People Tools 54 Strategies For Building Relationships, Creating Joy And Embracing Prosperity

by Alan C. Fox

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Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Business, Relationships, Leadership, Social

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Game Changer.

Alan Fox has lived a long and joyful life, achieving tremendous success in many different arenas. He has advanced degrees in accounting, law, education, and professional writing. He has expanded his commercial real estate company, ACF Property Management, Inc into a billion dollar enterprise since founding it in 1968. He founded Rattle Poetry Journal (in 1994), a nationally renowned publication including his conversations to noted and Pulitzer Prize winning poets. In 1999, he founded The Frieda C. Fox Family Foundation, a non-profit that provides funding to youth education projects. And in the midst of all this, he has raised a large and loving family.

How did he do all this? Alan attributes his happiness and success to consistently applying his People Tools, the simple, practical life lessons that he’s accumulated—and practiced—over the years. Author of People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity and People Tools for Business: 50 Strategies for Building Success, Creating Wealth, and Finding Happiness.

Alan’s message in both books is simple: the key to happiness and success in life is building strong relationships. That’s exactly what Alan has done throughout his life. You can learn more about Alan’s People Tools by picking up a copy of either of his books, or by reading his blog, where he posts new tools and insights every week.

Reviews

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a very self-aware person, I rarely find a book that can provide tricks that I have not used before. Many of Fox's "People Tools" are rooted in universal truths that are well-known, but woven into stories that enhances the reader's understanding of how these tools can be applied. There are also a few ideas that are novel. I particularly found the "80% Solution" and the "Nonversation" to be inventive and practical.
The strategies in "People Tools" are a combination of wisdom every person needs, reminders of the things we should all do daily, and psychological insight that helps people co-exist in a productive way. This is one of the few self-help books I would recommend to my friends and family, mostly because of Fox's sincerity. Throughout the book Fox expresses his to desire to help, for YOU to live better. His wit, honesty, and insight add to the reading experience of "People Tools".

[Dori Sabourin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first encountered this book, I thought: "Oh no, not another self-help book with a schedule and a check list that I have to follow." I couldn't have been more thrilled to find adages to use in certain circumstances such as: "Take a chance," or " Get past perfect. " In addition, each short chapter begins with quotes from famous people, passages from books, a poem, a movie or a philosopher. Alan C. Fox presents stories and experiences to elaborate on each adage. Rather than a schedule, the reader is encouraged to experiment, to find the best fit for their life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in becoming a better person, living in a more serene atmosphere.

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 4 out of 5]

Το φετινό καλοκαίρι στάθηκε μια καλή ευκαιρία για μένα ώστε να κάνω εκ βαθέων συζητήσεις με τον εαυτό μου, έτσι ώστε να μπορέσουμε να βρούμε όλα εκείνα που χάσαμε την χρονιά που προηγήθηκε. Μια χρονιά δύσκολη, απαιτητική και γεμάτη απογοητεύσεις που ίσως να μην διαχειρίστηκα και πολύ καλά. Ίσως, λοιπόν, αυτός να ήταν και ο λόγος που στράφηκα σε τόσα πολλά βιβλία αυτοβελτίωσης, χωρίς ωστόσο να βρω σε όλα αυτό που αναζητούσα. Μία εξαίρεση στον κανόνα την μονοτονίας και τους αυστηρού συντηρητισμού που χαρακτηρίζει συνήθως τα βιβλία αυτά, ήταν το "Κοινωνικά Εργαλεία" του Alan C. Fox ο οποίος, με χιούμορ και ειλικρίνεια, έχει αποστάξει τις εμπειρίες μιας ολόκληρης ζωής -και μάλιστα, μιας πολύ επιτυχημένης κι ευτυχισμένης ζωής- σε αυτόν τον οδηγό που όχι μόνο συμβουλεύει, αλλά ψυχαγωγεί παράλληλα.

Ο συγγραφέας αναφέρεται μικρά και μεγάλα γεγονότα της καθημερινότητάς του τα τελευταία 73 χρόνια, έτσι ώστε να τα χρησιμοποιήσει ως παραδείγματα των επιτυχιών και των αποτυχιών που είχε ο ίδιος, αλλά και που ο καθένας θα μπορούσε να έχει στη θέση του, ανάλογα πάντα με το πως θα επέλεγε να χειριστεί μία κατάσταση. Ουσιαστικά, είναι ένας οδηγός επιβίωσης μέσα στην δύσκολη και πνιγηρή πολλές φορές καθημερινότητά μας, που μας κάνει να ξεχνάμε πως κάθε νόμισμα έχει δύο πλευρές, τραβώντας μας προς εκείνη τη μαύρη τρύπα που μπορεί να ρουφήξει όλο μας το είναι και τη ζωτική μας ενέργεια... αν το επιτρέψουμε. Γιατί, σκοπός του βιβλίου αυτού είναι να αποδείξει με χιούμορ και ευαισθησία πως δεν είναι όλα πάντα ιδανικά, αλλά πως με δουλειά και θετική σκέψη μπορούμε να τα κάνουμε καλύτερα, γυρίζοντας το νόμισμα προς τη μεριά που ικανοποιεί εμάς και που μπορεί πιο εύκολα να μας οδηγήσει στην ευτυχία και την επιτυχία.

[W. Whalin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alan Fox can write well and I enjoyed the contents of this book. What made it "OK" and not excellent is the various strategies were not distinct and began to sound recycled toward the end of the book. It contains some interesting ideas but with some careful editing could have been a much better, higher quality book. In my view, some editor didn't do his homework on this one and should have had a sharper pencil to cut out the repetition.

[Mar*jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lightly written, even while discussing more serious ideas. Overall I thought this book would be helpful to people without much self consciousness, but almost boring to those who are intuitive, because the ideas discussed are those you find in everyday situations. I found some chapters to be more interesting and thought provoking then others. One thing I did like about this book was how he could turn hard to understand concepts into easy reading for those less academic. One thing I did not enjoy about this book was how he seemed to believe that the only thing worthwhile in life was health, success, and happiness. He has no religion, No God, and no belief in souls.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alan Fox provides the reader with a short introduction to the wisdom of his life. As you might expect, it is hit and miss. Perhaps the most troubling aspect is that a great deal of it simply encourages you to feel good about what you do without delving deeply into the real moral bedrock of what is being proposed. The book is an easy read, mostly 54 mini chapters. I wouldn't recommend it , though I wouldn't look askance at someone who finds some value in it.

[Scott Jerwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mr. Fox needs a refresher/cliff notes as he must have forgotten or disregards what he writes. Met my Autistic son several years ago and since then never asked or commented one more thing about my son and we communicated weekly. Doesn’t care about people and relationships which is critical to be successful. The book may have value but the Author is a hypocrite which destroys any message.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
2.5

[Andrey Silaev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty simple advices based on personal experience of one successful man. Some are good. Pretty easy reading anyway.

[Sage Alyxander · Rating 4 out of 5]

really helpful, but i felt like half of the text (ie the personal andecdotes) could have been removed and i'd still learn just as much.

[Lois Peterson]

302 F83P

[Jeffrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kind-of read this one. I just found it slow and outdated.

I should have figured out the the out-dated part when i saw it was endorsed by Bill Cosby on the cover.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was as honest and profound as talking with a friend or even more. I do not measure it for how useful his tools were for me but for how interestingly he explained them. I like to get to know people with experiencie and in reading books like this I can certainly do that in a way.

Here's a funny story I got from this book:
Three hermits lived together in a cave. One day a palomino horse ran by.
Two years later the first hermit said "Sure was a pretty white horse".
Three years after that the second hermit said, "Twasn't white. 'Twas golden."
Five years passed before the third hermit announced, "if you two are going to talk so much, I'm leaving."

[Maurynne Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine that you have a happy, rich uncle who is kind enough to share with you his secrets of success. (Wouldn’t we all like that!) Meet Alan C. Fox, author of People Tools: 54 strategies for building relationships, creating joy, and embracing prosperity and your new favorite uncle.

So much of a successful life, no matter how you define success, has to do with people skills—hence the book’s title. Uncle Alan has thoughtfully crafted a creative mash-up of Emotional Intelligence, The One-Minute Manager , and The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment, with illustrative anecdotes from his own life. He focuses the people tools both inward and outward, giving a balanced perspective. Though you may recognize some of the strategies (Make Lemonade, Smiley Face, Dangle a Carrot), a different perspective can be interesting, and who can resist finding out how to Have a Nonversation? Then there is Fall Backward into the Hands of Fate, which I thought was going to equate to my own Jumping Off the Cliff, but it doesn’t.

Alan Fox has thoughtfully made it easy for you to know if he will make a good guide for you. Here’s his first paragraph in the Introduction:

"When we experience joy in our lives, what else do we really need? This is the most important sentence in my book, and the reason I put it first. If you are like my mother you have already skipped to the last page to find out where we will end up. I will tell you now. The last sentence in my book is the same as the first."

Miss Em highly recommends People Tools.
(I received a review copy from the publisher.)

[Perle Champion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, People Tools, was very well written and I liked the format of the numbered Tools. Each begins with a vignette of personal experience broken down to its teachable moment components. Here’s how it went, here’s the result, here’s how it could go better using the appropriate people tool.

These are truly people tools that actually apply to real life.

Example: I particularly liked People Tool 15 – Sunk Cost. This resonated with me, as I meet so many people that hang on to the past in relationships, jobs, hurts, etc., because they’ve invested so much money or years of their lives, that they can’t let go and invest in a better future.

“Sunk Cost The dilemma is a company with a new machine that cost $1M and the salesman wants to sell them a better machine for another $1M. Sunk Cost Theory says, The cost of the old machine is entirely irrelevant. It’s a sunk cost. The money is spent. It’s gone… You only have to consider the future”

Good advice, if you’re stuck in a job you hate, a relationship going nowhere, in a money pit – you get the gist.

“If your past investment isn’t working for you, find a better alternative for the future. In business, the salesperson may call on you. In your life you have to be the salesman for yourself. (Buy a Ticket.)”

Good Advice for many stuck in a rut.

As for me. I’m applying the following to my day-to-day writing and painting - People Tool 16 Get Past Perfect.

[Angie Simmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my son was struggling with Tourette Syndrome and the pediatricians and specialists I had brought him too could not find the right medications to help him out we ended up seeking help from a neurologist at a well known hospital several hundred miles away. He told us we were right in seeking a different type of doctor. "Every doctor has different tools in his toolbox" he said "we'll keep trying different tools until we find the one that works/" It took a few tries, but we eventually found the right one and my son's life became a whole lot easier.

People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity has a lot of tools to try. Will all of them work for you? Probably not, but you have plenty more to choose from! I enjoyed reading through this self help guide at looking at our life from a different perspective. The chapters were quick and easy to read and the examples and advice were written in an honest and humorous way. But a word of caution: just because this is a quick and easy read shouldn't mean you can read it and set it back on your bookshelf. This is one that should sit by your bedside so you can thumb through it and absorb the tools that best fit your situation and life experiences.

[Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headline: "Don't Pass Go Unless You have Read This Book!"
People Tools by author Alan Fox is a compact methodology for dealing with life's dramas and difficult moments. It is fairly short to read, but is full of wisdom based on real life encounters, where pertinent tools and strategies were deployed to obtain a more favourable rather than negative outcome.

I think the book is most useful in developing and deploying Self Management techniques; and also in the general management of others. There are many anecdotes that support the life experiences encountered by the author. Some of the quotes are particularly relevant in life, like one he mentioned from his father, namely: 'Each set back is a learning opportunity and to know when to move on quickly!' I also like some of his section headlines such as: the Belt Buckle, Shrink the Glass, Get Past Perfect, Sizzle and Steak, Have a Nonversation, True Colours and Focus on the Process.

I recommend this book to read and enjoy. Purchase on Amazon like i did. Great for a read on the beach!

Denis J (author of the '3-3-3'Enigma - An Invitation to Create Your Reality. Also 'INSIGHTS' - Minfulness and Creative Imagination).

[Carielyn Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked that the labels for his concepts help in remembering the entire idea with just a short phrase.

a few things were not based on any science, others were outdated, but some stuff was very useful, so this short book was still worth it.

it's very straight to the point, no paragraphs of explanations.

most of the concepts aren't backed by studies or facts, just anecdotes from the author's life, but they are short and easy enough to try out yourself. out of 54, if only 10 work for you, it's still a good deal, but i'm guessing it will be a higher number.

[Aldene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very thankful that I won a copy of People Tools. I found it to be down to earth with wonderful insites and ideas. Alan C. Fox is unfailingly optomistic and encurages his readers with a friendly tone and a can do aditude. At times I found myself wonderning if it was just a sales ploy this guy can't be for real. Then I kept reading. I must say Alan won me over by the books honest easy tone and even his cheerful nature, it can be catching if you let it.

[R.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you see is what you get here: an entertaining take on the "my advice for getting through life" genre. The author does a good job of hitting upon a lot of the big ideas that can help most people regardless of where they are in life. He uses a lot of anecdotes from his own life, but they were mostly amusing and apt and got the job done. Nothing ground-breaking here, but a good book to remind yourself of things you may forget to do in your own life.

[Ninadiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars....could be higher if I were younger. It would be a good book for someone between the
ages of 15-25. Its full of life lessons which most of us through the years have picked up, such as sometimes its okay to tell a white lie, or without some risk you rarely gain big. For a younger person
this would be a good short-cut book to knowing some of the best ways to approach a happy and successful life.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book aspires to be the next-generation "How to Win Friends and Influence People" but falls far short. The "tools" were simple and the chapters were underdeveloped. The author tries to hard to be erudite but because he is all over the place, I had a hard time believing him. Overall, a disappointing book.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a few very valuable lessons from this book and used them in life and at work. this book needs to be edited and condensed. the author starts recycling ideas half way through the book and his writing becomes watered down, not as effective.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written with wit and expert knowledge. I found myself saying that I already do this or this would be so easy to initiate. Even though I checked this book out from the library, I plan to order this book tonight for my personal leadership reference shelf.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Alan Fox's book very warming and inviting. As you read through each People Tool, you feel like you are a part of Alan's family and he is passing down wisdom to you much like a grandpa would do. Each People Tool is easily relatable and applicable for most ages.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would read a chapter a day. Easy read. Not sure how much I got out of it. So kind of middle of the road score. Still, the insights were nice.

[Teri Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this read. I don't read too many self-help books...this one actually had some very useful information.

[Tom Kammerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five plus stars! Originally a book read from library but destined to be owned and placed on bookshelf at home

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with deep life insights, making everything easier and back to the substance. Great book for anyone has unresolved puzzles in life.

[Fernando Kafie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Loved the book. Highly recommended. Glad I found it at the age of 47 and not much older. Life changing.