Relations and see how it all intertwines (even just the summary or conclusion) – all stemming from this first chapter. Parrish writes: "This is one of your moments of truth. You either start applying what you've learned so far or you are satisfied simply to have read the chapter". Just reading this chapter alone will enrich and guide the reader to personal goals and achievement.

Bottom Line

You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way by J.R. Parrish is an excellent guide for anyone who wants to get ahead in the real world, not just graduates. Personal stories point the way to lessons learned, and why. Quizzes at the end of sections on the reader's own reactions to situations are used to help the reader understand and work with personal traits, to attain a desired outcome. Easy to read yet thought provoking, it's a guide one will keep using again and again.

Parrish, J.R. You Don't Have To Learn The Hard Way. Dallas, TX USA: BenBella Books Inc., 2009

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