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Summary: A Unique Twist
Review: One of the best of hundreds of books I have read over the years on the "how-to" of leadership. The only one with a new twist, taking a test on-line to discover your strengths. To be a truly "good-leader" you need to understand the philosophical basis of leadership, as well as learn the how-to of leadership. For that, there is no other book that makes the "philosophy of leadership" so easy to understand than a book called "West Point", by Norman Thomas Remick. After you read "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Buckingham and Clifton, go on and fill in your leadership education. Become one of those rare birds that knows the rest of the story of leadership.
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Summary: See Yourself and Others in a New Way
Review: REVIEW: While I am generally disappointed with sequels, this book didn't disappoint and stands on its own (see "First Break All the Rules"). "Now" focuses on the individual (except the last two chapters) and their inate strengths. It goes into detail on the 34 different types of talents/strengths that the authors found in their research. "Now" is based on two simple themes: (1) each person's talents are enduring and unique, and (2) each person's greatest room for growth lies in their greatest strengths (not in improving their weaknesses as so much of our society is focused on). "Now" will help you recognize strengths (yours and other) which is the first step to capitalizing on them. I now find myself regularly thinking in terms of the strengths concept when making working decisions. By the way, you don't have to read "First, Break All the Rules" before reading this book. In fact, I recommend this one first! Also, "First" focused on the manager and how he/she should think and act differently in terms of the authors discoveries on talents and strengths whereas "Now" focusses on the individual. This book was also the first book that I've read that included an on-line component. The on-line test took me about 30 min to complete and gave me my top 5 strengths. After reading the detailed descriptions in the book, I believe the test correctly hit 4 out of 5 with the 5th one a close runner-up. STRENGTHS: The book is easy to read and full of examples. I found the concepts and content very well thought out and very effective at changing my thinking. WEAKNESSES: I note some weaknesses, but they were at most annoying and not significant enough to prevent me from enjoying or highly recommending the book. First, as in the "First" book, no index. Second, while the book has lots of examples, a number seemed to be thrown in to touch popular or emotional topics rather than being solid support for the specific topic being discussed. WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK: The book is probably best suited to professionals and knowledge workers with an interest in better understanding themselves and those around them. If you're interested in increasing your own effectiveness and the effectiveness of your relationships with others this book is for you. ALSO CONSIDER: Of course, "First Break All the Rules" by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman [either before or after this book]. "The Effective Executive" by Peter F. Drucker.
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Summary: Now, buy the book to help discover your strengths!
Review: This book is really worth reading. The main idea of the book is to enhance our "strength" rather than eliminate our "weaknesses". It does not mean that we totally ignore our weakness but concentrate much on our strengths. I strongly agree with it. I used to put much effort in my weakness but the outcome was not so good, which made me desperate, lacking confidence to do anything. However, the outcome is more likely to be good if I spend much time on my strength. In reality, many successful people also pay attention on what they are good at. There are 34 real life stories supporting 34 positive personality themes described in the book, which is great and realistic!! If you do not know what your strength is, you can buy the book and there is a code come along with it that allows you to join the test and find your strength. Now, come on and discover your strength!
Rating: 
Summary: Find out what your natural talents are
Review: "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton is a good book to help people discover their natural talents and, hopefully, find a career that uses these natural proclivities. Buckingham and Clifton argue that successful living and career success must follow from building upon your natural strengths and not trying to shore-up your weaknesses. The authors argue that society, career advisors, and people try to fix weaknesses and ignore building upon their strengths. To actually discover your strengths, or more correctly your "dominant talents," you must go online and take a "Strength Builder" test. You can only take the test once, so if you want to try the test again, or have members of your family take the test also, you'll need to buy another copy of "Now, Discover Your Strengths." That sort of diminishes the fun of the book, but one test per book is probably fair. After taking your test, you'll wind up with a list of five dominant talents. Some of the possible talents are: * Achiever
* Adaptability
* Strategic
* Relator
* Empathy
* Learner Once you have a list of your talents, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" seems to leave you on your own. For example, what's an adaptable, strategic, empathetic relator and learner to do? Who knows? Until you find a way to utilize your dominant talents and turn them into personal strengths to help you live a more successful life, I'm not sure if knowing your dominant traits will help. Possibly, when you approach a new job or a new role, you could ask yourself if you think that the role would cater to your inherent talents. For example, you could ask, "Would this cater to my strategic or learner trait?" Maybe, I'm too focused upon patching up weaknesses, but from a career standpoint, it seems just as useful to know your worst five natural talents. For example, if a person is low in achiever or adaptability, knowing that might help the person avoid career roles which demand that he constantly rely upon talents he does not possess. (Maybe, that'll be another book--"Discover What You Suck At" ?) One of my favorite chapters is "Traces of Talent" which gives some guidelines for finding your talents, even if you can't get online to take the Strength Finder test. Buckingham and Clifton write: "First, if you want to reveal your talents, monitor your spontaneous, top-of-the-mind reactions to the situations you encounter. These top-of-the-mind reactions provide the best trace of your talents... ." The authors also suggest that rapid learning of a particular area or finding a sense of satisfaction in what you're doing probably indicates you're using a natural talent. Overall, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" is a fun read, and there is some good insight. Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"
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Summary: Have, Do, and Want
Review: This is a book that is quite simple, analysis of what you are and go from there. What you have as ability now, carries into your most advanced skills, then what you want to do with all. The problem with the book is that it is not strong on problem solving, this book is an identification tool and you use your insight to move. The test also leaves room for advancing. With that the book title is correct, Discover YOU, now you help yourself.
For that I highly recommend a good book that is an all around help, SB 1 by Karl Mark Maddox
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Summary: Forget Your Concept of 'Book'
Review: The naysayers apparently are missing the truly revolutionary aspects of this publication. The 'book' is really a 'ticket' to a personal assessment (yes, everyone has to buy their own...can you take your friends and family to the movies without paying for each of them?). And yes, as another reviewer said, this will likely confirm some things you probably already knew about yourself, but there's more. Even as a writer, I could never have encapsulated the perspectives they provided me, the way that they did. Perhaps if the book had been based on 20 years of research rather than 30, I could have used the results to better posture my career progress for the past 10 years (if only it had been released 10 years ago). In addition, the assessment acts as a 3rd-party validation of 'who you are'. I took the 'management perspective' comments from the back of the book and represented them in a single page (edited to remove value'less' phrases or repeated concepts across strengths) that I now include with my resume when applying for jobs (or related activities). The statements represent the value I can bring to a team from a perspective other than me 'selling myself'.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: First, allow me to warn you to not buy this book used. There is a special code that you use, only one per book. This is a strengths finder test. You will go to the strengthsfinder website and take the test. The test doesn't take long, just 30 min. Once the code for the book is used, you cannot take the test again. The code is done. So, do not purchase a used one, because you will not be able to take the test. This test will give you your top 5 strengths. This is the most accurate strengths test I've taken. This test identifies not only the strengths that you have, but also the strengths that are in you that you can develop. I am in a college class right now, and we all thought it could benefit our class community so all 60 of us took the test. So far, it has helped greatly in understanding how each other thinks and looks at ideas. Knowing your strengths is very encouraging, and no it doesn't identify your weaknesses. Why focus on those? I highly recomment this book! You will be glad that you did!
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Summary: intuit...verify what you already know...probably
Review: I am into head shampoos. You know those instruments that have been developed over time to see what makes you tick. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator and an assortment of other windows into the psyche. Anyway, this is a pretty interesting tool, i think probably for me more of a verification of my own self awareness. the key premise that comes out here is play to your strength. gee, what a concept. but there is more. i think they correctly identify the mass homogenization of training / learning in the work place...and school for that matter. one size fits all world. mass production training and learning. shore up your weaknesses. all the normal stuff we have witnessed through the years. well these guys have said what is obvious to me for years...build on your strengths...go with your talent. thank you very much. now retire the garbage that the corporate gods deem necessary for you to learn in your personal development and performance plan. i have never figured out why we think everyone should be well suited for everything. as cited in the book...there are 88 keys on piano...each strikes a different note...no one key can make all sounds... what is clever here...especially for them to create follow on revenues...is this book comes with a code that allows you to take their instrument online. it takes less than an hour. 180 paired questions...out comes a report on you. similar to the ice cream shop there are 34 flavors of strengths and they report yours instantly. there is enough of a descriptor for you to either knod or shake your head. i felf like it was pretty on track for myself. but after 3 gazillion head shampoos i have a handle on me...but with this one...it is like the final nail in the coffin...time to get more aligned in my work...and begin enjoying it more.
Rating:
Summary: Feedback
Review: I only bought this book to get the number off the inside jacket to take the assessment--I did not really read it much. What I did read seemed to have a very corporate thrust which was not my preference. Overall, this assessment has some valuable merit and I recommend it to anyone.
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Summary: I Agree With Author And Reviewer Norman Thomas Remick
Review: Author Norman Thomas Remick rated "Now" 5-star for its presentation and value as a "how to" book, but added that the reader would truly understand by getting a grasp on the philosophy of leadership as he had to do when writing his own book on leadership called "West Point". After reading "Now", I did take the trouble to venture a little further into the subject of leadership by finding "West Point" on Amazon.com and buying it. Now I see what Mr. Remick means. I do, in fact, now feel like somewhat of an expert after reading his book in addition to "Now". I recommend it. For the price, you can't beat what is virtually an education. I, otherwise, probably would not have appreciated "Now" enough to give it 5 stars.
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