Rating: 
Summary: Helpful if you need a refresher on positive reinforcement
Review: "Whale Done!" was recommended to me in a setting where its principles had been badly needed, had been applied and had proven quite helpful. Nevertheless, as I read, I couldn't help but think that I had been taught about positive reinforcement decades ago - it's not a new psychosocial concept.
The catchy title quickly makes sense as the extended example, illustrating the ideas of rewarding desired behavior and ignoring undesirable behavior, unfolds. Mr. Blanchard tells a simple story about his own transformation from a grouchy husband, father, and boss to a genuinely humble, thankful and encouraging person - and the effect it had on his relationships. The author does an admirable job describing the various emotions he and the other characters experienced in their interactions, both before and after he employs what he learned by observing the Sea World whales being trained. Before you know it, all negatives are swept away and everybody's happy.
This is a lightweight book. It's a short book. And it's a quick read. If you find yourself habitually mistreating those around you, you might want this swift refresher course to get you back on track. If not, you might want to spend your time and money on something else.
Rating: 
Summary: An okay read!
Review: "Whale Done!: The Power of Positive Relationships" by Ken Blanchard talks about the importance of building trust, accentuating the positive side of things and redirecting the energy when mistakes are made. According to Blanchard, it is crucial to provide recognition appropriately to either co-workers or family members. He uses the example of training the killer whale, Shamu at the SeaWorld. When it comes to training killer whales, trainers have to reward the whales when they do something right to reinforce the same behaviors and that it is basically useless to punish killer whales if they make mistakes.I think this is an okay read because there are basically nothing new here. However, I do like the "training of killer whales" illustrations that help to reinforce what Blanchard is saying - rewarding animals/people appropriately. Like a few reviewers here, I do prefer "Who Moved My Cheese?" and "Fish!" better. I also agree that some of the lines in "Whale Done!" are sort of cheesy. It's basically an okay read.
Rating:
Summary: An okay read!
Review: "Whale Done!: The Power of Positive Relationships" by Ken Blanchard talks about the importance of building trust, accentuating the positive side of things and redirecting the energy when mistakes are made. According to Blanchard, it is crucial to provide recognition appropriately to either co-workers or family members. He uses the example of training the killer whale, Shamu at the SeaWorld. When it comes to training killer whales, trainers have to reward the whales when they do something right to reinforce the same behaviors and that it is basically useless to punish killer whales if they make mistakes. I think this is an okay read because there are basically nothing new here. However, I do like the "training of killer whales" illustrations that help to reinforce what Blanchard is saying - rewarding animals/people appropriately. Like a few reviewers here, I do prefer "Who Moved My Cheese?" and "Fish!" better. I also agree that some of the lines in "Whale Done!" are sort of cheesy. It's basically an okay read.
Rating: 
Summary: One Side Of The Story
Review: After I read this book, I watched the Discovery Channel's program about killer whales. They showed the whales swimming in packs and how they combined their efforts to kill a baby blue whale. This is the kind of behavior that Blanchard does not address in his book Whale Done. He has a simplistic view of whales and people. He thinks of only domesticated, well-trained whales that appear in shows for entertainment. Here he misses the mark completely!! He thinks that by being good to whales you will bring out the best in them and he applies the same sort of unreliable logic to people. I suppose giving the killer whales that were about to kill the baby whale a small treat would have spared the baby's life. Nonsense!!This book is flawed, simple and out of touch with reality.
Rating:
Summary: Did Not Make A Big Splash With Me
Review: As a manager for many years, I got nothing out of this book. I don't see how workers are like whales. It just doesn't make sense!!
Rating: 
Summary: Positive reinforcement
Review: As an educator and a college administrator, I have seen the principles related in WHALE DONE in action. Students as well as my coworkers and staff are compelled to achieve their best when their best is what is expected and appreciated.
WHALE DONE reminded me of this principle. It is an excellent resource for managers of all types. Easy to read novel form, yet the instruction is clear.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it! - Great in all aspects of life!
Review: Before I became a homemaker I was a full time manager in a bank. To the point. Easy to read. MAKES SO MUCH SENSE! This book has helped me already with my children and husband.
Rating:
Summary: WHALE DONE to Ken Blanchard
Review: Blanchard has done it again. This is probably his best book yet. Easy reading with a great message!
Rating:
Summary: Blanchard's Best
Review: Blanchard is forever seeking to entertain, educate, and motivate his readers all at the same time. Because he has assigned himself this tripartite mission, he doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well. You can learn more about leadership reading some dry, academic tome. You'll be more entertained reading a best-selling novel. But no one better accomplishes all three missions simultaneously than Ken Blanchard. This may be his best book. It repackages many of the ideas already presented in the One Minute Manager and Blanchard's other publications. The story in Whale Done! however is more interesting and the message both more sophisticated and convincing. If you want to read a scholarly study of leadership, try "Leadership" by James MacGregor Burns. It's a classic in the field and certainly far meatier than Whale Done! But if you want to become a better leader in both your personal and professional life, Whale Done! is an inspirational wonder. I have both the book and the CD and often lend them to my managers with the expectation that the Whale Done! story will improve their managerial behavior and enhance their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Ok at best...a bit too elementary
Review: Book could have explained the same theories in a third the pages with much less insult to my intelligence. Very simple. Not worth the time or money in my opinion. Prefer Fish! for similar thoughts and life lessons. Fish! is a worthwhile read this is not. I agree with the thoughts and concepts this book teaches, just not the method of delivery.
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