All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek

by Dave Marinaccio

How to win at poker. The power of a business's mission statement. If you can dial a telephone, you can do anything. These are the lessons to be learned from "Star Trek." First a hit television show, and then a pop culture phenomenon, "Star Trek" is now the basis for inspiration and guidance in our daily lives. ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM WATCHING STAR TREK is an anthology of valuable lessons that can be found within the episodes of "Star Trek." Discover why its dangerous to wear a plain red shirt, why Captain Kirk was such a superb leader, and why you should always help people in need.

Genres: Star Trek, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Humor, Science, Science Fiction Fantasy

128 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 1994

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a manager at an ad agency & I think this is one of those self-help books for managers. I normally detest such, but this one was quite good simply because he knows Star Trek as well as I do & makes real life comparisons to it. McCoy wasn't a brick-layer, but he still fixed the Horta because that's what a doctor does, even if the patient is a silicone-based life form. Kirk swore to uphold the Prime Directive & he did, when it didn't clash too badly with his own moral code & integrity. After all, people (even alien ones) are more important that a rule. (Yes, he proved this in almost every episode.) Best of all, I no longer feel self-conscious about my slight pot belly since Marinaccio points out that Kirk has one, too.

I wouldn't have believed it could make so much sense & be so enjoyable, but it was. It's also short & well narrated. Highly recommended.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those delightful books you read—not to learn something—but to reminisce about a great television series and to ponder why it has had the impact it has. I think it spawned a whole bunch of similar books that deal with the philosophy, the science, the ethics, the economy, etc. of Star Trek and other series. This one doesn’t pretend to be that profound. Instead it simply notices how the series has impacted a great many aspects of the author’s life and how it’s characters can serve as role models to help you figure out what to do in just about any situation. Mostly it is just a lot of fun.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

While clearly inspired by Robert Fulghum's "All I Really Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten", this Star Trek version falls a little short of the entertainment level of the original. That isn't to say that there aren't some interesting essays in this collection. I clearly haven't spent enough time thinking about Star Trek, since most of these conclusions never occurred to me before. However, there are a number of valuable lessons to be learned here: Things will get better. Always welcome chances to explore the unknown. Just don't wear a red uniform.

[Amadeaus Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish there was a way to give negative stars. Like this book owes me 5 stars for wasting my time and for all the times I had to cringe at the misogyny.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do not go into this expecting a parody of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, because this ain't it. Instead, it's an occasionally funny, overly earnest celebration of, in this order, the author himself and Star Trek. It was passably entertaining, and had some decent advice, but Marinaccio was stretching on a fair few of these points. I wouldn't recommend it unless you were bored.

[A.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read - and could actually be considered a "business" book, since the author works in advertising and often drew comparisons between the way Kirk ran the ship and the way a successful business should be run. I have loved Star Trek since I first saw it in grade school, so I could appreciate the profound impact it had on the author's life and outlook.

A few highlights:

"Whatever you are doing, answer a distress call. The most important time to help someone is when they need it."

"Here is the best mission statement I have ever heard: 'These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her five-year mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before.' Crew members of the Starship Enterprise know exactly what they are supposed to do . . . Now try a simple test. Ask a number of colleagues at your place of work, 'What is the single most important thing our company is trying to accomplish?'"

"No one on the Enterprise has very much stuff . . . People don't need to fill their lives with things. What the humans on the Enterprise have are full lives, interesting lives."

"The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play." (Spock)

"We live in a society where everything is idiot-proof. By the way, you and I are the idiots things are idiot-proofed for."

Read this, and prosper.

[Nick Hsieh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book, but that's largely because I wasn't approaching it as anything other than mindless entertainment. I didn't even expect it to primarily have to do with Star Trek (I took the title to mean this was the author's reflections on general life lessons he learned from Star Trek, which appeared to me what it turned out to be in fact). The title also suggested to me that this book would not necessarily have a tight focus or principle lesson. So it does tend to meander a bit, and the "exposition" of Star Trek is sometimes a little bit far from the canon. But in the end it's good as light entertainment.

[Lisa :-) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I paid the grand total of ninety nine pence for this book and I don't think I would have paid much more. It's a fun book to read on a train journey home, but don't expect anything too great. Of course, it isn't intended to be anything great, and there are plenty of lines in it that made me smile. Give a read and remember why the crew of the NCC-1701 were just so bloody cool.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and profound at the same time. He's right- there is great wisdom in the leadership philosophy of J.T. Kirk. And...the first line of the opening credits is indeed the best mission statement ever written.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this 1994 book. Dave Marinaccio writes a succinct, funny book that captures why most people love Star Trek (like me), while giving us a mini autobiography. I can't say I ever asked "What would Capt Kirk do in this situation?", but now I might start doing just that. I do wonder what Dave would think of all the Star Trek series and movies that have come after this was published. 30+ years after this book was released, Star Trek is bigger than ever! And it's even more prophetic today! Technology like mobile phones, AI, and the power we can wield as humans and countries, as well as the social/racial/philosophical problems and myriad of ideas and differing opinions it addressed, are even more important and still a major problem today!

[Toby Brennen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't get your expectations to high! Overindulgent and struggling attempts at humor left me wondering why I was violating one of my personal reading rules, and continued to read "All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek" after I evaluated it as horrible. I guess I was looking for the way out of an impossible situation. I did manage to find one redeeming characteristic. The book was short and I only wasted a few total hours of my life to read. Star trek fans will be hard pressed to 'discover' anything within the pages - there is very little depth, especially from someone who supposedly lived and breathed Star Trek. If you're not a Star Trek fan, you will be left wondering what you just read.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the best point in this book was one not directly made: every good story will teach you something important about life.

I enjoyed this audio book and laughed at (some of) the right places I was supposed to, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if every life lesson hadn't been turned into a 90s motivational phrase. Much like watching the actual Star Trek I appreciated a lot of the lessons and found a few to run counter to the Biblical ethics I try to live by. Overall, a fun experience, but I think next time I'd rather just get my inspiration straight from Star Trek reruns.

This book has few references to Kirk's womanizing habits, but not much else in the way of language or other inappropriate references, so pretty safe as far as content goes.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally agree with the title. Very perceptive.

[Breanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun but a little weirdly written, this guy kind of rambles about really irrelevant stuff. One of the entries is like three pages talking about a ski trip he took. This isn't really one of those books that can apply to everybody, it's pretty much what the title suggests: this is all about this one guy's experiences that he sort of relates to Star Trek. Or something. It's alright, just not my idea of a "life lessons learned from Star Trek" kind of book I guess.

[Lukas Lovas · Rating 5 out of 5]

He starts out strong with some very good points, and than moves on to some more very good points. I have never been a fan of star trek - original series, but I completely agree with what the author puts into words in this smile worthy, nod inducing, thought provoking book.
Short, well written, funny and spot on :)

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone thinking that this book would be anything but entertaining and satirical was expecting something completely different than it was. Anytime that a title reads as this one does an avid reader shouldn't get to excited and be disappointed upon completion. If you enjoy reading and like Star Trek then take a little time to peruse the book as you like; don't expect Mark Twain.

[Victoria Schreiber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

A nice book, occasionally amusing, and full of little life stories connecting the author's experiences to Star Trek. For me, the stories sometimes just didn't have enough to do with Star Trek. Not necessarily something philosophical, deep, or amazingly written, but a fun book to read through.

[Marcelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. I didn't read every word but the author has great points on how leadership and other skills are portrayed in Star Trek. If I was studying leaders this would be a great book to dive into.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no getting around the fact that I was a Trekkie. Before vcr's, my friends and I used to tape the show on audio tapes and get together and listen to the episodes again and again. For Trekkies, this is a must read and very funny.

[Betsey Stahler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was great fun and many of his points were oh so true. He articulated the things that made me love Star Trek when it first came out and reminded me why I still enjoy it today. A fun, quick read!

[Kayleigh Mihalko · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the was written today, it could have been a blog. The short passages in the same format made it easy and quick to read. I really enjoyed this book!

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and revealing way of doing business, I like this book but that could be because I am a hopeless Trek Fan. This was a Good Read.

[Elena Sotelo-McCrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to excape or compare your life to Star Trek read this witty book. That's it!

[Nigel Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun if you are into Star Trek.

[Clarence Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

ReedIII Quick Review: Fun tribute to Star Trek, mostly the original series. The authors personal feelings have been applied for universal appeal and general life lessons.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Star Trek (primarily "The Next Generation" series), I had been wanting to read this book for the longest time. It's a brilliant series, full of wisdom, and so I thought a book with this title sounded like a great concept. I finally grabbed a copy of "All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Watching Star Trek" and dove right in. I'm not really sure I can adequately put into words how awful I thought this book was. It was an absolute chore to get through it, and it's really quite a short book. To me, this book was more about Dave Marinaccio's stories about Dave Marinaccio, than it was about lessons to be learned from watching Star Trek. The author's examples of life lessons from Star Trek were really not the greatest examples, and his attempts to tie them into something from his life became overworked. By the time he finished telling his personal experience in each section (there were no chapters, only "sections"), I had completely lost what it was he was originally trying to say. With the exception of one section of the book (the section where he speaks about the "Prime Directive"), I got zero inspiration from reading this. Zero. Zip. Nada. What a disappointment this was. It did make me want to binge-watch some TNG, so I guess that's a good thing. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

📖BHFL

I don't not finish books... I take long breaks. I come back eventually. I switch to audiobook if that will help. But this book is one I may not pick back up.

I love Star Trek. As a kid, I prayed that they would have Starfleet up and running by the time I graduated high school. I really thought I would like this book, but this author and I just don't vibe. The book is a series of little essays explaining how Star Trek supports the man's privileged, misogynistic world view. I cringed and rolled my eyes a lot while trying to read the short passages that felt way too long.

I should have just watched an episode or two.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty insightful things if you like Star Trek, but mostly felt like the musings of a man in his thirties in the mid-90s. Which is exactly when this was written and who it was written by. Pretty quick read and not a bad way to expand on a love for a great franchise!

[Judy Benvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. I really wanted to like this book. I am a big Star Trek fan. Not sure why, but this book was just middle-of-the-road for me.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not as much as I had hoped. And not as funny as it was intended to be in parts.