Any book that is mostly filled with Peter Drucker's quotes has to have enormous value. This volume of Drucker attempts to parse the major learnings from what Professor Drucker has had to say on every subject into bite-sized bits along with suggestions for turning those observations into daily learning. That value shines through in the Drucker material, but is seriously diluted in the editor's selection of material, organization of that material and guides for action.
Knowing well that Professor Drucker favors using a disciplined method to guide his year and time, I expected that this volume would do the same. Instead, I was shocked to discover that the material is randomly distributed with lots of repetition over the year rather than being placed in logical order. For instance, the first day of the year might have begun with Professor Drucker's famous dictum to read intensively about a new subject every year or to slough off what is no longer relevant. Instead the book begins with a section on Executive Integrity. This is the first of many sections on that important subject. One would have expected that these materials would all be in one place rather than strung out. Other subjects are similarly strung out in disconnected fashion for part of the book.
The selection of sections also leaves a lot to be desired. There's material in here on the proper role of government, drawing on Professor Drucker's early writing. Much of the material about freedom versus totalitarianism is not terribly relevant to someone who wants to run a business better. It's as though the editor thought that he had to include everything that Professor Drucker had ever thought about rather than just what a leader needs to know.
The book's injunctions to actions are often quite weak. There must be five sections for taking action for planning the new government for Iraq. Now, I don't really see how that helps me be a more effective leader.
In addition, each selection is just a page. Some of the writing would have been more powerful if combined with an example which might have meant being a little longer.
My suggestion is that you skip this book and read The Essential Drucker instead. You will gain much more coherence in your new knowledge from that book than from this one.
Professor Drucker deserves an editor who can combine his work in a way that reflects Professor Drucker's own philosophies. I hope Professor Drucker finds one soon.
