What Is A Book Brief?

When I decided to take on consulting, I thought about my career, and what types of help I would have appreciated.

Over the years, I had many questions. They don't tell you this in college, but at least 75% (my estimate) of skills and information you need in the real world workplace isn't going to be covered in your education.

Professional development is essential for anyone who takes their career seriously. But the resources required can be prohibitive. Especially for people in mission-based nonprofits and small business.

In the early years, we look for mentors in our superiors and more experienced peers. Moving up the ladder in leadership, we became the mentors. It's normal that as you climb higher in leadership, you eventually have fewer people to turn to. You also have less time for personal and professional development.

During the last 10-15 years of my career, I often found myself without a mentor. One of the places I looked for mentorship was in books.

We read articles and social media posts offering the "Top 5 Books on Leadership" or "Top 10 Books on Management." If you're like me, you make book lists. In my case, I had more books on my recommended business book lists than I could ever possibly read.

Each book represents hours of time spent reading over days and weeks. Precious hours we're hesitant to devote to a book which may not solve our problem or inform our practice.

That led me to the idea of the Book Brief. I would have loved to find a consultant-- an experienced leader, working in my field, who understood the constraints I was dealing with, reading a book I was considering, and providing me with information I needed, to decide if reading it would be a good investment or a waste of time.

We ask... Am I the target audience? Will I get anything useful out of it?... Is it a fast and easy read? Is it clunky or long-winded? Is it filled with trendy buzzwords and industry jargon?... Are there specific chapters I could focus on to save time?... Do I need a particular edition? Is it available in digital format? Or as an audiobook?... Would you read it again? Do you recommend it for me?

The design of the Book Brief is not to pass judgment, encourage, or discourage. I intend only to provide you with as much information as possible. And, of course, to keep it brief.

Let's be clear. I'm not a literary critic or a professional (or even amateur) book reviewer. I'm a consultant with decades of experience, who has walked in your shoes. And the truth is, I'm not making any major sacrifices here...

I love books. I collect them, cherish them, read them (sometimes repeatedly), but almost never loan them. I'm selfish with them... I just love books.

Fiction and nonfiction, prose to textbooks, illustrated children's books to racy erotica. Cookbooks, art books, technical books, history books, and biographies. Snooty books about wine to how-to books about plumbing. New books, used books, and sentimental old books. First editions, old library editions, and ratty paperbacks from garage sales. I read and collect them all.

The internet is a great place for a quick answer to a great many questions. But, in my opinion, books still provide deeper answers, exploration, and wisdom.

The Book Brief blogposts are just a tool to help you, and hardworking leaders like you, find the book that provides the answers, exploration, and wisdom you seek.

Thanks for reading. Have a great day, and come back soon.

Shannon