Reviewed: Fish

Some time ago, I was handed this book by my manager, and told to read, understand and internalize its lessons. Here are my thoughts on the book:

Author: Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen and Ken Blanchard 
Publisher: Hyperion
Year: 2000
ISBN: 9780786888825
Length: 112 pages

Lundin, Christensen and Blanchard weave a fictionalized story as the backdrop to the lessons they have to teach in this book. We are introduced to Mary Jane Ramirez, a single mother, managing a backoffice outfit at a bank, described by most people as a “toxic energy dump”. Following an encounter at Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market, she decided to turn it around, and to teach her employees a few lessons in the process.

Throughout the book, the lessons offered by the FISH! Philosophy are emphasized by the story. The narrative, while ordinary and fairly predictable, serves its purpose well; it is not there for its literary qualities, but rather as the delivery vehicle.  The book is short, and fairly well written. The lessons it teaches are ones that anyone can stand to learn, and most of us need a reminder every now and again.