The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2: Your Turn!

by Marlo Thomas, Bruce Kluger, Carl Robbins

A second collection of inspiring stories by the actress-author of Thanks and Giving . . . All Year Long features ninety essays by Americans from all walks of life and includes the stories of a Gulf War veteran whose perspective was changed by a chance encounter at a fast-food restaurant and a prison inmate who remembers advice he did not take. 175,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966–1971) and her award-winning children's franchise Free to Be... You and Me.

Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962.

Reviews

[Brandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the worst 'inspirational' books that I have ever read. I have a rule that once I start a book, that I will finish it regardless of how bad it may be. This was the type of book where I actually had to 'apply' my rule.
The stories were mostly unsensational, and average. There were a few that I found very sweet, but in the grand scheme of things, I must say that this one was a BORE.
I would not reccomend it to anyone.

[Slone]

Like Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Pamela Liakopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice anthology.
Loved Nancy Roman's essay "A Perfect Mess" ! Brilliant, heartwarmingly funny, too!
So many appropriate stories.

[Marlana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my speed.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift from a dear friend when my mother passed away six years ago. I intended to read it, but only got half way through it when I got distracted and moved on to something else. "The Right Words" isn't a lot different from the "Chicken Soup" books. It isn't always necessary to finish reading something like this to get the gist of it nor is it necessary to finish it before starting something new. There is no running story. The theme is basic - lessons learned through the words of another individual. Despite the time that has passed since my mother died, I kept the book, so last week I decided to finish it with all intentions of giving it away, but guess what. In spite of it's simplicity and sappiness, I came away with some good advice and some dog-eared pages. So, it's not a pulitzer...I am giving it 3 stars. I liked it.

If you don't want to learn about a couple of lessons I learned from the book, quit reading now, otherwise, I am about to "spoil" a story or two. First, I was reminded why I kept the book. It is the recollection in "Bitter or Better." The lesson is that "Whenever something hurts us in life, we have a choice to make: we can become bitter or better. It's really up to us." I took those words to heart when I read them the first time and they still ring true to me today.

Another story quotes Pat Murray who said "You stand for what you tolerate." Hallelujah! That is so reminiscent of an interview I heard with LL Cool J who said, "That which you tolerate will never go away." It made a world of difference for me and led me to create a plan to get out of a difficult position at work.

My final "take-away" (for the purposes of this review) is written by Rebecca Marie Barkin who in "Good Enough for Now" writes about her struggle with her Catholic faith (vs science, her work). After confiding in her aunt, a nun, she realizes that she believes in the goodness of people, that "Humans are driven toward compassion, babies are born in lightness, and people ore soulful" and that science does not explain "the compulsion to do good, to help strangers, and to foster loving relationships." Maybe that is enough, for now.

I imagine that I could re-read this book at any point in my life and find a new "take-away" For that reason, I want to keep this one on my bookshelves, no matter how sappy and simple it may be.

[Patricia Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a good book to pick up on a dark day. there are multiple entries of goodness happening and much encouragement. at the end of the day you are not alone. there might be someone who had a similar experience and can read how they dealt with it. good book to pass along to a friend.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my essay, Surviving Mom, is in this book, I love it. But it is a wonderful book!

[Libby]

I didn't know there was a second book. COOL!

[Adrienna]

Skimmed through and realized not something I would like to read.

Leisure read 2016