Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and Life written by Stefan Swanepoel, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011.
When a publicist contacted me about reviewing this book, his email subject was “Not Another Parable Book.” He was taking a tongue-in-cheek approach, but I happen to love parable style books! They are quick and easy to read, usually carry important lessons, challenge me to think differently, and always inspire me to share.
Surviving Your Serengeti is no different. Well, actually, it is different. The story takes place in the Serengeti plains of Africa. No board room, conference room or living room. The lessons are taught through seven animals, common to Africa, but unusual for me in the U.S. midwest.
While on a short Africa trip, a couple learns the key survival skills of seven animals and how those skills can help us survive in business and in life. The endurance of the wildebeast, the strategic approach of the lion, the efficiency of the cheetah and other skills are presented in parable fashion. As the couple considers how those same lessons can be used back home, the reader is also urged to consider the same.
Author Stefan Swanepoel was born and raised in Africa and shares his obvious affection for the land through the story. He gently challenges us to think about the animals of the Serengeti, what skills they use to survive their harsh migration, and how those skills may relate to our own journey of self-discovery.
In addition to the book, a strong supporting collection of resources can be found on the book’s website. You can download podcasts, take a quiz, see photos, contribute to saving wildlife, and monitor twitter and blog posts. I am considering this story for a book club at work; the web resources will be valuable for that experience.
Whether or not you’re a fan of fable style books, if you’re looking for a different way to reflect on important business and life skills, I would urge you to consider reading this book. You can order it from Amazon HERE or Barnes & Noble HERE.
What animal am I? I took the quiz and, to my delight, found that I am the communicating elephant. In summary,
The elephant shows us that the art of good communication depends on both verbal and non-verbal signals. Within each parcel of words we deliver is buried a non-verbal message that provides insight into what the words really mean. Skilled communicators understand the need and nuances of both.
Note: A copy of this book was provided for free in exchange for agreeing to publish a review. In no other way did the publisher influence the opinions expressed.
The illustrations above are from serengetibook.com
