From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By

by Robin Roberts

The first-ever book from popular and respected Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, filled with her own hard-won insights into what makes success While most people will say that the key to success is a willingness to break the rules, to think outside the box, to ignore boundaries, Robin Roberts -- whose own spectacular success as a college basketball star, ESPN commentator, and co-anchor on Good Morning America is undisputed -- is here to tell readers differently. In her considerable experience, there are seven rules whose importance cannot be ignored, and which must never be broken if true, meaningful success is the goal. In the tradition of bestsellers like Maria Shriver's And One More Thing Before You Go , Anna Quindlen's A Short Guide to a Happy Life , and Marlo Thomas The Right Words at the Right Time , From the Heart is the perfect gift for new grads, and an inspiring read for anyone searching for the path to success.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Self Help

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

There is more than one author by this name on Goodreads.

Robin René Roberts (born November 23, 1960) is an American television broadcaster. Roberts is the anchor of ABC's morning show Good Morning America. After growing up in Mississippi and attending Southeastern Louisiana University, Roberts was a sports anchor for local TV and radio stations. Roberts was a sportscaster on ESPN for 15 years (1990–2005). She became co-anchor on Good Morning America in 2005. She has been treated for breast cancer and for myelodysplastic syndrome.

Though born in Alabama, Roberts grew up in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where she played basketball and tennis, among other sports. She attended Pass Christian High School and graduated as the class of 1979 salutatorian. She is the daughter of Lucimarian Tolliver and Colonel Lawrence E. Roberts. In a 2006 presentation to the assembled student body at Abilene Christian University, Roberts credited her parents as cultivating the "three 'D's: Discipline, Determination, and 'De Lord'." She is the youngest of four, following siblings Sally-Ann, Lawrence, Jr. (nicknamed Butch), and Dorothy. Her father was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen.

Roberts attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, graduating cum laude in 1983 with a degree in communication. She followed in the footsteps of her older sister Sally-Ann Roberts, an anchor at the CBS affiliate WWL in New Orleans.

She joined ESPN as a sportscaster in February 1990, where she stayed until 2005. She became well known on Sportscenter for her catchphrase, "Go on with your bad self!" Roberts began to work for ABC News, specifically as a featured reporter, for Good Morning America in June 1995. In 2001, Roberts received the Mel Greenberg Media Award, presented by the WBCA. For many years, Roberts worked at both ESPN and Good Morning America, contributing to both programs. During that time, she served primarily as the news anchor at GMA. In 2005, Roberts was promoted to co-anchor of Good Morning America. In December 2009, Roberts was joined by George Stephanopoulos as co-anchor of GMA after Diane Sawyer left to anchor ABC World News. Under their partnership, the Roberts-Stephanopoulos team led Good Morning America back to the top of the ratings; the program became the number-one morning show again in April 2012, beating NBC's Today, which had held the top spot for the previous 16 years.

Roberts is a practicing Christian. In 2007, Roberts was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. She underwent surgery on August 3, and by January 2008 had completed eight chemotherapy treatments, followed by 61⁄2 weeks of radiation treatment.

In 2012, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disease of the bone marrow. Be the Match Registry, a nonprofit organization run by the National Marrow Donor Program, experienced a 1,800% spike in donors the day Roberts went public with her illness. She took a leave from GMA to get a bone marrow transplant, and went home in October 2012. She returned to GMA on February 20, 2013. Roberts received a 2012 Peabody Award for the program. The Peabody citation credits her for "allowing her network to document and build a public service campaign around her battle with rare disease" and "inspir[ing] hundreds of potential bone marrow donors to register and heighten[ing] awareness of the need for even more donors." ESPN awarded its Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Robin Roberts at the 2013 ESPYs.

Reviews

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Simple advice on how to live life.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upbeat and enthusiastic about her life and career, I find Robin Roberts to be one of those amazing women of our times. I can also appreciate her shock and distress over a breast cancer diagnosis. She is a lovely American voice who has her finger on the pulse of many issues that matter in the USA today.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and felt like I was sitting with Robin and talking to her. Just her life experiences and what she learned from them.

[Gloria Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELM 572 Biography of Robin Roberts

In Robin Roberts: “From The Heart, Seven Rules To Live By” Robin introduces herself as the co-anchor of Good Morning America and quotes on page ix “I don’t know how I got here either.” This was in 2005 and since then Robin has become an anchor along with George Stephanopoulos taken the morning show rating to number one. Robin was born November 23, 1960 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Robin writes several rules to live by in her book, which are all inspirational, but rule number one that she quotes on page 1 “Position Yourself To Take The Shot” speaking from a basketball player (high school/college) point of view. I think Robin was referring to being ready at all times for the next opportunity in life because we never know when it will come our way. Also, in rule number seven Robin quotes on page 131 “ Keep Faith, Family and Friends Close to Your Heart” this rule is also motivating for me. I think this book is a good read particular for fourth and fifth grade students. Also, for teachers who from time to time need inspirational reading in their lives. I enjoyed the book and would suggest it to my good read friends. Finally, Robin quotes on page 161 “You gotta want it- To win it- So come on strong!” This quote from Robin let us know whatever we are trying to achieved, for example, playing sports, instruments, or good grades in schools if we want it bad enough we can achieve it.


Roberts, R. (2007). From the Heart: Seven Rules To Live By. New York: Hyperion.

http://www.biography.com/people/robin...

[Mloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really a nice book to read, full of inspirational teachings from Ms. Roberts' grandmother and her parents. Also lot of truly useful and good advice about evaluating one's path in life-- an honest way assess your situation and a nice set of guidelines on how to change it if you need a new direction in life. I liked that Ms. Roberts was pretty candid and honest about this book not being a "how to" book on success but more like a collection of teachings from her family that has helped her get to where she is right now in life because as Ms. Roberts points out in the book, we all have a different idea of success. I liked reading how cool her grandmother was and her parent's strict rules in her upbringing was really insightful but the cynic in me just felt a bit that she portrayed them as being too perfect. I don't know, I guess, they have their own faults too but as Ms. Roberts grandma did say: concentrate on the positive things in life, not the negative. Reading this book was truly educational and ha very practical advise that one can apply to one's life immediate, if one feels the need to turn your life in a different direction than it's headed right.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was very interesting but if you want to advance your studies of the meaning of life or how to get more from life, there are many better, more motivating books to read.
I am a huge Robin Roberts fan from GMA. I am not a sports fan, so did not know her entire sportsmedia history.

This is a great book for getting to know a television personality and her family.
Her stories are interesting and told in a pleasant fashion.
I read the updated version with eight rules.

Robin uses the format of tell 'em what you are going to tell 'em, Tell 'em, then tell 'em what you told 'em.

Robin offers anecdotal advice on family relations, setting goals, and dealing with what life throws at you.
No matter what plans you make, prepare to handle whatever happens.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always admired Robin Roberts and when I saw this book I picked it up as a fast-read for an overnight trip I was about to take. This book is a delightful look at Robin’s philosophy and what makes her the role model that she is today. Combined with her humor, warmth and honesty, Robin shares significant times of her life. She expresses the lessons she learned along the way through her stories of personal challenges and how she grew through them. I especially enjoyed the family stories and the influences her parents were in her life. I found this book to be enjoyable and not one that I would consider as “self help”.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of celebrities wowing us peons with their words of wisdom that have been gleaned from lives of privilege. Roberts' book (which I listened to on CD) is bit better than the rest because she was able to break new ground and to make it as sports broadcaster in a field where women aren't always welcome. Calm, self assured but not egotistical, and interesting, Roberts did a good job of reading her own words and maintaining my interest.

[Coffeeboss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, so I picked up this book as a fast read. She admits right off that it is basically the equivalent of inspirational speeches that she gives to college graduations and such, and that is indeed how it comes across. But it is nice, positive, warm advice, which is not surprising considering the source. It is also nice to get a peek into her own background as an athlete and stories of how she got into broadcasting.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good audio book. It was short, sweet, and to the point. Robin Roberts seven rules to live by were common sensical and I enjoyed listening. I have never watched any of her shows nor seen any of her interviews, but I liked her very much as an author. I understand she has had cancer and is kicking it. I'm now one of her many cheerleaders and hope she lives a long healthy life that includes writing more books.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book! Robin Roberts adds to it by reading it on her own. I was getting ready to suggest to her that she either write a second edition or add a new forward/afterward, when I was in Barnes and Noble today and saw the newest edition. Of course, I picked it up! Everything in this book will resonate with anyone!! This isn't just a self-help book; its a how to live, or rules to live by. I especially liked the challenge at the end!

[iluvteaching · Rating 3 out of 5]

she spoke at my graduation for getting my masters. she was inspirational. thought the book was very motivational for young people just getting started. I would love to see what it says after her bout with cancer. She rewrote this book with 8 rules to live by. I just need to read that chapter.I got some really good biblical ideas from her and I like that also.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always liked and admired Robin Roberts. I enjoyed reading some background on how she got to where she is today. The book is a quick read and she tells her story with warmth and without conceit. I hope she will write another one, more of a memoir, since so much has happened in her life since this one came out.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Roberts shares pivotal moments of her life and expresses the lessons she learned along the way. The stories of personal challenges and how she grew through them provide inspiration and admiration. I especially like the family stories and the great influences her parents were in her life.

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of THE best books I have ever read. I thank Robin for writing it and sharing her thoughts with the rest of us. I have made so many marks in the book to go back to.....I think I'll just have to reread it......I recommend to everyone, young and old.

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I did not love this book. It seemed a little haphazzard and it belonged more in the autobiography section than in the Inspirational section. It wasn't a horrible book, just not a great one.

[Sharonbrown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stone-fire small book of pure inspiration. You go gurl! Having gone through the breast cancer diagnosis/surgery/radiology/lymphedema and just the pure ordeal of recovering, I understand my strength comes from my Faith and Belief and Commitment to God and Self. Excellent!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend at school lent me this book since I really admire Robin Roberts. The book was written as if she was talking to me personally. Nothing heavy, nothing light...just a friend telling you about herself.

[Elf_owl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay read. I normally am not that interested in reading motivational books but read this since I got it for free. I liked how she made it clear that it's good to dream but that you still have to be practical. It was a bit short though.

[Megan Cooper]

I actually read 8 rules form the heart. but didn't see it until after I'd selected this one. I liked it, and I liked her, but it felt a little pollyanna and didactic after awhile. The writing is not the best, but her story itself is both memorable and remarkable, and she is very likeable.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I greatly love and admire Robin Roberts so when I saw this as a Kindle Deal, I bought it. Maybe a bit too much coaching/motivating for my mood right now but Roberts writes from the heart and learning about her background and how she got to her success is interesting.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version (2 disks) great motivation and more of Robin's life story. I enjoyed hearing about her story and how she got to ESPN and then on to Good Morning America. Very enjoyable, and will pass on.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very inspirational. I work Monday - Friday during the hours of GMA and I didn't know a lot about Ms. Roberts before this book.

She provided some great rules for us to all live by and I really enjoyed the book!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the newer version of the book in which she added an eighth rule to live by--"make your mess your message." She added this chapter after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a great book with many inspirational life lessons. I was in tears through much of the book.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and quick little read. Inspirational stories of her rise through the broadcasting ranks along with her rules for life. Mostly just to live.

[Mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this to find out a little more about Robin. She appreciates her roots, and love from her family.

[Jennifer Mead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read but very inspiring and entertaining story.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book, I really enjoyed it!

[Debby Burchfield]

Excellent lessons for anyone's life.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful look at Robin's philosophy and what makes her the role mode that she is. Very enjoyable.