Book Review: Supercommunicators

Title: Supercommunicators

Author: Charles Duhigg

Publisher: Random House Publishing

Publication Date: February 20, 2024

Rating: 4 out of 5

I am not a supercommunicator but would love to be. Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, makes the case in his new book that we can all learn to be one, and he attempts to show us how. 

The book is based on the premise that there are three conversations (and mindsets) and four rules. The three conversations are: a) what's this really about (decision-making mindset), b) how do we feel (emotional mindset), and c) who are we (social mindset). And the four rules are: 1) pay attention to what kind of conversation is occurring; 2) share your goals, and ask what others are seeking; 3) ask about others' feelings and share your own; and 4) explore if identities are important to this discussion. Sounds simple, right?

Much of this sounds familiar. I am sure I have come across this before, in other books on communication (and that's why I rated the book a 4 and not a 5). But what I really like about this book are the numerous stories to highlight each of the rules or tools. From NRA debates to Netflix culture to NASA interviews, Duhigg takes us on a delightful journey of supercommunicators.

Another thing I like about this book are the tools he provides. Each chapter is filled with figures that provide simple tools for us to use. And then, if that is not enough, he summarizes each of the main sections with a short guide to using the ideas shared. If you didn't want to take notes in the narrative chapters, these are perfect.

Will I become a supercommunicator as a result of reading this book? Well, like all self-help books, it depends on whether I commit to adding the tools into my toolbox and putting them into practice. I sure will try. Time will tell.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review. 

Book Review: The Cure for Burnout

Title: The Cure for Burnout

Author: Emily Ballesteros

Publisher: Dial Press

Publication Date: February 13, 2024

Rating: 5 out of 5

Burnout was a huge corporate buzzword during Covid and remote working. Now that the pandemic is behind and companies have mandated return-to-wrkplace, they act as if burnout has been cured. But that is far from the truth. Burnout lives on in the lives of many workers throughout the US and worldwide. So this book is a great resource for those in the midst of burnout. It is written for the individual, not the manager, but we can all learn from Ballesteros.

The first part of the book outlines modern burnout and goes into the three types. It is interesting but perhaps the least helpful. If you are in the midst of burnout, you don't need to know what it is. You need help. Still, this is good introductory material.

The meat of the book, and what you paid for, is the cure. And that is found in the middle section, which devote five chapters to the five pillars of burnout management: mindset, personal care, time management, boundaries, and stress management. Filled with great illustrations, this is what I enjoyed the most. Each chapter contains tools to add to your toolkit, such as minimums, romanticization, gamification, reminders and accountability for personal care. I particuarly liked the tools for stress management, such as fact-feeling-story, tangible vs intangible list, cognitive reframing and burnout jenga.

The chapters are long but worth reading carefully while taking notes. I loved this book and have a new set of tools I plan to use when I sense burnout rearing its ugly heads.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review. 

Book Review: Black Wolf

Title: Black Wolf

Author: Juan Gómez-Jurado 

Publisher: Minotaur Books 

Publication Date: March 12, 2024

Rating: 5 out of 5

The middle book (or movie) in a trilogy is often a filler, a place holder whose job is to set up the final chapter. This sequel to Red Queen is likely the middle book in a trilogy but is more than a place holder. It is a twisty thriller in its own right.

This story has Antonia Scott called back into action chaperoned by Inspector Jon Gutierrez. A mafiosa has been murdered and his pregnant wife targeted but escapes an attempt on her life at a shopping mall. Scott's job is to locate the wife. But things are more involved and as the body count mounts, Gómez-Jurado shares some of Scott's backstory so we can learn how her magnificent detecting brain was formed.

With fast pacing, short chapters, great chemistry once more between the two leads, this is a worthy follow-up to Red Queen. Although it is billed as the second in a series of two, the cliffhanger ending simply begs a final chapter. Gómez-Jurado cannot leave us hanging with returning to bring closure.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.