Customer Reviews

Killing Cockroaches: And Other Scattered Musings on Leadership

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tony Morgan's latest book, Killing Cockroaches, is something of a unique book in terms of readability. It offers a format that can be both a strength and a weakness. If you are an avid reader of blogs, or are yourself a blogger, you will find the format familiar and welcoming. If, however, you want long, drawn-out chapters with wordy exposition and endless (read: redundant) supportive detail, this book may not be for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Killing Cockroaches, and quickly consumed the book in two sittings. Digesting the content, however, will likely take much more time. One of the best things about the book is that it does not need to be read in a linear fashion. You can pick up the book, flip to any page and begin reading any one of the numerous insightful sections. You might rather decide to scan the table of contents, looking for all the entries relating to a particular topic.

No matter what method you use to read the book, you will find a wealth of information offered in an informal, welcoming style. You get the sense that, if you were to meet Tony in person, he would be as congenial and as helpful as his writing.

For me, one of the best parts about the book was the repitition of key ideas. Tony has taken his more than a decade of ministry experience, mixed it with his wealth of non-ministry related executive experience, and condensed it all down into easy to understand segments full of application and insight.

Here are some of the ideas that resonated with me:

* Delegate: Don't delegate tasks, but rather delegate responsibility.
* Questions: In preaching, teaching, and other communications, make sure we are not just answering questions, but answering the questions being asked by people. The people not only within our church walls, but also those in the greater community in which we live.
* Answers: Don't feel like you have to answer everything. Get to the point in your communication. Less is more. Leave people wanting to come back for more.
* Culture: One of the best ways to connect with our community is to offer an experience they can't get anywhere else. Instead of copying the church down the street, decide who you are going to be and be it with excellence.
* Systems and strategies: Not the equivalent to programs and plans--these tend to be static, unbending, and slow to change. Systems and strategies are created by implementation of vision, and fostered by the driving DNA of the church.

Anyone who has a role in church leadership, from the senior pastor to the weekly volunteer would benefit from reading this book. I would suggest church staffs get together and make discussion of some of the ideas a part of their weekly staff meetings.

For the record, I did my first sitting with Killing Cockroaches with the paperback graciously given to me for review purposes by B&H Books. My second sitting was done with the Kindle version. I would recommend buying either version.

I have a hard time giving a rating for this book because it is different than most books. Actually, I'd classify it more as a "reference" book. It is better as a book that you utilize when you need a leadership topic. When you use it like that, it has great stories, illustrations and nuggets. Reading it all the way through is a little tedious and redundant.

So...My 3 stars is an average of two categories. 1 star for "read all the way through." 5 stars for "a great reference resource for leaders."

If you can get this in a format in which you can search (Kindle), the power of the book will come alive.

I love this book. It's easy to read in short bursts with profound, lasting impact. Tony has proven experience with effective leadership inside and outside the ministry environment; and he's found a way to share what he's learned in a practical, humorous and challenging way. This book helps all of us do a better job leading up, down, sideways and (most importantly) in.

As you read each individual entry, you'll find yourself laughing out loud, furrowing your brow, surprised by a revelation and impacted by the weight of the privilege we have ahead of us in the church today.

No matter what your role--volunteer, senior pastor, administrative assistant, ministry leader, artist, board member--this book can make you better. That is, if you have the guts to read it.

Killing Cockroaches is Tony Morgan at his best. These quick snippets of wisdom allow the reader to gain a glimpse of the heart and mind of Tony. Real life examples of leaders in the trenches who are making the hard decisions of what to say `no' to are an added bonus to Tony's ideas.

The book is filled with leadership principles that can be put in place immediately. Tony helps us as leaders to give some serious thought as to what we need to give our full attention to and those things that need to be delegated out to others.

Written with a conversational feel, each leadership idea (which is creatively presented in alphabetical order) is enough for some serious thought and consideration. In fact, many of them could be used as leadership exercises for a staff team...something I intend to do with the staff I lead.

This is a must read for any pastor or leader who wants to take his or her leadership to a higher level of effectiveness.

I have really enjoyed this book and find it to be very easy to read. The content is full of ideas and encouragements for leaders of any kind. Tony does a great job of keeping the sections small enough that I can quickly take in a thought and really think on how it applies even if I only have a few minutes.

I recently finished reading an early copy of Tony Morgan's new book, Killing Cockroaches.

Here are 10 reasons you should read this book.......

1) The book contains lots of Top 10 lists

A few of my favorites.....10 Stupidest Leadership Mistakes I've Made, 10 Signs Your Not Ready For Change, & 10 Easy Ways to Make Church Services More Boring

2) Andy Stanley wouldn't write the foreward for a bad book

3) The foreword is sandwiched between `Enter at Your Own Risk' and `Prepare for an Adventure'

4) The book actually contains 4 easy steps for killing cockroaches

5) Tony is not your ordinary pastor

Tony rejects the status quo and takes an innovative, creative, and cutting-edge approach to ministry. Naturally, that makes some in the church world a little uncomfortable. Seth Godin might even call him a "heretic". Fortunately, in today's world "heretics" have popular blogs and get their books published.

6) Tony's church is not your ordinary church

Newspring Church, led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, exists for one simple mission: To make Jesus famous, one life at a time. Perry and Tony have a passionate and strategic laser-focus on that mission and, as a result, Newspring Church is making a big impact in Anderson, SC and beyond.

7) All of the 100+ blog post-like chapters are in alphabetical order

How did he do that? Also, many of the chapters are creatively titled. The titles make you want to read more. A few of my favorite titles.......Actions Speak Louder Than Advertising, Christians Sound Different, Giant Inflatable Blue Monkeys, How Would Apple Do Church?, and I'm Just Not That Interested In God

8) Tony has a great blog. This book reads like a series of blog posts. That makes for a great book.

9) This book has lots of great interviews

A few of my favorites........Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Mark Batterson, Steven Furtick, and Craig Groeschel

10) This book is not just for church leaders

Tony is in the church world, but he keeps a close eye on the strategies, marketing, branding, communications, and innovation of America's businesses. I'm in the business world, but I keep a close eye on what is happening in the church. I believe the business world and the church world still have lots to learn from each other. The "scattered musings on leadership" contained in this book are for leaders of all types.

Killing Cockroaches is the product of Tony Morgan's work on the subject of leadership and observations of life. Much of his work has appeared in various forms on his blog [...] or in some other similar format.

Each section is short, direct, and intentionally transparent. Morgan is the Chief Strategic Officer (a strange title for a "church staff guy") at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC [...].

Morgan's conversation style and quick wit makes the book an easy and entertaining read. His insights serve to cause the reader to pause and consider "cockroaches" in his own life. As a pastor, I enjoyed the book. It reminded me about the tyranny of the urgent and how often I can lose sight of the big picture and get caught up doing something less meaningful.

I recommend the book to any leader, but especially those who lead in the context of church. The questions that Morgan asks will cause you to argue with the book...only to pause, raise a white flag, and look at the issues which were already in front of you.

Bravo Tony!! An incredible resource and well worth the time and money I invested to learn from you.

I owned "Killing Cockroaches" for about 5 weeks before getting a chance to read it, but it has quickly become my new favorite book. Here are some things I liked...
1. There are no chapters // This sounds odd, but this is the "scattered musings" part, as best I can figure. Author Tony Morgan shares his thoughts on a myriad of subjects concerning leadership and there is no rhyme or reason to his though process. Some might find this irritating, but allowed me the freedom to read as time allowed and not feel pressured to finish the chapter I was reading.
2. It's practical and applicable // To address issues and problems within any organization without an opportunity for resolution solves nothing. Morgan is careful to provide practical and applicable teaching to his ministry experiences. It's honest and genuine, as well.
3. It's creatively thought out and designed // This has nothing to do with the content of the book, but I enjoy creativity. Printed on the edge of the pages on the non-bound side are little cockroaches, printed in such a way that when you flip through the pages, the roaches appear to run all over the page. Again, it has nothing to the book, but like I said, I enjoy creativity.

Some things I didn't like...
1. The ending // The lasting leadership musing printed seemed to be a plea to readers to not cast judgment, as if it had already happened. In the the grand scheme of things, it's not a bad thing, I guess, but it left me with a negative last mental image. I would have liked to see this included at the beginning so there's time to say what needs to be said, but then win readers back with solid leadership insight and honesty. Don't take it out, just move it.

2. Some of the musings from Morgan seem to be written from a "business of the church" (administration first) standpoint instead of an overall "ministry of the church" (teaching the Gospel) standpoint. His background is in the business world, so I'm not surprised to catch an air of this every once in a while.

Overall, I did enjoy reading "Killing Cockroaches" and would recommend the book to any Pastor/Lead Teacher in a church setting. Morgan is willing to share his knowledge in an open, honest, and sometimes hilarious manor.

This book is a greatest hits of TonyMorgan.com. It's a bunch of copy and pastings from his best blog entries. It won't be for everybody but I have enjoyed it very much.

There are a numerous reasons why I recommend this book. From the moment that you open the cover and read the table of contents (which are in alphabetical order), to just flipping through the pages and watching the cockroaches walk around the edges of the paper, this book captures your attention.
Every time that I have sat to read the book I have wanted to keep reading when it was time to put it down.
This is a must read for pastors or those working in a church. It makes you realize that it is vitally important for you to have people willing to assist you and for you to allow them to assist you, and not just help you but to give them the responsibility completely!