Ubuntu!

By: Bob Nelson, Stephen Lundin

Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman

Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Here is a powerful story about the African philosophy of teamwork and collaboration that has the power to reshape our workplaces, our relationships with our coworkers, and our personal lives, written by the best-selling coauthor of Fish! and the best-selling author of 1001 Ways to Reward Employees.

John Peterson, a new manager in the credit department at a major big-box retailer, is struggling in his job. The people under him are not working as well or effectively as they need to, and his department is falling behind in meeting its goals. His only solution is to take on more work himself, burning the midnight oil and coming in most weekends to pick up the slack and keep his department above water.

When one of the employees stays behind to help him - a young man who came to America from a small village in Africa - he learns of the ancient wisdom and hidden power of the African philosophy of Ubuntu. Before long, it begins to change the way he thinks about the people he works with, about himself, and about how he runs his department and his life.

In an engaging and completely fresh narrative that holds a unique message for today's business world, Ubuntu! shows us a way to overcome our fears, insecurities, and the me-ism that so often permeates our workplaces, and replace it with a culture of genuine respect and collaboration. It promises to take its place alongside Fish! and other business parables as the next best-selling classic in the business category.

©2010 Bob Nelson and Stephen Lundin (P)2010 Random House

Great Book

What made the experience of listening to Ubuntu! the most enjoyable?

While this was a fictional story, it teaches you about a real philosophy , Ubuntu will help you move forward in life, whether in business or personal, I highly recommend this book

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Inspiring

If you want to hear the word Ubuntu listen to any speech from Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. If you want to get an insight into how to live with the philosophy then read this book.

This wonderful, easy to listen to story takes the African philosophy/concept of Ubuntu and translates it into real life experiences that everyone can appreciate. While it is mostly centred around a business environment the lessons are appropriate to every sphere of life.

I seriously encourage everyone to read it. Only a short book - a lazy morning - but the message is profound. I took notes.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The rest of our days, are the best of our days!☆

It is time for humanity to understand the mightiness of their being. We are each a representation of our species, and what our species is capable of. This book is going to help change humanity for the better.☆

Mostly tepid and simplistic

It’s not bad, just not good.
The subject matter; life lessons for work and at home drawn from an African ‘way of living together successfully and with happiness’ is great stuff.
This book might be a good intro for someone in the protagonists position - but I can’t even remember his name now because he was just your stereotypical American middle-management shill - overworked and unobservant.

The story, at least in audible form, just comes across like “See Dick. See Jane. See Dick and Jane. See Dick Run.”
Patronizing and childlike are probably too harsh a term but the subject matter, the point of Ubuntu, deserves more consideration and a deeper exploration into how it applies across cultures.
This story just doesn’t do it.

Team work only works when you function as a team

Would you try another book written by Bob Nelson and Stephen Lundin or narrated by Dominic Hoffman?

Yes. This book was a gentle reminder to find value with colleagues through collaboration.

Would you recommend Ubuntu! to your friends? Why or why not?

Possibly

What aspect of Dominic Hoffman’s performance might you have changed?

The performance was good.

Do you think Ubuntu! needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes. I could see how the authors could illustrate the Ubuntu philosophy through other applied scenarios.

Great story about values

Ubuntu is an African culture that will help any person to connect with his/her colleagues. Embracing each others contribution to work together in unity.