Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

Advice from the Presidents: The Student’s Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics, by G. Scott Thomas. 236 p. Westport, CT.: Greenwood Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-313-35662-9. $65.00.

In the preface to this volume, the author addresses young adults curious about the secrets of success. “This book offers a blueprint for the upward mobility you crave,” the author states. He concludes the preface with a brief story about John Connally, a tenant farmer’s son who became the governor of Texas, a cabinet secretary and a presidential candidate. The author challenges the reader to “learn, as he did, from the best teachers available. Who better to start you on your way than the men and women who pursued the highest executive position in the land?” The table of contents uses provocative aphorisms as subcategories: “Women must work harder and be tougher,” “If you have an addiction, battle it fiercely,” and “If the rules are slanted against you, change them,” among others. The seven chapters are named after the “time-tested steps” of successful career plans, such as “Deciding,” “Organizing,” and “Maneuvering.” Within each chapter the author, addressing the reader, offers engaging stories that develop each of the aphorisms from the table of contents. We read about Bruce Babbitt’s sharp wit and earnestness in “Establish a positive reputation and keep it,” advice the author states is “equally relevant to up-and-coming” executives. Bulleted lists and boxed anecdotes enhance each chapter’s lesson. The “Notes” section helps students and teachers find sources quickly and efficiently; sources are grouped according to subject headings in bold type and listed in the order in which the corresponding material appeared in the text. The comprehensive bibliography includes broadcast and speech transcripts, web sites and journals. While the volume focuses on lives of presidential candidates, its examination of strategies and personal traits make it applicable to students looking at any executive path, presidential or otherwise. Highly recommended for high school and public libraries.