Though small in size, this book steals the secrets of giants.
Snippets from captains, kings and trailblazers throughout history.
Executive and entrepreneur Harpool (The Little Book of Planning Wisdom, 2013) has compiled bite-sized quotations on leadership from more than 185 sources, ranging from ancient Chinese philosophers to 21st-century business moguls. Harpool promises that contemplating them will yield a “great return on investment” for aspiring leaders. The book has no narrative; instead, the quotations are neatly classified by origin. One chapter, for example, is devoted to U.S. presidents and world leaders. Abraham Lincoln’s gravitas—“Important principles may and must be inflexible”—finds a home in the same chapter as a stirring exhortation from Winston Churchill: “Never…Never…Never…Never Give Up!” Given the subject, most of the sources are predictable. No book on leadership would be complete without the eloquence of John F. Kennedy or a few salty words from George S. Patton; even Yoda’s Jedi wisdom finds a seat: “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” The less familiar sources, however, often provide the most practical advice. A Japanese proverb offers a remedy for dysfunction: “Fix the problem, not the blame.” As diverse as the sources are, recurring themes suggest leaders share common traits such as passion, creativity and perseverance. Above all, heroic leaders are people of character who see their powerful positions as a way to serve their fellow man. Regrettably, the book suffers from a weakness common to compilations: lack of context. The index provides only scant biographical data and no clues about what challenges these leaders overcame. When Hannibal says, “I will find a way, or make a way,” readers are expected to know that the Carthaginian warrior crossed the supposedly impassable Alps to invade Italy in 218 B.C. Pairing the quotes with a sentence or two describing a noteworthy accomplishment would have made the text more potent. Despite this flaw, the book offers quick inspiration—perfect for a dose of fortitude before that make-or-break meeting.
Though small in size, this book steals the secrets of giants.Pub Date: April 10, 2014
ISBN: 978-1492289371
Page Count: 144
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: June 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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