El líder que no tenía cargo

January 18, 2010
Iraq War vet Blake Davis is working a dull job at a bookstore when he's confronted by an eccentric stranger, one Tommy Flinn, who claims to have known his father and wants to mentor Blake. Thus begins this contrived, faux-inspirational leadership parable from Sharma (The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
). Making the lackluster argument that everyone in an organization has to be a leader, not just the CEO, Tommy schools Blake in the way of the hackneyed “Leading Without a Title” philosophy. As Blake encounters such saccharine caricatures as Anna, a self-actualized hotel housekeeper; Jackson Chan, a CEO-turned gardener; and Jet Brisley, a superstar massage therapist, he learns that by changing his attitude, he can change his life. Though this message will hit home with magical-thinking acolytes—Blake crows on the first page, “The principles and tools you'll discover will automatically cause your career to fly, your happiness to soar, and your absolute best to fully express itself”—awkward writing and abundant platitudes make it of little benefit to readers looking for serious leadership advice.

May 31, 2010
Have you ever wanted to know how to identify life-altering financial opportunities during times of great unrest? Adviser to Fortune 500 companies, Sharma reveals his methodology and gives tips on everything from leadership-building skills to becoming a “merchant of wow” with clients and customers. Holter Graham delivers an understated and able reading, but given Sharma's obvious talents as a speaker—judged by his engaging interview included in the audiobook—he would have been the more appropriate and charismatic choice. A Simon &Schuster hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 18)