The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable by Robert H. Thompson

This book is a fable based on the core content of The Leadership Challenge, the multi-year bestseller now in its fourth edition. (I read the first edition many years ago. It is a profoundly wonderful and expertly researched book). I met the author Robert Thompson last Wednesday, and he gave me a copy of this new book.

Because I liked him and love the content of The Leadership Challenge, this book moved to the top of my reading stack. In fact, I am writing this review about 20 hours after he gave me that copy.

This book is a fable and like so many others in this genre that really work, it has a succinct message to share - in this case The Five Practices from The Leadership Challenge. Those points are made, and explained clearly even if you aren't already familiar with the original, but you aren't hit over the head with them either with over-done reviews and repetition. Each discussion of them provides new information and greater understanding.

The best fable/business novels are more than just good nuggets wrapped around a story; they are well-written, interesting and engaging stories. This book fits solidly in that second category. Thompson, because of his long association with The Five Practices, wrote a story and included the Practices, rather than building a story around the five key points.

The writing is excellent, the story is real and includes characters I am sure you will identify with, and the leadership content is outstanding. Beyond that, like the best novels, I was left wondering what was going to happen next and considering the possibility of a sequel. What more could you want in a book?

Learn more and purchase at Amazon.com.