Rating: 
Summary: Own That Room ...!
Review: One of the greatest things about reading a book is that you can ask yourself for answers to questions that when you find the answers, your life will be better.This is one of those books. I remember years ago, before the first time that I read this book, I wondered about charismatic people, and how they really do it. This book is the answer. "How to Work the Room," is not just a great title for a book, it is also a great anchor, to guide you to focus upon all the social opportunities in one room, for the entire time that you are there. We all must network, to have others open doors for us, because this goes much further than our trying to condense an entire career into 5 seconds of introduction - it won't work. Here are some wonderful things you might learn: 1. You have just been introduced to someone at an event. And the introducer has left you with this person
For some, this can be awkward. But for those who read this book, you might begin by deciding that at the very least, you have in common the person who introduced the 2 of you. So you could say, "How do you know Sally?" This will get a conversation started. 2. You are going to a networking function, based upon the recommendation of someone who attends the same type of group, but in another city. And you have some hesitations
A great way to be prepared is to spend a half hour the day before, writing down what you are going to, the purpose of the meeting, the time to be there, how long, and a few other notes. This will put you in a great frame of mind to connect with others there.
3. You think that small talk is phony, and you hope nobody will try it on you
Small talk is appropriate for networking meetings. It also prevents you from having to come up with a lot to say. With small talk, you are actually opening the door to find out what others are interested in. Which will help you to keep the topic on them, and away from you. And this will keep you relaxed, not to mention welcomed in their eyes. This book has many hilarious examples that everyone can relate to, and use to practice owning that room.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Clinical
Review: Oops! I purchased the audiobook. I forced myself to listen to the whole thing. RoAne is a clinician about small talk and spends way too much time on how to speak to different kinds of people. Good Gosh! She has so many rules I wonder how anyone would dare open his mouth? Why does she spend so much time on what men should say to women and what women should say to men? Come on! People are people. Let's not pigeon-hole according to sex. There are much more interesting differences in people.
Rating: 
Summary: Need more than this
Review: Susan has some good concepts about socializing, & especially her section about socializing online. That's a unique angle...
Rating:
Summary: From Marisa D'Vari, author of Media Magic "Buy this Book!"
Review: Susan RoAne's excellent book can change your life! At a Book Convention, she struck up a casual conversation with me that spun me into a new and exciting profession! Buy this book and experience the energy and magic of RoAne's good karma!
Rating:
Summary: good review of etiquette
Review: There is nothing new here, but the author provides a good review of the timeless and obvious - yet oft forgotten - manners and etiquette of professional and formal social interaction. I listened to the Audible version narrated by the author and I would recommend all professionals listen to it once a year or so...
Rating: 
Summary: Unfocused
Review: This book contains 18 chapters. Of those, I'd say some 5 are filled with the information you'd expect. The book actually starts of quite well, analyzing the reasons why people have difficulties mingling and what to do about them. This part of the book really helped me overcome some of my shyness and move out to people. And that certainly made life easier and more fun! However, I wished there would've been more of this and less of the rest. After that the book seems to go all over the place. Chatrooms, Etiquette, public speaking, Yiddish dictionary, general life philosophy... you name it! My advice: try some other books first.
Rating:
Summary: Fear? What fear?
Review: This book is fantastic! I have been searching and searching for the perfect book to help me when I have to go to a meeting or attend a function where I know NOBODY! I have to deal with the public all the time...and sometimes it isn't easy! In fact, just yesterday, I had to attend an event that required me to chat with four different groups as they came to our facility. I was able to do it without fear, and actually enjoyed it. I just felt better, having some ideas as to what should I do next? I would recommend this book to anyone who hates attending these kinds of events. You can do it.... Susan RoAne writes so simply, that anyone will benefit from her humor and suggestions.
Rating: 
Summary: Mostly Fluff
Review: This book lacks the implementation details for the suggested ideas. I felt like I was at a lecture about how to socialize where only high level common sense ideas are presented, but the true nitty-gritty details are ignored. The author has good intentions, but I didn't get much out of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Very Basic
Review: This book will probably be helpful if you want an easy-to-read guide to the very basics of networking and socializing. She lays out intuitive, easy-to-follow lists of rules and principles, such as how some of the manners you were taught as a child can become obstacles to meeting people, like, don't talk to strangers. And she perscribes some easy-to-remember, non-threatening tactics for overcoming these fears, such as questions like "I've never been to one of these meetings before. Is there always such a good turnout?" But I found that most of her major points were fairly common sense. Is it really that helpful to know that arrogance, not listening and poor hygiene will impair your ability to meet people? Or that you should bring business cards to a professional event? If you feel your social skills are really at ground zero and you need help getting started, this will be a useful guide. But if you're looking for more advanced techniques and ideas for to engage people and loosening yourself up, it's way too easy. It certainly didn't change my life. I'm now reading Bernardo Carducci's book, "Shyness". It has a much more theoretical and holistic approach--I'll post a review on that book's page as soon as I finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Good reminder list, but not well written
Review: This is a decent book to remind us all of what we need to be doing. Although much of it is just common sense, seeing reminders doesn't hurt. There is nothing profound in it. Unfortunately, it's not well written. This makes it somewhat painful to read and detracts from its credibility. For example, it's "chock full" of trite phrases and the inappropriate use of quotation marks. Both of these writing problems suggest that the author was not entirely comfortable with what she was saying. I still gave Ms. Roane the benefit of the doubt; perhaps she's more of a verbal person than a writer, and verbal communication is the main focus of the book.
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