Hey, I've read (listened to, mostly, but also read) a bunch of management type books! If you wanna talk about how dumb (or good) they are in any detail, I might be your dude. Also, there is a service called Blinkist that does 15 minute summaries of books like these. I think I've probably been through about 500 books total like this, 100 of which were listened to on audible (or read with eyeballs).
They definitely did not all suck equally, that's for sure! I would say that the E-Myth Revisited is legit good for folks trying to run their own gig, but it doesn't really get into management. Also: leadership and management have a ton of crossover, but they are also distinct things. Maybe it's like:
1. E-myth type books where entrepreneurship is described
2. Leadership books (7 Habits of Leadership from Covey and several other predictable titles, but I've also gotten a ton by reading ABOUT leaders, including Shackelton- my favorite book about leadership is about him)
3. Management (EG, one Minute Manager, Leaders Eat Last, etc)
Most books use some combination of approaches and try to do way too much, so you get generic best practices spiced up and a crappy melange. The more focused books are considerably better, and I can guide someone to a list of 3 of 4 for each category that don't suck. Most of Covey's stuff is very basic, but also very good, for instance.
Then there are specific subsets of each category. Like, entrepreneurship is VERY big. You can talk about the aspect of having to be a nonconformist, or you can focus on what you get from it. I've read or listened to books or summaries on all of these things, and several times apiece.
Same for leadership. That Shackelton's Last Voyage book I mentioned is the best because it leads me to the water of leadership, but does not force me to drink.
Within management is a really important (for me) subset of books that help you talk to folks better. Radical Candor from Kim Scott is just one of perhaps five or six good ones I've read that finally helped me start getting over my own personal speed bump here, and it's an ongoing process.
There's also a ton of self-help stuff out there. Most of it's awful, but not all.
Methinks there's story here. When I talk to college kids, my closing point is it's *always* about the people; work on your communication skills. I also talk about choosing to go work for a BIG company versus small. If your end goal is to have your own business/entrepreneur, you can learn a lot by starting big.
We get drawn in by a story; we want to be entertained, interested, enriched. No one wants to read pedantic and preachy. I focus on the story bit now—like you do—but I definitely didn't start that way. Its a fun writing/mental challenge; some of my old stuff is cringe.
I'll have to post the full text of my essay from sixth grade called "Dimensional Journey." I made myself read the entire thing in my flowing cursive. It was a painful three minutes or so.
Hey, I've read (listened to, mostly, but also read) a bunch of management type books! If you wanna talk about how dumb (or good) they are in any detail, I might be your dude. Also, there is a service called Blinkist that does 15 minute summaries of books like these. I think I've probably been through about 500 books total like this, 100 of which were listened to on audible (or read with eyeballs).
DANG 500! did they all suck? I bet 499 did. I used to read those, never again. If you didn't read MacGregor though - check his story out.
I have 1 employee now and he's the best. I think I'm going to give him a promotion.
They definitely did not all suck equally, that's for sure! I would say that the E-Myth Revisited is legit good for folks trying to run their own gig, but it doesn't really get into management. Also: leadership and management have a ton of crossover, but they are also distinct things. Maybe it's like:
1. E-myth type books where entrepreneurship is described
2. Leadership books (7 Habits of Leadership from Covey and several other predictable titles, but I've also gotten a ton by reading ABOUT leaders, including Shackelton- my favorite book about leadership is about him)
3. Management (EG, one Minute Manager, Leaders Eat Last, etc)
Most books use some combination of approaches and try to do way too much, so you get generic best practices spiced up and a crappy melange. The more focused books are considerably better, and I can guide someone to a list of 3 of 4 for each category that don't suck. Most of Covey's stuff is very basic, but also very good, for instance.
Then there are specific subsets of each category. Like, entrepreneurship is VERY big. You can talk about the aspect of having to be a nonconformist, or you can focus on what you get from it. I've read or listened to books or summaries on all of these things, and several times apiece.
Same for leadership. That Shackelton's Last Voyage book I mentioned is the best because it leads me to the water of leadership, but does not force me to drink.
Within management is a really important (for me) subset of books that help you talk to folks better. Radical Candor from Kim Scott is just one of perhaps five or six good ones I've read that finally helped me start getting over my own personal speed bump here, and it's an ongoing process.
There's also a ton of self-help stuff out there. Most of it's awful, but not all.
Methinks there's story here. When I talk to college kids, my closing point is it's *always* about the people; work on your communication skills. I also talk about choosing to go work for a BIG company versus small. If your end goal is to have your own business/entrepreneur, you can learn a lot by starting big.
If you're saying that the books that tell the best stories tend to be the most effective at communicating the message, I agree completely.
There's also the idea to tell stories to your people so they can understand what you mean better. Both are things I try to pay attention to.
We get drawn in by a story; we want to be entertained, interested, enriched. No one wants to read pedantic and preachy. I focus on the story bit now—like you do—but I definitely didn't start that way. Its a fun writing/mental challenge; some of my old stuff is cringe.
I'll have to post the full text of my essay from sixth grade called "Dimensional Journey." I made myself read the entire thing in my flowing cursive. It was a painful three minutes or so.
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'MERICA!