The entrepreneur's playbook More than 100 proven strategies, tips, and techniques to build a radically successful business

Written in easily accessible, non-MBA language, this collection breaks 18 principles of business into digestible parts (though those parts aren't necessarily similar from chapter to chapter). There are brand case histories (e.g., Canyon Ranch and R. C. Bigelow); exercises, usually building on chapter content; and key takeaways, like everything is possible and involve customers in developing the company's future. Experienced businesspeople will no doubt recognize many of his tools and techniques: the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), the Pareto 80/20 rule, and the four steps to a repeatable successful future (act, learn, build, repeat). This is a narrative that's a bit scattered, yet all driven by solid experience. On one hand, reading a year's worth of Inc. magazine would probably net similar business advice to that offered here by consultant Green and coauthor Brown. On the other hand, they have distilled these principles from real life, from teaching, and from others' experiences for readers to take to heart, and follow.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2017 Booklist

Despite the title, this book is not, thankfully, a playbook-it does not contain a list of the plays to make in the "game" of entrepreneurship, or a list of platitudes meant to inspire confidence, but not thought. Instead, Green (founder & chairman, the Green Group), with journalist Brown, offers advice on the aspects of starting a business that an entrepreneur may be reluctant to consider, such as begging for funding from family members, product distribution, failure, and how much free time a new business will absorb. Brief in length, so no topic is covered in great detail, it suggests unconventional ways of solving problems and provokes thought. Stories of successful entrepreneurs are offered, but instead of presenting each account as a model to be followed, the authors ask readers to take apart and question the choices the founders made. A great read for anyone who enjoyed Dan Shapiro's Hot Seat. VERDICT Succinct, smart, and unexpected advice on starting and running a business.-Jessica Spears, Brooklyn P.L. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.