The story of an experienced manager, brought into a company to save it. The reader follows along as “Sam” journeys through the corporate landscape, and has conversations with his direct reports. Rothman manages to convey important good management practices in an elegant, and easily diggestible way.

You will find a plethora of books on how to build succesful teams, but you will not find many that explain what factors can break a team. By focussing on the dark side of team dynamics, Lencioni informs us of what to look out for when working with others. He explains how a lack of trust between individuals eventually cascades into a lack of overall results. A must-read book for team leaders and team members alike.

Brooks blends facts and stories together in a though-provoking selection of essays. While the author mostly talks about software projects, the lessons and frustrations apply to anyone who has had the dubious pleasure of leading a team. The book challenges readers to think about the sense and non-sense of generally held maxims, and strives to re-introduce some common-sense to project management. A prime example of this, is the saying: “hiring nine women will not get you a baby in one month”.