Giombetti Associates Recommended Readings

A Passion to Win

Submitted by: Jason Randall

Author: Sumner Redstone, with Peter Knobler

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date: 2001

ISBN#: 0-684-86224-7

Comments: Biography of how Sumner Redstone turned his National Amusement drive-in movie theater company into one of the largest media companies in the world -- Viacom. Redstone tells it like it was. A great insight into the Viacom company.

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FISH

Submitted by: Robert Archambeault

Author: Stephen C. Lundin

Publisher: Hyperion

Date: 2000

ISBN#: 0-7868-6602-0

Comments: An easy reader (100 pages) that packs a great story about attitude and how it affects your work and life.

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Jack: Straight From The Gut

Submitted by: Jason Randall

Author: Jack Welch, John A. Byrne

Publisher: Warner Books Date Published: 2001

ISBN#: 0446528382

Comment: WOW! Learn about Jack Welch's tenure at GE. A MUST for any Human Resources professional. Jack Welch's vision is unmatched.

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Work In Progress

Submitted by: Jason Randall

Author: Michael Eisner (with Tony Schwartz)

Publisher: Hyperion Date Published: 1999

ISBN#: 0-7868-8507-6

Comment: A truly motivating book, reading this book is as if Michael Eisner is in the same room as you.

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From Worst to First

Submitted By Hank Mancini

Author: Gordon Bethune

Publisher: Wiley Date Published: 1998

ISBN#: 0-471-24835-5

Comment: One of the bet business books I have read. Stresses that all business problems are people problems. Book focuses on determining what the customer actually wants and expects and details examples of how Continental Airlines turned around and started meeting customer needs. This book also stresses the necessity of constant communication with employees to keep them focused on the job at hand. Rereading it for the third time and fond the advice through examples, excellent.

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Barbarians at the Gate

Author: Bryan Burrough and John Helyar

Publisher: Harper & Row Date Published: 1990

ISBN#: 0-06-016172-8

Comment: Leveraged buyouts, corporate excess, greed. Money becomes the sole motivator for the movers on Wall Street. A great book about the corporate rat race.

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Danger in the Comfort Zone

Author: Judith M. Bardwick

Publisher: AMA Com Date Published: 1995

ISBN#: 0-8144-7886-7

Comment: Learn why job "entitlement" doesn't work. For America to be globally competitive, we must EARN our jobs each and every day.

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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Author: Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Publisher: Hyperion Date Published: 1997

ISBN#: 0-7868-9195-2

Comment: How to be more effective as a leader and enjoy the journey. Simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life. 248 pages of quick reading, 1-3 page stories.

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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work

Author: Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Publisher: Hyperion Date Published: 1998

ISBN#: 0-7868-8336-7

Comment: Simple ways to minimize stress and conflict while bringing out the best in yourself and others. 284 pages of 1-3 page stories of simple wisdom in becoming more successful. Fun and quick to read.

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Flight of the Buffalo

Author: James Blanco and Ralph Stayer

Publisher: Warner Books Date Published: 1993

ISBN#: 0-446-67008-1

Comment: Learn to let employees lead. This national best seller provides excellent insight. Two authors talk about the coming together of theory vs. practice. Book broken down by chapters and each chapter is broken down into one to three small paragraphs covering a particular topic of leadership. 355 pages of easy reading.

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Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun

Author: Wess Roberts

Publisher: Warner Books Date Published: 1987

ISBN#: 0-446-39106-9

Comment: Explores critical issues of leadership using Attila the Hun as a metaphor, as to what he should have done and said to the troops. 110 pages, fun reading, one plane ride.

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Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior

Author: Richard Marcinko

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Date Published: 1996

ISBN#: 0-671-54514-0

Comment: Richard Marcinko (former Navy Seal) writes a "smash mouth" reflection on leadership, gained through his experience as an overly enthusiastic warrior. Not for the faint of heart.

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Mean Business

Author: Albert Dunlap

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Date Published: 1996

ISBN#: 0-684-84406-0

Comment: Often seen as one of the "bad boys" of acquisitions and mergers, this New York Times best seller really is a MUST readying for emerging leaders. There is a lot to be learned here don't sell this book short. 302 pages containing some excellent business wisdom.

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Naked Management (Bare Essentials for Motivating the X-Generation at Work)

Author: Marc Muchnick, Ph.D.

Publisher: St. Lucie Press Date Published: 1996

ISBN#: 1-57444-061-6

Comment: Learn what turns on and makes these young people tick. Those born between 1961 and 1981 (making up a large part of our current labor pool) are often misunderstood. Learn how to capture this group, turn them on, and benefit from this talented work force. 121 pages. Format of book is fragmented, good insight into X'rs.

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Odyssey

Author: John Sculley

Publisher: Harper & Row Date Published: 1987

ISBN#: 0-06-015780-1

Comment: East Coast vs. West Coast management styles. John Sculley goes to Apple Computer to fire Steve Jobs, the owner. A stark contrast of two conflicting management styles.

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Refuse to Lose

Author: John Calipari (with Dick Weiss)

Publisher: Ballantine Books Date Published: 1996

ISBN#: 0-345-40801-2

Comment: Former basketball coach of U Mass, Kansas, Pitt, New Jersey, and Toronto talks about what it takes to be a winner. 285 pages. Narrative chapters (boring at times) offer excellent insight into what it takes to be successful.

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Success is a Choice

Author: Rick Pitino (with Bill Reynolds)

Publisher: Broadway Books Date Published: 1997

ISBN#: 0-553-06668-4

Comment: The present coach of the Boston Celtics talks about managing young talent, things he has learned over his years of coaching college basketball programs. Rick will tell you how to be a better leader and motivator of people. 275 pages. Great book for the sports enthusiast.

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The Other Guy Blinked

Author: Roger Enrico

Publisher: Bantam Books Date Published: 1986

ISBN#: 0-553-05177-6

Comment: The cola wars. The Pepsi challenge. Spokesperson, Michael Jackson. Great insight into the importance of "shelf space" and supermarket market share.

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The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

Author: Deepak Chopra

Publisher: Amber-Allen Date Published: 1994 ISBN#1-878424-11-4

Comment: Most of you won't like this book at all. If you are looking to take your leadership skills to a whole new level, however, and are willing to explore something totally different from the usual leadership jargon of today, dive in. 115 pages of sometimes very difficult reading.

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The Reckoning

Author: David Halberstam

Publisher: Avon Books Date Published: 1986

ISBN#: 0-380-70447-1

Comment: A thorough account of automobile manufacturing, detailing the growth of Ford and Japan's Nissan after World War II. Special attention to Henry Ford as the prototypical "Theory X" manager.

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The Winner Within

Author: Pat Riley

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Date Published: 1993

ISBN#: 0-399-13839-0

Comment: Former coach of the NY Knicks and present coach and part owner of the Miami Heat talks about how to build a team with exceptionally ego-driven people. 271 pages of excellent wisdom from one of the best "team builders" in America.

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Victory Secrets of Attila the Hun

Author: Wess Roberts

Publisher: Dell Books Date Published: 1993

ISBN#: 0-440-50591-7

Comment: Sequel to his first book. Not as good as the first one, but has 8-10 chapters (out of 18) that are really good. Talks about critical concepts of leadership, trust, dealing with confrontation, "tribal togetherness." 136 pages of fun and easy reading.

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