Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Wow. Wow. Wow. I cannot rate this book highly enough to take a different, positive approach to life and work.Like others, I have watched Sinek's Ted Talk on this, and questionned whether the book would add anything more - and boy yes it did. Imagine the Ted Talk expanded to 2 hours long, with more depth, intrigue and examples.What I like most about the book compared to the Ted Talk is that it delves more in to how Starting With Why can influence home life not just work. It's definitely made me a think, and I'm even finding myself taking a different approach around my team at work and the way I explain my actions.I agree, a lot of the examples are repeated (a lot) throughout the book, in particular Apple. I'm not against Apple, and found it useful how the different topics are explained using the same companies as examples - it helps provide the fuller picture. However, let me assure any potential readers that there are also plenty of new examples given too.I'm literally buying my colleagues at work a copy of this book for Christmas (I know, I'll definitely win the "best present of the year" award lol) as I think it's the sort of mindset that everyone needs to be on the same page for. Thankfully my boss is also a fan of Sinek so it shouldn't be too hard.I'd strongly recommend anyone interested in really understanding how to drive yourself or your business forward, should buy this book immediately and read it at least twice (once to read, the second time to take notes as there is so much content!).

I loved this book. It was engaging, interesting and easy to apply to different scenarios. It is written with a very optimistic tone and I finished the book very motivated and inspired.

I’m late to the party on this one as it’s been out for some time - Great book. The content discusses examples of repositioning thought on how to approach marketing from the viewpoint of customer motivation and business mission vision and values. Yes it’s mostly business focused but is still interesting to read even if you’re not involved in business or strategy decisions. It can still open your eyes to the psychology behind advertising and marketing and what motivates us to make purchasing decisions. Sinek has a way of making adry and complex topic entertaining and relatable in an easily digestible and lively format using plenty of examples and illustrative descriptions that doesn’t leave the reader feeling like they’re wading through the dusty annals of academia. I’d say absolutely vital reading for the savvy consumer, the modern marketer or enterprising business owner/entrepreneur.Bought second hand - Quality below what I expected - dog eared pages, worn cover, creases on cover and some pages, bit dirty - otherwise fine for a quick read on a topic I’m interested in.Overall worth getting

in: joaopaleta.comI am very much passionate about Business and the reasons why companies succeed. I see companies as complex living organisms that depend on people to succeed so the topic of success being explained as a derivative of the human behaviors and interactions really gets my attention. Specially the massively complex mechanisms of influencing change and behavior in big organizations.In Start With Why I found a simple but yet powerful concept to do just that.I now use extensively the Golden Circles in my communication, starting with why, and also performing coherence checks on the why, how and whats of companies and people.At a personal level I now have a better awareness of the example I am giving to my kids (3) when I am, or am not, consistent. My kids do what they see the parents doing so I might as well give them a good example. And its not easy to live up to all the words that come out of my mouth. I am actively training myself to increase my integrity levels. After these initial tests I will create a mission, vision, values, principles and perspective for (and with) my family and let you know how it turned out. I am sure it will be fun.A great example of this concept at work is at Tesla Motors. It is amazing how consistent their beliefs, communication and actions are. The same happened over the years with Apple and Steve Jobs. Would love to meet people from these companies to double check that from the company staff perspective the feeling is there as well. From the outside it does seem like its working.If you are curious about this topic check Simon’s Ted talk here and let me know your opinion.So Start With Why opened my appetite for Leadership so I am now going through “The 21 Laws of Leadership” from John Maxwell and also for the roots and reasons behind the great social, political and economical frameworks of our world.João Paleta

A great read for any type of leader to find their WHY and help inspire their team to find their WHY.

I might be a little unfair giving this book a 3 and perhaps that speaks more to my own expectation than anything else. There is nothing inherently wrong with the book, the core concept of the golden circle is well explained and well-repeated and therefore is memorable. That is something that many management books fail to do but Sinek manages this well.The mid-range score is also perhaps a reflection on how assimilated the concept of 'why' has come into management theory that it no longer feels fresh (while still clearly retaining relevance). The style is rather jarring and feels on the wrong side of self-help as to be rendered kitsch. A tad harsh, perhaps because conceptually it is a good book. There are sone nuggets of wisdom here and anecdotes that are worth keeping.Perhaps because it is lacking in any validated quantitative research beyond the author's own experience that overall it falls a little flat and the book takes a while to get going, again probably due to expectation - the book, for me, is a victim of its own hype and popularity.Overall though, it is certainly one for the bookshelf and it isn't too taxing. There is value to be had from reading it but I get the feeling that as time passes the impact of the book will continue to wane. This is probably a book I would recommend alongside others, but never the single 'go to' book on building purposeful organisations.

Great reading

I won't be the last to review this book, I'm sure, although it is a little old now, and I won't be the only one to comment on the certain obvious shortcomings, but I'm still willing to write this because I think this is one of those enduring insights that stand the test of time and deserves to be kept in mind.Is it true that you can get almost all the sense of this from the TED talk? Well, yes ... almost. But watching a TED talk is such a transitory experience that it doesn't really (IMHO) prompt you to pause, think about it, re-read sections and take it in stages. Reading a book engages your leetle grey cells, and this one deserves that.Does Sinek over-rely on Apple as an example? Well, yes, (and as others have observed, this can become irksome) but there are others (I especially liked the before and after case study of Walmart) and it certainly accords with my own experience when I sit back and think about it.Is it a bit long? Well, again, perhaps a tad, but it didn't feel overly long or onerous to read.Bottom line: I enjoyed the read, I really liked the concept and the way he lays it out and I'm glad I spent the 3 or 4 hours on it that I did, as it certainly helped me understand organisational (and personal) life better.

One idea well known a long time ago repeated in more than 200 pages, the worst book I’ve ever read

The language used in the book makes easy for anyone to read without a break.

Fast delivery, as usual :) the only issue I have is there is a slight dent on the cover, apart from that all is good.

Great book

Start With Why is an insightful and compelling book that challenges conventional thinking about leadership, purpose, and success. Simon Sinek presents a clear and powerful framework that explains why some individuals and organizations consistently inspire loyalty, innovation, and long-term impact while others struggle to do so.Through well-structured arguments and real-world examples, Sinek emphasizes the importance of understanding and communicating purpose—the “why”—before focusing on strategy or execution. His ideas are articulated with clarity and supported by practical insights that are highly relevant for leaders, managers, and professionals across industries.Overall, Start With Why is a thoughtful and inspiring read that offers lasting value. It is highly recommended for anyone seeking to lead with greater clarity, authenticity, and impact.