Are you a wall flower? A shrinking violet? Or have you been told you're one of those people who monopolizes every conversation with tales of your accomplishments - ad nauseum? If you answered yes to any one of those descriptions, you need Peggy Klaus' book, "BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It." Most people could benefit from Klaus' advice, since most of us, she says, have been taught that it's not polite to brag.

When I first started reading BRAG!, I thought, I don't have this particular problem. And I don't. I can easily tell someone how I got my job and what I have accomplished over the past few years. But I do have a problem with public speaking and schmoozing at parties, so Klaus' book really enlightened me. For example, the word schmooze has a negative connotation - people who schmooze are viewed as being phony - when it actually means "a friendly, heart-to-heart talk," according to Joys of Yiddish. So, don't be afraid to schmooze at parties ... it's a good thing.

BRAG! even tells you how to be a roaring success on your next job interview. It's about knowing how to sell yourself to any audience, including a potential employer. It's a must-have for recent college graduates looking for entry-level employment and college students looking for internships.

You start by doing the "Take 12" Self-evaluation at the beginning of chapter 2. Once you've answered those twelve questions, the core ingredients of your "bragalogue," you're ready to go on with your reading and learn how to weave your accomplishments into any conversation without coming across as either arrogant or boring. Klaus advises regularly updating your bragalogue so your stories are always fresh and current.

BRAG! is an easy read because of Klaus' conversational tone and her great sense of humor. I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who need help learning how to "toot their own horns without blowing it."