Tag Archives: 3-stars

Review: Peter Thiel – Zero to One (S)

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Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Peter Thiel

“If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets. The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.”

Zero to One promises a fresh perspective on building groundbreaking startups, especially coming from someone like the author, a Silicon Valley veteran. The book is visually appealing and I had high expectations, but unfortunately, I found the content somewhat underwhelming.

When the author focuses on the mechanics of startups such as creating monopolies, the need for vertical progress, and fostering innovation, his insights are valuable. These sections provide solid advice for anyone in tech or considering entrepreneurship. However, the book falters when the author veers into his more philosophical and contrarian views. His opinions on politics and technology are thought-provoking but often feel speculative and lack strong reasoning.

I had hoped for sharper arguments and more rigorous analysis, but instead, the author relies heavily on cherry-picked examples and vague conclusions. While the book offers some interesting insights, especially for tech startups, it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. If you’re looking for a deep dive into entrepreneurial strategy, you might be left wanting more. 3 stars.

Review: Robert Hromas & Christopher Hromas – Einstein’s Boss (S)

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Einstein’s Boss
10 Rules for Leading Genius
Robert Hromas & Christopher Hromas

“When employees are exceptional, everyday rules no longer apply. In 1933, Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany for the leafy streets of Princeton, NJ. He would have been welcome anywhere, but Einstein joined the Institute for Advanced Study, bestowing instant credibility on the fledgling research center. Abraham Flexner, the institute’s founder, wasn’t a physicist or mathematician — but he was a gifted administrator. Under his leadership, IAS became a global powerhouse, home to 33 Nobel Laureates, 38 Field Medalists, and myriad winners of the Wolf and MacArthur prizes. The team of thinkers that Flexner assembled produced some of the greatest scientific advances of the 20th century. The man had a knack for leading genius.”

I picked up Einstein’s Boss because the premise sounded interesting—leadership lessons drawn from the story of Abraham Flexner who guided Albert Einstein. I thought it would be a good mix of stories and learning theory.

The idea itself is clever. Instead of offering generic advice, the author grounds the leadership rules in a historical example of how to manage genius without stifling it. The ten rules, with titles like “Get out of the way,” “Shut up and listen,” and “Turn over the rocks,” are simple, memorable, and do make you pause to reflect on how you approach talented people. I appreciated the fresh angle of using Einstein’s story to frame leadership lessons, which kept the book from feeling like a typical business read.

That said, I found the book fairly average overall. While the rules are interesting, the exploration feels surface-level and sometimes repetitive. It’s very vaguge and you’re left unsure of the point at the end, I had hoped for deeper analysis and perhaps more diverse examples. For readers who have worked through other leadership or management books, the ideas here won’t feel especially new or groundbreaking.

Overall, Einstein’s Boss was fine but not amazing. I would give it 2.5 to 3 out of 5 stars. For those who are newer to leadership literature or who are particularly drawn to the Einstein connection, it’s worth a skim. But if you are looking for something more in-depth or comprehensive, there are stronger titles available.

Review: Tony Hsieh – Delivering Happiness (S)

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Delivering Happiness
A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Tony Hsieh

“You want to learn about the path that we took at Zappos to get to over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales in less than ten years. You want to learn about the path I took that eventually led me to Zappos, and the lessons I learned along the way. You want to learn from all the mistakes we made at Zappos over the years so that your business can avoid making some of the same ones.”

I’ve just finished Delivering Happiness and I’ve got to say—it left me a bit unsure how to feel. The book is essentially the author’s life story: from his childhood side hustles to running Zappos and eventually selling it to Amazon. Some of those early stories were fun and gave me a laugh—clearly, he had that entrepreneurial itch from a young age.

But as things went on, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the author’s success was actual brilliance, and how much was just good timing. He talks a lot about following his gut when it came to Zappos, but part of me felt like maybe he just needed it to work—especially after a bunch of failed projects and a lot of time (and money) spent on partying and soul-searching.

The tone gets a bit braggy at times. There’s a lot of talk about how great the company culture is, but not as much detail on what he actually did to build that. And while the book tries to blend personal stories, business lessons, and bigger-picture ideas, the mix doesn’t totally work. It feels a bit scattered—like three different books mashed into one.

There are some good takeaways though. If you’re into startup culture or just curious about how companies grow, you’ll find a few golden nuggets. But you’ll have to sift through a fair bit of filler to get to them. Also… the title? Kinda misleading. This isn’t really a book about “delivering happiness.” It’s more of a memoir than anything else.

Overall: decent read, but not life-changing. Probably felt more groundbreaking when it first came out, but now it reads as pretty average. Everyone knows about having a good culture these days. 3 stars. Some value, but not a must-read.

Review: Brené Brown – Daring Greatly (S)

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Daring Greatly
How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
Brené Brown

“Researcher and thought leader Dr. Brené Brown offers a powerful new vision in Daring Greatly, the #1 New York Times Bestseller and TED talk hit that encourages us to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly and courageously. Daring Greatly is the culmination of 12 years of groundbreaking social research, across the home, relationships, work, and parenting. It is an invitation to be courageous; to show up and let ourselves be seen, even when there are no guarantees. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly.”

I recently finished Daring Greatly and while it wasn’t my first time reading one of her books, it still gave me plenty to think about. The core idea? That vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s courage. In a world that often celebrates keeping it all together, the author flips the script and makes a strong case for letting your guard down, showing up fully, and embracing the mess of being human.

The author is great at unpacking big emotional stuff like shame and fear without sounding preachy. Instead of handing out generic advice, she uses everyday examples and real stories to make her points land. She talks about how men and women experience shame differently, how people try to numb tough feelings with things like work, alcohol, or scrolling on their phones, and how true connection only happens when we’re willing to be seen—even when it’s uncomfortable.

That said, a lot of the content felt similar to her other work. If you’ve read any of her books or seen her TED Talk, this one might not feel groundbreaking. I also found myself wanting more practical “how-to” steps. The author really drives home why we should “dare greatly,” and she’s clear about what gets in the way, but when it comes to the “how,” things get a bit fuzzy.

The tone is super relatable. It feels like a chat with a friend who’s been through it and isn’t afraid to say, “Yeah, me too.” The author doesn’t position herself as some untouchable expert—just someone who’s done the research and wants to share what she’s learned.

Overall, if you liked the author’s TED Talk or you’re curious about how vulnerability and shame show up in your life, this is a solid read. It might not change your life overnight, but it’ll definitely make you think differently about what it means to be brave. 3.5 – 4 stars.

Review: Lee Hartley Carter – Persuasion (S)

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Persuasion
Convincing Others When Facts Don’t Seem to Matter
Lee Hartley Carter

“The secrets to persuading anyone, at work and in life, from a top communication strategist. So, how do you change someone’s mind–or at least advance the conversation–when everyone is entrenched in their own points of view? Communication expert Lee Hartley Carter has spent nearly twenty years advising and helping the world’s most well-known companies do just that. Filled with deeply researched insights into how we make up–and change–our minds, as well as colorful real-world examples and actionable recommendations, Persuasion will help you hone your message and craft your narrative in order to get heard and get results.”

When I picked up Persuasion, I was expecting a guide to everyday communication, something with tips on language, conversation, and how to connect with others in all kinds of settings. What I got instead was a book much more focused on business, branding, and marketing, particularly within an American and political context.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing – it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. The author writes in a clear, conversational tone, and the book is refreshingly easy to read. Rather than feeling like a dense text, it’s filled with real-life examples, practical tools, and a workshop-like approach. Each chapter ends with reflection questions or actionable steps, and there’s a handy Appendix at the end. I could see myself returning to some of these exercises later on.

The author’s main message is that persuasion isn’t about pushing facts. It’s about understanding where people are coming from, listening first, and then telling a story that resonates. It’s a valuable reminder in a time when facts alone often don’t change minds. Emotion and empathy matter.

However it leans heavily into American themes, including political case studies (yes, there are mentions of Trump), and specific examples that didn’t always translate well or feel relevant to me. At times it feels a little like a promotion for the author’s consulting business. There’s one particular story about the author’s firm helping to figure out how to make the “average white American not be afraid of Muslims” that felt uncomfortable in tone and not especially persuasive given the book’s title and promise.

There are solid insights here, especially if you’re in a marketing or leadership role and want to refresh your approach to communication. The book’s strength lies in its simplicity and accessibility. If you already have some grounding in this space, nothing here will be groundbreaking, but it’s a good reminder of the basics.

Overall it’s practical, easy to read, sometimes insightful, but also narrow in scope and occasionally off-putting in tone. 3.5 stars.

Review: Jaime Roca, Sari Wilde – The Connector Manager (S)

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The Connector Manager:
Why Some Leaders Build Exceptional Talent – and Others Don’t
Jaime Roca, Sari Wilde

“There are four distinct types of managers. One performs much worse than the rest, and one performs far better. Which type are you? Based on a first-of-its-kind, wide-ranging global study of over 9,000 people, analysts at the global research and advisory firm Gartner were able to classify all managers into one of four types. Although the four types of managers are more or less evenly distributed, the Connector manager consistently outperforms the others by a significant margin. Meanwhile, Always-on managers tend to see their employees struggle to grow within the organization. Why is that?”

I came into this book with high expectations and maybe that’s exactly why it left me so disappointed. The premise is actually quite appealing. The idea of a connections manager is something I genuinely resonate with (probably because I already see myself as one, haha). But sadly, the delivery didn’t live up to its potential.

The writing just wasn’t engaging. I found myself constantly losing focus, struggling to stay interested, and even more so, struggling to understand what the author was trying to say. It felt clunky and under-edited, lacking the clarity and momentum that a good nonfiction book needs to keep the reader turning pages.

There were a few nuggets of interest, and the concept itself has merit. But the depth just wasn’t there. There were some stories included, but not enough, and most of them lacked context or explanation about how they were relevant. If you’re hoping for actionable strategies on how to become a connections manager, you won’t find them here. The main takeaway seemed to be to hire people who naturally have these traits. Not exactly the most insightful conclusion.

Overall, it felt like the kind of content that would have been better suited as a long-form blog post, something skimmable with links to reflective questions or external resources. As a full-length book, it simply didn’t have structure or substance to justify the format. 3 stars. A nice concept but not enough depth to make it worth the time.

Review: Charles B. Handy – Gods of Management (S)

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Gods of Management: The Changing Work of Organisations
Charles B. Handy

“It has always been a myth that there is one best way to manage – but it has been a pervasive myth and a damaging one, to both individuals and organisations. Alongside the most successful leaders in history, we can find a new story in the timeless wisdom of the Ancient Greeks. They recognised a variety of gods and, Charles Handy shows, this productive diversity should be reflected in management too.”

Gods of Management is a unique and interesting read that offers a fresh perspective on leadership and workplace culture. The author introduces the idea that there are four distinct “god types” which reflect different styles of management and organisational behaviour. Early on, I found the concept engaging and easy to relate to. I could clearly picture the types the author described and how they show up in real-life workplaces.

As the book progressed I found myself losing interest in parts that didn’t feel directly relevant. Some sections were a bit heavy or wandered off course from the core idea. I did the quiz towards the end and found it interesting. My result showed that I’m not aligned with one single “god” but more of an all-rounder across three types. I’m not quite sure what to make of that and how it fits with the book.

Although it was first published in 1986 the book still feels surprisingly relevant. The author’s thoughts on the future of work, particularly around more flexible structures and gig-economy, have largely come true and seem likely to keep evolving in that direction.

It didn’t hold my attention all the way through and it was an ok read. The framework is one that sticks with you and can help make sense of different leadership styles and organisational dynamics. 3 stars.

Quick Reviews of Non-Fiction Business Books #7 (S)

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Blockchain: The Next Everything
Stephen P. Williams

The author seems unsure of the book’s purpose. At times it leans toward being educational, but the information isn’t well-researched or in-depth enough to be truly informative. It skims the surface, repeating the same broad ideas in different forms without ever really getting to the heart of what blockchain is or how it’s actually being used today.

The focus is mostly on Blockchain’s potential, filled with vague references to what “people are saying”, without much substance to back it up. If you’re looking for a deep dive or anything that would satisfy a tech-savvy reader, this probably isn’t the book for you. It feels more like a long-form article padded out into book form. It’s frustratingly repetitive and light on new insights.

This wasn’t really my type of read to begin with, but I still hoped to take away something useful. I didn’t. For me it’s a 2-star read.

The Future Is Smart: How Your Company Can Capitalize on the Internet of Things—And Win in a Connected Economy
W. David Stephenson

This book gives a broad introduction to how businesses can use the Internet of Things (IoT) to become more connected, efficient, and data-driven. It includes some interesting examples from big companies like GE and John Deere, and it’s written in a way that’s easy to follow, even if you’re not very techy.

That said, it’s already starting to feel a bit outdated, and the ideas don’t go very deep. It could’ve used more diverse, up-to-date examples and clearer takeaways. Overall, it doesn’t really land on a strong point or message, more of a general overview than a compelling argument.

Average, skimmable if you’re just curious. I didn’t really get into it. 3 stars.

The Art of Thinking in a Digital World: Be Logical – Be Creative – Be Critical
Luc de Brabandere

I picked up this book hoping for fresh, practical insights, but it mostly felt like a rambling mix of poorly organised stuff that the author thought could vaguely be relevant. It covers the “three modes of thinking”, logical, creative, critical and has a bit of historical context and AI-awareness, but it never drills into how to think better in a way that sticks. Instead you get a lot of surface chatter without much depth or actionable takeaways. The illustrations are nice, and I appreciated the occasional metaphor, but I often found myself wondering: “What’s the point?” Luc de Brabandere does shine in his earlier book Thinking in New Boxes. It’s far more practical and definitely worth a read if you want genuine, hands‑on strategies for reframing how you think.

2 Stars. Skip this one, and reach for Thinking in New Boxes instead.

Review: Ron Tite, Scott Kavanagh, Christopher Novais – Everyone’s An Artist

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Everyone’s An Artist (or At Least They Should Be)
How Creativity Gives You the Edge in Everything You Do
Ron Tite, Scott Kavanagh, Christopher Novais

“Can a Canali-clad million-dollar banker learn anything from a paint-stained artist? Definitely. Especially now. Clearly, succeeding in business is an art form. We’ve informally labelled activities and pursuits as “the art of management,” “the art of marketing” or even “the art of doing more with less,” but we’ve rarely made the direct connection between the two worlds. With a rapidly changing digital economy, new and emerging technologies, increased clutter and a drastically altered media landscape, successful companies are those that are original, creative and innovative. Defining business as art is now a credible school of thought, and the lessons are far more practical than philosophical. Everyone’s an Artist shows how and why the most successful executives and entrepreneurs think like artists.”

The core message of this book is clear: being in business requires creativity, whether you’re an executive or an entrepreneur. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution leaves something to be desired.

The author has a fun, light-hearted writing style with plenty of humor, which I appreciated—it gave the book a relatable, human touch. However the book felt overly long and could have conveyed its key points more efficiently. The narrative often drifted into lengthy discussions about artists and their work. While there’s a connection between art and creativity in business, the references and stories were about artists. From comedians, painters, writers etc. Instead of focusing on artists, it would have been more relevant to highlight creative business leaders, of which there were only a handful, and those mentioned were the usual suspects like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk.

Each chapter seemed to blend into the next without distinct takeaways. The overall message was there to be an artist, I guess just in fluffy art format! While I recommend the core idea of the book, I’m not convinced it’s worth the full read. 3 stars.

Review: Simon Sinek – Leaders Eat Last (S)

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Leaders Eat Last
Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t
Simon Sinek

“Why do only a few people get to say “I love my job”? It seems unfair that finding fulfillment at work is like winning a lottery; that only a few lucky ones get to feel valued by their organizations, to feel like they belong. Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders are creating environments in which people naturally work together to do remarkable things.”

Having enjoyed Simon Sinek’s widely acclaimed book Start With Why, I approached Leaders Eat Last with high expectations. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver the same impact.

While the premise of the book is intriguing, I found it fell into a pattern of clichés and overused concepts. The author weaves together scientific definitions and business jargon in an attempt to present insights into leadership and teamwork. However, the ideas felt neither fresh nor insightful.

The authors points felt disjointed, and the narrative often jumped between topics without clear connections. Much of the content focused on how we arrived at this point, including the different generations and examples of companies with poor leadership. It offered little in terms of actionable solutions or standout examples of companies that embody effective leadership practices. When tips were provided, they were buried in five small chapters that lacked clear, memorable points.

Much of the content seemed to regurgitate basic principles that other authors and studies have explored more effectively. I was disinterested with the military stories, US politics and other outdated US company stories that have no relevance. While these anecdotes might resonate with some readers, they didn’t feel relatable to me.

The book’s central message—treat your employees as human beings rather than numbers—is undeniably valuable. However, it felt stretched thin across the chapters. As someone who loved Start With Why, I was genuinely disappointed by Leaders Eat Last. While the intention behind the book is admirable, the execution didn’t meet my expectations. If you’re looking for fresh insights on leadership, there are other books that might resonate more deeply. 3 stars.