4+ STAR      4 STAR      3 1/2 STAR      3 STAR      2 1/2 STAR      2 STAR     

1 1/2 STAR      1 STAR

 

4+ STAR - Absolute Must Read

The Anatomy of Peace is an excellent book written by the Arbinger Group and is a must read. The main topic of this book is how to treat people like people rather than objects. Reading this book opens your mind to others’ feelings, wants, and needs as well as understanding your own. This idea of treating others as people is illustrated through interesting stories including a story about an Isreali and a Palestinian learning to become friends amongst so much hatred. This book will touch your heart and make you a better person as it teaches you to “have a heart at peace.” This book is a follow-up from Leadership and Self Deception and is even more entertaining and insightful than the first, thus I give the book my highest 4 plus star rating.
Competing for the Future is an excellent book on business strategy, and I strongly urge all to read it, especially upper level executives of all companies. This book provides great insights into how to gain an edge on the competition in any industry. It also helps all business professionals to think outside-of-the-box. The book challenges the conventional wisdom on strategy and planning, and encourages leaders to spend more energy and efforts on focusing on the future for this is often where true success lies. It also provides insights into how to motivate a work force through strategic intent and how to maximize your ability to succeed in the competitive business world long-term using many real life business experiences and experiments. Though a few parts of the book are a little slow, and the book overall is not extremely entertaining per say, its wisdom, content, and guidance are outstanding and invaluable. I give this book my must read 4 plus star rating.

top

4 STAR - Must Read

Leadership and Self-Deception is an excellent book because of the lessons it teaches. The ideas and concepts found in the book are very valuable and you will gain insight about yourself as well as others. The central theme is we all tend to deceive ourselves by allowing ourselves to feel negative feelings that we ourselves create! This in turn causes us at times to wish for outcomes that are the exact opposite of what we truly want—simply to justify our own negative feelings. Leadership and Self-Deception is about recognizing this fact and avoiding it, while becoming a better and more productive you. Though not extremely interesting at times, its content is fascinating and priceless–thus I give it a must read 4 star rating. (As a note, this book may require more than one reading to fully understand and appreciate its worth. Its relatively short so it lends well to multiple readings.) This book is also followed by a more entertaining book called The Anatomy of Peace, that builds on the same concepts presented in this book.
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, by Patrick Lencioni relates a story about a business leader who discovers three significant characteristics that contribute to miserable work: immeasurment, irrelevance, and anonymity. And though these three elements are fairly obvious and simple, the author argues that very few managers or companies try to avoid them. In this book, through an interesting and easy to read story, the value of organizational culture is exposed as the main character proves its value through leading three very different companies to success. Eliminating the three signs in the workplace will build and solidify an excellent organizational culture and will steer it clear of supplying miserable work to employees. Managers who can have the discipline and tenacity to implement and follow the concepts found in this book will not only be able to run a highly successful business, but they will also be an effective leader in any aspect of life. Reading this book and taking it to heart is well worth the effort, and I strongly encourage everyone to read it! I give the book 4 stars.
In the book, The Other 90% , author Robert Cooper discusses how we can reach our full potential through developing our trust, increasing our energy, stretching our vision, and strengthening our nerve. The book identifies secrets to what makes a good leader great and what separates many of the most successful people in life from their peers. The main premise of the book is unlocking our hidden potential with an emphasis on the greatness of every human being. For the most part, the ideas and insights found in this book are valuable yet simple to apply. If I do have any complaints about this book it is that its topics are so vast and diverse that it is hard to grasp it all in one reading. Thus, I know I will be reading this one over and over again—both so I can understand it all, but also because it is a very inspirational and enjoyable read. I give it 4 stars.

top

3 1/2 STAR - Very Highly Recommend

Good to Great is a very good book but not quite on my great list, although I would definitely highly recommend it to every businessperson. Good to Great’s central message is that consistency, drive, and focus will lead to greatness and long-term success in the business world. Using examples from well-known companies along with intensive research, the author tries to discover what makes a company different than others, or in other words, great. The book also introduces many valuable concepts and insights such as the Hedgehog Concept and the Flywheel Analogy. Also, you may be surprised which companies are only good and which are deemed great. I give the book 3 ½ stars out of 4.
The Truth about Getting the Best from People by Martha I. Finney is an outstanding book for all leaders who want to excel in managing a diverse workforce in a dynamic world. The book is full of insights, knowledge, and wisdom that are perfect for all managers and companies who are having challenges engaging and retaining their most valuable asset, their people. In an effort to help, the book contains 49 truths to help us lead successfully such as “You don’t need the carrot or the stick” and “If they aren’t buying it, they aren’t doing it” as a few examples. These 49 truths explained will provide great new ways to looking at managing people as well as important reminders that help leaders be successful. I believe every business professional will from reading this book—thus, I very highly recommend it! 3 ½ stars out of 4.
Everyday Parents Raising Great Kids, provides many helpful insights and ideas on not only how we can be more effective parents but also on how we can enjoy parenting more. The book is an excellent and easy read and it will cause you to truly reflect on family-life and motivate you to be a better parent. At the heart of the book is a series of self-assessments that help us honestly answer the question, “what type of influence am I being on my family?” Through constant self-evaluation and communication, the author argues that we can truly become the parents we long to be for our children and we can truly have the type of family we long to have in our lives. Through great insights, stories, and practical applications of many family ideas, this book will influence you to be better and to enjoy your family more—easily deserving a rating of three and half stars.
First Break All the Rules is an excellent book for all managers. This book talks about how to motivate and manage others effectively while breaking many of the normal conventional rules of management such as “treating every employee the same.” The book challenges managers to be their best while focusing on establishing clear expectations and improving communication. Building strong relationships with staff through open and honest communication is seen as paramount for all managers. The book was easy to read and fairly entertaining; I give it 3 ½ stars out of 4 and strongly encourage all managers to read it.
Raising a G-Rated Family in an X-Rated World is a timely book to help parents teach their children correct principles and to stand for goodness and high morals among the deteriorating world that surrounds them. Unfortunately, this book does not give us a quick and easy way to raise our children but on the contrary often reminds us that raising good children is time consuming—requiring a lot of patience and hard work. However, the book does provide great and simple strategies and tools on how to improve our families and teach our children to know that we love and care about them as their parents. Simple ideas such as a “Family Report Card” and “The Band-Aid Magnet” are a few of the many examples of ideas that can really strengthen our family relationships. The book also offers advice on many important topics for parents from discipline to unconditional love, to self-esteem, teaching values, and helping with homework. Since the subject matter of this book is so important and needed for our world, I give it 3 ½ stars and strongly encourage all parents to read it.

top

3 STAR - Highly Recommend

In a thought provoking study, author John Izzo interviewed many elderly people to determine The Five Secrets you Must Discover Before You Die. Though what he learned is not all that shocking, the book provides a great reminder to what is most important while we are here on this earth. Living these secrets, the author argues, will result in a happy and fulfilled life. The five secrets include: be true to yourself, leave no regrets, become love, live the moment, and give more than you take. One of the most meaningful parts of this book is toward the end when the author offers advice on how to apply these secrets into our lives. His ideas and strategies are unique and simple and add value to those who are truly driven and passionate about changing their lives. Lastly, the author discusses the “greatest” fear of those near death, but you will have to read the book to find that out. The book is a quick read as it is short and simple, thus there is no reason not to read it. This book provokes meaningful reflection and a desire to live more fully and for those reasons I give it 3 stars.
In his book, Making Culture Pay, Jerry Haney discusses how we can strengthen our organizational cultures and truly make them powerful assets to our different groups. Though the book focuses on businesses as well as six specific categories that help improve culture, the lessons go far beyond these limits. Additionally, the book provides a basic understanding into what organizational culture is and why it is so important. It also emphasizes and provides a program for an ongoing cultural renewal process. This book is a perfect introduction to those beginning to learn how to better develop and shape an organizational culture and thus I give it three stars.
The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren is an excellent book written to a Christian audience. Though my personal beliefs differ from the author’s beliefs on many religious topics, the book offers many general truths about life that can help us all to be better people and achieve happiness in life. From focusing on developing a long-term perspective thought process, to emphasizing and putting relationships first, to living life with a true purpose, the author addresses many great topics that will help us all be better individuals and reach our full potential. Thus, I give the book 3 stars. (As a note for potential readers, the book is based around Christian beliefs and its main emphasis is on centering our life on Christ.)
What is really possible and how much can we accomplish? In this interesting book,The Art of Possibility, Rosamund and Benjamin Zander share and explain how anything is truly possible. The book teaches that many impossibilities are simply made up because they are based on how we’ve been taught to view the world and think. Too many times we accept rules, limitations, and norms that in reality do not exist but are only in our mind. Yet, we let these limitations control our attitudes and actions. Learning to think and view our world differently will allow us to accomplish much more—and that is what this book is about, viewing the world differently. The authors of this book explain different strategies on how to think and react differently to life and its challenges and triumphs in order to discover what is actually possible. The Art of Possibility is also full of touching stories and notes that will inspire anyone who reads them. By reading this book, you will learn that Possibility truly is an Art as explained in detail in this book. I give “The Art of Possibility” 3 out of 4 stars.
The Proverbial Cracker Jack: How To Get Out Of The Box And Become The Prize is an outstanding motivational, feel-good book, and I recommend all to read it. Though very corny at times, this book will make you laugh as well as inspire you to become a better person. The main message of the book is no matter the situation, we can remain positive and choose to be happy—consequently, happiness is a choice. This book will also help you learn more about yourself and others as it provides a quick personality test near the end of the book. Though somewhat wacky and cheesy, I think the book is excellent because of its uplifting and positive lessons. I give it a 3 star rating out of four.
I had low expectations when I began reading Success Is a Choice, however Rick Pitino far exceeded my expectations with his book. The basis of this book is centered on personal stories from the author’s career that provide tips and motivation into life lessons. I also found many good quotes in the book, and I often found I had a greater desire to be a better person when reading it. This is a feel good book, as I found it to be very motivational and meaningful; and thus I would recommend it to all. I give the book a 3 star rating out of 4.
Three Weeks With my Brother is a story about life and a journey across the world. The author recounts the highs and lows of his tragic-filled, yet successful life. While he and his brother explore the world, he talks about how he survived it all. Touching moments with his family, life lessons from his mother, and comical experiences with his brother make this book entertaining and enjoyable. The book was well written and thoughtful, and though I’ve never read a Nicholas Sparks book previously, I’m sure I will read one of his best-selling novels in the near future. The book will make you laugh and make you cry. In the end it will help you greater appreciate life, love, and family. This book was a nice change of pace for me, and I would recommend reading it. I give this book 3 stars.
Have you ever wondered why things seem so dysfunctional at work sometimes? When Generations Collide is an interesting and insightful book about how the different generations interact at the workplace. Though it is no surprise, the various generations seem to view things very differently. From career goals to retirement, no generation is on the same page resulting in constant misunderstandings, conflict, and poor communication. This book will help you better understand not only yourself but also your peers, your boss, and those you manage. The information will also help you recruit, retain, and better interact with talented people from each generation. And if your not working, the content in the book will help you better understand your children, parents or other relatives, and even those whom you interact with in your community. This book’s topic is fascinating, teaching us we are all unique and we all can add value to our world. I give the book 3 stars.
Though I do not agree with many of the author’s views and opinions, the message of this book is compelling and stirring and one each American needs to hear. The World is Flat is about the flattening of our world through modern technology. This flattening effect can either hurt us or help us depending on how we react as a country to it. The competitive landscape of our economy is changing. No longer are our students competing against only one another for jobs, they are now competing against millions and millions of Indians, Chinese, and Russians who are all hungry for the chance to compete, earn money, be successful, and win. Though somewhat scary, the flat world will provide wonderful opportunities and experiences for Americans and all. This book shows that our future lies in our own ability to take advantage of the flat world, and the message is one of hope, education, and imagination. Do we realize the world is flattening all around us? Learning and continuing to innovate and compete, which are hallmarks of our country, will lead to continued success even though the landscape of the playing field is greatly changing. This book’s messages are very captivating and vital—thus I give the book 3 out of 4 stars, and I highly recommend it.

top

2 1/2 STAR - Recommend

Blink is a fascinating book about our unconscious behaviors, “mind-readings”, and quick judgments we constantly make as human beings each day. Through many interesting studies, the author tries to help readers learn when to trust their instincts and when to slow down and make a more deliberate decision. Though the content is very interesting, the information is not extremely uplifting nor the message profound—thus I give Blink a 2 1/2 star rating out of 4, but would encourage others to read it.
The Culprit and the Cure was a good change of pace for me and an interesting book about fitness and health. The main message is eating right and exercising regularly will save lives and save America. Though not as dramatic as it may sound, the book gives valuable insight into eating and exercising right, and it will give you motivation to live a healthier life style. Though not extremely entertaining, I would recommend the book to any who are interested in health and exercise and give it a 2 ½ star rating out of 4.
What Your Clients Won’t Tell You and Your Managers Don’t Know is a short little book about client retention. The book encourages attitude and action in retaining clients and reminds us that retaining clients is much easier than seeking new ones. Communication and mutual trust are very important in the client/contractor relationship and is emphasized throughout the book. Though most of its content is not extremely unique or revolutionary, this book is a nice little refresher on smart strategies for retaining clients. I give the book 2 ½ stars out of 4.
Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman is an interesting book that explores the need and importance of interaction as social beings. In this book, the author explains how we are all connected and how we influence and impact each other more strongly than we may realize. The book also places emphasis on nurturing and kind relationships and discusses how we often treat others as objects rather than people. The book also offers insights and tips for business owners, families, parents, educators, and the government on how acting with social intelligence can result in better and more successful outcomes. Though some of the topics are a little unsettling and at times the book is a little slow, the book definitely adds valuable insights into life and is worth reading. I give this book 2 ½ stars.

top

2 STAR - Somewhat Recommend

Now Discover Your Strengths is a follow-up to First Break all the Rules and builds on the ideas of how to engage your employees at work and capitalize on their talent. The book provides an interesting insight into talents and strengths and provides an actual assessment tool that allows you to determine your own strengths. The book also lists and discusses many different “strength” categories. Though the self-assessment test was very interesting, I found the overall content to not be nearly as valuable as First Break all the Rules nor quite as entertaining. I would recommend the book to those who are interested in learning more about their own strengths and others, but I give the book 2 out of 4 stars as I had much higher expectations for the book.
The Tipping Point is an interesting book about how little things can cause something to become an epidemic in our society. From crime in New York City, to drugs in Baltimore, this book explores what really happens that cause normal events to “tip” and change so dramatically, seemingly overnight. Overall, the book is interesting but lacks a true message or core teaching other than little things can make a huge difference. Discovering what these little things are is the hard part. Though the content is very interesting at times, I give this book a 2 star rating out of 4.

top

1 1/2 STAR - Would Not Recommend

Freakonomics is a somewhat interesting book with some interesting insight into why we do the things we do. From gangs in Chicago to naming your child, the author illustrates some meaningful statistics that attempt to explain why people do what they do. For me, the main message of the book is everything we do is driven by incentives. It is difficult however to decide if the author had a true purpose or main theme for the book as chapters jump around too much and do not always tie together. I also feel I did not learn anything of real value—thus I give this book 1 ½ stars out of 4 and only recommend it to those who are searching for a new book to read because they’ve read everything else on their list. (One interesting note however is I’ve found statisticians and accountants tend to really enjoy this book more than others.)
I’m sure you can guess what 1001 Ways to Reward Employees by Bob Nelson is all about and the book did truly provide what its title promised Though being reminded of the many ways to recognize staff members, the book did not provide the inspiring, creative, homerun, sure-fire ideas I was hoping for. Also, it did not provide the research, proof, and evidences of what really works that I was thinking I’d find. Many of the ideas listed in the book are common and well known, while many others are off the wall and unique. Another drawback is many very similar ideas are repeated over and over again throughout the book, making the content repetitive and at times a little boring. The lessons I was reminded of though included that rewarding employees really does depend on each individual and there are no sure answers. So, if you are stuck without any idea on how to reward your employees, this is the book for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t highly recommend reading this book. I give it only a 1 ½ star rating out of 4.