Bookey’s advice is every bit as sharp and precise as table tennis itself, and he includes a variety of helpful pointers, such as how to establish a solid starting position, why a one-size-fits-all approach to business can fall short of the mark, and the importance of keeping things simple: “sometimes… a surprisingly mundane and easy move will yield the best results” he counsels. Observing that “leadership is easy to learn but hard to master,” Bookey offers several enterprising examples, covering business tycoons and sports all-stars alike, including GoDaddy’s Aman Bhutani, American mountain climber Alison Levine, and world-famous poker player Annie Duke.
Decrying those “laundry list[s] of tactics” that often fall flat in the real world, Bookey vows instead to wow readers with his carefully constructed principles, offering a good measure of fun to make the guidance stick, as in his “quick hit” sections that detail entertaining snippets of sports and business-related history lessons to drive the points home. Though not required, a love of the game will come in handy here as Bookey builds on the basic concepts that make table tennis so popular. He includes resources for further study, closing with a rundown of “key table tennis rules,” and urges readers to recognize that, “whatever table you’re playing at,” success is just a point or two away.
Takeaway: Lively guide to leadership skills through the surprising perspective of ping pong.
Comparable Titles: Nancy Lieberman's Playbook for Success, Tom Young's The Making of a Leader.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
