Kindness isn’t merely about getting along with people and being nice. It’s a game changer in business, the door-opener to opportunity, and the key to authenticity and confidence. Discover the true potential of kindness and harness its power. Through years of developing her own kindness practices and studying those of others, Good Morning America correspondent and ABC News journalist Adrienne Bankert has experienced firsthand the unbeatable power of kindness and witnessed its transformative impact on others. Adjusting our perspective from being closed off and self-centered to a mindset of kindness ripples into a staggering amount of personal fulfillment and growth. No matter our age or ethnicity, where we come from, or how much money we make, every one of us can be kind. Every one of us can be a change agent. In Your Hidden Superpower , Adrienne will help you: Your Hidden Superpower describes how kindness is a superpower that can be honed through an intentional lifestyle of kindness and is especially important in these divisive times.
You Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You with Anyone is an interesting and unique perspective on how being kind helps in all aspects of life. This book suggesting many situations I hadn’t thought about. Adrienne Bankert gave real world examples, which made this book very relatable.
Adrienne Bankert is the author and narrator. Bankert’s narration was excellent and really set the tone of the book. I am really glad I listened to this audiobook. I am planning on trying some of the advice mentioned in this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Leadership for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to look like the jerk that dislikes a book on kindness, but I found this book sorely lacking. Adrienne herself seems to offer a lovely effusiveness which makes her a great TV personality and journalist, but struggled to move past surface encounters. This book seems to be a laundry list of nice* things she's done for other people, with a few nice* things that others have done for her, sprinkled with some generic lifecoaching advice. It does nothing to scratch the surface on working with challenging people, how to create and establish healthy boundaries without sacrificing kindness, or even go into how acts of kindness can mean more to people in the long run other than one instance where Adrienne bought a new mom a razor on a whim and how grateful the new mom was because she needed it.
I was deeply disappointed this book seemed completely unaware of luck: if you're kind* to people, then that's why good things happen to you. This seems to imply that anybody who doesn't have abundant opportunities must not be kind to each other; I don't imagine that's what Adrienne Bankert was going for, but the absence of awareness was glaring. It also leaves out privilege, which I hesitate to mention because as a woman of color Adrienne Bankert has likely had to work harder and kinder than any white woman or man. Regardless, there's a heavy emphasis on gift giving all the time, everywhere, and being in a position of power as a tv personality who can make things happen upon request.
*Early in the book Adrienne talks about nice vs. kind, which was an important distinction that I wish we'd spent more time on, but it seemed conflated in the book.
This is definitely a book I will re-read several times, likely once per year. As a kind person in an unkind world, seeing this kindness as a superpower is a gigantic shift in mindset. This book is a beautifully written work.
You know when you say or write a word over and over and it starts sounding or looking wrong. That's what the word "kind" was like this book. I followed and agreed with her overall points but for some reason it just started to get grating. I can't put my finger on why, exactly. I agree that we should have a lifestyle of kindness--that's why I picked up the book. I agree that there is a different between being nice and being kind. I agree that kindness is shown many different ways that are often overlooked--such as standing up for yourself and others even when it's not easy or you are the odd one out. But for some reason, I didn't connect with the author and her style of communicating these points. It almost felt like she was beating a dead horse trying to get me to agree with her on these points that I felt like she made clear very early on. Basically the book was a big repeat of the same points without any practicals. I mean, some. But I felt like we needed more than 'make eye contact," "smile at someone," "bring someone coffee unexpectedly," "say thank you." Then there were the stories. Now, bare with me, because I'm going to sound a little hypocritical here, because I LOVE a good celebrity memoir and I always hate it when reviewers complain about a celebrity talking about themselves too much or telling their own stories too much. But so many examples of kindness were just stories about her and other high-powered celebrities. Not just "normal people." I mean, she even talks like everyone who is reading this wants to be famous or wants to be on TV. Maybe it's a little because I am not necessarily a "fan" of hers, just thought the book looked interesting. Maybe it's because I don't get her style. But it just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Also, I don't get her commentary at the beginning of each chapter in the audiobook. She set the book up with why she wrote the book, then read the chapter. If that was important enough to include in the audiobook, shouldn't it have been in the physical book. Most of it was very redundant and seemed like she just wanted to talk more. I'm sure this book is valuable for some readers. It just didn't connect with me.
After 2 months of trying, pushing myself to read "at least a little bit" and ultimately failing, I'm giving up. This is not a book for me.
It just repeats the same message over and over again. I gave up after seeing that yet another chapter is on how you should invest in people around you. Yes, I agree -- I already agreed on page 1. So why is it still the main topic, 60% in? And that's ultimately it -- it's like the whole point of the book is to convince you about this single message. It's a lovely message and there's been some nice quotes dispersed around but I don't see how it can justify its claim on my time for more than a blog post.
Besides, I didn't enjoy the tone. It felt like the author was telling me what to be and why it's good for me. Like she was telling me that she knows better, sometimes downright assuming she knows what I did and did not think of or that I'm doing things wrong. And I lacked at least some vulnerability there. Simply stating that you had to learn these things too does not count as vulnerability to me.
Finally, I'm still baffled at what was the logical organisation of the book. It felt like it was floating around (, repeating the same message) and having no obvious structure whatsoever.
It all might be me. I don't mean to be mean. I hate writing bad reviews. Also, I'm a huge fan of self-help books, psychology and kindness -- so this really should have been a hit. It wasn't... With lots and lots of cutting and lots and lots of editing, it might have been a different story.
This was about 190 pages too long, and really should have been a blog post or Buzzfeed article. Most of her stories about her kindnesses to others could be mistaken for professionalism and being good at her job as an interviewer. I agree with the general message, but not her delivery.
Audiobook Review: Before I picked up this audiobook at one of my favorite book review sites, I actually hadn't heard of the author before. I chose it because it seemed like a self-help book, and I do usually like reading those. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this book to be enjoyable.
Before I say what I wasn’t wild about, let me say what I did like. The author herself narrates the book, which I like in nonfiction audiobooks. As this author is a professional speaker. working as a reporter and anchor on Good Morning America, the book is well narrated, and you can hear her passion for what she is talking about.
I don't really watch much TV. I find myself wondering if I would have enjoyed this more if I had been familiar with the author and her work. Even though the book is actually about “your hidden superpower”—kindness—it actually felt more to me like it was about the television industry or her career. While she certainly did talk about kindness a lot—and she talks most directly about it in chapter one—she didn't always draw the parallels or share takeaways that I would have liked to have seen in a book like this. It also feels too focused on her. I would have liked to have seen some discussion of other people's acts of kindness (where she wasn’t one of the parties), scientific studies about kindness (with either the kind person or the beneficiary analyzed), or even other authors' ideas on kindness.
I don't really feel like I took much away from this book. I’ll admit to some minor annoyance that this book felt more like an inside look at TV news and morning shows than kindness. As I don't really have much interest in either topic, I felt like the rest of the message got a little lost. If you have an interest in those topics or are already a fan of this author, you might enjoy this book more than I did.
I received a free copy of this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my ARC audio copy of this book. It was published June 9, 2020.
I was not familiar with this author / journalist prior to getting the audio book, but I just loved the title.
I keep hearing “when you can be anything, be kind.” Now more than ever as our world is in such conflict. Basically the author’s message is Be Kind. Kindness begets kindness.
She shared numerous stories where an act of kindness set a chain of events in motion that even came back to her in some way. I especially liked the stories about the mascara and brussel sprouts.
This book was a reminder of my essence. Who I am and why for me, since childhood, one powerful word that I would like to relate to my life is transcending. You only can transcend when your mission in life genuinely help others to make this life a bit brighter. I have been kind, I am kind. Sometimes I forget, due to daily hassles, but this book was a good reminder.
Inspiring how Bankert strives to make kindness her way of life. She exudes familiarity and makes me want to reach out to them for a chat. Maybe I will...
Who thought we would need a whole book just on kindness? But, right now, in this world, I think we do. I found that chapter between kind versus nice to be interesting. I hadn’t spent much time thinking about the difference between the two or which one was more important. I value kindness and try very hard every day to be both. Nice is the gateway to kindness. This book is for everyone— a kid, a mom, an adult, and even a CEO. Kindness is a universal superpower and the smartest thing we can do to succeed in business and in life.
The author said something that stuck with me, "We have so much tension that can lend itself to an emotional rawness where we might have an outburst. It's up to us to keep ourselves centered in who we are, our kind selves, our highest self, so that we are prepared for tense moments. The pressure's not going away, but our response to it is our responsibility. If we center it in kindness, we're a lot more in control than we know. We're a lot stronger." In the end, kindness always wins.
In the book Your Hidden Superpower, Adrienne Bankert defines kindness through a series of lessons and experiences she's learned in her personal life and throughout her career.
Throughout the book, Bankert demonstrates how kindness resolves many issues. It builds trust, open doors, and creates meaningful relationships. She also offers little nuggets of wisdom and kindness exercises that you can incorporate into your day to improve.
In the audio version of the book, you hear Bankert in a firm and purposeful voice candidly tell her stories. Her chapter transitions often come across as if you are sitting across from her at a table as she takes a sip of coffee and suddenly says, 'Before I tell you about this, I have to give you a little background... Or I just explained all that to say." In other words, she's having a conversation with you instead of reading the contents of her book to you.
I believe the publication of this book comes just at the right time. Americans are addressing systemic racism while the new coronavirus has become an invisible predator robbing lives, our economy, and our way of life. While we are working out solutions to these issues, the one place we can start is with kindness; the one thing that will aid our progress is our kindness.
While I enjoyed reading the book, I would add more inspiring stories from Bankert's news packages and stories about kindness from people in various roles throughout the news industry. These ideas could support a book series, but most importantly, it would positively influence current and entry-level journalists. The more they know that kindness exists within the industry, the more they will be able to promote it as a standard within the industry.
I think this book can support corporate and community training geared to addressing a range of current topics, such as social unrest, the health crisis, racism, and more. It's also a useful book for frontline managers to support their organizational conversations.
Your Hidden Superpower also offers journalism students who are starting their career "a mentor from afar." It's definitely a book that I wish I had when I began a journalism career because it gives social cues and the mental fortitude to advance within the newsroom and in everyday life. Bankert also provides a glimpse of her career highs and lows. Most importantly, she describes how she maneuvered through the lows with kindness, positivity, and resilience.
When you have conversations that address behavior and you don't know where to start, consider reading Your Hidden Superpower.
‘Kindness begets kindness.’ Growing up, how often were we reminded of these words. Now, I look around me and wonder if we truly understand their weight.
Kindness isn’t merely about getting along with people and being nice. It’s a game changer in business, the door-opener to opportunity, and the key to authenticity and confidence. It’s a superpower that can be honed through an intentional lifestyle of kindness and is especially important in these divisive times.
Can something as simple as kindness really be the answer? Through years of developing her own kindness practices and studying those of others, Good Morning America correspondent and anchor Adrienne Bankert has experienced first-hand the unbeatable power of kindness and witnessed its transformative impact on others.
This book shows simple acts of kindness from a new and empowering perspective. It differentiates between ‘kind’ and ‘nice’ and demonstrates how neither can be achieved if you’re out to impress. It explains why the recipient of our kindness must include us - so we can own who we are. Accept what we cannot change, and admit what needs to be eliminated.
Adjusting our perspective from being closed off and self-centred, to a mind-set of kindness, ripples into a staggering amount of personal fulfilment and growth. No matter our age or ethnicity, where we come from, or how much money we make, every one of us can be kind. Every one of us can be a change agent.
In the author’s words: “Kindness shines a spotlight on others, without diminishing our own brightness.”
This audio ARC courtesy of NetGalley and HarperCollins Leadership.
Until this book, I had never heard of this author. I LOVE the premise. I also believe kindness is an important value and appreciate her message. Unfortunately, this book didn’t land for me. I expected this book to be inspiring but it felt patronizing and preachy. Some examples were simply basic courtesy. Some examples were possible due to her position/power. I disagreed with some suggestions/examples of kindness. (Paraphrasing) “decide who your VIPs are and always answer the phone for them regardless of where you are/what is going on.” She then goes on the describe answering her VIP calls on television, in major meetings, in interviews and “nobody asked me to do this.” I see this as her personal value, not “kindness” to her VIPs. That’s a choice, but I also think it could be quite rude to the company she is with. I am not judging her personal value. There ARE specific loved ones/circumstances/life seasons someone would make every effort to always be available for. But under normal circumstances, nobody wants someone to be rude to others by always answering their call. Overall: great message, disorganized structure, wrong tone.
It took me SO long to finish this book - over a year! I was so close to DNFing, but I really try not to do that. This book was just not for me.
I really was hoping this would dive deep into kindness and maybe even how-tos in tough situations or kindness during conflict. Instead this book was full of surface-level niceties. I feel like being kind to others is different than being nice, and most of these examples were just being nice.
A common theme also seemed to be about making connections with folks in bigger places, either financially or powerfully. As a young person that is brand new in my career, it just seems so unattainable at the moment. I can’t afford gifts for all my coworkers all the time and I certainly can’t ask for lofty favors like 10k $ grants. I know these are just two examples from the end of the book and that kindness isn’t about the money you have and the connections you make, but the second half of the book really felt like I needed to be wealthy and have perfect connections to make a real difference.
This book may be for others but it really wasn’t for me. I hope that you enjoy this book!
This book was received as an ARC from HarperCollins Leadership in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I always knew there was power in positivity but I never knew the power of kindness and how it can be an effective business tool. I loved how Adrienne shared her story and how personal she got with it. She owes a lot of her success to how Kind she treated guests, how much she respected her superiors whether or not she agreed with their direction and despite the image of the guest and the perceptions the media creates for people, she always kept an open mind and let the guests do the talking developing their own perceptions. After reading this book, I got a more information on overcoming adversity and that little voice in my head and the power of kindness and how it can advance your career and your life.
We will consider adding this title to our Self-Help collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
A great book to start the new year…Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You With Anyone. The author, news correspondent Adrienne Bankert, shares how she discovered, within herself and others, that intentional expressions of kindness can be life-changing for both the giver and the receiver.
Kindness is rare in a world that is busy, intense, and overwhelming.
There seems to be little time for self-kindness, let alone generosity and niceties for everyone else. Often, this hectic pace and influence can lead to a default to unkindness, causing irreparable damage. She argues that kind acts, no matter how small or large, are a magnet for positivity and opportunity and can counteract the side effects of stress. She offers a list of desirable outcomes resulting from developing a habit of kindness. Adrienne firmly believes that this free, easy-to-wield, but genuine act is our hidden superpower. Read my full review: https://booksuplift.com/your-hidden-s...
I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness lately, and this book was wonderful! Such a difference between being nice, and being kind, and she gives great tips, insights, ideas, and reasons, along with sharing personal stories she has experienced in her life. Kindness truly is a superpower, and this is a powerful book that goes so much more into depth of not just kindness, but living a great life and being true to yourself. I grew up being taught to “be nice” but being nice is sometimes viewed as a weakness. But being kind, this is a superpower unlike any other and the author is adept at going into detail. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to review this audio book. It was so nice to listen to and experience, and I believe anyone who works with others could benefit greatly from this book.
If you’re interested in the author, I’m sure this is a great book. If, like me, you have no idea who the author is, you’ll probably enjoy it less.
As another reviewer said, it feels more like a laundry list of “kind” things she has done, and “kind” things that have been done for her, but to be honest, much comes down to luck and timing.
This book felt like a sneaky story of the things being “kind” gets you, and not so much the impact beyond.
I say “kind” in quotes because she touches at a point about the difference between nice and kind, and she was soooo close to a breakthrough, but then it was dropped and the book moved on.
I wish, especially in wake of the 2024 presidential election, that this was engaged deeper with. Because those are two VERY different things, and I can’t help but feel that all her examples were truly just nice, and not actually kind.
I was able to review Your Hidden Superpower audiobook for free from Netgalley and HarperCollins Leadership Audio for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was about how Good Morning America correspondent and anchor, Adrienne Bankert, used kindness to find success in her life. The best part of the audiobook was that it was read by her and she provided introductions to each of her chapters. She was also able to show us the difference between being nice, and being kind. She gave great tips, insights, ideas and reasons with her personal stories and experiences which made this audiobook such a delight to listen to. It is very rare to find Kindness nowadays.
I really enjoyed this book. The author shares her story and how kindness has opened doors and created opportunities for her.
I loved her side notes that she shared at the opening of each chapter. They added a nice personal touch to the book and it felt like the author was speaking directly to me in those moments.
This will definitely be a book that I would read again, while highlighting important points and taking notes.
I received this audio book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Netgalley.
So I think most of us try and be kind as much as we can but sometimes it’s hard even to muster a smile on your face let alone be nice to your boss when he’s moved another deadline to suit himself. This book aims to make you think about being kind regardless as the more you put out in the universe the more you will get back. The narrators tone really gets you engaged with the topic and I really enjoyed this audio and will be trying my best to be kinder even on the days I don’t really feel like it.
The world needs more people like Adrienne! I loved her message so much (as you might tell by the amount of highlights I made), and have already seen it make a difference in my work.
I sometimes felt the writing was a little wordy (but part of that comes from my brain constantly editing things; I can’t turn it off!). Active voice is my new favorite thing, and I’d love to see that more here and elsewhere. Still—this book is so important and worthwhile! Lots of great stories, and a helpful resource list is included at the end.
In Your Hidden Superpower, Adrienne shares stories about the power of kindness and how it can open doors. Kindness is something understood throughout cultures and can connect you with others in various ways. Overall this book is just meh. It doesn't really say anything we don't already know and it doesn't go very deep. This is a quick read and I think some people will enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGally for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Adrienne Bankert's narration felt like a conversation with a friend over coffee. In Your Hidden Superpower, she delves into the power of kindness. Each chapter unveils how kindness has opened doors for her and helped her gain success and respect in her field. The stories are inspiring and always end with a real-life application. It's a practical guide to being more kind that I'll remember for a long time.
This was an easy positive experience kind of read for me this summer. Adrienne points out the value to others and to herself as she consciously shares acts of kindness with coworkers, friends, and strangers. She incorporates kindness into her way of thinking and finds comfort and power in doing so. Many examples and personal stories are shared which I found to be an intimate experience. Her calmness and ability to think on her feet are an inspiration.
An interesting book. Parts of it were riveting and parts of it were hard to get through. Not sure why. I have always appreciated Adrienne’s style of journalism from her KCRA days, but sometimes she lost me in her story telling in this book. I think everyone will get something from it, but that something may not be obvious to everyone.
In a world where it is so easy to be unkind, I enjoyed this opportunity to pause and think about how to be kind and add more kindness to life and the way we interact with others. Adrienne shares some thoughtful questions that serve as journaling prompts along the way to help find ways to be more kind and look at how you can apply kindness to so many aspects of life. Enjoyed this easy read.
I think that a lot of what we know to be true can be taken for granted. It sometimes seem so obvious, but other times you get an a-ha moment that speaks to you. I loved a lot of the ideas of how to spread kindness. Took notes and plan to implement what I've learned immediately.