Seth Godin, editor of the book, has collected 33 inspiring ideas and they become The Big Moo. The Group of 33, as the book references these successful business people, includes Mark Cuban, Dave Balter, Malcolm Gladwell, Tom Peters, and Guy Kawasaki. The aim of the stories or ideas is to show what it takes to become remarkable.

The book’s title comes from Godin’s previous best seller, Purple Cow which shows how to stand out in a world of brown cows. According to the book’s synopsis, “… sometimes you need something even bigger than a purple cow. You need a big moo — an insight so astounding that people can’t help but remark on it.”

While Purple Cow focuses on standing out, it lacks the second and very important step — getting others to talk about your business. Standing out alone doesn’t lead to business. How do people find out about you? That’s what The Big Moo is about — sharing ideas and real-life examples of how to get people talking.

“Some Things Just Don’t Translate” points that the way we see our products may not be the way customers see them. Sounds obvious, but it isn’t. An Italian in the house ware business opened a store in the U.S. His foot traffic wasn’t match by sales. He observed his customers and remained baffled as to why they were looking and taking an interest, but not buying.

He asked a customer how she liked the store and merchandise. It turned out that what Americans considered vases, Italians saw as glasses — and vice versa. The owner, of course, was selling glasses of six in a case and vases as singles. Americans didn’t want to buy six vases — they could’ve bought six glasses with ease, though. This type of valuable advice appears throughout the book.

Most essays clearly get the point across although a couple aren’t as strong. The book does what it sets out to do: motivate the reader to get out there to put ideas to work to develop a remarkable organization that gets everyone buzzing.

Though the book explains the contributors gave up their by-lines for the book, I would’ve liked to know who wrote each story. There’s no way to guess who wrote which story as few of them relate to the businesses associated with the people. What does knowing who wrote it do for me? It tells me who made the observation or how the person thinks. It’s like sharing a quote without the author’s name.

It’s an easy, gratifying, and fast read. I read the whole thing in about an hour. Each essay is about two pages on the average. All the proceeds from the book go to three charities.

Title: The Big Moo
Author: group of 33, Seth Godin
Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover
ISBN: 1591841038
Date: October 2005
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 208
Cover Price: USD: $19.95 Amazon: $13.57

“But why???” the child asks.

“Because I said so,” says Mom.

I’ve been on both sides of this conversation. This second answer, however, doesn’t satisfy my oldest, who presses for details. Then, I have to respond, “You don’t have to know everything.” Still, I’m sure every mother has said this famous phrase. This book has 33 stories written by 33 intelligent women who happen to be mothers.

Stories cover the gamut of breaking cultural rules, losing a successful business and starting over, dealing with divorce, moving to a foreign country and leaving your children behind, facing a difficult situation when the kids love the nanny as much as the mother, and other topics that many of us would never dream of confronting. For those who have faced such situations, these stories remind us we’re not alone.

I don’t know how to do these stories justice with this review. I feel like a friend sitting across from the author of the story, telling her tale as if I were her best friend because of the intimate details she shares. The stories don’t have a hint of whining children, male bashing, or “woe is me” moaning. After reading a story, don’t be surprised if you wish you could meet the author and become her friend.

Instead, meet a Muslim woman who deals with the stigma of having a child out of wedlock in “The Scarlet Letter Z.” Meet a woman whose father killed himself when she was young and she didn’t find out till eight years later — then her own husband was killed leaving her a widow at 34-years-old with a child on the way in “On Giving Hope.” Meet a woman who arranged to have a dinner with her husband at a five-star restaurant and everything prior to the event goes wrong as she explains, “Why I Can Never Go Back to the French Laundry.”

Mothers sometimes feel disconnected like their lives are all about their children and their activities. Reconnect by reading these essays and take strength in knowing there are smart women who happen to have the title of Mom added to their list of roles and accomplishments. They talk about motherhood beyond sleepless nights, potty training, carpooling, or food battles.

Read stories about autism, spousal abuse, growing up, babysitters, dolls, parents-to-be from different races, and a single woman having two children by artificial insemination. Expect to learn life lessons from these stories as these women have grown from experiencing life. You might walk away with something you didn’t have before reading the book.

I am stunned by some of the revelations as I can’t imagine admitting such things to a friend much less to a faceless public, which no doubt includes family and friends. The honesty reminds us that it’s OK to feel or think this way — it doesn’t make us bad, just human.

The essays vary in length so a mom can squeeze a little reading between feedings, a few minutes before going to sleep, while waiting in the carpool line, or during lunch break. Any time spent with this book is gratifying and worth every minute.

Title: Because I Said So
Author: Camille Peri and Kate Moses
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060598786
Date: May 2005
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Cover Price: USD: $24.95 Amazon: $16.47

This book is a collection of 27 essays written by men on the topics of love, honesty, lying, desires, family, and needs. Most of the essays provide a fascinating read, some more riveting than others. Only a couple are tedious.

The essays evoke many emotions with the funny, heartwarming, sad, curious, and intriguing tales. Human nature comes through as these pages pour out the men’s thoughts, the kind few human beings would share with their loved ones and friends.

Topics cover the woman making more money than the man, the stay-at-home Dad, a marriage of equals, an almost 50-year-old man who remains a bachelor, a man who prefers older women, an open marriage, affairs, and less “Mood for Love” in a marriage.

It’s easy to dislike some of the men while respecting others, but their prose and candor provide impressive insight into otherwise ordinary situations in their lives. Hearing a story about a man who after 17 years of marriage and two kids isn’t as chivalrous as he was when he first met and married his wife doesn’t sound like much. However, “I Am a Man, Hear Me Bleat,” is a captivating tale in which one of his kids ends up in the emergency room under his care.

The book doesn’t completely answer, “What is he thinking?” While each essay addresses the question, there isn’t enough diversity in these men’s backgrounds. In fact, almost all of them are writers from New York or California. One author stands out because he’s in jail.

The book finishes with a bang with “Father of the Year” by Trey Ellis who is black, adding a little diversity (he’s a writer, though) talking about fatherhood and his crumbling marriage. If another edition comes out, more diversity in terms of location, experiences, and careers will turn a fine book into a superb one.

Note regarding the cover: On Amazon, the cover shows two feet on an ottoman. However, I believe this re-release is using the newer and better photo of a guy in boxers… at least, we think it’s a guy

Title: The Bastard on the Couch
Author: Edited by Daniel Jones
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 0060565349
Date: April 2004
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Cover Price: USD: $24.95 Amazon: $15.72