Jon Gordon (1)

I work for a public school system. We are out for the summer. As we staff members joyfully fled the building, we were handed this book for summer reading. Evidently, next school year, we can anticipate fun activities based on the book's theme and message. Here is the email I sent my principal.

Dear ______,
You've been a great boss this year. I appreciate your sense of purpose, your pragmatic way of getting things done, and the support you give your staff.

But, oh my. I just finished reading THE show more ENERGY BUS.
Not only do I travel on a different bus, but it runs in a parallel universe. Certainly not the jolly universe of this book. In fact, my vehicle is not a bus at all. I would never burn fossil fuels in a combustion engine. Mine is sort of a hybrid time-travel & transporter machine.

I do not believe “Everything happens for a reason.” (7) I do not believe in a personal, benevolent god who responds when we follow "signs." (113) I do not agree that the goal of life is “to live young, have fun, and arrive at your final destination as late as possible, with a smile on your face.” (142) And, yes, it is physically possible "to be stressed and thankful at the same moment." (52)

It occurs to me that a lot of refugees in Syria right now would love to learn the magic of creating luck “by projecting lucky energy.” (44)

Please don't ask me to turn in a bus ticket, and please don't ask me to "trust in God." (128) Is it even legal for you to require staff to read a book that advocates a religious belief system? Or to use school funds to purchase multiple copies of said book? For the record, I am an existentialist with a keen interest in Buddhist philosophy. On spiritual matters, I prefer Shantideva's THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA from the 8th century. Or perhaps the 12th century Islamic Sufi fable by Farid ud-Din Attar, THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS.

Have an excellent summer, and enjoy some good reading. I just finished Thomas Piketty's CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY and Anthony Trollope's THE WARDEN. I highly recommend both.
Your sincere if truculent employee,
Mary show less

A short and quick read my boss loaned me seeing how much I enjoy reading in our office down time. Fairly stoic in its philosophy. You can control your reactions to the circumstances around you.

While everything was tied up neatly with a little bow I appreciated that this was a modern fable. A story method I feel we've moved well away from societally. So the bow tying and lesson is obviously the point.

Not super in depth but a nice little reminder that we control how we grow and develop as we show more move through life. show less

I'm sorry, but while this book has some helpful advice about remaining upbeat and setting boundaries between our feelings and others' attitudes (no energy vampires!), it is pretty trite and simplistic. All too often, the places that rave about this book need to examine how their own policies and procedures affect morale versus books like this. (I suggest you read John G. Miller, and his QBQ books, instead.)

Good Review of Essentials

You learn so much better from stories than facts. And that's what I like about this book. You engage with the story. There may not be a lot of new things in the book, but it re-emphasizes the essentials. Do the basics well and consistently to succeed.