Email the Author
You can use this page to email Gerald M. Weinberg about The Secrets of Consulting.
About the Book
Here's a few of the many five-star reviews of The Secrets of Consulting:
This is a wonderful book. The paperback version has been a valuable resource for many years. - Keith Pitty
I love this book for so many reasons not related to consulting. I think it's a fantastic book on the secrets of effective communication, tips and tricks when trying to complete a task with another human being and on just being a better human.. I think everyone should read this book. I've given it to people in many different fields, some having nothing to do with software, consulting etc. It's a must have in any library! - Marjie C.
In contrast to many other books with promising titles such as "how to XYZ in 21 days" or "Succeeding with XYZ", this book really does stand up to the promise of providing the "Secrets of consulting" (or at least some of them).Chapter after chapter Jerry Weinberg unveils the principles and truths behind being a successful consultant. He does this in a humorous and appealing ways, using stories and examples from multiple domains, making this book not only informative and educational, but also a fun experience for the reader.
Since the very beginning of this book, I got a feeling that I could trust what the writer says (writes), and as I continued to read on, This trust had increased more, even when some of things written are a hard to implement and require self discipline and character, I do believe that by following the principles offered I can (and will) be a better consultant and of a better service to my customers. I could already detect myself using some of the stuff without deliberate intention.
I would claim that this book is a must have in every consultant's library.The only regret I have about reading this book, is that I haven’t done it 5 years ago. - Elad Sofer
I am enjoying this book. While I look forward to applying these rules in my work as a Test Lead, I think they will also help in my interactions with consultants in my workplace. This is a very thought provoking book written in a humorous style. I only wish I have read it before I tried to be a consultant myself.
For me, a recently started consultant, this book provides a font of knowledge and experience very useful. As it is says in the book, the book itself is a kind of a consultant in paper.
Not being a native English speaker, sometimes I find it hard to motivate myself to read books in English (except for educational materials required for my professional development). However, this book had been continuously recommended by my most trusted friends, so I decided it is worth making an effort -- and never regretted.
First, it is one of the most in-depth and comprehensive books on psychology of consulting written by non-psychologists.The exquisite art of giving out advice, while respecting the decision maker's sensitive ego and fragile self-esteem, is almost extinct nowadays. The ability to accept advice without anxiety or offense and apply it effectively is also a rare talent. Under these conditions, consulting becomes a misused and undervalued marginal practice.
As a client:- Have you ever quietly stewed, as those smarty pants claimed that they can teach you how to manage the problems which had plagued your business or your life for many years?- Have you ever envied those megabucks the consultants get just for blabbering and giving out commonsense advice?- Have you ever thought their hourly pay is a racket, because under such conditions they are not interested in solving clients' problems?
As a consultant:- Have you ever woken up in cold sweat screaming: "OMG, everything is wrong! My whole life is one big mistake!"?- Or have you ever wanted to see your clients as a captive audience, forcefully exposed to all that good, wealth and happiness you intended to bring them?This book will lighten your burden, really. It will be helpful and inspiring for those new to consulting, but also will cheer up and comfort the experienced consultants.
Second, this book provides handy framework for thinking about consulting and your own role in it, your personal input, achievements, failures, expectations and so on, as a complex system. Thus, it enables further re-evaluation of personal experience and the exploration of new ways to apply it to your consulting practice.
Third, I certainly cannot overlook an important bonus: this book seemed very kind and funny for me. I don't know whether it is a benefit worth mentioning, but this book left me in a much better mood, yeah.
Finally, to those studying English as a foreign language -- tons of nice idioms served in a comprehensible context are awaiting you in this book! - Natalia Zhdanova
I think this is the fourth (or possibly fifth) copy of this book I've purchased. I normally, with great fervour in fact, hoard my books; oh I'll quite willingly point to where I think "the great stuff is" but my copy? No way. For some reason it's been different with this book since I purchased my first copy sometime almost three decades ago. I've thrust it into the hands of people who I thought needed. And I guess they did - for I never got the copies back! I know I have a paper copy (still my first love) in my library but I JUST HAD to purchase the lean pub version so now, as I start to read it for at least the seventh time (I know I read a couple of my copies a couple times), I will have it with me always.Thank you, Gerald M Weinberg for the Raspberry Jam. - David HC Soul
About the Author
I've always been interested in helping smart people be happy and productive. To that end, I've published books on human behavior, including Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method, The Psychology of Computer Programming, Perfect Software and Other Fallacies, and an Introduction to General Systems Thinking. I've also written books on leadership including Becoming a Technical Leader, The Secrets of Consulting (Foreword by Virginia Satir), More Secrets of Consulting, and the nine-volume Quality Software series.
I try to incorporate my knowledge of science, engineering, and human behavior into all of my writing and consulting work (with writers, hi-tech researchers, software engineers, and people whose life-situation could require the use of a service dog). I write novels about such people, including The Aremac Project, Aremac Power, Jigglers, First Stringers, Second Stringers, The Hands of God, Freshman Murders, Where There's a Will There's a Murder, Earth's Endless Effort, and Mistress of Molecules—all about how my brilliant protagonists produce quality work and learn to be happy. My books that are not yet on Leanpub may be found as eBooks at <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JerryWeinberg>; on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000AP8TZ8; and at Barnes and Noble bookstore: http://tinyurl.com/4eudqk5.
Early in my career, I was the architect for the Project Mercury's space tracking network and designer of the world's first multiprogrammed operating system. I won the Warnier Prize, the Stevens Award, and the first Software Testing Professionals' Luminary Award, all for my writing on software quality. I was also elected a charter member of the Computing Hall of Fame in San Diego and chosen for the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame.
But the "award" I'm most proud of is the book, The Gift of Time (Fiona Charles, ed.) written by my student and readers for my 75th birthday. Their stories make me feel that I've been at least partially successful at helping smart people be happy.