The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Bet On Yourself: Zero to Millions
Because Bet On Yourself was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Alice Heritage
I might have sampled this without the program as I like motivational books. The first ten pages are excellent, but I won't buy and read this today as I have quite a supply of such books and wouldn't have time to read this at the moment. This book seems professionally edited as the sample was error-free. I liked best the quote at the beginning, "Those who lead, read" and the empowering statements about getting up no matter how many times life knocks you down. In terms of what could be improved, I was a little confused by a time switch because the author was talking about his schooldays and then flashed forward to his father's fish farms, which seemed to be a more recent reference. Arguably that's not a huge problem but it creates a vague, stream-of-consciousness feeling. I didn't see an OnlineBookClub review which didn't affect my decision. I'll keep this book in mind as I'd like to learn how the author made money from property rentals and from the stock market.
First Ten review added on September 10, 2018, at 4:34 am by Alice Heritage.
Fu Zaila
I don't read non-fiction or self-help books, so I wasn't interested in this book. Reading the first few pages was a pleasant experience. I liked the author's voice of narration, how he explains his growth from rags to riches, and how he promises that everyone can be successful if they know the right strategies. But I felt like the book was like every other self-help book out there. It doesn't offer anything relatively new or unique, which might attract readers. But I also loved that the author focuses on his particular story in Part One, where he describes how he outgrew the primitive place he was brought up in. There weren't any errors which made me believe that the book is professionally edited. I still won't be reading this book because I don't think it can help me.
First Ten review added on September 10, 2018, at 4:22 am by Fu Zaila.
va2016
The title of the book is catchy and motivating to make me consider the book, although there are several books that are getting released today on self-help, motivation and inspiration. There are around 100 Amazon reviews on the book with an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is impressive. Based on these factors, I would have chosen to sample the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I liked the introduction which talks about the background from which the author came, how he transcended the limitations and became a successful person. I also liked the topics covered in the book that are listed in the table of contents, especially the 'Money 101', and 'Buy Low, Sell High'. Also, I am a fan of getting new ideas on cash flow. So, I am going to read this book in full. I found the book to be professionally edited. I didn't find any mechanical or grammatical errors. What I liked most about the book are the offerings of tips on cash-flow. I could not find anything that can be improved with the book. I found one OBC review of the book but my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on September 10, 2018, at 1:04 am by va2016.
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, title, and cover. I don't usually read non-fiction books, and this motivational memoir didn't really sound like one that would interest me. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. The author seems like a smart man, and his story is motivational. I really enjoyed the story of the koi fish and how he ended up telling his father to do it as a hobby. However, I don't have time to read a lot of books, and this isn't one that I have a need for. I'm on my own successful path, so I don't really need advice on how to get there or the motivation to do it. Also, I noticed several punctuation errors in the book. For example, "There are other kinds of smart; street smart, hustle smart, and survival smart" should have a colon, not a semicolon. There were also missing commas as well as extra commas. Because of this, I don't think the book was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 10, 2018, at 12:53 am by Annelore Trujillo.
kfwilson6
I was initially interested in Bet on Yourself because it discusses certain topics that I would like to know more about such as owning investment properties. Dr. Hodges is a unique figure in that he made his money, but he didn't just desert the community he grew up in. Because he never turned his back on where he came from, I find him an admirable figure. I think his advice would be well worth taking the time to read.
The sample of Bet on Yourself is clearly written for someone who may not have a high education level. The sentences are very short and simple, and the concepts are presented in a simplistic manner as well with a bit of redundancy. I prefer to read books written at a higher reading level, but there are some things Dr. Hodges writes that really had me connecting with the book; his son made him realize the importance of doing the right thing even when no one is watching, there is value in having friends you can trust, don't be angry about life's circumstances, just make yourself better. I think this is a book absolutely everyone can learn something from. I am anxious to read what Dr. Hodges has to say about the stock market and investment properties, so I would like to finish this book to see what he advises on those topics. The book appears to be professionally edited; I didn't notice any errors.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 9:39 pm by kfwilson6.
Bianka Walter
I'm not a reader of self-help/biography type books. Vernard L Hodges spends the first portion of this book talking about how he has been very successful in business, even though he didn't have the best start to life as a youngster. He failed the ninth grade but went on to make millions anyway. By discussing how he does it, he wants to motivate people to bet on themselves. I found a few commas either missing or unnecessarily included in sentences. In the second paragraph of the introduction was where I found the first missing comma:
"When I was growing up in a rural Georgia trailer park our family had very little."
This is not a book that appeals to me. After reading the OBC review, my mind has not changed. This is not a genre that I read or enjoy, so I will not be reading further.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 5:39 pm by Bianka Walter.
Kendra M Parker
I don’t really like self help books. The official review definitely confirmed that this was going to be a self-help style of book, though I was impressed by the author’s story of overcoming being black in rural Georgia. That is not easy. As I read the first ten pages, I did not see any grammatical errors aside from an occasional slang term, but that doesn’t really count. I really appreciated the author’s frank statement that “nothing trumps hard work.” That is so very true. While I think that this book is very valuable to others, and I was glad to see him support his statements well even in the opening chapter, this is not a book for me. I already agree with the author and believe in hard work, so I think that I will have to pass on this one.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 2:25 pm by Kendra M Parker.
bruin
Based on the title and the cover of the book, I would have been interested in reading this book because I enjoy reading self-help books. The man on the cover looks successful and the title suggests that the author will teach you how to succeed. The introduction of this book hooked me in. The author's personal story is relateable and I was interested to keep reading the sample to find out how he became very successful after dropping out of school and hanging around drug dealers. He also grew up poor and lived in an area where achieving a higher education and obtaining successful careers were not the norm.
The book is very well written. There does not seem to be any typos or grammatical errors. The official review noted that there were a few, but I didn't see any in the sample. I will most likely read the rest of this book. I am very interested to learn about how he was able to figure out what to do with all odds against him. I also want to know if I could use any of the tips he has about investments and real estate.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 2:23 pm by bruin.
Sicily Joy
I would have read the sample because of the title, description, and official review since the book seemed like an inspirational story about how to be successful even when you come from an oppressed background. I liked inspirational stories particularly those written by people of color. After reading the sample, I decided I will be reading the book eventually. What I liked best were the personal stories Dr. Hodges told about growing up poor and in a trailer park. For example, how he tried to help his stepdad build a Koi selling business. His relationship with his stepdad is beautiful and personal stories about Dr. Hodges' experiences were quite relatable. I didn't see any errors in the writing, therefore, I think it was professionally edited. There was nothing, I think needed improving. While I will not be buying the book today, it is no fault of the writing. I am not spending extra money at the moment. However, I will likely get a review copy or buy a copy in the future.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 12:57 pm by Sicily Joy.
ObsessedBookNerd
Based on the title, cover, reviews, blurb and genre I would not have read the book if it wasn’t part of the program because I don’t have much interest reading self-help and how to guide books. After reading the first ten pages I decided I would want to read the book because it changed my original guess about the story. I became interested because it talks about how the author first started out in life; a poor, trailer park living, needed to work to get his own school supplies and bad grades. The story progresses on the ups and downs of him trying to become successful. The story seemed professional edited. The thing I liked most about this story is that it helps the reader understand how to become a success and make millions and you don’t have to have done well in school to accomplish it. After reading, I don’t think there is anything to improve.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 8:54 am by ObsessedBookNerd.
Mercelle
This book's cover didn't do much to influence me to read it, but the OBC review made me gravitate towards it when it mentioned that it's a rags to riches story. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the author painted a rosy picture of his relationship with his adoptive father but didn't shy away from pointing out why his father remained poor. I, however, didn't like the descriptive writing style used in the book. It made the content sound shallow. For this reason, I won't read the rest of the book. As I noticed no errors, I'll conclude that the text underwent professional editing and the only thing I would change is the writing style, to spice up the material.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 6:00 am by Mercelle.
Julie Green
I would not have chosen this book based on the title and cover; it is clearly a self-help book which is not one of my preferred genres. Having read the opening pages, I will still not read this book. I am put off by any book that starts with a section headlined "Why you should read this book" - I feel an author should not need to convince me in this way, unless there is something lacking in the book.
On the plus side, the author's recollection of his childhood and his narrow escape from life in "the Trap" is interesting. The author also offers good insights into the recruitment process for the military. I am just not invested enough to want to continue. I did not spot any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 5:58 am by Julie Green.
Sahani Nimandra
Bet On Yourself by Vernard L Hodges is a self-help read about motivating and developing yourself to success. The official OBC review didn't interest me much since in general I avoid text (subject matter) books. The first paragraph of the introductory chapter interest me, "I learned early that school wasn’t set up for people like me to succeed. I wrote this book to give hope, knowledge, and encouragement to people with limited options. You have to scratch and claw to educate yourself. Refuse to be a victim of your surroundings. Get up every time life knocks you down. Refuse to take no for an answer. Never quit, despite how hard life gets. If you’re going to do well in life, bet on yourself, because if you don’t, then who will?". This statement made me taste the power of positivity. The author states how his life flowed in a small rural area in Georgia which later changed to a multi-million dollar real estate entrepreneur. He states his reasons for writing this book which was very interesting. I didn't find any hindrances in this read. I'm sure a lot readers would be fascinated by this read, as for me, this isn't my cup of tea therefore, I will pass this read.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 4:24 am by Sahani Nimandra.
Cristina Chifane
I wouldn't have read this book without the first ten program. Although I don't read self-help guides, the writer's confidence won me over with the extremely straightforward title and Amazon blurb. With over a hundred 5-star reviews, I thought it must be a great motivational book. I like the author's honesty in the introduction. He is not afraid to say loud and clear that in most cases school does not help you succeed in life. His beginnings were very tough and taught him never to give up no matter the circumstances. However, I have to ask myself if gaining money and wealth does not come at a much too heavy a price that I may not be willing to pay. From my personal experience, I could have done what Vernard L. Hodges did by now, yet I refused to sacrifice other things which I consider more important. I also disagree with the author about his ideas on mentoring. Life also taught me there are no such people as mentors and I simply can't accept that if I don't know anything about stock markets or good vs. bad debt, I can't be happy with my life. I think I resemble the author's stepfather in this respect. I am more of a philosopher and a poor businesswoman. By reading the sample, I had the feeling the author still couldn't pass over what he had to live through as a young boy. Accepting money from Marvin who was a drug dealer is not something I would do and is just one example of the many things you have to do on the so-called path to a successful life. Even if it has no editing errors and a positive OBC review, this is not the kind of book I would like to read.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 3:36 am by Cristina Chifane.
Chelsy Scherba
I love that the author really wants to teach people what none of us learn in school, like how to deal with money, what the stock market is, etc. I could certainly learn something from him. It’s inspiring that he went from hanging out with crack dealers to being a successful vet and real estate investor. His story could teach so many how to bet on themselves and succeed, especially because he came from very tough circumstances to overcome. If he can do it, we all can! I feel inspired already. I would definitely read the rest of this book. I love the title and will add this book to my list for future reading. I didn’t see any typos or punctuation errors. I think the reviewer limited this book’s appeal to minorities, but I think it’s written to inspire everyone who truly wants to learn and grow, so I disagree with the reviewer on that limitation. Otherwise, I liked what I read in the book and review.
First Ten review added on September 9, 2018, at 12:55 am by Chelsy Scherba.
revna01
The title and cover are a little cheesy, but I was only curious in the content of the writing. The sample revealed how Dr. Hodges started life in a trailer park and went on to be a veterinarian and real estate entrepreneur, with internships in Nepal and Mississippi. I liked the path of veterinary medicine the author discusses and thought his writing style is succinct and relatable. I found no errors, but felt that the target audience is limited to the African American population. The Online Book Club reviewer gave it four stars, but I don't think I'll be reading this, as I feel my demographic is not the intended target of this book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 11:53 pm by revna01.
britt13
The official review had really good things to say about this book; I am not really interested in what it has to offer though. Still, I set off to read the first ten. It is well written. Hodges does a great job of being super positive and uplifting to motivate the reader. I am sure that someone who is in a similar situation to what he was in would find great comfort in this book. I especially liked when he talked about his son being born. I can not really connect to this book though. I know that everyone's hardships are different but as a white woman born into an upper-middle-class family with a great experience with school, it just does not jive. I have no interest in real estate and am happy with what I am doing in life right now. So while I think it is probably a great book, it is just not for me. (I also found no grammatical errors so kudos for that!)
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 11:23 pm by britt13.
LV2R
The book cover and the title were not that compelling to me, but the “From Zero to Millions” phrase on top of the book did catch my eye. The Amazon Blurb was informative about what the topics of the book were. I like the list of what the book explains: multiple streams of income, Money 101, the stock market, and rental properties. Reading the first ten pages gave me a good idea about the author’s writing style and what the content would be about. I like the author’s personal stories he tells in the sample. I like best how he told about his dad, who although had knowledge of koi fish, just did not make money from it. I think the author could see ways to make money when others could not. I enjoyed reading the OBC review that mentioned the author’s two-fold purpose for the book was to be a role model and to teach about money management, both of which he accomplished in his book. The book was edited well, and I want to read it to get insight into the different ways to make money.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 10:38 pm by LV2R.
ladycraic
I would not have chosen to sample Bet on Yourself apart from First Ten, due to my general disinterest in self-help books. The more I read the blurb of this book on amazon, the more my interest grew. I especially thought it would be fascinating to learn how Hodges, who grew up as a poor African American kid, was able to become a successful business owner and a respected veterinarian. That seemed very inspiring. The sample on Amazon was more than I expected from the book, after my preconceived notions of self-help books were put away. I found when Hodges made a reference to the title, "This book is my story on how I bet on myself...", it was powerful. The impact rang out at me after learning that some of his childhood companions who wanted a better life for themselves, oftentimes didn't get their wish. But he did. It showed me the power of believing in myself. Hodges's ability to think himself capable of great things truly inspired me - it gave me a push to choose to think BIG too. In addition, I loved the racial aspect of the first few pages. Learning about the strong bond that the community of African Americans built in his school warmed my heart. Overall, this book seems like an awesome, inspiring read. I'm adding this book to my WTR shelf, because I enjoyed what I got from this book so far. I'm not interested in the major components of this book, though, right now. Those components include learning about the stock market, and how to make money. This book seemed professionally edited and I didn't notice any grammatical errors.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 9:40 pm by ladycraic.
FictionLover
I liked the cover of this book, which is obviously a non-fiction self help book. Dr. Hedges looks very successful. And who doesn't want to go from "Zero to Millions?" The Amazon description makes it very clear what his philosophy is and what he is going to teach you. The onlinebook club review was very positive, so I was looking forward to it. But even after reading the sample, I wasn't going to read this book further. I don't read a lot of non-fiction and since I have been at the onlinebookclub doing reviews, I have read several. But when I finished the sample there was a button which said "buy now" and I hesitated, but I clicked. So I liked what I was reading, I wanted to read more, and his marketing strategy worked. . . . I didn't notice any spelling or grammatical errors. . . There were a few things I really liked. His positive attitude and the fact that he could see how selling drugs was a short term solution to life's problems. I loved how he spoke of his step-dad, especially the story of his Koi selling business. It's obvious he loves the man despite his inability to make money on his fish husbandry expertise. . . . I cannot think of a thing that could be improved.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 9:08 pm by FictionLover.
Rafaella Michailidou
After reading the first ten pages of this book I have to say that I got hooked. I've read the review and I figured the theme of the book would be another memoir of a man who started from nothing and became someone. I loved the title but I didn't fancy the cover so much. I usually don't read books like this one because ofter they tend to present ridiculous ways of succeeding in life ignoring that most of the time "they just got lucky". I'm glad this book it's not that case. "Nothing trumps hard work" was one of the quotes that made me realize this man is the real deal. The way he writes the story is like he is narrating it to you right now. I'm glad he didn't follow the wrong paths that seemed right at the moment (like Marvin did) and I agree with him that school doesn't teach children the important stuff in life like it should be. I'm definitely going to read the rest of this book because I want to be inspired by his life and I'd suggested it to someone who feels like giving up. I'm also happy that so far there were no grammatical errors and it seemed like a well-edited book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 8:36 pm by Rafaella Michailidou.
Snowflake
I like the cover and the title. They are very clear and direct, just like the author. The Amazon blurb is a bit long for my taste but it does give a good idea of what this book is about. I don’t often read this type of book, especially when they include real estate, however, I may have checked this one out based on the cover and title. I really enjoyed the sample. It was well written and reasonably well edited. The direct and friendly style was easy to read and the descriptive language flowed smoothly. I could easily picture “The Trap” as well as see and feel the experience of being back in the hardware store after all the years of being away and creating a successful life and then, choosing to rise above the smallness that still existed there. The clarity of looking back and telling about the good and the not so good made the sample very interesting to me. I don’t know much about life in rural Georgia but I think this would be an excellent book to give me an idea of what life was like there at the time of this book. I certainly had not planned to read the rest of this book but the charisma and honesty of the author have caught my attention. I am curious about the rest of Dr.Hodges life story and so, I plan to read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 8:21 pm by Snowflake.
Dolor
I would've chosen to read this book even without The First Ten program because the title, the blurb, the official OBC review, and the first ten pages had piqued my interest. The cover has the author's picture - a vouch for the success: from rags to riches. I like the way he narrates his own experiences. I wouldn't wanna put the book down. Well, I only have a sample of the book, though. I feel sad that the author has not seen his real dad ever since and even up to this moment. I love the way his stepdad boosted his self-confidence even though he is not his real son. His dad gave away his knowledge for free while the author learned to monetize his ideas. I have seen minor errors in the first ten pages, but I still consider this book professionally edited. I don't have any improvement suggestion, too.
Errors:
*clauses treated as sentences*
But I did.
Yet here it is.
*Title not properly written*
Motivated by shame => By Shame
*left out necessary comma (,)*
Back then guns weren’t as prevalent as they are today. => Back then,
Bet On Yourself: From Zero to Millions by Vernard L. Hodges is a motivational memoir of an African-American's journey from rags to riches. It's the author's personal struggle against the adversities in life: from a kid failing in high school into a business owner and a respected veterinarian.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 8:20 pm by Dolor.
Allyseria
The book cover did not attract my attention because it seemed like a general self help book. The title gave me a similar reaction. When I read the blurb, I was still unsure about the book because, again, it sounded like it was trying to sell its general tips and advice. The OnlineClubReview made me a little interested because it mentioned that the book is separated into two parts; the first part being about his life growing up. It sounded like the book had some inspirational content than just general advice. But it was when I started reading the sample that I completely changed my mind. The author sounded so real! It felt like he was a real life person, sharing his story and using relatable words. It felt like he spoke his true thoughts, telling us the facts of how people grew up in his neighbourhood, and not trying to hide his failures or his embarrassment at his poverty.
I love that he mentioned that in Chapter 11, there is a whole chapter devoted to 'Money 101' since 'school never taught me the essentials in life'. This is just one of the relatable things he said.
The only thing that was slightly annoying were the short sentences used. The first ten pages are also split into mini stories, giving us a short insight into parts of his life. I wish each part was a bit longer so I can follow his life a little longer at each age, but I am willing to look past that because of the points mentioned above.
Note: The book was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 7:19 pm by Allyseria.
psychopathycathy
If I had not read the sample, I would not have read the book; I do not really read this genre, and the cover does not really reveal too much. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind; I really loved how the author briefly described how they had to make their way up in the world. I did like the stories, but I think some more organization could be helpful; there were some chapters that had multiple stories, and it seemed a little jumpy. For example, the section "when I failed ninth grade" was a little abrupt as it was separated from the rest of the chapter. Overall, it was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 7:14 pm by psychopathycathy.
sharkyjen998
Based on the genre, I usually would not have chosen this book because I’m not interested in self-help books. After reading the sample, I still won’t read the whole book because I don’t like the genre. While the author’s words were encouraging and uplifting, I don’t find any use in reading books of this nature. I did notice a few errors in the sample such as the incomplete sentence on page 2, “How I overcame huge obstacles to live the life.” He also uses a semicolon where there should be a colon. My favorite part of this book was reading the preview into the author’s past. He talks about hanging out with crack dealers as a youngster, and I found this to be a refreshing and honest change of pace. I did read a review before writing this, but I don’t think it impacted my decision.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 6:56 pm by sharkyjen998.
jessinikkip
Had I not sampled the first ten pages as part of this program, I would not have chosen to read or sample this book. The reviews seem to be positive, but I'm not a big fan of most self-help books, and the cover needed a change, in my opinion to something more attention catching than a photo of the author. After sampling the book, my opinion has not changed. Based on the sample, this just doesn't seem to be the book for me. I struggled to really get into the information and most of the first ten pages were just about the author's life as a child instead of containing helpful hints. The hints and tips that I learned from reading editorial and customer reviews are ones more for being an entrepreneur instead of bettering yourself without opening your own business. It is good for those who are looking to follow the author's steps, but not for me. My favorite part is a quote mentioned in an editorial review that you need to bet on yourself, because if you don't then who else will? The book does seem professionally edited and I didn't notice major errors while reading.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 6:51 pm by jessinikkip.
Nelsy Mtsweni
I am a big fan of motivational books, so I would have chosen to read this book without a doubt. Having read the review and a part of the book, my mind is still not changed about reading the book because there is so much to learn from it. What I liked the most about the book was when the author shared from his own lived experiences, such as failing high school and hanging around with the wrong crowd that sold drugs in his community.
This showed to me that no matter how hard life brings one down, they need not give up because there is still hope. I did not notice any editorial errors from the first ten pages I read. Thank you
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 6:13 pm by Nelsy Mtsweni.
Scerakor
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. Although I have read some good "rags to riches" memoirs, I got the distinct feeling there was more of an instructional tone to this book. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I loved the author's eloquent writing style and his ability to tell a story about times past. I particularly enjoyed getting insight into a part of America that many don't experience - of note, the idea that The Trap was a place that kids barely allowed to drive could make tens of thousands in a couple of hours and others dump their whole paycheck. That being said, I'm really not looking for a memoir that doubles as self-help, business, and motivational all at the same time. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 6:03 pm by Scerakor.
Mary WhiteFace
The title was pretty self-explanatory. The cover picturing the author was okay. Neither created any interest for me to read the book. The synopsis and customer reviews revealed it to be a guide for creating multiple income streams. It seemed that real estate was the main feature. I've read so many of this type of book, that I'm not interested in reading another one. Without the First 10 program, I would not be interested in reading this book.
I found from reading the first ten pages that the book was a memoir of the author's life, with money making advice woven into the narrative. He added a few life lessons as well. I enjoyed the bit I read, but it did not change my original decision, although I did find a few points interesting.
One of my favorite parts was at location 347: "I decided a long time ago, I could be angry, I could be bitter, or I could educate myself, work hard, and bet on myself." I believe this book would be a great motivation for anyone needing inspiration and guidance for making good life choices, as well as for money making ideas.
The book seemed to be professionally edited. I did not notice any errors. I do not have any suggestions for improvements. There was an Official OnlineBookClub review. It did not influence my decision. I will not be reading this book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 6:00 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Seraphia Bunny Sparks
After reading a sample of, Bet On Yourself by Vernard L Hodges, I have decided that I will not be purchasing this book today. When I first saw the cover for this book it did not pique my interest. My first thought when I saw this book was, it looked like a self-help book. Self-help books are not a genre I find appealing. If I had not read a sample of this book, I would not have picked it up. I say this because this self-help novel sounds like one person's story. What worked for the author may not work for everyone who read this. I appreciate that the author gives the reader a taste of what to expect in the blurb. I see that the author went through a lot growing up, but he never let it deter him. He worked hard to achieve and acquire his goals. As I read a few pages of this book, my interest is not piqued. I appreciate the author being frank in his story. Life wasn't easy for him growing up, but he worked to be different. He wanted a better life and did what he needed to achieve it. The author bet on himself and did not quit. I think that is inspiring because so few do. The reader gets quite a bit of insight about the author from the beginning. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does have an official OnlineBookClub review. The reviewer speaks positively of this book but does not alter my decision. While I think this book is full of inspirational information, I don't think it will be a good fit for me. I will not be purchasing this book or putting it on my to-be-read shelf.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 5:49 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
cpru68
Without being a part of the online book club, I don’t know if I would have found this book on my own. The opening pages of the sample seem to be professionally edited as I did not notice any spelling, grammar or punctuation errors in the portion I read. I liked the author’s description of his childhood and especially the part about his step-father saying to him that he was his “special samurai warrior” when he asked him why they didn’t look like each other. Never having met his biological dad, his step-dad seemed to loving fill that responsibility. He taught him to love animals, and ultimately this author became a veterinarian. When he failed 9th grade, this author secretly tried to complete summer school until his mom caught on. I found a theme to this that no matter how down in life, we can achieve our goals if we make an effort to do so. I have downloaded this book and have put it on my want to read shelf.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 5:35 pm by cpru68.
CataclysmicKnight
I'm all for self-motivation/self-help books, so I almost definitely would've looked more into this even if it wasn't the book of the day. I was a bit leery when two of the three main pieces of advice advertised were about real estate and the stock market as they're things I'm not at all interested in, but I still think it would've been enough to check it out.
So far the author is describing his youth quite well, and the introduction set expectations properly. I also really like Vernard's writing voice, and I didn't see any errors at all. I appreciated that he pointed out he had a terrific stepfather, and I loved the various hobbies he had and how the author tried to monetize them but failed when the stepfather was so focused on perfection and just doing what he loved.
If I didn't win a copy of the book for free today I wouldn't finish it, as I already have so many books to finish. But I did enjoy what I read, and I'm curious to see how Vernard made so much of himself! I'll be reading the rest of this one sometime.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 4:40 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
ashley_claire
At first glance I wouldn't really think this book is for me because motivational books just aren't my thing. But I'm extremely impressed with the amount of five star reviews on Amazon and the positive OBC review. I did find a mistake early on in the introduction with the first sentence in the second paragraph needing a comma added to it. I also found an instance of switching verb tenses in the middle of a sentence: "As a kid, I had no idea what a bank does..."
I can relate to the idea that not everything worth learning is learned in school. In fact, that was my senior quote. Ordinarily this book wouldn't be my cup of tea at all. But a couple things I read in the first ten pages really struck me and I found myself totally engaged. I will be reading the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 4:14 pm by ashley_claire.
lavellan
I probably would have not read the sample of Bet On Yourself if it had not been a part of The First Ten program. While the Book of the Day review was positive, I'm not very interested in motivational or self-help books. The book seemed like it was professionally edited and I did not notice any errors while I was reading. I enjoyed where the author highlighted his business sense and his father's kind spirit by describing his father's failed business ventures. The koi farm was the most interesting one to me. I didn't like how the book skipped between various points in the author's life. The book's progression did not seem linear and made it difficult to get to know the author. As a result of this and my lack of interest in the subject, I will not be buying the book.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 4:06 pm by lavellan.
Sharill Rasowo
If not for the sample, I would have read the book just for the title. The official OnlineBookClub review also made me very interested in the book. I will definitely buy and read the whole book after reading the sample. This is because from page one, so many lessons were already present. The first one that struck me was the importance of a father figure to a child. Through the author's words, I could see the deeep connection he had with his father and though it was not directly stated, I felt this was a huge contributing factor in him remaining on the right path. The sample also gave quite an incisive view of black people in small town America. I felt that he was incredibly lucky that his one friend who was involved in drugs did not try to pull him in. A phrase in the book about money made illegitimately "Easy come easy go", stayed with me and made me even more interested to read the rest of the book. I did not notice any typos in the sample so in my opinion the book was professionally edited.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 3:33 pm by Sharill Rasowo.
lesler
Had I just looked at the cover, I would have chosen to not read it, as inspirational stories do not interest me very much. Upon sampling the book, I loved the storyline so far and the writing style, and have chosen to continue reading it. This book appears to be professionally edited, with no grammatical errors or typos that I noticed. I liked the initial story in which the author talks about his childhood, with a strong family and opportunity to make poor choices around every corner made for fascinating reading. I do not like how the author talked so much about money he currently has, and it appears he treats his father like a child, giving him money to play with his Koi ponds.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 2:52 pm by lesler.
ritah
Based on the cover and title, I wouldn't have sampled the book because I don't usually read self-help books. I read the official review and then sampled Bet On Yourself, which I found quite interesting. I liked the author's writing style and how he communicates his story - this made me want to keep reading as I wondered why the author and his partner, Dr. Terrance Ferguson, got fired from their first job and how they went about starting their own successful veterinary practices. I appreciated the stories about his step-father and his multiple business ventures, and why they didn't pan out. I will be reading the rest of the book for all the reasons mentioned above and because I think the content could prove valuable to me. I also did not find any errors in the pages I read.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 2:20 pm by ritah.
MsTri
Neither the cover nor the title for this book caught my attention because I could tell that it's a self-help book, a genre I do not enjoy. And neither the Amazon synopsis nor the OBC review (the only one I read) contained any information that changed my mind; as a person of color, I'm very glad that this book is out there, yet I will not be reading it because I don't care for either memoirs or self-help books (or a combo thereof). Insofar as the sample, it was wonderful that it seems to be professionally edited, and I have no suggestions for changes because it's written well for what it is. My favorite part was where the author listed all the things his father tried and failed at.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 2:17 pm by MsTri.
Laura Ungureanu
"Bet On Yourself" is a motivational book about how the author managed to turn his life. From a life in a poor neighborhood to a life of prosperity. The book has two parts. The first one tells the story of how the author and his partner started their veterinary practices, and the second part is about the author's adventure in the real estate. The first chapter begins with a story about the school system. I wouldn't change anything. I don't like motivational books. Reading someone's life story is not going to help me since I have a very different life, but I understood from the beginning that the author wanted this book to help people like him. He had his son in mind when he wrote it. My only problem is that I am not the audience he seeks, so I will say no to this book. I found no grammar errors. I wouldn't have tried this book without the program.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 1:49 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
gali
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as it isn't the type of book I'd normally read. I don't read memoirs, and sampling the book didn't change my mind. The author, an African-American growing up in the poor south, not only relates his rise from rags to riches, but also gives some tips on how to crack the codes for success. I agree with him that schools don't teach enough about real life. I liked his determination, his approach to life, and his loyalty to his crack dealer friend. He is indeed a good role model, and not just to minorities. I didn't find any glaring errors, certainly a plus. I won't buy the book, as I am not interested in the subject matter. While his story is truly inspiring, I have no interest in real estate and finances. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.
First Ten review added on September 8, 2018, at 12:51 pm by gali.
Total ~ 39%
Bet On Yourself earned a score of 39%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 39% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
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