I picked this book up because I don’t actually know how to network with new people, and–recognizing that I’m an introvert–I thought this would be a great place to figure out how to develop this skill. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it all that impressive. Matthew Pollard seems to be impressive in the way that he markets himself, and he is also an introvert, but it seems more fluff than substance.

More than any other industry, this book will appeal to those with an interest in sales. How do you go about selling whatever it is that you have? Basically, you have to “identify your niche” and share why it’s so important. Others might not know what they really want until you bring it up. Moreover, it has to be something unique! If you say, “I’m a gardener,” you can expect to be ignored at networking events. On the other hand, something like this will bring you far more success:

✨ I cast magic spells that will build you a Japanese Zen garden in the middle of the Sonora Desert ✨

There are some rudimentary skills that Pollard rightly assures us that we need: strong listening ability, the capacity to ask the right questions, and branding skills. With these, any introvert can thrive. Instead of saying, “I’m a gardener,” say “I’m a bio-enchantress!” Great stuff here.

Still, in spite of my cynicism, I took some time with it, and there are occasional nuggets. The biggest issue is that this book did not need to be written.

Obviously, there needs to be good writing that helps introverts build networking skills, but this book simply is not it. It does something else: it sells Pollard as a life coach, so you can hire him for a service and get your career on track. In total honesty, I have little doubt in Pollard’s ability to be a career coach, especially in one-on-one situations, but he really isn’t a writer. It’s too bad, because I was hoping for this to be a helpful, interesting book.