Author Archives: Rose Herbert

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 I was disinterested with the military stories, US politics and other outdated US company stories that have no relevance.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.

Review: Travis Bradberry – Emotional Intelligence 2.0 (S)

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Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Travis Bradberry

“From Dr. Travis Bradberry, #1 bestselling author of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE HABITS. The book’s smooth narrative style turns rigorous research into memorable stories and practical strategies that anyone can use to his or her advantage. With 90% of top performers high in EQ, and EQ twice as important as IQ in getting where you want to go in life, who can afford to ignore it?”

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 is a quick, 250-page guide full of practical tips for improving your emotional intelligence. You could read it all in one go but it might be better to take your time, spread it out over a few days or weeks so you can actually try out some of the advice and think about how it applies to your life.

If you’re someone who reads a lot of self-help or personal growth books, this one probably isn’t for you. It’s more like a short summary of the basics. But if you’re looking for a quick refresher or just a straightforward starting point, this book does the job.

A lot of the info isn’t new but sometimes we need a reminder of the basics to make better decisions or adopt healthier habits. Seeing those ideas in a new way—or just having them pop up at the right time—can be really helpful.

I’d recommend this book to older teens or young adults, especially if they’re just starting to explore things like self-awareness and personal growth. It’s a great intro to understanding yourself better and building habits that could lead to real success and happiness. It’s a good, simple resource. I’d give it 3 stars.

Review: Patrick Lencioni – Silos, Politics and Turf Wars (S)

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Silos, Politics and Turf Wars
A Leadership Fable About Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues Into Competitors
Patrick Lencioni

“Practical and hands-on strategies for breaking down silos and minimizing workplace politics In yet another page-turner, New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed management expert Patrick Lencioni addresses the costly and maddening issue of silos: the barriers that create organizational politics. Silos devastate organizations, kill productivity, push good people out the door, and jeopardize the achievement of corporate goals. As with his other books, Lencioni writes Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars as a fictional―but eerily familiar―story. The story is about Jude Cousins, an eager young management consultant struggling to launch his practice by solving one of the more universal and frustrating problems faced by his clients. Through trial and error, he develops a simple yet ground-breaking approach for helping them transform confusion and infighting into clarity and alignment.”

The author dives into one of the most frustrating issues at work—silos. If you aren’t familiar with Lencioni’s work he writes fables that embed simple business truths into a story.

The big takeaway? Teams need a shared goal that’s clear and actionable. People have to understand how their work fits into the bigger picture and, more importantly, prioritize the team’s success over their own agendas. The author also makes a strong case for leaders to drop their titles at the door. No matter your role, when you’re part of a leadership team, your job is to make the company better—not just protect your department.

The storyline—a consultant figuring out how to solve silo problems—is pretty relatable, but it didn’t grab me like some of the author’s other books. It’s a little weak on the storytelling side and doesn’t have those big “aha” moments that stick with you long after.

That said, the lessons are practical and easy to apply, especially if silos are causing headaches in your organization. While it’s not my favorite from the author, it’s still a solid read for anyone trying to build a more connected, aligned team. 4 stars.

Review: Patrick Lencioni – The 6 Types of Working Genius (S)

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The 6 Types of Working Genius
Patrick Lencioni

“The 6 Types of Working Genius is the fastest way to help people identify the type of work that brings them joy and energy, and avoid work that leads to frustration and burnout. Beyond the personal discovery and instant relief that Working Genius provides, the model also gives teams a remarkably simple and practical framework for tapping into one another’s natural gifts, which increases productivity and reduces unnecessary judgment. In classic Lencioni fashion, Pat brings his model to life in a page-turning fable that is as relatable as it is compelling. He tells the story of Bull Brooks, an entrepreneur, husband, and father who sets out to solve his own frustration at work and stumbles into a new way of thinking that changes the way he sees his work, his team, and even his marriage.”

I love this author and his books. I was looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint! The overall take away of the book is to do what you love. The author doesn’t particularly mean based on your work industry but rather the type of task you are doing. I definitely do agree with this! I loved the fable story that the author tells the book through, and definitely found it funny at times. However, as I have read a lot of his other books, it has a similar narrative that it follows which you can predict after you have read a few of his books.
Most people have two areas where they’re in the zone and get energy when they do it (genius), two areas where they get frustrated and are miserable when they do it (frustrations), and two areas in the middle they’re good at, but don’t really love to do (competencies).

I highly recommend that you check this book out! 4.5 stars.

Review: Kristen Butler – The Comfort Zone

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The Comfort Zone
Create a Life You Really Love with Less Stress and More Flow
Kristen Butler

The Comfort Zone challenges the familiar mantra that we must constantly push ourselves out of our comfort zones. Instead, the author argues that thriving within our comfort zone is not only possible but beneficial. Rather than seeing comfort as something we need to escape from, the author presents it as a place where we can recharge, grow, and ultimately build a life we love.

In a world where we’re always encouraged to stretch beyond our limits, this message feels refreshing. Rather than stressing and burning ourselves out by constantly stepping into the unknown, the author suggests that comfort can be a source of strength. The idea is that when we leave our comfort zone too often, we can become anxious and stressed, comparing ourselves to others and often doing things that don’t truly bring joy to our lives. According to the author, our comfort zone isn’t a danger zone—it’s the foundation for our best life.

However the book isn’t saying to stay completely within your comfort zone forever. The author encourages readers to push the boundaries of their comfort zones in small, manageable ways, rather than taking huge leaps into the unknown. It’s about slow, intentional growth without forcing ourselves into survival mode.

While the core idea is solid, I found some parts of the book a bit repetitive. The message seemed to be stretched out, with certain metaphors and ideas repeated a few too many times. While there are good tips scattered throughout, the pacing can feel slow, and the content might have been more impactful in a shorter format.

Overall The Comfort Zone is a good read for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed by the pressure to always be doing more. If you need a positivity boost or feel like you’re pushing yourself too hard, this book might provide some much-needed perspective. I’d give it 3 stars—it has helpful insights but could benefit from a more concise delivery.

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

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Good People: The Only Leadership Decision That Really Matters – Anthony Tjan

This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I anticipated a more in-depth exploration of “good people” within companies—not just those who are competent at their jobs, but those who fit the author’s definition of genuinely good individuals. I expected more practical examples and tips, such as how to identify and hire good people. Instead, the author wrote in more general terms.

It was an enjoyable and inspiring read, serving as a reminder to strive to be a good person in general. However, some material could have been presented more concisely. The “Goodness of People” pyramid seemed overly simplified. I appreciated the point that leaders should prioritize values over competence. Practicing goodness can make us better employees, mentors, and humans. We often overestimate short-term effects and underestimate long-term effects. While I didn’t learn anything new from this book, it provided good reminders. I recommend this book if you are a mentor or in a position to hire team members. 3 stars.

The Real-Life MBA: The no-nonsense guide to winning the game, building a team and growing your career –  Jack Welch and Suzy Welch

This book covers the basics of career development and team building in a straightforward way. It’s good if you want a quick overview of these topics in one place. However, if you’re looking for more detailed insights, you might find it a bit too general. The book is aimed to be general and the basics, so I guess it achieved that. The content is interesting but might seem a bit too simple if you’re hoping to learn how to build a team and advance your career beyond the basics. It’s not specifically aimed at MBA students and is more of a general business book, but it still offers some valuable ideas. I especially liked the section on career development called “It’s About You.” It gives practical advice that makes sense, even if it’s mostly common sense.

Overall, this book serves as a helpful reminder of key career strategies, pointing out areas where you can improve and confirming what you’re doing well. If you want a quick introduction to career and business basics, this book does the job. 3 stars.

Quick Reviews of Non-Fiction Business Books #6 (S)

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Creative Selection: Inside Apple’s Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs – Ken Kocienda

This book turned out to be different from my initial expectations, yet it was a satisfying read. It doesn’t provide a comprehensive overview of Apple’s entire history and product line, and it’s not a conventional business theory book either. It goes in depth with the author’s experience in his areas of product development only. It has very little of Steve Jobs. So if you are looking for a book on him, this is not it. I really enjoyed it though. It was well written, and in depth on the product creation. It’s very much written like a story. It had me laughing at some points and I found it interesting. There were a few points that I lost interest in it though. The author being a software engineer does get a bit technical at times, but does a great job of drawing familiar parallels to software principles.

I would enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone curious about the intricate process of product development at Apple. It offers a delightful and enlightening reading experience, making it a solid 4 star recommendation.

Hello Gen Z: Engaging the Generation of Post-Millennials – Claire Madden

Gen Z, born between 1995 and 2009, currently aged 29 to 15, I picked up this book wanting to know more about Gen Z, particularly in the workforce. I understand that at the time of writing, in 2017, many Gen Z individuals were teenagers, but there were also adults in the workforce, and Gen Z would be increasingly entering the workforce as the years went on. The author could have focused more on the future. I felt that I had high hopes to learn a lot from the book, but in the end, it let me down. It was filled with quotes from Gen Z, which is fine, but it was inundated with repetitive quotes all saying the same thing. There was a lot of “this is how it is right now,” but no strategies for dealing with Gen Z in the workforce or in general. Some of it focused on understanding Gen Z, which is necessary in the book, but not to the extreme extent of what we are already observing from them. It didn’t provide explanations. I felt it took a long time to get into the book, and even then, it lacked depth. I’ve read other books on different generations, and they had more depth, even for the era in which they were written. I felt like the terms, slang, and things labeled as Gen Z were more characteristic of Gen Y, especially since I am Gen Y. I’m unsure if Gen Z is just not that different, or if I’m not as old as I thought I was! I recommend this for generations X and above. 3 stars.

Conscious Leadership: Reveal your potential. Inspire excellence. – Neil Seligman

I don’t believe this book is poor, but it didn’t quite resonate with me either. This book presents itself as a guide for leaders, but it’s really for anyone interested in understanding themselves better and making better choices. It offers examples, exercises, and suggestions for further reading on each topic. It’s short and covers a lot about self-development and becoming a better person. Overall, it’s a pretty good book. I don’t really have any faults with it. I think it just wasn’t for me. 3 stars.

Quick Reviews of Non-Fiction Business Books #5 (S)

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Win Or Die: Lessons for Life from Game of Thrones – Bruce Craven

I might have rated this book a bit harshly, because it just wasn’t for me. I haven’t read Game of Thrones so I didn’t get much out of it. A lot of the book makes reference and fully analyzes Game of Thrones. I don’t recommend reading this book if you haven’t read Game of Thrones. There are some leadership ideas, however, nothing new. There is very little leadership theory, and a lot of explaining via Game of Thrones. While the author aims to draw parallels between the challenges faced by the characters in Westeros and real-world leadership scenarios, the book seems to cater primarily to fans of the series. Without prior understanding of the characters and their arcs, the lessons feel abstract and disconnected.

For those who are avid followers of Game of Thrones, this book might provide an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. 2 stars.

Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography – Richard Branson

I found this hard to review. The book itself is ok and not that badly written. It’s obviously an autobiography so it’s told as the story of his life. The stories don’t drag on, they get to the point at least. The part I don’t like is Richard Branson himself, and his life story. He is not someone I would be friends with. I have not read his first autobiography and wasn’t even keen to read this book. I didn’t know much about Richard before reading it, but after reading this book it confirmed everything I already knew.

Richard Branson considers himself a legend. He views himself as The Most Interesting Man in the World. I hoped to learn a little about running companies. But really he does none of this. Instead readers are subjected 450+ pages of egomania. It’s all about what he does in his everyday life which is off on dare deviling adventures that he brags about. Including his complete list in the appendix of “75 close shaves with death”. Most of which are doing dumb idiotic situations he puts himself into. Besides always almost dying, the rest of it is his views on politics, bragging, any time he did anything “cool”, and out right just being rich. I don’t even think he runs any companies?! Not in the day to day sense anyway.

There is no advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. It is just Branson telling the world, over and over again, how much fun it is to be Branson. I thought he was a wanker before, and now reading this, it confirms it. 2 stars.

Quick Reviews of Non-Fiction Business Books #4 (S)

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The Excellence Dividend – Tom Peters

The author’s points and principles are correct. I do agree with them. But the writing style is horrible! It’s poorly constructed and has a disjointed writing style. I picked up this book agreeing with the title and the concept. I hoped to come away from it motivated and inspired. But I struggled to even finish it, and was even skimming parts!

I don’t mind the quotes. I do like some quotes, but when they have no context and heaps of them, what’s the point? It was also written a lot in bold and caps which irritated me. And let’s talk about the length! This book is a heavyweight, but what did I get out of it? Not much. It did re-confirm the things I know and believe in. But it didn’t have anything new and interesting, and definitely not inspiring. Overall, I’m disappointed. Those seeking a more impactful and engaging exploration of similar themes are advised to explore alternative titles that better deliver on the promise of motivation, inspiration, and fresh insights. 2 stars.

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job – Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

I am a supporter of feminism, particularly in the realms of careers and in the workplace. I appreciated that this book acknowledged the existing disparities in these areas and aimed to tackle them. However, while I fully embrace feminist principles, I found this book to be overwhelmingly focused on feminism to the point of excess. While I acknowledge some valid points made by the authors, the book often resorts to comparing males and females and implies that women must conform to societal expectations rather than advocating for societal change. It feels patronizing and relies heavily on broad stereotypes.

The book repeatedly suggests that women must adapt to fit into traditional leadership roles rather than challenging societal perceptions of success or women’s roles. Also the portrayal of the corporate world as a rigid hierarchy with only upward mobility options doesn’t resonate with my experiences. I disagree with the book’s insistence that women must emulate men to succeed in this environment. The writing style, with constant references to the authors and their previous works is off-putting. While I grasped the authors’ points, they were poorly articulated and lacked clarity. The book also took too long to delve into its content, and while some anecdotes were relatable, others felt contrived. Ultimately, the book perpetuates the notion that women can only advance by conforming to male standards, which I find condescending and patronizing. I rate it 2 stars.

Review: Alison Cochrun – The Charm Offensive

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The Charm Offensive
Alison Cochrun

Dev Deshpande believes in fairy tales and crafts them on a reality dating show. His own love life is a bit of a nightmare, but he can prepare his contestants for a happily ever after like no one else. His latest Prince Charming is a bit of a problem though – Charlie Winshaw doesn’t believe in true love, doesn’t want to love and is on the show to prove he’s normal. What does the happy ending look like for Dev and Charlie?

Charlie, you’re completely oblivious, and I love it! However, I really think you overestimated your chances of surviving on reality TV. Have you ever seen any of it? Are people really that oblivious? Dev, buddy, you weren’t doing yourself any favours either, and sometimes you really were a bit of an ass, even if you apologised for it later.

How on earth did Dev’s parents keep that a secret? Why didn’t they tell him? Yes, relationships should not fill holes in your soul. But, nothing wrong with having another human to share your life with. The depiction of mental illness was quite sensitive and it was nice to have something in adults (not young adults). Some aspects didn’t quite sit right for me, but I was willing to let it pass.

I’m not sure I really get the title of this novel, but ok! Maybe because Prince Charming is a thing? But why is it offensive? Is it offensive as in it smells, or that people are battling things out? Maybe the latter. I’m also not sure why I jumped into reading this novel, except that I find it hard to resist a gay love story with sufficient queer and diverse supporting characters! A novel set on a TV show where the contestants are supposed to find ‘true love’ in 3 months isn’t new (see Here for the right reasons and Can I steal you for a second).

I’m not going to reread this novel in the same way I do Helen Hoang’s romances, but I give it bonus points for addressing the importance of therapy. Having read several Alison Cochrun novels in a row, it’s getting a bit same-old, but that’s a me problem. 4 stars from me.