Book Review and Giveaway: Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

When a business becomes so successful that there is an article-a-day written about them, it's only a matter of time before the CEO writes a book about how he/she achieved such a feat.  What you expect is 200 or so pages of business processes and advice.  That's absolutely NOT what this book delivers.

Instead, Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose offers a first-hand account by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh of what shaped him as a person which would eventually lead him to creating an online company whose values were developed from the inside out.  Zappos invested their time, money, and resources into customer service, culture, and employee training.  Three areas often pushed aside by companies whose only goals are dollar signs.

I had expectations for this book and it completely missed the mark - in a good way.  This isn't a business book (or a customer service book), per say.  It will DEFINITELY help you look at business differently, from Tony's perspective as a CEO unlike any other.  This book provides Tony's account of his journey, from grade school to Amazon.  I am familiar with Zappos but was unfamiliar with their history, from an idea on a napkin to a 1 billion dollar business.  Let's just say it wasn't all rose petals and double martinis.  It's not a complete history of Zappos, nor Tony's autobiography, although it includes many elements from both.  It is simply Tony trying to tell the story of his journey while also offering insight into the science of happiness, complete with graphics and resources. 

While I'm a fan of all things related to business, there was actually a specific section in Delivering Happiness dedicated to Tony's experiences with public speaking which I featured in my post Presenting Happiness: Tony Hsieh's Rules for Public Speaking. 

This book will teach you what passion can accomplish, and how sometimes all you can do is have faith.  In the end, this book will do nothing less than inspire you to deliver happiness in your own way, whether it be to your culture, your customers, or yourself (or all three).  I highly recommend it. 

Want to win a FREE copy of Tony's Book?

The folks at Delivering Happiness not only provided me with an advanced copy to honestly review, but a second copy (paperback, which I think is more convenient) to give away to one of my readers!  Very cool of them.

If you would like to receive Delivering Happiness free to your doorstep, there are two ways:

1. Simply ReTweet this post with the hashtag #FreeDHBook (that's VERY important!) and/or
2. Leave a comment below with the title/author of a book that has changed your life personally, professionally, or both

If you do both #1 and #2, you will be given two entries, although retweeting multiple times (while appreciated) will not improve your chances of winning.

Good luck, and thanks so much for reading!

Comments

[Ivana Sendecka]

There are plenty of books, which touched me,
BUT
life-changing touch label goes to:

Srikumar Rao and his book "Are You Ready To Succeed?"

I have read this book in November 2007.

Recent the best I've read book was: Linchpin by Seth Godin.

Have a super cool day, guys.
Cheers from Slovakia,
i.

[Carles Caño]

A book that changed my life was "The Element" by Sir Ken Robinson (with Lou Aronica). It helped me to find my own Element and quit other things that were not related to it. As a teacher, this book showed me the importance to help others to find their Element, for example with students.

It's funny because the last book I've read is "Linchpin" by Seth Godin (just as the last coment before mine) and I really liked it and I got lots of positive energy and a renewed attitude at work.

Cheers from Barcelona,
Carles.