As a rule, I avoid Self Help books, especially those awful and illiterate how-to-get-ahead-in-business ones, but this little book proved surprisingly engaging. After all, how often do you get to hang out with the publisher of Hearst magazines?

Although Cathie Black's writing style lends itself more to crafting memos than telling tales, what I found so interesting were her stories from the Front: use-it-now practical advice (eg. how to know when criticism is valid and when to ignore it & soldier on); anecdotes about taking risks and succeeding (the pitch and launch of CosmoGirl; convincing Oprah to launch her magazine); and examples of bad decisions. The failures were especially good, in particular the expensive, buzz-drench launch and equally spectacular fizzle of Talk magazine. Without being a firebrand feminist, the author doles out practical advice for women about how to be assertive without being obnoxious, why you must present well, and the importance of accepting your due (accolades; a personally-satisfying job; compensation).

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Cathie Black's book is geared toward a younger, feminist (although not necessarily female, as in my case) audience and gives great advice on time management, people skills, and overall professional development. I've recommended it to all my friends entering the workplace and although some of the information may be construed as "common sense," you won't find any of the advice as common knowledge!

The book is not written like a textbook, nor is it written like a novel. I would more closely related it to a collection of short stories from her own life to illustrate what to do (and what not to do) to "get ahead." Some may find the autobiography side a little egotistical, but I appreciate her blunt demeanor and the "tell it how it is" writing style. If you love Suze Orman, you'll probably love Cathie Black.

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