Grow a Pair by Larry Winget: Loy Machedo’s Book Review

Who is Larry Winget?

• Motivational Speaker
• Best Selling Author
• Television Personality
• Social Commentator
• Larry Winget’s tough-love, in-your-face, no-nonsense approach is so strong & distinct that his registered trademark is “Pitbull of Personal Development” and “World’s Only Irritational Speaker”

Larry Winget is also the author of six New York Times/Wall Street Journal Best Sellers including books like.

• Shut Up, Stop Whining, & Get A Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life
  It’s Called Work For A Reason
• You’re Broke Because You Want To Be: How to Stop Getting By and Start Getting Ahead
• People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It!: The Ten Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Life and How To Overcome Them
• No Time For Tact: 365 Days of The Wit, Words and Wisdom of Larry Winget
• Your Kids Are Your Own Fault: A Guide For Raising Responsible, Productive Adults
• The Idiot Factor: The 10 Ways We Sabotage Our Life, Money and Business
• Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life comic book version Grow A Pair; How To Stop Being A Victim and Take Back Your Life, Your Business and Your Sanity

I have personally read all his books and watched most of his videos, DVD’s & youtube videos. Larry Winget is someone I deeply respect and consider incredibly authentic, powerful and worthwhile subscribing to.

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Grow a Pair: How to stop being a victim and take back your life, your business and your sanity.

The book in a nutshell follows Larry Winget’s classic formula of telling the readers that they need to take charge of their lives, stop being a victim and take personal responsibility.

So what did I like and didn’t like about this book?

What I liked

• There were the bits and pieces peppered in between the book where Larry Winget speaks against how soft the American System has become where instead of calling someone ‘fat’ you are told to call them ‘big boned’ and if someone is broke – its because they spend too much.
• I also love his in-your-face-approach which is his classic signature
• I particularly loved the part where he mentioned and stated openly where he got over-confident with his success – only one day to find out he had run out of all his advanced bookings as a speaker – and now he was without ‘a job’ (no advance bookings). This is what makes him stand out – being genuine and honest about life.

What I didn’t like:

• If you have read Larry Winget’s books like I have and watched almost all his videos – you will not find anything new here (except that one story where he failed)
• Personally, I disagreed with most of the comments & opinions he gave in this book especially with regards to ‘standing up’ and facing trouble makers. Yes – there are time when you need to stand up against people who are bullies or trying to push themselves around. However, sometimes – there is a price to pay. Given that Larry Winget stays in USA – maybe he is safe. Now lets say for instance I stay in Iraq or Africa – if I were to follow his “I got balls approach” and stand up to a gangster – the next thing I know – I would end up getting shot dead or stabbed for my bravery.
• Larry Winget tried to drive home the theme “Grow a Pair” throughout the book. At some point it going not only too repetitive, it lost its charm, its impact and its value.
• I couldn’t understand the strategy of having cartoons caricatures being presented in between the book. Totally useless and pointless.
• The whole book could have been condensed to say just one single worthwhile article.

Loy Machedo’s Moment of Truth

Let me tell you without a doubt – I love Larry Winget’s approach. I am a big fan of his work and a constant admirer of his personality. I think he is one of those rare individuals whose style and substance is truly worth a read, a watch and an experience.

Even today – if you watch his video or read his book or listen to him on youtube – I would highly recommend you to do so. However, this book is an utter disappointment.

At its worst – it sounded more like a rant and at its best, it was a book that could have been reduced to one-tenth its size. I ended up skipping the pages and reading the whole book within 2 hours. And if there is anything worthwhile I did pick up – well – I can put it in one line – take personal responsibility.

The rest however – standing up for your bullies in your personal and professional life – well I am more of a person who believes in working smart and with a strategy than going on a head-on collision – because I know what the powers of those with powerful political connections can do – (you can watch my video titled Loy Machedo 2011 Suicide video).

What Larry Winget seems to forget is that – until now he is lucky that he didn’t get into a fight with some dangerous person or some underworld character. If he did – I doubt he would write whatever brave stuff he has written. In the real world – most of the advice he has given sounds good – but in practicality cannot be implemented. Because in some places – when someone puts a gun to your loved one’s head – your guts & your balls automatically reach the size they should have been in the first place.

And if you want to know where this approach can sometimes take you – I suggest you visit a prison or jail or a hospital where someone has ended up paying a price – a really massive price for being brave, bold and ballsy.

Is it worth it losing an arm, a leg, being blind or being jailed for life for being ‘a man’ for few minutes?

I leave that decision and choice to you.

Loy Machedo’s overall rating

1 out 10.