Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
Written by Simon Sinek
Narrated by Simon Sinek
4.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
The New York Times bestseller by the acclaimed, bestselling author of Start With Why and Together is Better. Now with an expanded chapter and appendix on leading millennials, based on Simon Sinek's viral video "The Millennial Question" (150+ million views).
Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders create environments in which people naturally work together to do remarkable things.
In his work with organizations around the world, Simon Sinek noticed that some teams trust each other so deeply that they would literally put their lives on the line for each other. Other teams, no matter what incentives are offered, are doomed to infighting, fragmentation and failure. Why?
The answer became clear during a conversation with a Marine Corps general. "Officers eat last," he said. Sinek watched as the most junior Marines ate first while the most senior Marines took their place at the back of the line. What's symbolic in the chow hall is deadly serious on the battlefield: Great leaders sacrifice their own comfort--even their own survival--for the good of those in their care.
Too many workplaces are driven by cynicism, paranoia, and self-interest. But the best ones foster trust and cooperation because their leaders build what Sinek calls a "Circle of Safety" that separates the security inside the team from the challenges outside.
Sinek illustrates his ideas with fascinating true stories that range from the military to big business, from government to investment banking.
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Reviews for Leaders Eat Last
367 ratings27 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a business book I received for free from the 12 Book Group at Goodreads in exchange for a review. It is not an easy read, although it does flow smoothly. There is a lot of science, biology, and a study of what has gone wrong with our current corporate culture.I usually read business books as self-help books, in how to improve my interaction with the world. This book does not have steps to improve, so that is not possible. It is more of a science textbook. It presents the problem but offers no easy solutions. It may be that there are no easy solutions to the dysfunction of our economy and our business/governmental culture. The top level of both, the movers and shakers, and the business schools that supply them, appear to be deeply in the addiction of greed.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is OK, but not ground breaking. Summarised in one sentence it's: "Look after your people and they will look after your company." but Sinek uses a bookload more words to repeat the same thing many times.
He does go into some detail about why the world is in such a state (hint: because if the baby boomers) and explains how we got here, which is interesting. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This should be required reading for all HR staff and company leadership. If you can hire and/or fire someone then you should read Leaders Eat Last. It is about being a decent person. Moreso it is about thinking about the longterm good of the company.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book delivers on it's title. Factual examples support the authors claims and theories. A truly eye opening experience!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great insight to the power and necessity of culture in any environment.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the greatest book that I have ever read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Found my new favorite book and author. should be made required reading for college students and leaders. We know what's wrong in our world but sadly very few leaders truly find the way to change things for the better.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing book with a lot of researched information in it. It will the book I’ll listen to many times.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing book!!! Such a good read! This book had so much that you can learn from this and it is inspirational!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5mr. Simon sinek this is the third a book I read and you being the author. I was inspired the first time I heard you on a podcast and I have is great addiction to listening to the words that come out of your soul brain and heart I certainly appreciate the information and my answer to you is, I am extraordinary inspired thank you sir from a United States Navy sailor
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5He's more poetic in his writing than ever before. He does rant against technology but wants us to remember the place of human to human interactions. This is as much about humanity as it is about leadership.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Interesting analysis in the first half of the book, specifically regarding some of the science behind what activities build the right kinds of work bonds. The very end of the book offers a few small nuggets on how to put these things into practice.
Unfortunately, the middle of the book wades into some material that felt out of place (problems between generations and with the government). I actually agree with much of the commentary, but it felt out of place and interrupted what felt like a really good flow to the book.
I would have appreciated more practical application of the items called out as being essential to being a solid leader. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really appreciate the way the author breaks down the biology of leader ship. Understanding the biology of human beings allows us to better understand the biology of being a good leader. As I have learned in my medical practice, fighting biology is very difficult, and so it is with this understanding of what helps intrinsically motivate humans, what helps them feel safe, what helps them feel valued, I can work on my leader ship games and improve the way I interact with others.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book, makes you reflect on today’s “leaders” and what is currently going on within your company. It was a deeper book than anticipated going in to the human structure and behaviors.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5even if you don't intend to lead a team it is still valuable for day to day interactions with problems.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book touches on many leadership areas. Each well built up with good arguments and opportunity of learning. I think this book can be read multiple times before everything sinks in. As I recently read a bad book on culture, this book is better on that topic even though its just a subtopic of this book.
Though I did not think this book got me in to a flow of learning, perhaps it was my mode, but that why it was not more than a I liked it. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The first part is about teams and leadership specifically. It looks at four hormones and how they impact our success with goals and people. It's good stuff.
The rest of the book looks at corporate success and failures, and society, from this lens. Interesting reading, but not as inspiring. Still, on the whole the book shed some light on aspects of my own life and perspective that was beneficial, so I recommend it. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If you subscribe to the theory that the people who work for your organization are actually people, with real lives, feelings, hopes, dreams, and motivations, this book will not have a great impact on your already opened mind. If you utilize the employees of your organization solely as a resource to be utilized to the ends of profit, easily replaced cogs of a machine, then this book may open your mind. When all persons are treated as members, it becomes a team...and there's that whole "united we stand, divided we fall" saying.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book is solid in every way but still didn't impress me as exceptional. Maybe my expectations were too high, based on the other book by this author that I recently read or the rave reviews I heard from others. I've also read a lot on leadership, often on specialized topics. This book covers the basics and does that well. It has a lot memorable anecdotes, but many of them I had already encountered. If there's one take away that stuck for me, it's that leaders have to have integrity in how their actions match their words and how both of these need to be consistent with character and greater purpose.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Phenomenal and inspiring. It brought to light and put in perspective many of the challenges I face on a daily basis. This should be read by anyone leading others.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"Leaders Eat Last" is for sure an enjoyable read for those who have a mindset of leadership. Although many of the points that Simon Sinek makes in this book can be found in other books written about leadership, what distinguishes Sinek's book is the clear real examples of the points he makes throughout his book. However, I had some trouble making a connection between the first and second halves of the book. While in the first half, Simon introduces multiple aspects of a mindful, successful leader, the second half is focused on counting the issues in the world such as political turmoil of the 1940s to1970s and the problems that the "me before we" attitude of baby boomers has brought to the world. However, Simon makes an excellent point that great leaders are those who put the prosperity of others before theirs, and practice empathy during hardship. I found this book very fascinating and highly recommend it.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Some of the messages in the book are quite good, but the author makes assumptions about many different groups of people that are not necessarily based in reality. He wrote in several areas about the lack of conflict or mission in society, and assumed an overall lack of challenge to be better. This is only true for those who live a truly charmed life, and even then people may surprise you with how different the picture can be from the inside. At best, he should endeavor to learn about differ cultures within our society. At worse, his internal bias keeps getting in the way of his arguments. It’s a shame. Some of it quite good.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Are you a manager? Are you a husband? Father? Wife? Mother? Do you want to be a husband, father, wife or mother? Are you a big Brother or Sister?Every leader should read this book. Every aspiring leader should read this book. Every student should read this book. Everyone should read this book!
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Some good stories, but retread of many old studies with conclusions that stretch the edges of credulity. And how do you take someone seriously who morally equates legally reducing your tax burden with putting lives at risk by ignoring safety issues? Primarily the book had a point to make regarding how chemicals control your responses, and the author cherry-picked stories (sometimes shading the truth a bit) to support his point. Pass.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I found some irony here. The talk of our design that proliferated the book was never tied to a higher authority in any way I could see. The talk of a higher authority wasn't really either though. Meaning, I've read countless Biblical, servant leadership books that all but said the same without all of the chemical references.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Not only was the information valuable, but it also served to inspire me to do more, to inpire more, to teach more, and to listen more. I think this is a must read for anyone in leadership or simply hoping to inspire others as well as one's own self.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent book. Every manager, executive, coach, or leader needs to read this book.
1 person found this helpful