This book brings back fond memories of when I first heard these songs/stories back in grade school. I really think they are wonderful, motivating stories and songs that truly inspire children. I had to get it for my first baby so he can also experience the magic.

I first heard of FTBY&M in 5th grade(1979) the whole school watched it in assembly. I loved it-all the stories and most of all the music. It touched me like nothing I had seen or heard before. The title song had our whole school singing for days! Years later i just happened to come across the book in our library, and WOW! all those memories came rushing back!! THEN, two years ago, i was given the soundtrack to FTBY&M, and I have not stopped singing since. The music and stories got me thru a serious illness and a horrible breakup= and when I one day have kids of my own, I will pass the legacy on!!!!!

I grew up in the late '70s playing the record of "Free to Be you and Me" over and over. My mom actually had to buy me a second copy because I lost the song book and couldn't live without it. I still sing "When We Grow Up" and "It's Allright To Cry" in the shower and to my nephews. Now I share the wisdom of Atalanta and William's Doll with the teenage mothers I teach. While it doesn't take a genius to figure out the songs on the record were recorded in the '70s, they are timeless treasures for all of our children. Buy this book and the CD for the important children in your life. You'll never be sorry!

This book was given to me when I was about 4 years old. It is a beautiful collection of stories, songs, poems and tales that open a child's imagination. It encourages children, both male and female, black or white, to follow your dreams. The focus is that all children have endless possibilities for them and despite your sex or race everyone is equal and beautiful. It's a truly wonderful book. I still have my tattered copy, and I try to give it as a gift as often as possible.

I am buying this book for my niece. I want her to be taught the lessons in this album at an early age. It's about not feeling bad about yourself, treating others with respect, good manners, and not falling into stereotypes but following your bliss, whether it's making a cake or building a tree house...

Searching for books for my pre-schooler I suddenly remembered a favorite book (and cassette) from my own childhood. This collection has wonderful stories and messages that will make you smile. I still go around my house humming tunes like "It's alright to cry." If you're a child of the 60s and 70s this is a great treasure to pass on to your little ones.

Imagine hearing sweet Ann Marie of "That Girl" swear, uttering the word "F--K" in every other sentence? Imagine "That Girl" mistreat the help and never clean up after herself, ever?? Her house manager Desmond Atholl debunks the carefully honed image created by Marlo Thomas in this dishy, tell-all book. Poor Danny Thomas must be rolling over in his grave over this one. As a child, Marlo Thomas grew up spoiled and indulged, a privileged little princess whose every whim was catered to by servants. Such odious pampering resulted in an adult woman who is an immature, selfish, self-absorbed, flaky, scatterbrained control freak, used to ALWAYS having her own way. It's sad to see that, because the public Marlo Thomas tries to do good, lending her name to good causes, rubbing shoulders with liberals and feminists, but apparently it's all for show. She claims to be an advocate for the disdvantaged and the poor, yet she treats her own servants and staff like dirt. In spite of being in charge of this difficult woman and her Household from Hell, Desmond Atholl manages to retain his cheeky humor and outrageousness. I supposed he had to, in order to survive Hurricane Marlo. You'll never be able to watch old re-runs of "That Girl" the same way after reading this hilarious book. It should be entitled, "Free to Be...ME ME ME!"

Joining the "story about someone who did something great" bandwagon is Marlo Thomas. It is not as if such stories are unimportant. But it seems our bookshelves are packed with the tales of celebrities and how they overcame adversity or foolishness, each one blander than the next.

Thomas ain't Turkel. Pick up anything by Studs Turkel.

Itzhak Perlman's story is intriguing, but only because his adversity has always been as clear as his mastery of the violin. He doesn't seem to be playing the PR game.

Otherwise, there is a canned tone to the stories. I can't explain this, but something in the phrasing is so ordinary, it seems to miss the passion that must have been behind the people who lived the stories. Maybe it was overedited, or ghost-written by a cub writer who hasn't lived through any adversity. I think the stories have power, but not this version.

I recommend "The Right Words at the Right Time" as a easy summer read, the kind of book you read as a passenger or leave up at a vacation home...

Loved reading THE RIGHT WORDS AT THE RIGHT TIME by Marlo
Thomas and Friends . . . this was the right book for me at the right time . . . it is an inspiring collection of personal revelations from more than 100 remarkable men and women who share a moment when words changed their lives.

I was moved by many of the first-person accounts of challenges
and victories . . . they inspired me as I read them, and I'm sure you will feel the same . . . for example, Al Pacino and Gwyneth Paltrow were instructed by words they heard during a crisis . . . Billy Crystal and Crhis Rock used their humor to guide them . . . Ruth Bader Ginsburg received advice from her mother-in-law that continues to help her on the Supreme Court.

There were many memorable passages; among them:
[Jennifer Aniston quotes a Nelson Mandela speech written by
Marianne Williamson] "We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us;
it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

[Jeff Bezos tells what his grandfather told him after he made
his grandmother cry when he criticized her smoking]: "You'll
learn one day that it's much harder to be kind than clever."

[David Boies mentions advice how his wife told him to think
of his son, David, whenever faced with a tough choice]: "You
just make whatever decision you would want David to make if
he were in your position."

This book is for everyone who has felt discouraged, overwhelmed, embarassed, saddened and confused. The experiences of the contributors in this book are so diverse as our the contributors themselves. They are comprised of actors, CEOs of major companies, movie directors, talk show hosts, musicians, athletes, activists, journalists, artists and politicians. These are some of the stories, people, and words that stood out for me.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani who learned that life is a combination of great tragedy and great beauty from a woman who lost her father, husband, and son all in one year. He learned to celebrate the beauty and the positive things in life. Oprah Winfrey was inspired by the words of a producer who said just be yourself when she felt overwhelmed starting out as a talk show host years ago. Her main compettion was Phil Donahue who was the king of talk shows at the time. The same idea motivated Marlo Thomas when she was started out as an actress. Her legendary father advised her to run her own race. Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com learned an important lesson by listening to the words of his grandfather It is much harder to be nice than clever. I thought those words as like so many in this book to be profound. Actress Jennifer Aniston was inspired by a speech written by Marianne Williamson given by Nelson Mandella. The gist of the speech is that we all have a light or gift within us that we all need to share. Journalist Ted Koppel took the words of Roy Rogers to heart when he read that everyone is ignorant just on different subjects. Steven Spielberg was inspired by the words of a Davy Crockett movie The words Be sure you're right, then go ahead gave him the confidence to drop out of college and become a director.

Some of the most interesting insights come from people who are not as famous. Doris Kearns Goodwin, a historian who worked with President Johnson writing his memoir was inspired by the words of psychologist Erik Erikson that the richest lives attain an inner balance comprised of work, play and love. Erikson concluded that we should not sacrifice one need to pursue another. The contribution by Dr. David Ho is interesting to me because of what he does for a living. David Ho is the director of AIDS research and through his efforts with different drugs patients live longer and healthier lives. Patients focus on living and not dying because of him. I enjoyed the wisdom in the story of political advisor Mary Matalin who learned from her father that confidence is what separates successful people from unsuccessful ones. Confidence is created from 3 things being prepared, having experience, and never giving up. This is an idea I will never forget.

There are some cliches in this book, but they are interesting because of the people who were motivated by them achieved great things. Astronaunt Sally Ride was inspired by the words reach for the stars and became the first woman in space. Toni Morrison was motivated by the words anything worth doing is worth doing well. Morrison won the Nobel Prize for her novel Song of Solomon later in life. Designer Ralph Lauren was inspired by the music of Frank Sinatra and the song My Way.

The Right Words at the Right Time is an excellent book filled with pearls of wisdom. This book has wonderful insights about life, work, character and love.

When I made the mistake of reading this tell-all book,It was clear to me that the writer was very bitter. The book tells us little that shock`s,and seems to have been a means of revenge towards Marlo Thomas. What is also odd, is that not one unkind word is written about Phil Donahue,leading the reader to believe he must not have any say in his own home.

This is a great book! A true story of Hollywood rich and excess! It seems only Carly Simon and Olympia Dukakis are the only other ones who know what life is really like in the Thomas-Donahue household! It's so funny, I'm reading it again today, It's amazing how rich people live, way different than poor little ole' me! I only live on ten thou a year, and Ive lived like this for 37 of them! He is very careful to put the plusses of Phil and Marlo also, I like the line Phil would use to be casual when being served, "at your leisure" I'm sure Phil loves this book, and although Marlo probably does'nt like to admit it, she's a good egg and laughs at it too! The part where Rena and Marlo Square off, is pure housekeeper torture laughs, this book is a must for any poor person or household help! What a Gas!