Customer Reviews

Never Scratch a Tiger with a Short Stick: and Other Quotes for Leaders

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I saw the title of this book, I couldn't resist. I love books of quotes, and this one is excellent. Over 200 pages of quotes, which are divided by topic area. A great book to ponder and think about. I especially enjoy finding quotes that match current leadership challenges or opportunities, as I find the best way to often lead through a new situation or effect change or transitions is with a quote that helps people see the point from a different perspective. This book is full of very thought provoking material.

I will leave you a few to whet your appetite, and then I encourage you to grab a copy of this book.

"Care for the truth more than what people think" - Aristotle (Page 93)

"We have this fantasy that if we just have enough information, we can control events" - Barbara Biesecker (Page 123)

"The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it's the same problem you had last year" - John Dulles (Page 165)

This is a great book, for a great price. Enjoy.

This book is a cogent little book of wisdom that does not at any point get tilted in any one direction. This is a smart, intellectual, as well as entertaining book. And even though this book is published by a Christian publishing house, you never feel preached at or as if you have to accept a religious view of things. It's simply a great book whatever the context of what your needs, whether that be school, church, business, personal motivation, etc. I especially appreciate the diverse kinds of people he's quoting as well as his ability to find quotes that argue both sides of a coin. On leadership, for instance, you get a classic sounding quote from A. P. Gouthey, "Loyalty is one thing a leader cannot do without"; this is followed by the realistic, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm of Ronald A. Heifitz: "Leaders are always failing somebody." You get quotes on character ranging from Karl Marx to Gandhi to Billy Graham (what a combination!). As far as the diversity he's used quotes from everything from Arabian proverbs to actors to president to generals to actors and actresses to people I hadn't even heard of until I read this book, like Edward Hodnett, Piet Hein, S. I. Hayakawa, Shakti Gawain, Martin Lloyd-Jones, etc. I don't want to ruin things by taking part of the search for new names away, but I was rather impressed with so many of these folks' credentials. It also made me think a little more than I ever did about Bobby Knight. Although I couldn't argue with his success, I never appreciated the way he treated his players, but he's got a great quote here: "The key is not `the will to win' . . . . Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." Knight debunks the whole all-you-have-to-do-is-want-it-enough school of thought in favor of all-you-have-to-do-is-do-it-enough-times-beforehand school of thought. His focus is on action before the game. (If you ask me, Larry Bird proved that one time and time again!) I use Gordon Jackson's book for motivating students, as daily writing prompts (personal opinion essays, etc), and as sparkers for intellectual debates; it's a little goldmine for those purposes. As to technicalities, you get an Author Index in the back so that you can find quotes from your favorite people, and you get Jackson's introduction explaining his selections as well as his penchant for advocating "servant leadership." It's good stuff. LAST NOTE: NavPress truly put their money where their mouth is, stating on the first page that if you are dissatisfied with the book for any reason, simply cut out the title page, mail it to them, and get a refund. That's integrity and boldness in standing behind one's product. This is absolutely NOT a call to get a free book, but I do have to point out that it's refreshing to see a publisher put themselves out on a limb for their authors. Awesome.

This is a pretty fun little quote book. I loved how it was put together, and the author uses a wide variety of quotation authors in a very effective way. The title of the book is fun, and it will catch people's attention if it is sitting on your coffee table. Your family and friends will love it.

Enjoy!

Todd Hagopian
President/CEO
Hagopian Institute
Author of the popular "Quote Junkie" book sereies and the brand new "Idiom Junkie" series

This is a wonderful book filled with inspiring and entertaining quotes. I actually bought one for a friend, and then I loved the quotes so much that I kept borrowing my friend's copy and eventually bought my own. I highly recommend this book as a gift item. Give it to someone you care about today.

This book is a cogent little book of wisdom that does not at any point get tilted in any one direction. This is a smart, intellectual, as well as entertaining book. And even though this book is published by a Christian publishing house, you never feel preached at or as if you have to accept a religious view of things. It's simply a great book whatever the context of what your needs, whether that be school, church, business, personal motivation, etc. I especially appreciate the diverse kinds of people he's quoting as well as his ability to find quotes that argue both sides of a coin. On leadership, for instance, you get a classic sounding quote from A. P. Gouthey, "Loyalty is one thing a leader cannot do without"; this is followed by the realistic, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm of Ronald A. Heifitz: "Leaders are always failing somebody." You get quotes on character ranging from Karl Marx to Gandhi to Billy Graham (what a combination!). As far as the diversity he's used quotes from everything from Arabian proverbs to actors to president to generals to actors and actresses to people I hadn't even heard of until I read this book, like Edward Hodnett, Piet Hein, S. I. Hayakawa, Shakti Gawain, Martin Lloyd-Jones, etc. I don't want to ruin things by taking part of the search for new names away, but I was rather impressed with so many of these folks' credentials. It also made me think a little more than I ever did about Bobby Knight. Although I couldn't argue with his success, I never appreciated the way he treated his players, but he's got a great quote here: "The key is not `the will to win' . . . . Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." Knight debunks the whole all-you-have-to-do-is-want-it-enough school of thought in favor of all-you-have-to-do-is-do-it-enough-times-beforehand school of thought. His focus is on action before the game. (If you ask me, Larry Bird proved that one time and time again!) I use Gordon Jackson's book for motivating students, as daily writing prompts (personal opinion essays, etc), and as sparkers for intellectual debates; it's a little goldmine for those purposes. As to technicalities, you get an Author Index in the back so that you can find quotes from your favorite people, and you get Jackson's introduction explaining his selections as well as his penchant for advocating "servant leadership." It's good stuff. LAST NOTE: NavPress truly put their money where their mouth is, stating on the first page that if you are dissatisfied with the book for any reason, simply cut out the title page, mail it to them, and get a refund. That's integrity and boldness in standing behind one's product. This is absolutely NOT a call to get a free book, but I do have to point out that it's refreshing to see a publisher put themselves out on a limb for their authors. Awesome.

I found this book to be well organized with quotes from various people, mostly well know. some from historial figures. It will be a good reference book as it is organized by subject. Quotes are succinct and entertaining as well as informative. The book makes a good addition to any library. It makes a good gift for anyone in any type of leadership.

This is one book that you will always come back to...
Intellectually interesting and entertaining