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Failing Forward  By  cover art

Failing Forward

By: John C. Maxwell
Narrated by: John C. Maxwell
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Publisher's summary

It seems that some people are born to achieve anything they want. Some would say they are lucky, are blessed, or have the Midas touch. But what truly is the reason for their success? Family background, wealth, greater opportunities, high morals, an easy childhood? New York Times best selling author John C. Maxwell has the answer: The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.

Maxwell says that if you are like him, you were never prepared to deal with failure. Coming out of school, he feared it, misunderstood it, and ran away from it. But he's learned to make failure his friend, and he can teach you to do the same.

Listen to everything by John C. Maxwell.
©2000 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc., a Georgia Corporation (P)2000 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

What listeners say about Failing Forward

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Life-changing perspective

To some of you, this book might be basic stuff but for me this was life-changing. I find myself listening to it over and over. I am hoping that the concepts will finally sink in. Until about a year ago, I really had never truly failed. When I finally did, I handled it in the worst way possible. I pretty much did everything that the author tells you not to do. I ended up making the situation way worst than it was originally. When I listened to this book, it was like a wake up call. I only wished that I had come across it earlier.

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30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Fairly Good

Good listen about failure and changing your perspective in relation to it. The focus of the book is failure is actually a good event. However, this is abridged and it shows. Many chapters are barely mentioned. It felt like you were rushed through the book.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Good concept, poor presentation

Although I fully agree on the concept of failing forward, I was quite dissappointed by the book. It is one long succession of stories of people who experienced difficulties, showed perseverence and finally got success. There are basically no pauses between Mr. Maxwell 15 (!) points, and I don't see them as very actionable either.

Additionally, I'm not sure I agree on Mr. Maxwell's understanding of success. Stories of people that work-work-work to get success, must give up something else (family life?), but that is not considered here.

Finally, the book isn't in any way scientifically based (like books from Dan Ariely or Malcom Gladwell) - everything is build on the stories, which to me, aren't very pursuasive. It's not surprising to me that you can find good stories of people who continue and continue and finally get success, but what about the ones that didn't find success? We don't hear about them.

So, if you consider this book, try the unabridged version - maybe it's more actionable and reflective - this one, was simply to shallow for me.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Nice and encouraging

The concept of failing forward is nice and encouraging. But the book is storybased and the points mainly summarized by the phrase "try, try and try again". The stories told underline this point. If you just keep trying you will inevitably succeeded. It’s a bit annoying that the author doesn’t take into account that, because some made it through hardship and failure, some will not.

The book is very one-dimensional, focusing almost entirely on the goals such as earning money or/and recognition from the "outside" world.

It doesn’t discuss what our dreams and goals are made of. Perhaps some goals which you are failing to achieve could use some investigation. Perhaps the goals are not truly yours but put upon you by others/surroundings, or perhaps you have stopped believing in yourself making it (unconsciously) impossible for you to success. The book does thought, point out that your attitude toward your goals is important.

The superficial approach of the book makes it a bit uninteresting, extraneous and lengthy.
But the book is nice and encouraging. And on a long, lonely night with some recent failures troubling you, I'm sure it will bring you some pleasant comfort.


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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

very motivational

If you could sum up Failing Forward in three words, what would they be?

very motivational

What was one of the most memorable moments of Failing Forward?

when it talks about starting to move again after defeat

Have you listened to any of John C. Maxwell’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

It made me want to look for more similar literature

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If at first you succeed, try something harder!

Loved this book. I need to read it once a year and need to make more mistakes!!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book for Those who Have a Pessimist Attitude

As always, Maxwell does a great job at clearly covering a topic in an organized and easy to follow way. This is a great book for anyone who is in the trap of negative self-talk and can't quite seem to take themselves to the next level. It's also a great book for anyone who simply wants to give themselves a good re-charge of their optimism.

Maxwell gives 15 great ways to make failure become a stepping stone to success through viewing it differently. If you have recently suffered a failure and can't get out of the dumps, buy this and listen to it!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read!!

If you could sum up Failing Forward in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring, uplifting, motivating!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Failing Forward?

This whole book is memorable and I recommend it to everyone.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!! I did!!

Any additional comments?

This book is one I know I will want to read (or listen to) many times.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hope!

Hope is what this book has given me. It is one of the most inspiring books I ever read (listened to).

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

good ideas

did not get much from book though - but I hate books that list out things for you to do

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2 people found this helpful