Author: Eugene O’Kelly
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Reviewer: Stuart Lewis
Chasing Daylight – or ‘How my forthcoming death transformed my life’ – was written by former KPMG CEO Eugene O’Kelly over a three-month period following diagnosis with terminal brain cancer. During those three months he says goodbye to all those who have touched his life and reflects. Depressing, you might think - but not so to me as he found peace and was able to embrace death.
The final passage in the book was written by his wife: ‘Although Gene had to leave his position as CEO for KPMG, he took on a much more challenging, yet rewarding position, becoming CEO of his death. By using the skills and tools we had acquired through our lives together, we learned how to adapt in the face of adversity. You could say that we were putting our knowledge to the ultimate test –and we passed.’
I am most grateful to the client who brought this book to my attention.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Three Cups of Tea
Author: Greg Mortenson
Publisher: Penguin non fiction
Reviewer: Stuart Lewis
Here’s a frightening statistic – ‘more than 145 million of the World’s children are deprived of education due to poverty, exploitation, slavery, gender discrimination, religion and corrupt Governments’.
This is the story of one brave American who, having been saved by the locals after a failed attempt to climb K2 in 1993 vowed to repay them by building a school in their remote part of Pakistan. An amazing, humbling and revealing account of how he not only fulfilled that promise but went on to build and fund 55 schools in the remotest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. A testament to human spirit and the potential positive impact of education.
Publisher: Penguin non fiction
Reviewer: Stuart Lewis
Here’s a frightening statistic – ‘more than 145 million of the World’s children are deprived of education due to poverty, exploitation, slavery, gender discrimination, religion and corrupt Governments’.
This is the story of one brave American who, having been saved by the locals after a failed attempt to climb K2 in 1993 vowed to repay them by building a school in their remote part of Pakistan. An amazing, humbling and revealing account of how he not only fulfilled that promise but went on to build and fund 55 schools in the remotest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. A testament to human spirit and the potential positive impact of education.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Outliers: the Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Reviewer: Liz Buckle
It is Malcolm Gladwell’s story-telling skill that makes his books so successful. The opening sentence of Outliers immediately lets us know that our imagination as well as our intellect is going to be fully engaged.
His objective is to change the way we think about success – to look beyond the men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary for the hidden advantages, extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that enabled these individuals to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in a way that others could not.
This book is thought provoking. Be prepared to read in one session, to return frequently, to re-read the stories, and to be inspired to take control of the machinery of achievement.
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Reviewer: Liz Buckle
It is Malcolm Gladwell’s story-telling skill that makes his books so successful. The opening sentence of Outliers immediately lets us know that our imagination as well as our intellect is going to be fully engaged.
His objective is to change the way we think about success – to look beyond the men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary for the hidden advantages, extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies that enabled these individuals to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in a way that others could not.
This book is thought provoking. Be prepared to read in one session, to return frequently, to re-read the stories, and to be inspired to take control of the machinery of achievement.
The Secrets of the People Whisperer
Author: Perry Wood
Publisher: Ulysses Press, 2005
Reviewer: Colin Hudson
The Secrets of the People Whisperer looks at the art of communication beyond the content of what is said and explores why we say the things we do and how we communicate at a number of levels. The book opens with a focus on understanding ourselves in order to build a platform for developing communication with others. Twelve themes – the 12 secrets – are developed with a helpful range of practical examples and intuitions. This is a book that you can back to again and again and includes the finest definition of “How to truly listen” I have ever read.
Publisher: Ulysses Press, 2005
Reviewer: Colin Hudson
The Secrets of the People Whisperer looks at the art of communication beyond the content of what is said and explores why we say the things we do and how we communicate at a number of levels. The book opens with a focus on understanding ourselves in order to build a platform for developing communication with others. Twelve themes – the 12 secrets – are developed with a helpful range of practical examples and intuitions. This is a book that you can back to again and again and includes the finest definition of “How to truly listen” I have ever read.
Why Should Anyone be Led by YOU?
Authors: Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones
Publisher: Harvard Business Press (2006)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
Subtitled 'What it takes to be an Authentic Leader', this is my favourite text about Leadership and I regularly recommend it to clients. It is based on 25 years of research and interviews – with Leaders of all kinds and the people who work for them – rather than theory, models or irritating air-punching rhetoric. The authors are clear that Leadership is not the sole province of high-powered CEOs but something we can all aspire to. Their advice is wise and practical: e.g. 'be yourself - with skill’, ‘know and show yourself – enough’, 'remain authentic -– but conform enough’. There are great tips to increase authenticity and descriptions of what followers actually want in their Leaders (and that is: Excitement, Authenticity, Significance and Community). Invaluable!
Publisher: Harvard Business Press (2006)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
Subtitled 'What it takes to be an Authentic Leader', this is my favourite text about Leadership and I regularly recommend it to clients. It is based on 25 years of research and interviews – with Leaders of all kinds and the people who work for them – rather than theory, models or irritating air-punching rhetoric. The authors are clear that Leadership is not the sole province of high-powered CEOs but something we can all aspire to. Their advice is wise and practical: e.g. 'be yourself - with skill’, ‘know and show yourself – enough’, 'remain authentic -– but conform enough’. There are great tips to increase authenticity and descriptions of what followers actually want in their Leaders (and that is: Excitement, Authenticity, Significance and Community). Invaluable!
Quantum Skills for Coaches: a Handbook for Working with Energy and the Body-mind in Coaching
Author: Annette Simmons
Publisher: Word4Word (2008)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
If you hadn’t thought of quantum mechanics as an effective Coaching tool before, why on earth not? Annette Simmons combines its principles with mindfulness, and gives plenty of practical examples and case studies to help managers apply emotional intelligence to their own development. It works in life as well as work. This is a holistic approach to Coaching and looks at decision-making, relationship building and dealing with conflict in a unique, experimental framework. This is that increasingly rare thing: a book and way of thinking that will genuinely take Coaches, Managers and Leaders to a different place.
Publisher: Word4Word (2008)
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
If you hadn’t thought of quantum mechanics as an effective Coaching tool before, why on earth not? Annette Simmons combines its principles with mindfulness, and gives plenty of practical examples and case studies to help managers apply emotional intelligence to their own development. It works in life as well as work. This is a holistic approach to Coaching and looks at decision-making, relationship building and dealing with conflict in a unique, experimental framework. This is that increasingly rare thing: a book and way of thinking that will genuinely take Coaches, Managers and Leaders to a different place.
Political Savvy: Systematic Approaches to Leadership Behind the Scenes
Author: Joel R. DeLuca
Publisher: Evergreen Business Group, Pennsylvania, 1999
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
If you find office politics a big turn-off, and many people, particularly senior women, do, you might find this book enlightening. Politics can be a force for good. In fact the author defines ‘political savvy’ as ‘ethically building a critical mass of support for an idea you care about’ and it’s hard to argue with that. This book offers strategies for building consensus behind the scenes, forging relationships and understanding others’ points of view. Most intriguing it helps you analyse your own political style (yes, everyone has one!) and use it effectively to maximise personal impact – your own and others’ within your Organisation.
Publisher: Evergreen Business Group, Pennsylvania, 1999
Reviewer: Edwina Biucchi
If you find office politics a big turn-off, and many people, particularly senior women, do, you might find this book enlightening. Politics can be a force for good. In fact the author defines ‘political savvy’ as ‘ethically building a critical mass of support for an idea you care about’ and it’s hard to argue with that. This book offers strategies for building consensus behind the scenes, forging relationships and understanding others’ points of view. Most intriguing it helps you analyse your own political style (yes, everyone has one!) and use it effectively to maximise personal impact – your own and others’ within your Organisation.
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