Need More to Survive

Book Review: Surviving Your Serengeti – 7 Skills to Master Business and Life by Stefan Swanepoel.

Along the lines of Patrick Lencioni, Stefan Swanepoel attempts to bring clarity to business, management, and life by drawing out a fable or story that provides a metaphor upon which to hang insights about life principles. In this attempt the story is built around seven animals of the African plains – each of which is assumed to bring wisdom to our “survival” in life circumstances.

I wanted to like this book but found myself frustrated by the thin story line and the contrived circumstances. Gary Smalley did a more effective job with his assessment tool built around Lion-Otter-Beaver-Golden Retriever metaphors in that it makes sense and he provides means of assessment rather than mostly subjective conjecture. And while the author does supply “7 skills to master business and life” he barely develops them in any useful manner. The reader could skim the titles and have most of the gist of the book, though there are a few interesting insights into the African animals that might be missed.

NY Times best seller on the cover? I’m not sure how that could happen since the book was just released. I’d truly recommend Lencioni’s works as a better read and use of funds. It’s not a bad book, just a bit thin on real help or guidance for a real world.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.