Legacy vs. Likes by Mike Smith

Legacy vs. Likes Reviews

• 
  Kris Patrick

  I'm back! Did everyone miss me?
  
  This book was a disappointment. Thank goodness my boss had the wisdom to order some preview copies for us before he and I made Legacy vs. Likes a community book club selection. It's like something you would buy off the front table at Urban Outfitters. Or if Scholastic Book Fair had book fairs for grownups, this is what you would find. Dr. Kristen Mattson had recommended it in School Library Journal. She has a terrific picture book list here:
  https://www.amazon.com/ideas/amzn1.ac...
• 
  Gaylen

  my mom could’ve written a better book than this.
• 
  Melonie Yielding

  This book reeks of toxic positivity. So much of the message is trite and doesn't reflect the realities facing teenagers and adults today. He uses untrue clichés like "everyone has the same number of hours in a day" ignoring the fact that students who have to watch younger siblings do NOT have the same number of hours in a day for passion projects as students who do not and hundreds of other situations that would make one person's available "free" time different from another's.
  
  Mike Smith spends no time addressing burn-out, energy levels, accommodations, or taking baby-steps toward accomplishing goals. He doesn't even explain HOW to set goals and what to do when faced with roadblocks. He pins teenagers' lack of success on teens using their phones too much, seeking social media clout, and fear of failure. Smith even has an example of a t-chart where readers should list the risks of failing a new endeavor on one side and the rewards of succeeding on the other. He seems to believe that just seeing the success side being longer will remove the roadblocks to accomplishing a goal. I can promise you that for most people, fear of failure is only a small part of what is stopping them from starting a new venture. Usually, the problem is lack of capital in the form of money, time, and energy due to other responsibilities, disabilities, and socio-economic status outside the person's control.
  
  The book was not all bad, there were a few times when Mike Smith ALMOST had a good point. The most memorable of these times in an anecdote about an interaction with a high schooler who used social media to bring awareness to feminist issues. Smith states that when he looked through her feed, he noticed in between her feminists posts were posts of her trash talking fellow students. He pointed out the inconsistency of using your platform to both empower and devalue people. If he had stopped there with a lesson in consistency of message, he would have had a winner, but he went on to conclude that real impact doesn't happen online, but in real life...he seems to have missed his own point. While not entirely wrong, the anecdote and his take-away are disjointed--they don't fit together.
  
  Despite its toxic messages, Legacy vs. Likes does have a few good traits. First, the book is easy to read and sounds inspiring. He has a good grasp on what language to use to evoke positive, hopeful emotions in teenagers. The book is visually appealing with effective use of bolding and underlining to emphasize key points. There are even a few genuine non-toxic take-aways from the book like "you can't expect others to be as invested in your dreams as you are" and "throughout life people fluctuate their role as leader, influencer, or follower depending on the project."
  
  Overall, I do NOT recommend this book, while it sounds inspiring, it is ableist. While it may inspire some teens to greatness, it will leave others feeling ashamed because they didn't have enough positivity to push through and "do something great" with their time.
  
  NOTE: I read the dark mode edition which includes notes from the author such as his personal answers to the reflection questions at the end of each chapter.
• 
  Samantha Haddock

  This is the worst book I have ever read, in fact, I think it’s an insult to literature to call this a book. Mike Smith is a hypocrite, coward, a person that’s all talk and no do.
• 
  Ash Wilson

  Self proclaimed “professional teenager” Mike Smith came and spoke at the school where I work this last school year. I was able to listen to the talk he gave to our entire school at an assembly in the morning, but then he remained on campus throughout the day doing workshop type stuff with our PAL (Peer Assistance Leadership) group and what not, and I was only able to pop in and hear what was going on there a few times throughout the day.
  
  At the end of the day, we bought several copies of this book from him, (as the school librarian, I specifically wanted to buy a few copies for our library). I also got a copy for myself, and he signed all of them without us even asking. He was also the very last one out of the gym after school that day and he repeatedly asked if they got everything cleaned up and put away and if there was anything he could do to help, as students were trying to transition from the set-up for his workshop to getting the gym prepped for a basketball game that afternoon.
  
  I was impressed with his personality and not acting like he was better than anyone or above anything despite his success and popularity, and also his ability to be so real while also remaining so honest with students and staff alike. I found him to be very interesting and personable and I was thankful that I got to meet him and excited to read the book.
  
  A lot of what’s in the book are the same advice / stories he discussed in the assembly, some of which I agree with, and some not as much. None of it in a bad way. I think all of what he’s generally talking about content-wise is good and important. I just disagree with his approach in some of his advice to teenagers.
  
  The book was a small, quick read with pictures and what not throughout as well. The only thing I’d really say I didn’t like about it besides my slight disagreements on a few things, is that by the end, it did seem kind of repetitive. The same advice on legacy vs likes, working towards your dreams instead of just dreaming them, caring more about doing great things when no one’s watching you do them rather than when you can get all the social media attention for them, etc are all great ideas, but the same advice felt like it just kept getting repeated throughout wrapped in different ways after a while. Which wasn’t even that big of a deal since the book, itself, is so short.
  
  For the most part, I liked where he was going with it and I like most of the message he’s putting out there to young people as someone young and successful himself who they can really relate and look up to. I wish him continued success and I hope that he can continue building on the good work he’s been doing for youth, the homeless, etc across the country.
• 
  Steven Leonard

  This was a lightning-quick read, but one that resonated from the moment I started reading. The fundamental question to ask yourself in an age of (un)social media: do you want to be liked or do you want to make a difference? Mike Smith takes that basic premise and drills down into the details of how you can build an enduring legacy that makes a lasting difference.
• 
  addi

  I was forced to read this book for school but honestly, it had really impactful elements to it. Definitely made me reflect on lots, ESPECIALLY with all the questions. Kind of wish I could’ve read it without the assignments with it.
• 
  Jennifer Phenicie

  Fantastic book for student leadership! The voice sounds like Mike and is practical. It’s an easy read with challenging content. It’s hard to walk away from this book unchanged.
• 
  Linene

  I think this a great book for young adults to get off their phones and seek action. I really liked the messaging to teens.
• 
  Mandy Peterson

  Needed for high schoolers and college aged new adults to encourage them to find their passion and DO IT! Love this book.
• 
  Manon Buderus

  This is more or less a biography of Mike Smith with lots a inspiring suggestions shoved into every page.
• 
  Dani Way-Lawler

  Such an inspirational book. Anyone who hasn't heard of Mike Smith should stop what they are doing and google him! This is a book that I think all high-schoolers (and adults) should read.