Leglessbird Reading guide

By Malcolm Gladwell

As the name of the book suggests, it talks about people who are different from others and so they stand out and become successful. It attempts to explain why certain people succeeded where other failed, moreover, the book inspects the cases where the success is not necessary the ability of the person alone or in some cases, the person doesn't really have any real outstanding ability, what is important in a lot of cases is the circumstances and the system has somehow favoured someone or a group of people. On the other hand, thre are people with remarkable ability but has been mirginallized by the system.

While the idea of book is pretty interesting, I found the cases and description a bit repetitive and long-winded. This is the 3rd book that I read from the same author, the other two books were "Tipping point" and "Blink" which I enjoyed a lot, but I must say I was a bit disappointed about "Outliners".

Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition (buy from Amazon) by Catherine McCarthy

Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Dennis N. T. Perkins
My rating: 4

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
A book on leadership lessons using the 1914 Antarctica exploration led by Sir Ernest Shackleton on a boat called the "Endurance". A remarkable journey, the boat was soon trapped by the ice and the crew was strangled in the most harsh region on the globe. Under Sir Ernest's amazing leadship, the crew was able to survive for over 2 years and eventually reached safety with no loss of a single life. His unique style of leadership skill was able to hold the team together and keep their spirit alive, how to eliminate doubts and achieve incredible results. The book analyses these outstanding qualities and citing more turn-around examples of modern corporations.

My review:
A remarkable story that has been quoted countless times. This book gives a good summary on the lessons that we can learn and leadership skills that can be applied in modern society, in organisations of any kind.

What Color Is Your Parachute Workbook: How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career (buy from Amazon) by Richard Nelson Bolles

Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Richard N. Bolles
My rating: 3

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
This book recommends some exercises and approaches to identify your ideal career. It also suggests how you can get there. You may generate some new ideas about your next move and what actions you should take now.

My review:
Though the ideas are not new, the book does give some insights on searching the desired career. Don't waste your time on paths that lead to no where, focus on your networks.

"Are you approaching your job hunt as a
LIFE-CHANGING career move?"
YOU SHOULD! But how? Spend some time to really understand yourself and devise a strategy that suits you! Also learn about the myths of job hunting.

Is there something wrong with your job hunting process? Read this example:

A typical job hunting process
1. Search on mass-internet job site
2. Read classified in newspaper
3. Contact head-hunters
4. Ask network for referral

Employer filling a position
1. Look from within his organisation
2. Ask trusted network for referral
3. Engage head-hunters
4. Advertise in newspaper or mass job site

So you see how a typical job hunting process is out of step to the employers' procedure in finding talents. Many people waste precious time in endless search on mass jobs site and classified AND they convince themselves that they are making good progress by browsing a long list of job openings that match their so called "keywords". Instead they should catch the jobs at a much earlier stage - the "Network referral" stage. Not only you are able to catch the better jobs, you actually have a higher chance of finding the RIGHT job! - Because, your network has done the screening for you and your prospective employers, not to mention the important "trust" element in a referral.

Isn't it time you adopt the correct approach? I wish you every success!

In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies (Collins Business Essentials) (buy from Amazon) by Robert H. Waterman
Type: Business
Author: Thomas Peters, Tom Peters, Robert H. Waterman, Robert Waterman
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
This book was based on the result of extensive research on successful corporations in US. This forms the foundation of the McKinsey infamous 7S framework on good corporate management. The 7S are Shared values, Structure, Systems, Style, Staff, Skills and Strategy

My review:
An interesting strategy book. Though the research was based on late 70s, a lot are still applicable today.

The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions (buy from Amazon) by Scott Adams
Type: Leisure
Author: Scott Adams
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
The Dilbert Principle is a part comic, part text book that make fun of office situations. It also has emails from people who talk about the stupid things happening in their companies.

My review:
A fun pass-time reading. I particular enjoy the part regarding consultants (being one myself).

The McKinsey Way (buy from Amazon) by Ethan M. Rasiel
Type: Business
Author: Ethan M. Rasiel
My rating: 3

Book introduction:
A book on the McKinsey's way to management consulting.written by an McKinsey Alumnus.

My review:
This could be an interesting reading for those who want to become a management consulting. McKinsey or the Firm as we call it (as a McKinsey alumnus myself), is almost a religious. In a way, this book is documenting what we "believe" in.

The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-Performance Organization (Collins Business Essentials) (buy from Amazon) by Douglas K. Smith
Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Jon R. Katzenbach, Douglas K. Smith
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
This book talks about how to create the high-performance organization and the secret lies in the team.

My review:
I once heard TEAM stands for Together Every Achieve More. Sounds easy? Well, can be if you need how to motivate, delegate and with a clear common goal.

Modern Competitive Analysis (buy from Amazon) by Sharon M. Oster
Type: Business
Author: Sharon M. Oster
My rating: 3

Book introduction:
How strategic planners can use powerful ideas from economic analysis in making business decisions?

My review:
Interesing business ananlysis with plenty of real industry research cases.

The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership (buy from Amazon) by James C. Hunter

Type: Leadership, Business
Author: James C. Hunter
My rating: 4

Posted by irene
Book introduction:
John Daily, a businessman who heads up a company and has a family and good life style, is failing miserably in each of his leadership roles as boss, husband, father, and coach. What went wrong?Find out from his weeklong retreat at a remote Benedictine monastery.

My review:
Is leadership born? or trained? This book explains the simple principles of a good and successful leader. One of the concepts is:
POWER = The ability to force others, by virtue of your position over them, to do what you wish them to do.

AUTHORITY = The ability to have others voluntarily do what you wish them to do as a result of the nature of your relationship with them and the example you set in front of them.

The principles can be applied to different situations of our life.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't (buy from Amazon) by Jim Collins
Type: Business
Author: Jim Collins
My rating: 3

Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
From the author and research team that brought us - Build to last - comes a book focusing on the key factors of how some companies were able to jump a leap and went from GOOD companies to GREAT companies.

My review:
Good is the enermy of great. To become a great, one must not get too comfortable with being just good. Although I find the stories in the book interesting, there is little practical tips that one can follow. The concept of a level-5 leader is too abstract.