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The Promises of Giants
Winner, 2021 Porchlight Business Book of the Year Award, for Leadership and Strategy
"THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PEOPLE, IN THE MOST IMPROBABLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES,
CAN BECOME EXTRAORDINARY."
WE NEED MORE LEADERS.
From socio-political chaos and workplace disruption to the climate change crisis, we have
never needed people with the skill and will to collaborate to create a better world more
than now. We need people who are willing to fill the leadership void. People who will
embrace the influence they have. People who believe in improving society and workplace
culture - not only because it makes life better, but because it is proven to yield positive
results.
The Promises of Giants is a challenge to anyone who aspires to make a difference in their
environment. Over fourteen promises, it seamlessly intertwines personal anecdotes and
workplace and social observation with the latest research, to provide practical, proven tips
and strategies to empower you to maximize your own potential and inspire others. It is
not a self-help book.
It is a how-to guide for winning, rooted in the belief that the most
unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances, can become extraordinary.
John Amaechi well understands the responsibilities and potential that come with being a
giant. The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying
effective leadership - from accompanying his mother's visits to her dying patients to
competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of
management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown
that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way.
Everyone is a giant to someone.
"THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PEOPLE, IN THE MOST IMPROBABLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES,
CAN BECOME EXTRAORDINARY."
WE NEED MORE LEADERS.
From socio-political chaos and workplace disruption to the climate change crisis, we have
never needed people with the skill and will to collaborate to create a better world more
than now. We need people who are willing to fill the leadership void. People who will
embrace the influence they have. People who believe in improving society and workplace
culture - not only because it makes life better, but because it is proven to yield positive
results.
The Promises of Giants is a challenge to anyone who aspires to make a difference in their
environment. Over fourteen promises, it seamlessly intertwines personal anecdotes and
workplace and social observation with the latest research, to provide practical, proven tips
and strategies to empower you to maximize your own potential and inspire others. It is
not a self-help book.
It is a how-to guide for winning, rooted in the belief that the most
unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances, can become extraordinary.
John Amaechi well understands the responsibilities and potential that come with being a
giant. The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying
effective leadership - from accompanying his mother's visits to her dying patients to
competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of
management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown
that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way.
Everyone is a giant to someone.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 16, 2021
158 people are currently reading
2248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 24, 2024
I took my time reading this book, making sure I had time to process the information (I should have done more of this) as well as take notes for future reflection (even if not a likely action). I appreciated the author's message, and overall his delivery of his message (I listened to the book). I made notes of several of his suggestions, lists, and actions, and found many of his observations relevant for items I am dealing with in my life right now.
I recommend the book!
I recommend the book!
April 25, 2024
Motivational/leadership/ autobiographical books are typically my go to when I read and I enjoyed this book because one the perspective of leadership from what the author describes a “black unicorn” and two I like that the book was written for the reader to be intentional while you read it. I couldn’t just read it and be done. I had to take breaks and look at my personal life and see how I behave in the workplace and how I can make changes in my life and in my workplace.
May 21, 2022
The Promises of Giants is a leadership book comprising 14 chapters (each one a promise) and a few supplementary sections. It's aimed at those already in leadership roles and those who aspire to be leaders in the future. So, really it's fairly universal.
I found the advice to be straightforward and very insightful. There is a lot of work to do for the reader in terms of observing and assessing their current viewpoints and behaviours, but there's also plenty of guidance for how to achieve this in order to improve workplace culture. And any achievement worth its salt is worth working for. I loved the proactive approach of this book!
I very much liked the holistic approach of the book, it takes into consideration aspects like; being present and offering feedback, countering one's own biases, caring for mind and body, promoting inclusion and viewing the organisation critically and truthfully.
This book is both challenging and fascinating. It's a very valuable read for anyone who wants to succeed at work and become more confident and effective. Highly recommended.
I found the advice to be straightforward and very insightful. There is a lot of work to do for the reader in terms of observing and assessing their current viewpoints and behaviours, but there's also plenty of guidance for how to achieve this in order to improve workplace culture. And any achievement worth its salt is worth working for. I loved the proactive approach of this book!
I very much liked the holistic approach of the book, it takes into consideration aspects like; being present and offering feedback, countering one's own biases, caring for mind and body, promoting inclusion and viewing the organisation critically and truthfully.
This book is both challenging and fascinating. It's a very valuable read for anyone who wants to succeed at work and become more confident and effective. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2021
inspiring book covering a wide range of leadership aspects, very up to date und easy to read. highly recommended - because for some reason it does not feel like you read most the content in 10 other books before
September 1, 2022
This is a well and entertainingly written, modern book for leaders of the future. It also takes „human intern“ factors like eating & sleeping into consideration and shows easy to follow exercises!
December 6, 2022
This book while having intentions on producing leaders also strives to produce better people as well. A book that will make you think and consider new ideas. You’ll also be tasked to look inward and out at your surroundings to get your results. Good read! Shout out to the Meech!!!
August 29, 2021
I picked this up from Adam Grant’s book recommendations. The book has just published in July 2021. For the curious, the OBE in John’s name stands for Order of the British Empire. Everyone knows that the world needs more leaders but this book further elaborates by saying “The most unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances, can become extraordinary”. These are the people John Amaechi calls “giants” - and the argument is that anyone can be a giant in our own lives. The book is a collection of promises that we are meant to take (more like an oath) to help us work on ourselves first to then create a good environment for the people around us eventually impacting our entire workplace. John is a former basketball player and now works with organisations to create and nurture leaders.
It is a beautiful book and I “promise” to refer to it time and again in my life.
It is a beautiful book and I “promise” to refer to it time and again in my life.
August 21, 2021
Great book - provides an understanding of the importance of true leaders - not managers - in progressing organisations and society to improvements. If you're in a leadership role, or a natural leader or communicator, and you want to understand how you can use this responsibility to truly make a difference, you need to read this book. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2023
A recommended book for leaders looking to upgrade themselves them from leading topics and teams to taking ownership of setting up the mindset, behavior and culture of organizations.
The author John Amaechi is a former NBA player turned psychologist and management consultant. Being 6'10" tall and bulky, John is considered as a giant. As a giant, even the slightest swing of your arm or jerk of your elbow can give an unsuspecting passerby a bloody nose. Hence giants need to be extremely cautious and mindful of even the slightest move they make. Leaders are like giants - and need to be so by choice. Every behavior of theirs has huge impact on people around them - their words, their body language, their actions, decisions etc. So like giants, leaders need to be cautious and self-aware of every behavior of theirs. And leaders can do so by making certain promises to uphold certain leadership principles. In this book, John takes us through 14 such promises.
The content is of good quality - a lot of it is autobiographic based on his own experiences, and is about setting up a mindset, rather than a prescription for solving problems. I could find some new ideas in this book - and some such as Diversity & Inclusion which went into much more depth than other books of same genre. Here are three of them:
First, why is inclusion important - because without true inclusion, minorities spend most of their time and energy in not being themselves, pretending to be someone else, for e.g. hiding an accent that is associated with an unpopular location, worrying about not being accepted, or being bullied as compared to giving their best to the job and to the organization. Without true inclusion, organizations lose a lot of productive contributions.
Second, D&I needs to be more about behavior than about unconscious bias. It doesn't matter what someone thinks inside the mind - what matters is how they behave with others. Hence, unconscious bias trainings in organizations are just checking some checkboxes for the sake of it, but hardly effective. The focus must be on training and people's conscious behaviors.
Last, leaders often pretend to be helpless against ineffective org culture. They blame it on the status quo which they claim to be beyond them. It's this attitude defines what is acceptable and tolerated in organizations. Not setting the right culture leads to lot of bad practices such as discrimination, bullying, lying, cheating, fraud etc. and also mediocrities as poor communication, culture, listening, feedback etc. Most times, leaders only (in fact they have no option but to) react once things have seriously gone wrong. But org culture is something that is defined by each individual, especially leaders, and not something that exists by default. Leaders must take ownership of setting up the org culture.
The language and flow could have been a bit simpler. But overall, since some of the above points have been brought up boldly by John, it strikes a chord with many of us. Hence I give it a 5-star.
The author John Amaechi is a former NBA player turned psychologist and management consultant. Being 6'10" tall and bulky, John is considered as a giant. As a giant, even the slightest swing of your arm or jerk of your elbow can give an unsuspecting passerby a bloody nose. Hence giants need to be extremely cautious and mindful of even the slightest move they make. Leaders are like giants - and need to be so by choice. Every behavior of theirs has huge impact on people around them - their words, their body language, their actions, decisions etc. So like giants, leaders need to be cautious and self-aware of every behavior of theirs. And leaders can do so by making certain promises to uphold certain leadership principles. In this book, John takes us through 14 such promises.
The content is of good quality - a lot of it is autobiographic based on his own experiences, and is about setting up a mindset, rather than a prescription for solving problems. I could find some new ideas in this book - and some such as Diversity & Inclusion which went into much more depth than other books of same genre. Here are three of them:
First, why is inclusion important - because without true inclusion, minorities spend most of their time and energy in not being themselves, pretending to be someone else, for e.g. hiding an accent that is associated with an unpopular location, worrying about not being accepted, or being bullied as compared to giving their best to the job and to the organization. Without true inclusion, organizations lose a lot of productive contributions.
Second, D&I needs to be more about behavior than about unconscious bias. It doesn't matter what someone thinks inside the mind - what matters is how they behave with others. Hence, unconscious bias trainings in organizations are just checking some checkboxes for the sake of it, but hardly effective. The focus must be on training and people's conscious behaviors.
Last, leaders often pretend to be helpless against ineffective org culture. They blame it on the status quo which they claim to be beyond them. It's this attitude defines what is acceptable and tolerated in organizations. Not setting the right culture leads to lot of bad practices such as discrimination, bullying, lying, cheating, fraud etc. and also mediocrities as poor communication, culture, listening, feedback etc. Most times, leaders only (in fact they have no option but to) react once things have seriously gone wrong. But org culture is something that is defined by each individual, especially leaders, and not something that exists by default. Leaders must take ownership of setting up the org culture.
The language and flow could have been a bit simpler. But overall, since some of the above points have been brought up boldly by John, it strikes a chord with many of us. Hence I give it a 5-star.
May 19, 2024
I have no words that would adequately express my gratitude to John Amaechi OBE for writing such an amazing book. It took me a while to read, but only due to my own emotional turmoil in the working environment. However, I can assure you that even though I have finished this book, it is not one that I will just leave aside. I am sure I will revisit it time and time again to be reminded of the standards that I promise to uphold as a leader.
I have been following John for a while, and I sadly missed his wise words when I organised his presence at a forum in a former workplace that I left just as this book was being released. I didn’t look back, but I regret not introducing myself. The choices I make in my own working environment are expressed in this book, and now I have a formal format to follow.
As the author, OBE, business owner, and psychologist (if I have got that right) pours his experience into this book, I revel in the joy of things I always knew but couldn’t put into words. There are many areas of this book that are great to read. One of which, and I can say is my utmost favourite, is the chapter on organisational culture (Chapter 11). All managers and leaders should read it. It is my moral and ethical standards that have led me to leave many workplaces, and this chapter puts culture into such eloquent words.
Another is ED&I and the emotional labour skills as described in Chapter 12. I love the examples scattered throughout the book and his own lived experiences. He talks about unconscious bias and his take on it, which exactly matches my sentiments. I especially loved his warm memories of his mother, to whom this book has been dedicated.
I am overwhelmed by emotion and can truly say that this book is one of few, in this category, that has truly brought tears to my eyes.
At this stage in my life, I have little faith in ever finding a work environment where I will be happy, where toxicity is unknown, and where competitive rivalry is replaced by leaders who want to stand up and support all staff members, where standards and values are embraced and fulfilled. But having this book is a start.
I, for sure, will promise to be a giant and I highly recommend this book without a breath of hesitation to all leaders.
Thank you, John!
10 out of 5 stars.
I have been following John for a while, and I sadly missed his wise words when I organised his presence at a forum in a former workplace that I left just as this book was being released. I didn’t look back, but I regret not introducing myself. The choices I make in my own working environment are expressed in this book, and now I have a formal format to follow.
As the author, OBE, business owner, and psychologist (if I have got that right) pours his experience into this book, I revel in the joy of things I always knew but couldn’t put into words. There are many areas of this book that are great to read. One of which, and I can say is my utmost favourite, is the chapter on organisational culture (Chapter 11). All managers and leaders should read it. It is my moral and ethical standards that have led me to leave many workplaces, and this chapter puts culture into such eloquent words.
Another is ED&I and the emotional labour skills as described in Chapter 12. I love the examples scattered throughout the book and his own lived experiences. He talks about unconscious bias and his take on it, which exactly matches my sentiments. I especially loved his warm memories of his mother, to whom this book has been dedicated.
I am overwhelmed by emotion and can truly say that this book is one of few, in this category, that has truly brought tears to my eyes.
At this stage in my life, I have little faith in ever finding a work environment where I will be happy, where toxicity is unknown, and where competitive rivalry is replaced by leaders who want to stand up and support all staff members, where standards and values are embraced and fulfilled. But having this book is a start.
I, for sure, will promise to be a giant and I highly recommend this book without a breath of hesitation to all leaders.
Thank you, John!
10 out of 5 stars.
April 22, 2023
Enjoyed this book.
Check my full written summary: https://chrisweatherburn.com/the-prom...
VLOG Summary: https://youtu.be/Iqly5EKTznU
The Promises of Giants is a promise to race toward a tomorrow that will not look like today. Our job as giants is to make sure that people see us seeing them as superheroes and not as monsters. There is immeasurable power in your face alone! The most impactful and memorable leaders make people feel good with just a look. Reflect the best in others, and that is what you are likely to get from them. This promise cannot be kept without being bold in our ambition and acknowledging our vulnerabilities to ourselves and those with whom we quest.
It will feel risky and at times even frightening, but the potential rewards are immense and there for the taking. If we can approach life with the courage and enthusiasm of that eager child who is unashamed of their dreams, we lift the ceiling on creativity, innovation, accountability, compassion, and resiliency.
Written by a tall black man, John Amaechi OBE who became an NBA basketball player then a psychologist. Throughout his life people immediately judge him when they see him and assume he is a basketball player, he writes powerfully about coming out as gay to his team mates.
Check my full written summary: https://chrisweatherburn.com/the-prom...
VLOG Summary: https://youtu.be/Iqly5EKTznU
The Promises of Giants is a promise to race toward a tomorrow that will not look like today. Our job as giants is to make sure that people see us seeing them as superheroes and not as monsters. There is immeasurable power in your face alone! The most impactful and memorable leaders make people feel good with just a look. Reflect the best in others, and that is what you are likely to get from them. This promise cannot be kept without being bold in our ambition and acknowledging our vulnerabilities to ourselves and those with whom we quest.
It will feel risky and at times even frightening, but the potential rewards are immense and there for the taking. If we can approach life with the courage and enthusiasm of that eager child who is unashamed of their dreams, we lift the ceiling on creativity, innovation, accountability, compassion, and resiliency.
Written by a tall black man, John Amaechi OBE who became an NBA basketball player then a psychologist. Throughout his life people immediately judge him when they see him and assume he is a basketball player, he writes powerfully about coming out as gay to his team mates.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
"The Promises of Giants" by John Amaechi OBE offers a compelling exploration of the author's life and experiences, providing readers with an inspiring journey through personal growth and societal reflections. While the narrative is engaging and Amaechi's life story is undeniably impressive, the book may leave some readers craving more tangible tools for personal development.
Amaechi's narrative is both relatable and extraordinary, sharing the challenges he faced and the triumphs he achieved on his path to success. The author's openness about his journey, from a young boy with dreams to an accomplished athlete and psychologist, is both heartwarming and motivational. The story serves as a testament to resilience and the power of self-discovery.
Despite the captivating storytelling and inspirational content, some readers may find that "The Promises of Giants" lacks concrete tools or actionable advice for personal development. Amaechi's focus on encouraging readers to delve deeper into themselves, their relationships, and society is commendable, but those seeking a more prescriptive guide to self-improvement may feel the book falls short in this aspect.
The absence of specific strategies or techniques for personal growth may be a drawback for individuals looking for a more hands-on approach to self-help literature. Amaechi's emphasis on introspection and societal analysis is valuable, but it might leave some wishing for something more practical to implement in their own lives.
In conclusion, "The Promises of Giants" offers an inspiring exploration of the author's life, filled with valuable insights into personal growth and societal reflections. While the book may lack specific tools or actionable advice, it serves as a catalyst for self-reflection and encourages to look deeper into his other works (social and psychological studies) which may provide a more comprehensive exploration of the themes touched upon in this memoir.
Amaechi's narrative is both relatable and extraordinary, sharing the challenges he faced and the triumphs he achieved on his path to success. The author's openness about his journey, from a young boy with dreams to an accomplished athlete and psychologist, is both heartwarming and motivational. The story serves as a testament to resilience and the power of self-discovery.
Despite the captivating storytelling and inspirational content, some readers may find that "The Promises of Giants" lacks concrete tools or actionable advice for personal development. Amaechi's focus on encouraging readers to delve deeper into themselves, their relationships, and society is commendable, but those seeking a more prescriptive guide to self-improvement may feel the book falls short in this aspect.
The absence of specific strategies or techniques for personal growth may be a drawback for individuals looking for a more hands-on approach to self-help literature. Amaechi's emphasis on introspection and societal analysis is valuable, but it might leave some wishing for something more practical to implement in their own lives.
In conclusion, "The Promises of Giants" offers an inspiring exploration of the author's life, filled with valuable insights into personal growth and societal reflections. While the book may lack specific tools or actionable advice, it serves as a catalyst for self-reflection and encourages to look deeper into his other works (social and psychological studies) which may provide a more comprehensive exploration of the themes touched upon in this memoir.
January 8, 2026
Extracts I found meaningful in no particular order:
People who want to do ordinary things... they are like sticks in the river. They get thrown in at the top, and they may get stuck for a while in some reeds. Or even temporarily washed to the banks. But eventually, all things equal, they will make their way to the sea. You've chosen an extraordinary destination. And as such, you can't rely on chance or fate to wash you there. People who want to do extraordinary things...they need to be armed with full knowledge of who they are.
The idea that sucess is a function of a couple of signficant and memorable moments is just a function of our mind lactching on to a particular moment and considering it the cause of our sucess.
Once you get past the memorable "pivotal" moments they see as significant and burrow deeper, there is. a relevation around the importance of the mundance and ordinary seeming inconsequential decisions and actions.
There are no pivotal moments that enduring sucess is built upon. Equalizing attention to detail,focus,and effort across everything you do is the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
I grew up watching the NBA, so I knew of John Amaechi from his days as a pro athlete. More recently, I spotted him on LinkedIn and found him to be a rational commentator who seemed to come from a genuinely good place.
That is why I decided to buy the audiobook.
Throughout The Promises of Giants, John Amaechi takes the reader well beyond the traditional roles of leadership. He delivers insightful and thought-provoking guidance on how to take ownership of, and therefore influence, the culture around you.
Despite not being a leader in the sense of managing teams, I was still able to relate personally to every single chapter. This is largely thanks to Amaechi's ability to ground each of the promises in a relatable combination of anecdotes, professional experience, and statistical evidence.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough.
As if the book were not already good enough, the epilogue delivered a final emotional gut punch that I have never experienced in a title focused on personal and professional development.
That is why I decided to buy the audiobook.
Throughout The Promises of Giants, John Amaechi takes the reader well beyond the traditional roles of leadership. He delivers insightful and thought-provoking guidance on how to take ownership of, and therefore influence, the culture around you.
Despite not being a leader in the sense of managing teams, I was still able to relate personally to every single chapter. This is largely thanks to Amaechi's ability to ground each of the promises in a relatable combination of anecdotes, professional experience, and statistical evidence.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough.
As if the book were not already good enough, the epilogue delivered a final emotional gut punch that I have never experienced in a title focused on personal and professional development.
December 31, 2025
John Amaechi OBE shares the 14 promises to fill the leadership void:
1. I Promise to View Myself Critically, But Not Cruelly
2. I Promise to Commit Fully to Success
3. I Promise to Be Bold and Vulnerable
4. I Promise to Act with Vigilance Against My Biases
5. I Promise to Reject Excuses and Embrace Discomfort
6. I Promise to Tend to Mind and Body
7. I Promise to Reflect Your Potential
8. I Promise to See You as an Individual and Not as a Job Description
9. I Promise to Deliver Timely and Effective Feedback
10. I Promise to Be Present, and Not Only When I Need You
11. I Promise to Bear Responsibility for Driving the Culture
12. I Promise to View the Organization Critically and Truthfully
13. I Promise to Promote Everyday Inclusion Based on Earned Disclosure
14. I Promise to Create an Environment That People Never Want to Leave
1. I Promise to View Myself Critically, But Not Cruelly
2. I Promise to Commit Fully to Success
3. I Promise to Be Bold and Vulnerable
4. I Promise to Act with Vigilance Against My Biases
5. I Promise to Reject Excuses and Embrace Discomfort
6. I Promise to Tend to Mind and Body
7. I Promise to Reflect Your Potential
8. I Promise to See You as an Individual and Not as a Job Description
9. I Promise to Deliver Timely and Effective Feedback
10. I Promise to Be Present, and Not Only When I Need You
11. I Promise to Bear Responsibility for Driving the Culture
12. I Promise to View the Organization Critically and Truthfully
13. I Promise to Promote Everyday Inclusion Based on Earned Disclosure
14. I Promise to Create an Environment That People Never Want to Leave
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
I don’t usually read business books on “leadership.” For a variety of reasons. But after listening to this author’s interview on the Tyler Cowin podcast I wanted to hear more. So listened to the audiobook he narrated himself. And very glad I did. The book is dense with good advice. But almost as importantly, the advice is given in what feels like a spirit of generosity. Most business self-helpy books feel like what they are: a magazine article pumped up to a book so the author can cash in on the catchy title. This one felt like someone who’d thought deeply about the subject and wants to tell you what he learned out of a genuine desire to see people and organizations improve. It was so good I may buy it again in text form. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
November 15, 2022
On top of being a renowned physiologist, John is passionate about Star Wars and a former NBA sportsman, which makes his examples and stories much more compelling for me.
John reinforces that we need people who are willing to fill the leadership void, who will embrace the influence they have, who believe in improving society and workplace culture - not only because it makes life better, but because it is proven to yield positive results.
Over fourteen promises, it intertwines personal anecdotes and
workplace and social observation with the latest research, to provide practical, proven tips and strategies to empower you to maximize your own potential and inspire others.
John reinforces that we need people who are willing to fill the leadership void, who will embrace the influence they have, who believe in improving society and workplace culture - not only because it makes life better, but because it is proven to yield positive results.
Over fourteen promises, it intertwines personal anecdotes and
workplace and social observation with the latest research, to provide practical, proven tips and strategies to empower you to maximize your own potential and inspire others.
December 20, 2021
The author of this book has a really interesting biography-- the first British person to achieve success in the NBA and later an accomplished PhD in organizational psychology. This book is part memoir part leadership manifesto. There are lots of nuggets in here-- ranging from the authors opinions on unconscious bias training to references to the sociological concept of the looking glass-self. One phrase that will stick with me is that people make choices and choices make culture.
April 3, 2022
Unique book with an interesting approach! A compelling combination of using research/theory, but through the lens of Dr. Amaechi’s experiences to create promises that leaders ought to make to others.
Fantastic web of arguments and examples of the importance of diversity within teams and why/how to make others feel belonging.
Just a really well-done portrayal of leadership through calls to action and challenging stories of personal experience.
Fantastic web of arguments and examples of the importance of diversity within teams and why/how to make others feel belonging.
Just a really well-done portrayal of leadership through calls to action and challenging stories of personal experience.
July 26, 2022
An instantly engaging and very personal approach to understanding his analysis of life and personal development.
Confident and contrary views on some traditional leadership initiatives, he challenges accepted opinions and brings simple understanding to his proposals - linking them back to simple human needs and his own back story.
Filled with some absolute gems, if you read only one leadership/personal development book - I think it should be this.
Great stuff
Confident and contrary views on some traditional leadership initiatives, he challenges accepted opinions and brings simple understanding to his proposals - linking them back to simple human needs and his own back story.
Filled with some absolute gems, if you read only one leadership/personal development book - I think it should be this.
Great stuff
August 26, 2022
I just found this book to be a really warm take on being a leader, or as Amaechi more appropriately puts it, a giant. We are all giants in some ways, and his advice is direct, accessible, and widely applicable. The topics flow so easily between a fantastic range of personal anecdotes and insights, layered in with relevant research and practical advice. Loved hearing him read it too. Will definitely listen again, and probably buying the physical book to keep around as well.
February 18, 2023
What a refreshing breath of fresh air of a book about leadership, about mentoring, unheard voices, unseen faces, compassion, and what mirrors my style of leadership. In a cold world I needed to see someone successful with my style of leadership, but also so many lessons for growth. I will pass this on.
“I will walk with you throughout your journey” - as someone coming from a working class background that has had the luck to meet real mentors and leaders and actually saw me, I actually cried.
“I will walk with you throughout your journey” - as someone coming from a working class background that has had the luck to meet real mentors and leaders and actually saw me, I actually cried.
May 28, 2022
The structure is simple, effective, and powerful at times. Amaechi balances brilliant turns of phrase that feel meaningful not just idealistic, with pieces of data. His own story and life lend itself to the 'truth' of his writing, making me desire to be better and feel like it's completely possible.
October 12, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Succinctly hits on major leadership principles that will make anyone with drive a well-rounded manager. I found myself constantly underlying key points to remember during each chapter. Nothing will be gound-breaking to those in productivity circles, but the way he puts it all together in one place is great. Definitely a top-5 book for new managers.
Read
December 29, 2021A truly exceptional book. An engaging book on leadership, interweaved with personal anicdotes and vulnerabilities. The world would be a better lace if everyone from leaders, to parents, coaches to individuals embrassed the messages and vaplues contained within
June 28, 2022
Great book, absolute must read for managers and senior leaders in the organization. The concepts mentioned in the book are really simple and sometimes, we unconsciously over see them. I believe, if we can live up to the promises, the world will be better place...
July 27, 2022
Pretty good leadership book. I saw John speak at a conference and found him so compelling I had to read the book. Interesting insights on not only leadership but also interpersonal relationships, race, and culture.
May 21, 2023
Good Book
I tried to be like John when I was managing about 20 years ago. It worked well with one set of managers (from the US) but got me made redundant later with a set from the UK and Netherlands who preferred ‘the command and control’ method.
I tried to be like John when I was managing about 20 years ago. It worked well with one set of managers (from the US) but got me made redundant later with a set from the UK and Netherlands who preferred ‘the command and control’ method.
April 21, 2025
A fantastic book for any leader wanting to become a better one and be a giant. John gives simple and good examples of how your actions create good or not so good reactions.
A book to re read occasionally to remind us what we forget on the day to day.
A book to re read occasionally to remind us what we forget on the day to day.
May 5, 2025
A decent read with some good messages in. like many of these types of books though, it often labours a point and some of the impact is lost on the loss of focus in a chapter. I'd suggest reading it sporadically, a chapter here and there.
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