Networking for People Who Hate Networking

A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected

By: Devora Zack

Narrated by: Karen Saltus

Length: 4 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and a successful consultant who speaks to thousands of people every year, found that most networking advice books assume that to succeed you have to become an extrovert. Or at least learn how to fake it. Not at all. There is another way. This audiobook shatters stereotypes about people who dislike networking. They’re not shy or misanthropic. Rather, they tend to be reflective - they think before they talk. They focus intensely on a few things rather than broadly on a lot of things. And they need time alone to recharge. Because they’ve been told networking is all about small talk, big numbers, and constant contact, they assume it’s not for them. But it is! Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the “dusty old rules” of standard networking advice. She shows how the very traits that ordinarily make people networking-averse can be harnessed to forge an approach that is just as effective as more traditional approaches, if not better. And she applies it to all kinds of situations, not just formal networking events. After all, as she says, life is just one big networking opportunity - a notion listeners can now embrace.

©2010 Devora Zack (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

So that's why I hate networking!

Always hated networking. Can't believe it took me to now to understand why! and that it is OK! Looking back over my life I realise I do a lot of what Devora Zack does - hanging out by the refreshment table, disappearing to re energise, speaking well to a crowd if I am 'given permission" but not in an informal group. Well worth reading and made me quite happy. Highly recommend to anyone who thinks they are shy and highly recommend to all teachers who make us 'find a partner' and 'work in groups'.

Truly useless

Would you try another book from Devora Zack and/or Karen Saltus?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Devora Zack again?

No

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narration was disturbing. I truly dislike overenthusiastic narration that makes a book sound as never ending commercial.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was truly disappointed. I have expected something useful instead of stupid quizes and self-promotion of the author that was the main plot.

AWESOME !!!

What made the experience of listening to Networking for People Who Hate Networking the most enjoyable?

6 Thumbs out of 5 -- This humorous, fast paced, light hearted but info packed book is a masterpiece of the elusive-obvious. Introverts can easily be more effective networkers than Extroverts. We Introverts (yes, I ping the I-meter on the Myers-Briggs) are connectors and not just collectors of business cards. This book is 4 hours of and 1 minute that is well worth the time of anyone who relies on relationships to accomplish their work.
~ Tim Morris, General Contractor

I want to like this book

What did you like best about Networking for People Who Hate Networking? What did you like least?

I think there's great information in here and I so want to get through it, but I keep trying and I really dislike listening to it. I feel like I'm being read a chart or something. Maybe this book isn't meant to be in audio. I can't tell if it's how the book is written or that the narrator could do a better job. I like to feel like I'm just being spoken to about concepts but this is like lists of traits over and over again. Maybe if I keep trying to gut it out it'll get easier?

A book on introvert sterotypes

Would you ever listen to anything by Devora Zack again?

No.

Have you listened to any of Karen Saltus’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard the narrator before but I think she did a fine job with awful subject material.

Any additional comments?

This is an insulting book of introvert sterotypes. I consider myself an introvert and usually test far into the introvert spectrum on personality types. This book was a list of introvert 'qualities' and very weak examples of why that makes them better than extroverts. I would recommend any other book on networking over this one.

Don't bother

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

There might be someone out there who could glean some practical information from this dull book, if they were required to read it.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Possibly a fiction thriller, I think that networking is a key tool however having a good book to talk about with someone is far better than any info found in this book.

What didn’t you like about Karen Saltus’s performance?

Who doesn't know what an extrovert is... Would be a better title as she blathers incessantly about cliche situations.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Networking for People Who Hate Networking?

It's a total re-write, or re-naming. It was completely un-memorable and lacked any draw to the self proclaimed introvert much less any practical applications that can be used in networking. All people who hate networking know where the doors bathrooms and buffet line is...that does not help one become a better networker, just a more advanced evader.

I found it a little scattered in delivery

I think the book was written in a form that would mirror the authors speaking style, which I found a little hard to follow. I had to listen to it twice to really capture Ms Zacks point. After a search to find out who she was, and looking at her web site, I think it would be better to attend her speaking engagements if you know you are an introvert and need help with networking.
On my second listen and really paying attention I did realize I am-by her definition-an introvert. So I guess I did get that much value out of it. More knowledge about yourself is always a good thing.

Not an easy listen

Is there anything you would change about this book?

There are so many things I would change about the book.

There needs to be more pauses to let the listener know a new topic, paragraph, sentence has started. If I were reading this book I would be able to see headings, paragraphs, etc. but listening to this book left me lost because I wasn't able to detect a change of ideas.

In certain instances the narrator was reading from charts (it appeared to be), but it took me several tries to figure this out.

What was most disappointing about Devora Zack’s story?

The most disappointing thing about this book was that I'm sure there was useful information I don't think it was presented in a way that made it easily obtainable.

Would you be willing to try another one of Karen Saltus’s performances?

Most definitely not. The pace was too quick. I didn't have enough time to absorb the information.

Great for introverts looking for reassurance

I listened to this book before a conference and it was very encouraging. Those who aren't into 'collecting' people as extroverts have the great tendency of doing will find this book very reassuring. That which is commonly perceived as a weakness- highly selective networking- is, in many ways, a strength. This book gives good suggestions on how to train yourself to handle networking style events, start a conversation, and escape it honorably once your social capacity has been reached. "The Highly Sensitive Person" is a good addition to this listen as this doesn't address situations for those that are beyond the basic introvert level.

Important note: this is more targeted towards networking *for sales* than for other purposes

extremely basic and very few action items

more than a networking book is an introvert's guide on how to interact with people, which is fine but the title is misleading.

bit of a let down.

I was looking forward to reading this book, but was really disappointed. Content is very light and I read it within two days so I could move onto something else. The author spends far too much time talking about introverts, extroverts and barely touches on any practical networking skills and even then they are more common sense rules, rather than anything new that can be used in the real word.

eh...

not a very good transition to audiobook. to many lists that ar confusing in this format

Impossible to listen

Poorly read - absolutely not understandable quizzes, no pauses between chapters. There should at least be some pictures with quizzes and tables, and Q&A.