STEWARDSHIP Choosing Service Over Self-Interest: Second Edition

Sherman Allen's appealing conversational tone is a fitting way to perform this updated plea for leadership that is less authoritarian and more participative. It's an argument Block has been making for 35 years--that organizations are most effective when collaborative work relationships allow responsibility to be shared, rewards to be fairly distributed, and individuals to be respected. The narrator's mastery of phrasing goes beyond making ideas clear. Allen's spontaneity and ability to emphasize the pacing of important clauses and sentences communicates Block's urgency and makes listeners curious about each new part of the message. Allen's crisp pronunciation, which he exaggerates on important words or phrases, keeps the somewhat repetitive writing sound consistently fresh. His style and enthusiasm make this book about a well-worn organizational movement into something quite compelling. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2013]