I love reading personal and professional development books. Maybe it's because I've been self-employed for 2 years and counting that these types of books interest me now more than ever. There's no annual job review with a manager where I have to report back which goals I've missed and what courses I'll be taking to help meet the organization's goals. It's just me myself and I trying to better myself and my connection with others.When Thomas Nelson gave me the opportunity to read Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by leadership expert and international speaker, John Maxwell, I couldn't wait. I've heard great things about John Maxwell but have never had the chance to read one of his books.In his newest book, John Maxwell talks about how readers can connect with others one-on-one, in a group setting or with an audience without being distracted by the 30,00 other messages we receive daily (Yes! Can you believe it? People are bomabarded with 30K messages a day? Commercials, email, text messaging, messages on social networking sites etc). No wonder the book is titled Everyone Communicates, Few Connect!Maxwell packed this book with insights and practical tips by himself and others. He teaches readers how to turn their natural abilities into connections. His approach is simple focus on what you can do personally to bridge the gaps that may exist between yourself and the person (or group of people) with which you are attempting to communicate.I like that Maxwell's advice can apply to my professional life and my everyday communications with my family (including my daughter).

I generally enjoy reading books by John Maxwell. They are usually informative, engaging, well-written, and easy to read. Maxwell is committed to using language that is direct, clear, and easy to understand. As a result, his books are always a good read.

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect is no exception. In this book, Maxwell effectively and efficiently communicates many truths about good leadership, specifically as it relates to communicating with your audience. He successfully relays this information in three distinct areas: one-on-one communication, small group communication, and large group communication.

Maxwell expertly conveys the "how to" of effective communication and connection in a way that allows the reader to apply these principles to his own life and leadership style. Maxwell skillfully demystifies the illusion that communicating and connecting are innate instead of learned.

I found this book both easy to read and easy to understand. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, whether you believe yourself to be a leader or not.

excellent book

This is an excellent book with a lot of insight into communication. It shows the importance of not just communicating with words but how to establish a connection with your communication.

As is normal with JC Maxwell's books they are easy to read, very informative and have great application to every area of leadership in business, ministry and family life.

Everyone communicates. Looks, motions, your words, deeds, and perhaps even thoughts, all form some sort of communication. But how often do you really, truly connect with someone? Is it worth your time?Not very often. And yes, it is.As John Maxwell explains in his book, Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, connections are vital to achieving your communication goals.The book is full of sound connection advice, memorable examples, and a large number of useful quotes.As a speaker and debater, I have found this book a useful tool in achieving my goals, competitively and in real communication situations.This book is a must for anyone who struggles, suspects they struggle, or has been told they struggle with communication. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.