The Way of Oz: A Guide to Wisdom, Heart, and Courage

by Robert V. Smith, Dusty Higgins (Illustrator)

Overview

You’ve met them in your own life: the influential mentor who made a difference. The public servant whose energy and dedication were an inspiration to all. The business leader who overcame adversity and succeeded in an admirable endeavor. The visionary who drew an entire community or organization together. You may not realize that you’ve also met them in a classic of American literature and cinema. Veteran educator Robert V. Smith adopts the virtues of the beloved and familiar characters from the Wizard of Oz stories, along with the trials and triumphs of their creator, L. Frank Baum, as a road map for personal and professional growth. The magical archetypes of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy, Toto, and the Wizard guide readers—especially those preparing for college and career—to a deeper understanding of lifelong learning, loving, serving, and leading. Smith blends Baum’s fascinating biography and publishing history with practical advice and philosophy drawn from a rich array of sources. Further, the book’s chapters are enhanced with rich video content linked by interactive codes. For seekers and teachers alike, The Way of Oz opens the door to an imaginative, inspiring journey and challenges all aspirants to make a difference in their work and world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780896727403
Publisher:	Texas Tech University Press
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Edition description:	First Edition, 1st Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Robert V. Smith has pursued a career as faculty member and administrator at five research universities in the United States. Currently serving as the chief academic officer at Texas Tech University, he is the author of several professional development books, including Where You Stand Is Where You Sit: An Academic Administrator’s Handbook and Pedestals, Parapets, and Pits: The Joys, Challenges, and Failures of Professional Life. www.thewayofoz.com

Editorial Reviews

“[Smith] offers a way of looking at one’s life based on the qualities shown in the Oz characters, helping to imprint their image in one’s mind in connection with one’s own self-development.” —Sacramento Book Review

Sacramento Book Review - Angie Mangino

“What makes this book interesting, readable, attractive, and what is most important, useful, is the simplicity of its premise: take a well known work of literature and apply its themes to everyday modern life.” —Bookpleasures.com

Bookpleasures.com - John Cowans

Smith, provost and senior vice president of Texas Tech, has intertwined the works of classic children’s author and entrepreneur L. Frank Baum into a life guide for college-bound young adults. Thoroughly researched, the book begins with a biographical history of Baum. His successes and failures are outlined to provide the reader with a background of the man who created some of the most well-known characters in literature and film. Smith then takes tenets from Baum’s famous The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, and its sequels, to develop a plan based on the “Way of Oz.” The Way of Oz is broken into sections including “Learning,” “Loving,” “Serving,” “Focus on the Future,” and “Humility.” Smith offers suggestions and anecdotes of famous and inspirational individuals who have demonstrated success by using the principles put forth in this book. Furthermore, Smith uses the personality traits of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz characters Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow to inspire students to strive for habits and lifestyle choices that will lead to achievement in life. QR icons are interspersed throughout the book, and the author’s website, www.TheWayofOz.com, offers a multimedia experience to the reader. The illustrations by Dusty Higgins are delightful and render the characters in a whimsical fashion. In the introduction, Smith states that The Way Of Oz's target audience is adolescents, especially those enrolled in gifted and talented programs and college-bound students. Although the advice offered in this novel approach to building life skills is sound, teens reading this title of their own accord would be a hard sell. If used as reading material in a life skills or college/career preparation class, this title would reach its intended audience. Ages 15 to 18.

VOYA - Adrienne Amborski

The Way Of Oz is very well written for advanced readers. While the book takes a unique approach on The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, it may be too hard for teens to fully appreciate the concept. This book would generally appeal to adults working with teens rather than teens themselves. 3Q,1P. Ages 15 to 18.

VOYA - Gwen Amborski