Product review (5 stars): Good business book with a new perspective
I like business books that approach topics and issues  (even if they are obvious topics and issues) from a new perspective.  This book specifically addresses the need for us to overcome our natural, built-in aversion to dealing with "strangers."  The books spends a lot of time demonstrating that this aversion is something that is part of the human make-up, and then shows how this aversion hinders our innovation, creativity, collaboration,  and ability to lead.  I read two or three business books per month, and none of them have yet addressed this interesting point of view in quite this way.  It seems like an obvious point, but this book really made me think about how to engage with "strangers" and I actually now find myself seeking out others and engaging in better conversation.  At a conference I recently went to, I actually found myself making an effort to meet other vendors to learn more deeply about what they do.  When we do this, we expand our horizons, get out of our limited point of view, and can innovate and lead better.  So, I gave the book five stars for presenting a new approach to something "obvious" and making a difference in the way I approach business.  I knocked it one star for being way too lengthy in some places (a typical business book problem these days).  But I gave it one star back for providing a "Toolkit" at the end of the book to help the reader apply the principles presented throughout the book.  This is a great idea and I wish every business book did this.  So, did I learn something? Yes.  Is it something I can apply that will make a difference? Yes.  Did I find a few "a-ha!" moments and did I find myself highlighting and taking notes?  Yes.  This is a business book that I can highly recommend.