Don’t Be a F*cking Dick:
Leadership for Vibrant Communities
By Howie Milstein, Author and Annoyance
SUMMARY
Howie Milstein has had enough. After many years participating with a multitude of communities, such as corporations, non-profit organizations, boards of directors, and bowling teams, he’s finally mustered up the nerve to address the enormous elephant in the room. When leaders are dicks, the community is unhealthy, stakeholders are disengaged, and outcomes are marginal.
In DBAFD, Milstein asserts that it’s incumbent upon leadership to promote and model strong, meaningful relationships throughout the community. At the basis of all relationships is trust, and while trust can be built through competency, reliability, and intimacy, it is easily destroyed when leaders’ raging egos are manifest too much of the time.
While the author is permanently imbued with irreverence and utter distaste for conventional thinking, DBAFD strikes a balance between the lighthearted perspective that helps people swallow the sometimes bitter pill of self-awareness, and the serious message that we all abut, and occasionally cross, the line of being a dick.
Not meant to be an exhaustive tome on emotional intelligence, leadership, and the art of seizing conscious control of natural impulses, DBAFD makes a concise, compelling case for treating others with respect and dignity. The book is perfectly suited to anyone in a leadership role, without regard to whether they possess a formal leadership title. In other words, it’s for everybody. And it makes a perfect gift for those leaders you want to send a clear message to!
This book perfectly summarizes what many of us internalize about business leadership and personal relationships in our communities.
—Amazon Customer
For the more squeamish reader or gift giver, the PG Edition.
Everything is the same as the Original Edition, but with a title that, according to at least one leading pediatrician*, “might be safer for children.”
*Affidavit on file
Reader Reviews
“This is by far the most accurate explanation I have seen about company ‘culture’.”
“Howie Milstein’s new book is a pithy, passionate, and profound expose on leadership and more broadly, the human condition. He has stripped away the pretense and fluff of the more traditional “self-help” management books, and has written a book that is authentic, witty, and blisteringly honest about the difference between IQ and EQ. His unique blend of hilarity and keen insight makes this read so fast and fun, you have to stop and remember you are actually learning methods and tactics to be a more impactful leader and a better person.”
“Milstein cares about people, workplaces, communities... actually the whole f’n world, including the environment. The book is short and direct rather than academic or theoretical like so much leadership or social change advice. It left me looking forward to reading his next piece.”
“Bottom line: It’s a thought-provoking, insightful read that will likely resonate down the road as you interface with colleagues (above or below on the ladder), even extending to family and friends. A bonus: wonderfully entertaining writing style!”
“I bought this book for the title but surprisingly I found it to be really inspirational. This book is great for anyone in a leadership role but we could all benefit from some introspection every once in awhile. Life is short, we should all take time to have fun. I promise, reading this book is fun and will give you something to think about.”
“As a writing teacher, I read this compact book with a critic’s eye. I was delighted to find Howie’s work meaty, though infused with a playful sense of humor. In DBAFD, Howie evidently consolidates his many years of hard-won leadership experience, integrates his deep understanding of motivation and behavior, and presents the reader with a fresh, new perspective on what it means to be human out in this world, all without an ounce of pretense. What a gift!”
“Howie Milstein has a fun way to explain leadership tactics that you don’t think about enough. Leadership is all about how we relate to others. Howie teaches us how to make our relationships stronger, more meaningful and most valuable. You can read this book in a few days and Howie has a method to make sure you remember what you’ve learned. So, don’t be a dick. Buy this book, learn, and be a better person and a much better leader.”
“A quick, satisfying read for those managers that seem to lose track of themselves and their teams. The concepts are well researched and can be implemented right away. This should be required reading for all leaders (whether they think so or not).”