Rock and Roll Guru

Sex, Leadership and Rock ‘n’ Roll: Leadership Lessons from the Academy of Rock by Peter Cook is simply outstanding. A witty, insightful and fresh look at leadership, with enough rock ‘n’ roll references to keep a smile on any rocker’s face.

Peter has written a truly original book that should be required reading for anyone who serves in a leadership role (or hopes to do so one day). There’s none of the nonsensical business jargon that litters the traditional boring, and often useless, management books out there.

This is a tremendously fun read that interprets the essential elements of leadership through rock & roll, with a dose of jazz and classical thrown in for good measure. When Cook talks about the MBA, he means Management by Attitude, NOT More Bloody Analysis.

He uses sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll as metaphors to expand our thinking, while keeping a safe distance from corporatespeak. In Cook’s vernacular, “sex is about making, keeping and ending work relationships, drugs is about motivating and leading others, and rock ‘n’ roll is about reaching and sustaining high performance.”

I particularly enjoyed the insightful commentary on the relevance of structure versus improvisation, and the tightrope leaders must often walk between the two.

This entertaining and engaging work is one of the best business books I’ve read in years.