Rating: 
Summary: Too many words, not enough content
Review: The least amount of stars I could choose was one, otherwise I would most certainly have chosen NONE.I had to buy this book... for an online class at HWG/IWA (where I am a member). The class was on Contracting Your Services. The book was totally inappropriate and had nothing to do with web design contracts. Poorly written, with too much psycho-babbling, it could have been a 10-page paperback pamphlet with a list of pointers... I can't believe I bought this book, tried to read it and get something out of it. .... To give my instructor a bit of credit, I don't think there are any good books yet on this topic.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent guide, very practical & full of insights
Review: This book has been a useful guide for me over the past 15 years at various stages of my career as a Human Resource professional. Block provides a comprehensive framework and practical tips for the consultant (both external and internal) at various stages of the consultancy process. For the beginners in business consultancy and professionals in any staff functions, the book will set you on the right foot. One will also find it an important refresher and practical toolbox throughout their career. The book is delightful to read, with lots of interesting illustrations and examples. It is one of few books that I always keep within reach in my office.
Rating:
Summary: Succinct yet powerful
Review: This has to be one of the biggest bargains I've seen on Amazon. If you're the sort of person who people turn to for help, this book should be on your shelf. Before I was through the bare 200 pages, I saw how the concepts would apply directly to not only the business world but to such far-flung areas as political activism & relationship counseling. Peter Block makes clear that he is addressing his ideas not only to "outside" freelancers, but to "inside consultants," company troubleshooters, as well. He's done a remarkable job. The most powerful chapters are those (8 & 9) that examine the problem of resistance to change, thoroughly & precisely describing the different forms of resistance, what they mean, & how to deal with them in order to maximise productive change. The book won't make you a consultant -- you still have to have some sort of expertise in a given area. However, if you're already acting in a consultative capacity, it'll very quickly raise your effectiveness. And the book was fairly priced when it was published. Now that you can pick up a copy for a dollar or two, it's nothing short of a steal. Buy a few copies & share.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous guide for formal and informal consultants!
Review: This is an amazing book! Peter Block's Flawless Consulting, is a textbook appropriate not only for consultants but for anyone that wants to share their expertise with others. Block explains, "You are consulting any time you are trying to change or improve a situation but have no direct control over the implementation." About his audacious title, he asserts that it is possible for us to operate without error. To consult flawlessly "requires intense concentration on two process. (1)Being as authentic as you can be at all times with the client; (2)Attending directly, in words and actions, to the business of each stage of the consulting process." Having set the bar extremely high, Block doesn't leave the reader trying to figure out what "being authentic" and "attending to the business of each stage" means. Flawless Consulting is an extremely practical book. Flawless Consulting is replete with checklists, case scenarios, suggested wording (sometimes entire scripts), business recommendations, and practical insights. The book is saturated with Block's wonderful sense of humor and humanity. Unlike some second editions that are content to simply add a new preface and some cosmetic changes to the dust jacket, Block has updated information throughout the book and added entirely new chapters on: Whole-System Discovery, Implementation, Strategies for Engagement, Ethics and the Shadow Side of Consulting, The Heart of the Matter. Though not a consultant in the formal sense, I found his insights delightfully applicable to my day-to-day work. So much so that I nearly underlined every line in the book and made notes in the margins! Despite all the great information I gleaned, I think people more formally involved in consulting will get even more from Flawless Consulting. I highly recommend this book for anyone who interested in Getting Your Expertise Used. In addition to the two prefaces, the chapters are: Chapter 1 A Consultant by Any Other Name Chapter 2 Techniques Are Not Enough
Chapter 3 Flawless Consulting
Chapter 4 Contracting Overview
Chapter 5 The Contracting Meeting
Chapter 6 The Agonies of Contracting
Chapter 7 The Internal Consultant
Chapter 8 Understanding Resistance
Chapter 9 Dealing with Resistance
Chapter 10 From Diagnosis to Discovery
Chapter 11 Getting the Data
Chapter 12 Whole-System Discovery
Chapter 13 Preparing for Feedback
Chapter 14 Managing the Feedback Meeting
Chapter 15 Implementation
Chapter 16 Strategies for Engagement
Chapter 17 Some Tools for Engagement
Chapter 18 Ethics and the Shadow Side of Consulting
Chapter 19 The Heart of the Matter
Appendix Another Checklist You Can Use (7 checklists actually)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent strategy
Review: This is an excellent book that accomplishes two things the author promised to accomplish. First, Block effectively outlines a strategic approach to working with customers, generating contracts, building relationships, and respecting each other in the process (you and the consumer of your services). This is not one of those "there are two kinds of customers in this world" books offering trite and simplistic answers to a complex process. You really learn something, not just get exposed to cliches. Second, Block provides realistic and useful examples of situations which can challenge your plans, strategies, etc. They are helpful, nicely written, and practical. The cartoons (by Janis Nowlan?) are great too!
Rating: 
Summary: Extremely wordy book full of redundancies
Review: This is an extremely wordy book full of redundancies. I think it could have been written with two hundred less pages. I had the dig for what little meat it contained.
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